Charley Steiner on the 30-Year Anniversary of Carl Lewis’ Infamous National Anthem | Rich Eisen Show

Dodgers play-by-play announcer Charley Steiner joins Rich Eisen in-studio to discuss the 30-year anniversary of his hilarious on-air reaction during a live SportsCenter show to Carl Lewis’ infamous national anthem attempt.
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[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Charley saying “Francis Scott Off-Key” was tremendous 🤣

[@RedSpartan32]

Jack Edwards wheezing with laughter - WHEEZING!!! - is the best part of the whole thing.

[@marcusanderson933]

After 30 years it's still the funniest moment and Charley Steiner's laughter is legendary! 🤣🤣🤣

[@RedSpartan32]

Charley Steiner is a genuinely great person. A friend of mine in college was part of the campus radio station, and among other things called some games for the school. He somehow got hold of Charley’s contact information and sent him a message asking if he had any advice for a young broadcaster. I was there when Charley called him directly and talked to him for over a half hour, giving him tips and advice and just generally being awesome. He didn’t have to do that, and I’m sure it’s not the only time. Needless to say, we are all Charley Steiner fans for life.

[@tr_vmi4844]

Charlie...."follow me...follow me to freedom"!! Best Sportscenter commercial EVER!!

[@peteg475]

DEFINITELY. That ad will never be topped. Still hilariously funny.

[@84sp84]

Agreed 100%

[@kevinv3082]

I always want to wrap a tie around my head and shout this in front of a group of guys my age (40s). Anyone who dies laughing will be friend worthy!

[@jeffreyval9665]

Jeez I forgot about that. That was one of their best!!

[@millhousemillard2140]

I liked his one with holyfield too lmao

[@wolfwilliams]

Jack Edwards nearly hyperventilating next to Charlie was also a highlight of the segment.

[@JerGer918]

Charley Steiner laughing is the greatest sound that has ever emanated from Bristol, Connecticut... Bar none!

[@cbod14]

I couldn’t stop laughing when this aired. My god this was hysterical.

[@mikemahoney6351]

I have watched this video of Charlie. Makes me laugh every time. Great video

[@porcupinecraig]

I remember being in college when this happened and we always watched sportscenter religiously. Me and all of my roommates were just falling over each other when this happened.

[@Chris_oak80]

Seeing derick Coleman hiding his face at that game was crazy!😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mikanmini9966]

Possibly THE best part.

[@michaelagostino3483]

Love the line Francis Scott Off-Key

[@wewin03]

Loved Steiner’s weekly updates of NASCAR driver Dick Trickle.

[@titowrestling]

How did ESPN lose both of these guys? Baffling… They are SO good!

[@BeefPapa]

Because money

[@cwc8979]

ESPN is a joke now compared to late 80s to early 90s

[@skittlecar1]

Because they don't want names bigger than ESPN.

[@sillygoose635]

@@cwc8979 yeah right... ESPN is fine, get a grip.

[@nysguy07]

@@sillygoose635 The four letter is nowhere near what it used to be. It is a joke compared to what it once was.

[@WopTopDrop]

SportsCenter in the 90's to early 2000's was GOLD. Go look at that legendary line up of sports news anchors! Nothing will ever come close to this in sports media.

[@toddgaak422]

Yep. Remember when Keith Olberman wasn't an insufferable douchebag?

[@WopTopDrop]

@Todd Gaak I was just wondering wtf happened to Olbermann.... I mean to be that guy and then turn into this guy now? After he left Sportscenter I didn't follow him.

[@terrencebutler6108]

No joke! Woke killed it now.

[@packman4664]

@@WopTopDropi legitimately think Olberman has become mentally ill, there is no way a rational person would think or say the things he does regardless of political affiliation.

[@nateword]

EVER

[@fdg304]

I was there that night. As a season ticket holder my seats were center court next to the tunnel. When Carl Lewis hurried off I looked at him to make eye contact but all I could see was a glassy stare looking straight ahead and a face drained of color. His face was an ashen color. I felt terrible for him. It was painful.

[@jetrobertsdj]

I'm glad I was around for the dawn of cable -- the real MTV, and of course, the O.G., FUN, light-hearted version of ESPN.

[@TucPlayer3]

The Evander Holyfield sportscenter commercial is one my favorites. 😂

[@buckyjr710]

“Come and get yo butt whoopin’ Charley!” 😄😄😄

[@Chris_oak80]

Charley come out and take your whipping! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 one of my favorite espn commercial.

[@DevinJHiggins]

FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM!!

