The phrase entered the modern lexicon — much like Michael Buffer’s “Let’s get ready to rumble!” and Dick Vitale’s “Awesome, baby!” — as Johnson called the Kentucky Derby on ABC for more than two decades, as well as announcing the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes for almost as long. He was replaced on the Triple Crown calls on TV after ABC lost the rights to NBC before the 2001 season, but continued to call the races on radio for several more years.
In his suit (via TMZ.com), Johnson, 78, describes the T-shirt as a “tacky, low quality, over-priced” item that is tarnishing his good name.
