Milwaukee Bucks dedicate interview room to former broadcaster Jim Paschke

A crowd far larger than normal had gathered in the back of the primary Fiserv Forum interview room as Mike Budenholzer went through his regular pre-game press conference Saturday evening before the Milwaukee Bucks took on the Miami Heat. One of the spectators, sitting in the back row of tables, was former television play-by-play voice Jim Paschke, who found it odd he was asked to attend.

Once it appeared all the basketball-related questions were asked, there appeared to be one more from the back of the room.

Bucks vice president of communications Dan Smyczek called on club president Peter Feigin, and Budenholzer quipped, “You’re not asking a question are you?”

“I was going to ask are we ready to get on with the one of the real purposes we’re here for?” Feigin replied.

“Hell yeah!” Budenholzer shouted. “C’mon!”

And with that, general manager Jon Horst also took to the podium to join Budenholzer and Feigin in dedicating the room to Paschke, who sat stunned as it unfolded.

Paschke retired after 35 seasons behind the microphone following last year’s championship.

“It’s incredibly humbling to be honored like this,” he said afterward as he battled his emotions. “It was a great surprise. I don’t know what you say on a night like this or on an event like this. It’s something you never think about. I can’t wait 'til my son (Mike) can come back to Milwaukee and I can bring him in here and let him see it. Very humbling. Very humbling.”

Feigin said Budenholzer was one of the spearheads behind the dedication, and the coach quipped he would have to step his game up now that Paschke’s name was on the room. The coach also apologized for breaking NBA decorum for his exclamation.

Paschke’s longtime television partner and 1971 Bucks title winner Jon McGlocklin was in attendance, along with many other front office members and current TV and radio broadcasters.

Paschke was presented a framed copy of the Journal Sentinel’s retirement story, and another framed copy was hung outside the room along with a plaque that reads in part, “In his 35-year award-winning career, Jim brought Bucks basketball to television viewers across the state with his familiar silky smooth voice and distinctive style. His extensive preparation, professionalism, passion, humor and inimitable ability to describe the game made him a fan favorite and a Wisconsin treasure. The Bucks sincerely thank Jim for all that he did for the organization.”

It is the second room dedicated to a Milwaukee media member at Fiserv Forum, as the media center is named after late Journal Sentinel business and sp journalist Don Walker.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks dedicate interview room to former broadcaster Jim Paschke