OT - Favorite/Least Favorite Broadcaster
Ok, I saw this topic on another thread, and thought I would bring it here.
Even though it may appear to be negative/mean in some respects, there are also many good aspects.
I can appreciate that everyone sees/hears events in a different light.
If you can, try to list one broadcaster per sport, however, some broadcasters may do multiple sports.
Here is my list:
Favorite broadcaster (Sorry for being a homer.)
Dick Enberg
George Kell/Al Kaline
Frank Beckman
Bruce Martyn/Ken Kal
Least favorite broadcaster
Bob Costass,
Jim Nance
Joe Buck
Gus Johnson
Those Gus Johnson calls vs OSU will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life.
When JJ hit CJ for that second TD and his voice cracks at “wide open” I just lose it.
Gus Johnson is all right in my book.
The Best
Baseball:
Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, and Frank Messer. They were the best, bar none.
Joe Garagiola and Vin Scully. Got to give it up for these two.
Keith Hernandez. Knowledgeable about the game. Smart. Funny.
Football:
Keith Jackson. So looking forward to hearing him again this fall.
Howard Cosell, "Dandy" Don Meredith, and Frank Gifford. The longtime voices of Monday Night Football. ABC never successfully replaced them.
John Madden and Pat Summerall. Boom!
Gus Johnson! Fuck the haters.
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit. Admit it--they're great.
Basketball:
Bill Raftery. A better version of Dick Vitale.
Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Dude is awesome. Knick fans know.
Marv Albert. Maybe the best in any sport.
Soccer:
Andrés Cantor. Goal! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
The Worst
Football:
Brent Musberger. Good lord, man. Dude sucks.
Chris Collinsworth. He really, REALLY irritates me.
Gary Danielson. Too much SEC butt kiss.
Troy Aikman. He's made of wood, like Pinocchio only an ex-quarterback turned announcer.
Basketball:
Charles Barkley. So sick of his clown act.
Bill Walton. Absolutely insufferable.
Dick Vitale. That shtick got old forever ago.
Baseball:
Joe Buck. Simply the worst.
Tim McCarver. Previously the worst. He deserved that Prime dump.
Joe Morgan. He seemed to know so little about the sport he excelled in.
A-Rod. Because A-Rod. And I'm a Yankee fan...
Michael Kay. "Theeeeere it goes, SEE YAH, a looong home run...it's off the wall! And Stanton cruises into second with a double!" Yankee fans deserve better than this.
All the dudes who do Red Sox games for NESN. They're all psychotics. Fuck those dudes.
Various sports:
Bob Costas. His giant ego has simply engulfed him at this point. Like the monster in The Blob.
Jim Nance. I just don't get it. How does this man find work in any field?
Who is Troy Aiken and Jim Nance?
April 27th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Who are you? Who who? Who who?
April 27th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
Joe Garagiola was a joy to listen to! Good call.
Might be unpopular but Doug Karsch is really bad. His voice hits a crazy high pitch and if you listen to his calls it’s pretty old school cringe. “Edwards is at the 50, the 40, the 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, the 5, touchdown!”
Add in something like “And they’ll never catch him. Denard, shoelaces flopping in the wind” to give is something!
April 26th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
I'm with you on Karsch. His yardage countdown was cliche back in the 30's (I think . . . I dunno . . . but a long time ago!)
Yup, He's not good at all. I don't mind his show but him calling games is just terrible.
Like
Gus Johnson when for Michigan
Gary Thorne
Keith Jackson
Joel Klat
Loved Red Sox broadcasters Jerry Remy & Don Orsillo. When they got the giggles it was awesome. When the fan threw the pizza at another fan those 2 lost it
Never a fan
Chris Berman
John Madden (ducks)
Gus Johnson when not for Michigan
Gus Johnson is great to listen to when the game is going your way.
When it’s not….I want no part of it.
I can’t watch or listen to the last quarter or so of the MSU game from 2021.
April 27th, 2023 at 12:42 AM ^
I think you nailed it as regards Gus. It's not over-the-top blatant, but he definitely rides the wave, he tilts toward the "team with the hot hand."
April 27th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
I don’t fault him on that for a second. I personally love the passion he brings to the booth. Some of his nicknames might be eye-rollers, and you never want to be on the wrong end of any of his calls (our O-JA-BO and 85 YARDS……THE DON pleasure is OSU’s unmitigated pain). But I still think he’s a breath of fresh air.
He’s not biased towards anyone specifically, but he definitely climbs aboard the momentum train and unapologetically rides it all the way to the end. It’s great when you’re the one winning, because you get swept up alongside him.
But when you’re losing, it just drags you down even further into the unadulterated hellscape you’ve already found yourself in.
Favorite: Ernie! (and Paul)
Next tier: Frank Beckmann, Bruce Martyn, Keith Jackson, Pat Summerall & John Madden together, Dick Enberg
Particularly don't care much for: George Blaha and whoever his inept color commentator happens to be that season. (Unfortunately some of my favorite radio stations in the Lansing/Grand Rapids area carry Staee games and their weekly coaches show, so I too frequently have to turn off the radio and and sing to myself.)
Next tier: Announcers who started off great in their careers, then went downhill for various reasons but mostly because their shtick grew old faster than they did, such as Bob Costas, Dick Vitale, Brent Musberger, Dan Dakich, Chris Berman.
As you probably can tell, I'm an old, and nowadays I am mostly able to listen to today's announcers and tune out or tolerate their spiels and just listen to the information.
I can't believe Beth Mullin hasn't appeared on anyone's worst list yet.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:08 PM ^
She is Turrible and I will often turn off whatever game she is doing.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:19 PM ^
yup. immediate “guess I’m listening to music now” mode
April 27th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
agree, she is fucking awful.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
I only have a least favorite amd it's Gus Johnson. I always feel the need to contact a psychiatrist after he calls a game. 3 hours of getting screamed at for reasons unknown, takes a toll on my fragile mind.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Jon Crispin (annoying asshole),Len Elmore,Stephen Bardo ,Joey Galoway ( bad at their job),any announcer who says " They'll feel a lot better going into the locker room if they cut the lead to single digits." Old School names not mentioned yet..all favs..Danny Gallivan and Foster Hewitt ( hockey),Mel Allen Ernie Harwell,Red Barber (baseball),Van Patrick, Bob Reynolds,Chuck Thompson (NFL).
#1 In my heart Bob Ufer
April 26th, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
Favorites: The Duo, Joe Klatt and Gus Johnson. The hate is real for Johnson but I love when he calls games. Brings excitement out of everyone. Jay Bilas is good when he doesn’t have his Duke goggles on. Also liked Mussberger. Verne Lundquist was great as well. Greg McElroy.
Least Favorites: Bill Walton is the worst. Bryant Gumble.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:22 PM ^
Best:
George Kell - a southern gentleman. great voice, insightful, witty. The perfect baseball play-by-play man.
Frank Beckmann - The voice of Michigan football for everyone of a certain age
Worst:
Beth Mowins - I hate to speak poorly of anyone but hate her man-voice play-by-play calling
George Blaha - I think a lot of this is my bias but he's just such a homer. Always seems disappointed if the other team scores or makes a play. George Kell used to say "I'm neutral - for the Tigers". I think some degree of neutrality is necessary for professionalism.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:33 PM ^
Ernie Harwell - everyone else is competing for second place
April 26th, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
Worst - I'll cast my vote for Bill Walton
April 26th, 2023 at 11:00 PM ^
Also worst: Tom Heinsohn and Johnny Most
I forgot about Tom Heinsohn - I may have been thinking of him. I thought about Johnny Most but I figured he was just a homer and not for my home.
April 27th, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
a fellow Laker fan, are you?
April 26th, 2023 at 10:38 PM ^
I like Gus Johnson. I like the bluster. I know this seems to me about football, but I could not stand Billy Packer (though it’s sad he passed) and I can’t stand Jay Bills. Any announcer that is crabby pants drives me nuts. Want to hear what is happening not what is bad with the game. Seems more prevalent in basketballs. Oh it’s should be fixed…
April 26th, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
There are so many greats for baseball, but Tim Mcarver was terrible. Did I get that right?
pissy pants is for talk radio but not for actual games. Hate hearing how things could be better while a game is going on. Those guys suck. Fix it on your time…
broadcast games. We all know things could be better,,,
April 26th, 2023 at 10:53 PM ^
I guess if there's a Mt. Rushmore of announcers mine would be:
Madden
Jackson
Cosell
Then there would have to be a debate between Scully and Enberg
Not that much of a hater but:
Collinsworth always sounds like he's trying real hard to pinch a loaf.
Might be sacrilidge but I've never been a huge Al Michaels fan. Heard him interviewed a bunch and he really thinks his shit doesn't stink.
Indifferent on Buck. He's mediocre and sounds like he knows it.
Larry Merchant never seemed to be watchin the same bout I was.
Hon Mention to our own Dierdorf. I know he was very polarizing. But he was probably the 1st analyist to consistently point out the play of the OL & DL. Before Madden.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:21 AM ^
I never cared for Cosell on MNF, but that was because there were too many voices in the booth. Two is enough.
