Larscheid, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in California, was a running back for Utah State University, where he was an All-American in 1960.

[3] Larscheid was selected in the 18th round (251st overall) of the 1962 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles,[4] but ended up signing with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, where he played only two seasons before being forced to retire due to knee injuries.

However, this meant frequent scheduling conflicts and in 2000 he was pulled off Lions broadcasts in order to work full-time on Canucks games.

In early March 2007, Larscheid hinted that he might retire from his colour commentary duties at the end of the 2006–07 hockey season, his 24th with the Canucks.

One was during Game 1 of the 1994 Western Conference Final, when Toronto defenceman Jamie Macoun speared Vancouver's Murray Craven, causing an angered Larscheid to exclaim, "That's just bullshit!"

Another was during the famous incident in 2000 when Boston defenceman Marty McSorley two-handed Vancouver's Donald Brashear over the head, which prompted Larscheid to react in a similar way.