It’s a bit of a surprising move, as the Chicago Bulls have let go of play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee and analyst Tom Dore. Larrivee’s replacement has been announced already (Neil Funk), and it’s Chuck Swirsky of the Toronto Raptors doing the radio commentary. It seemed to be an easy call to hire Swirsky because he is a Chicago native, and he is willing to take a pay cut.

Via the Globe and Mail:

Swirsky said he is taking a pay cut to accept the Chicago job - “leaving money on the table.”

Sources say Swirsky was making more than $300,000 a year with the Raptors. When income from his job as host of The Fan 590 afternoon radio show is included, he was earning more than $400,000 a year.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Raptors, received a call last Thursday from the Bulls asking permission to talk to Swirsky about an opening that had come up.

In a shakeup, the Bulls TV voices Wayne Larrivee and Tom Dore were let go, and Neil Funk promoted from radio to take over the TV job. That left a vacancy in radio.

“One thing led to another,” Swirsky said. “And then it became official [on Monday]. The Bulls are a great franchise, but his was all about getting back into a situation and I need to listen to my family.”

MLSE chief operating officer Tom Anselmi called Swirsky’s departure a “shocker” and huge loss for the NBA club and the fans.

“Aside from being a great play-by-play guy, he was a great ambassador,” Anselmi said.

The 10 year veteran of Raptors broadcasting is over for Swirsky. I’ve heard him on the CBC before and I think the Bulls have got a very good, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable guy in their hand.

Larrivee leaving the Bulls will probably make it much easier to him to work on Packers games on the radio as well as basketball and football games on the Big Ten Network.
I’m thinking of some possible candidates for the Raptors job that work for ESPN since TSN broadcasts most of their games.

Mark Jones, he is Canadian after all and is a good basketball announcer.

John Saunders, another Canadian who presents and announces NBA and college basketball games.

Pretty sad to see Swirsky go, he is like a staple of Toronto sports and now they are looking for a new guy to come in.