Sportscaster Andy Hardy grew up in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he developed a passion for football with his high school classmate, future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. He joined the U.S. Army at just 17 and attended the Army Information School, where he discovered a natural affinity for broadcasting.

While visiting Tampa after college, Hardy was hired in October 1962 by WTVT sports director “Salty” Sol Fleishman. He would go on to spend his entire 34-year broadcasting career at Channel 13, taking over as sports director in 1974 following Fleishman’s retirement. Renowned for his encyclopedic sports knowledge, quick wit, and legendary April Fools’ pranks, Hardy was beloved by colleagues and viewers alike.

Beyond the studio, Hardy became a familiar face in popular commercials for Tampa’s Valencia Gardens restaurant alongside owner Manuel Beiro. Together, they coined the catchphrase “Salud and happy days” (meaning "Cheers and good times"), followed by a number—often jokingly presented as that week’s bolita pick— that became a local greeting, rooted in Tampa’s Cuban-Spanish culture and shared memories of the era.

Hardy also handled play-by-play duties for Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason games in the late 1970s. In one memorable 1978 broadcast, his booth partner was longtime friend and movie star Burt Reynolds.

Declining health forced Hardy to leave WTVT in 1996. He died on September 10, 1998, at the age of 56, following battles with emphysema and cancer. His voice, humor, and unmistakable connection to Tampa sports remain fondly remembered.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved