I Salute You, Bert Bertelkamp

Image: Rocky Top Insider

By Cody McClure

It was announced today that Bert Bertelkamp is retiring after 26 years with the Vol Network.

He’ll go out with Bob Kesling as the longtime color commentator by the play-by-play man’s side.

It will be interesting to see who Mike Keith gets to call games with him, but that’s another story down the road. I’m sure it will be a good pick.

I’m just here to say thank you to Bert.

Some of my earliest basketball memories include listening to Bert on the call. I absolutely loved him with Bob.

Thanks to you too, Bob, by the way.

It is my opinion that Bob did a great job as the play-by-play man for basketball.

I know he’s not everyone’s favorite football-wise. (He had big shoes to fill). But basketball… Bob was always solid.

And Bert was the perfect No. 2.

Always passionate. Excited as hell when we hit a shot and when we won. And you could hear Bert’s pain when we lost.

Just the way it should be. The perfect color commentator.

“MONEY” will always be burned into my brain when I hear Tennessee Basketball on the radio.

I salute you, Bert. (And you too Bob).