[@donaldpaluga]

@@DevinJHiggins someone beat me to it

[@joyunicycle]

"Written by Francis Scott Off-Key!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@louisrojas74]

Carl Lewis and Rosanne Bar should get together for a duet

[@3amDayDreamer]

And Fergie 🤣

[@redfanrod]

Charley has a fantastic personality to go with a fantastic deep voice. His recap of this Carl Lewis story is priceless.

[@adriant8028]

Both his and the Edward's laugh are priceless. 😂😂

[@jessebeckwith3446]

I still laugh hard every time I watch the Steiner/Lewis/Edwards clip!! EVERY time!

[@foxmccloud7055]

Carl Lewis's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" was an Albert Achievement Award Winning Performance.

[@romangarcia608]

this made me laugh out loud at the time and i’ve laugh every time i see it…”Francis Scott Off-Key” 🤣🤣🤣

[@cwc8979]

Charley, Bob Ley, and Chris Berman were my favorite SportCenter anchors 👍👍👍

[@joemckim1183]

Dan and Keith were my guys.

[@EasyTarget82]

The late great Stuart Scott as well

[@paulseigeldorf9461]

The mate Tom Mees also. Drowned in a pool.

[@Reiderreiter]

My favorite will always be the Kerry Wood one, mainly for after him saying the punchline, they cut to the wide shot of the whole desk and calm, stoic, super-serious, real journalist Bob Ley is _crying_ with laughter too. That’s what always sticks with me.

[@MarkJackson-wc2xh]

I remember the basketball players trying not to lose it. 🤣

[@Thedearster]

Thank you for getting Charlie to talk about this!!! I always wondered about the behind the scenes aspect.

[@jsucka7118]

Charley's reaction to that awful rendition is a piece of television history.

[@raelsackey104]

I watched that broadcast live with my sister, and we were both on the ground! My side hurt so bad!😂 Humor is an amazing thing!

[@greghott9155]

This is my all time favorite ESPN moment!

[@lauragray3421]

Mine too

[@ReeseChown]

He looks and sounds wonderful for 30 years passed!

[@josefelix254]

Amazing! Shared this with a friend last week. Probably the 40th person I introduced to the clip. Classic

[@TurboTimmy]

I have met Charley a few times (@ Dodger Stadium) A very good guy !

[@freedomring3022]

I remember watching this when it happened. It was freaking hilarious.

[@wvubjd]

Charley Steiner losing it (a Mitch 'Blood' Green highlight comes to mind as well) was both a semi annual occurrence and fantastic every single time.

[@Tyrunner0097]

My fav will always be the Kerry Wood "public urination" story. He knew he was going to lose it within moments "After pleading...oh boy..."

[@DGZGSGEGIGKG]

That was classic. I remember seeing it live.

[@insertclevername4123]

I spent 95% of the clip with "I can't stop now, I have to finish!" running through my head, and by the time they got to, "And that led to Tonya Harding, to..." I was so happy because there's no way to NOT get to Kerry Wood from there.

[@adamplace1414]

Man, ESPN had a lineup back then. Ley, Steiner, Patrick & Olbermann, Eisen & Scott (RIP), Edwards before he became the biggest homer in sports, Mayne, Roberts. Quite a lineup.

[@cbod14]

Berman, Bob Ley, Linda Cohn.

[@BeefPapa]

Craig Kilborn

[@joemckim1183]

Trey Wingo

[@micahclawrence]

They were cool nerds

[@joemckim1183]

@@micahclawrence Sports nerds are better than Nerd nerds.

[@imhereforitall9218]

My god that guy is blessed with the most tremendous voice. Wonder if he had to work to get that voice or was it training? So blessed

[@chukwudi0512]

Love him, great guy!

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

I’ll always remember that sportscenter great moment

[@jimmybuckets5863]

Honestly the Star Spangled Banner is pretty damn difficult to just jump into if you don’t have a musical background. Especially a cappella. We assume we “know” it because we’ve heard it so many times, but to really sing it is tough. Props to Carl for trying, even if the result was hilarious

[@j2times2006]

Steiner once gave a dead pan reaction to some ridiculous story another anchor threw to him and sat there for like 15 seconds. It was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen at the time. I laughed like he laughed at the anthem. Damn I wish I could remember exactly when that sportscenter show aired

[@HoneysuckleRoseSmelledGreat]

I think I know what you're talking about.

[@seabrook1976]

I had to show my 9 year old daughter the Carl Lewis national anthem. Wow that’s a gem.

[@rkid727]

That’s the ESPN I loved and miss. Don’t recognize them today. They’re all so serious and miserable.

[@jonnycitroen8949]

He made this even more legendary and funny. My favorite video 😅

[@tysonsutton9621]

Man, I miss when “Sportscenter” and “Sports Tonight” were must-see TV; I enjoy SVP, but that was a moment in time that will never be replicated.

