Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

The beautiful, gravelly voice of Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

On this station, we've broadcast nine Super Bowls.

Larry has been with us for eight of those.

We've learned in the past few hours that he's passed away in Minnesota, aged 71.

The best way to describe Larry to you is to think of him as Minnesota's Mike Sheehan.

and the love and affection that he garnered in NFL circles.

He had a dedicated seat at each Super Bowl, and once we started to travel, he gave up that seat to come and sit with us in the broadcast booth and provide his knowledge and insights, storytelling, and his emotion.

His emotion was always raw at the end of the national anthem.

What a privilege to have known him, and what a loss to feel this morning, Larry Fitzgerald Sr.

passing away.

So...

We're a trio, Ben Graham, and we're now down a good man.

He was a big presence, both literally and figuratively.

When we had our lunches on a Friday and we would have Super Bowl MVPs and current day players, there was a difference from the modern generation to Larry and they would come and sit with him.

So his place and his generosity of spirit, but the reverence from the current day players towards him was unmissable.

So almost 50 years in the Minnesota sports scene from 1978, 45 years as a columnist from the Minnesota spokesman recorder.

There are tributes being paid everywhere, including the Vikings themselves.

He was perennial with the Vikings.

And as it turns out, Larry Jr.

was inducted into the Hall of Fame in this Super Bowl week.