Question: What Chris Marlowe catchphrase will you miss most during Nuggets telecasts?

Mark Kiszla, sports columnist

Answer: “That’s some Arkansas math!”

We’ve all been listening to Chris Marlowe do play-by-play on Nuggets broadcasts since “Hector was a pup.”

Who else would go all classic Greek mythology on us and reference the Iliad by Homer while calling a pro basketball game? For 22 seasons, Marlowe was our homer. In the very best way. He was the voice of the fan, because Marlowe lived and died with every lead change, just like every average Joe or Jane screaming at the TV from home.

Marlowe is both an old-school broadcaster and forever young. I could tell you his age, but you wouldn’t believe me. He is as handsome as any leading man in Hollywood. Before making it big in the sports broadcasting game, Marlowe was an aspiring actor. How many thespians have had speaking parts in both “Bosom Buddies” and the NBA playoffs? Take that, Tom Hanks!

On the mic for the Nuggets, Marlowe had a flair for the dramatic. He coined the phrase “Sombor Shuffle” for the signature move by Nikola Jokic. 

But what made Marlowe a must-listen for me was the sense of fun he brought to every game. Yes, winning matters. A lot. But Marlowe’s wit also reminded us: It’s only a game!

And that brings me to a Marlowe line that wasn’t his most famous, but my personal favorite. When TV sidekick, analyst and court jester Scott Hastings would get so excited his words ran ahead of his brain, Marlowe wasn’t afraid to give Scotty good-natured grief. “That’s some Arkansas math right there!” Marlowe exclaimed, dissing Hastings’ college education.

Why did Marlowe and Hastings work so well together for so long? It was like watching the Nuggets on the sofa alongside two friends. That was priceless in a way a corporate suit counting beans will never understand.

Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets writer

Answer: “Put him in the dunk contest!”

The broadcasting legend has called plenty of high-flyers in his 22 years calling games in Denver.

Nikola Jokic isn’t one of them, but Marlowe had just the words to celebrate the rare occasions when the Joker found himself with a clear path to the rim. It happened rarely enough that the call wasn’t overdone, but it captured the occasion in a manner that reflected the excitement in the arena when Jokic got to throw one down. It also showed the joy the job brought Marlowe.

About a decade ago, this reporter got to know Marlowe and Hastings from afar. A year spent in central Nebraska didn’t feature many positives for this young reporter, but the local cable package included Altitude. Many nights were spent listening to Marlowe and Hastings call the games featuring some real high-flyers – Kenneth Faried, Will Barton III and Wilson Chandler. The Nuggets weren’t exactly good, going 30-52 that season, but they were fun to watch. Faried, Barton and Chandler had Marlowe exclaiming “Oh my!” on a nightly basis. It was a solid introduction to the passion with which he approached his job.

There were much better days ahead for the duo, including the trio of Jokic’s Most Valuable Players and the 2023 championship run.

When Nuggets fans reflect on the most decorated era in franchise history 20 years from now, many will hear the Marlowe-isms play in their head. Whether it was celebrating a Facundo Campazzo 3-pointer with an “Uno, dos, tres para Facu!” or “Trojka!” the Serbian word for 3, after Jokic hit from deep.

Nothing captured Marlowe as well as his celebration of Jokic’s rare dunks. That phrase will be replayed in my head and produce a chuckle anytime Jokic gets to the rim for as long as he’s playing.