[@johnnythegent1045]

Steiner was and is a national treasure

[@skittlecar1]

This and the Kerry Wood story are friggen Steiner gold!

[@tonybino01]

Charlie Steiner's voice is golden. Nice!

[@tonyharrison7852]

Classic Love Charlie and the one at Wilmington when he got in a fight going like 10 rows after the guy 🤣 lmof

[@banditY2K]

I still watch that clip on youtube and die laughing everytime I see it! Love Charlie! the Mitch Blood Green and Kerry Wood clips are to die for too. LOL

[@sheerheartattack6701]

Great Ol’ Days. Thx Charlie & Rich 😊

[@jamesqualls8125]

Oh my goodness! 1 of many funny stories (including the 'scary promo ' for ESPN Sportscenter

[@blackspider1405]

I laugh like it's the first time I've seen it, every single time.

[@jellosmooth6220]

Charlie !!!!!!! Good to see him I watched that live oh my God I’m old

[@stanblanton7798]

Absolutely hilarious. His telling of it is even better. Great voice btw.

[@DevinJHiggins]

As if the screencap wasn't funny enough, hearing Charley deadpan recount Derek Coleman biting his warmup jersey in the face of the Carl Lewis anthem fiasco...damn my stomach hurts from laughing now.

[@roccodemaro4305]

(And the rockets) (red glare) … …

[@jpsnCoSprings]

I seriously laughed out loud the entire length of this clip

[@AlfieAlmeda]

Old Sportscenter was the best.

[@HoneysuckleRoseSmelledGreat]

yep, the new stuff is garbage

[@bmooch1]

I can still remember his laugh almost as good as lewis singing

[@davidabbett7011]

Priceless !

[@luissalinas6938]

The Charlie Steiner doll “….” Follow me to freedom “.

[@MJ_Dobreski]

Charlie did the best This is Sportscenter commercials

[@chrisjacobs196]

Charley Steiner. Best laugh in the history of civilization.

[@mz6504]

Priceless.

[@flywrightdrones]

I miss this so much

[@jimmymcfarland4184]

My favorite Espn anchor. Sorry Rich. Then Rich, Stu and Craig. Kenny Main was my Dennis Miller of the ESPN world

[@markwatkins2367]

The commercial with Charlie and Evander Holyfield was pretty good too. I believe Stu Scott was in it as well

[@ricksegal3065]

Miss Charley!!

[@nicolemonrue]

I was looking for that clip on KZbin the other day...i couldn't find it. He's the funniest part of it

[@goldeneve]

When I saw that that day in 90s I LAUGH till I cough lol

[@DavidBlain4377]

I love this story sooo much.

[@LIE11Bldg7]

Pay attention : this is how you win an Emmy

[@nateword]

that laugh and ear tug will forever be the best part of ESPN

[@scottsimpkins5666]

I love this guy!!!!

[@brdobie]

Such a great memory.

[@ryanrogers6974]

I remember the SportsCenter when he started laughing talking about Tonya Harding’s divorce.

[@juanestadian8471]

😂😂😂😂 I can’t believe they celebrated this lol

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Remember when Sportscenter had amazing anchors and showed highlights of sports? They didn't need outlandish takes or shouting debates to be entertaining.

[@donaldpaluga]

30 years? UH OH!

[@richardpoplis6777]

The best live show... Charlie Steiner was the best.... still laughing over this..

[@lauragray3421]

I laughed till I cried when Carl Lewis tried to sing the National Anthem and Charley Stiener and Jack Edwards was laughing their heads off.

[@jamesbostrom3539]

Voice of the Dodgers

[@cuts240]

I recall !!

[@vanderburghmichael]

I remember watching, as I’ve been watching ESPN since almost the beginning of ESPN

[@swordfish0008]

EVERYONE loves Charlie…. Sincere, genuine, authentic…

[@vman1654]

Charlie was a legend

[@kacornish1]

Still one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen, LOL

[@davanmani556]

Roger Grimsby “I miss pronounced the word count.”

[@kjambrose]

need more about Kerry Wood's relief appearance

[@bradpirochta9293]

back when ESPN was fun.

[@chevisfleming6577]

Oh oh!!!!!

[@greysunshine]

I love him

[@donnalyne8834]

Still miss charley doing yankees games loved the part coleman bitting his jersey

[@howyoudurrinhunneh]

Oh wow, I remember that guy.

[@austin.draude]

I wish Rich had asked him about how he went to his right ear every time he was about to lose it giggling... Seriously... watch his outtakes of Kerry Wood, Carl Lewis, Tonya Harding... he itches his right ear in ALL of them. It's his tell 🤣🤣

[@omegaman1409]

Plot twist. Carl Lewis singing career took off at the Cabaret.