'Hawk' doc shows 2 sides of famed broadcaster

September 7th, 2018

CHICAGO -- Two different personas live within iconic White Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, who has four broadcasts left before his 33-year career behind the mic on the South Side comes to a close.
There's Hawk, who made vogue catchphrases such as "He gone," "Mercy," and "You can put it on the board! Yes!" Then there's Ken, the more subdued, almost introverted man devoted to his family.
That point fell at the heart of the documentary "Hawk," co-produced by the White Sox and NBC Sports Chicago. It premiered on Thursday night at a movie theater in Chicago, with the expertly done production taking Harrelson from his roots in Savannah, Ga. to his playing days in Boston to his work in Chicago to his life in Orlando, Fla. and Granger, Ind.
Hawk was in attendance Thursday, with that personality shining through during the 15-minute Q&A session before the showing. Ken proudly sat with his wife, Aris, and his family during the moving piece of work.
"He's an incredible personality. He brings tremendous passion to the game. He's a good friend," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who was one of the many in attendance at the premiere. "There really is a Hawk and a Kenny. Hawk is what you see and what you hear on the air.
"Kenny is just a family guy with the same problems everybody else has, the same joys everybody else has. Hawk is unique. Kenny is just an ordinary guy."

This documentary serves as a continuation of Hawk Harrelson Day last Sunday at the ballpark. It really has been a yearlong celebration of Harrelson's contributions to the organization, with his Sunday home broadcasts dotted with special guest analysts such as Frank Thomas, Bob Uecker, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski.
A common theme running through the year -- and especially prevalent Thursday -- was Harrelson deserving to recognized by the Hall of Fame as a Ford Frick Award honoree.
"I don't know that we deserve anyone like him again," White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams said. "The shame of it for me is that he hasn't been elected to the Hall of Fame to date. Hopefully that will change, but I'm telling you, if you look at the body of work, how can he be denied? There shouldn't be a Hall of Fame if he's not in it."
"Put it his way: as a player, he was OK. As a GM, he was horrible. With broadcasting, Hall of Fame," former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said with a smile. "Great family guy. Cares about the organization. Cares about his players. Cares about the team. How many people go through the organization and Hawk is still there?"
Putting together this documentary was a pleasure for Harrelson because he had so much fun working with producers Ryan McGuffey, Matt Dahl and Brad Boron. It was enjoyable for both Hawk and Ken, who will be taking over soon as the consummate family man with the legendary broadcasting work behind him.
"He and I, we've been talking more together in the last couple of months then we've ever talked. Even when I'm driving in the car, and I know it sounds crazy," said Harrelson of the dichotomy of the personas. "I did it when I played and I'm doing it more now. He's eating this stuff up. He really is."
"Well, it's very satisfying. Mostly for his family," Reinsdorf said. "Whatever anybody achieves in life, it really doesn't mean as much to the person as it does to the family. This is so great for his family. He has a great wife, great kids and great grandchildren. They are going to live a lot longer than he's going to live, and they can remember this. They will have wonderful memories."