But I don't think anybody was better than Howard when he was announcing boxing. The tone of his voice, and the way it would dramatically rise during the intense moments - perfect.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:54 PM ^
Matt Millen is so bad he can't even make the worst list.
Do people dislike Millen because they dislike his announcing, or do they dislike him because they hate him from his time with the Lions? Because I've always found him very knowledgeable; he actually understands what's going on in the game and relays good insight on it.
Also, in comparison to some of these people who are absolute assholes in real life, I know someone who's worked with him a number of times and said he's one of the nicest people you'd ever meet.
Millen, Penn State alum, was one of the first on the national scene to condemn Paterno during the 2011 scandal and call for his ouster. He's okay in my book.
This is ironic satire, right?
Millen "very knowledgeable" and understands the game.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:58 PM ^
Loved Ufer, Harwell, Keith Jackson.
Not so much love for Caray, Walton, Vitale & Danielson.
Bonus...
for studio work... Linda Cohn.
Say WHATEVER you want about her, she knows more about hockey than all of us and enjoys it twice as much.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:19 PM ^
long-time buddy of mine was married to cohn. he was an MLB ump.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:28 PM ^
Big Linda Cohn fan. ESPN used to have good hockey coverage. Always enjoyed her. Gary Thorne and Bill Clement were awesome.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
I loved listening to Josh Lewin and Kirk Gibson doing Tigers games. They really were like two kids who were given a mic at the game, but still extremely knowledgeable. Fun broadcast.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:04 PM ^
For those that got CBC, Harry Neale and Bob Cole were great doing games on Hockey Night in Canada. I often chose their broadcasts over the ESPN feed.
And I always kind of appreciated Don Cherry, but I’m sure there were plenty who were turned off by his schtick.
Speaking of hockey, I am surprised not to see any mentions of Mickey Redmond who is a local treasure.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:06 PM ^
Just beat me to the punch!
April 26th, 2023 at 11:25 PM ^
I don’t think being a virulent racist and all around asshole was a schtick. It’s who he was.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:06 PM ^
I get that hockey isn’t the most popular sport but on a Michigan blog how has no one named Ken and Mickey yet? Best in the business for NHL.
April 26th, 2023 at 11:10 PM ^
Fave: Doc Emrick
Least: Dick Vitale
April 26th, 2023 at 11:15 PM ^
Favorite for sports I watch
CFB: Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt
CBB: Dan Shulman/Jay Bilas
NFL: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
NBA: Kevin Harlem and Reggie Miller
MLB: Joe Buck and Joe Davis
Least Favorite
CFB: Beth Mowins
CBB: Mark Jones
NFL: Spero Dedes
NBA: Spero Dedes
MLB: ???
April 27th, 2023 at 12:49 AM ^
Hard to narrow it down.
Old-time guys like Keith Jackson seem obvious. Always been an Al Michaels fan. He’s lost a bit off of his fastball but he isn’t completely done the way some guys are late in careers.
The local guys of my youth were all great, of course: Ernie, Frank, Bruce. Warm feelings for Blaha in the bad boys era, even, though that had worn off. George and Al on channel 4. Still remember Mark Champion fondly.
As I got a bit older I enjoyed Bob Cole and Chris Cuthbert and Kelly Hrudy and Ron Franklin and John Miller and Dick Enberg. Chris Fowler and Ron Maclean and John Buccigross as hosts and even Chris Berman calling NFL highlights. My eclectic sports tastes brought me to Murray Walker and Paul Page and Phil Liggett (whom I later liked less) and John Motson and Martin Tyler and even an early career Max Bretos who called soccer matches hunched over a tv in a small studio for an afterthought satellite network with delightful abandon.
I like a lot of announcers these days, and I’m more indifferent than actively repulsed by most others. Tirico and Gus and Dan Shulman and Mike Breen. Cheyne Stetzny for off road, and Austin “Fish” Farner for desert races. Scott Hanson is absolutely terrific on Red Zone. Don’t catch much SVP anymore but he’s outstanding. Dan Dickerson is wonderful on the Tigers.
My dislikes are mostly relics of when I was younger and more inclined to develop resentments. Tim Brandt was the worst guy I ever heard call football and his voice still sets me on edge when I see replays of old games. I developed a passionate DISlike for Bill Clement. Tom Hammond wasn’t actually bad at his job and his calls of Usain Bolt races were genuinely good/great, but I hated him as a football announcer.
I love Brandstatter and Karsch as Michigan media guys and lifers and find listening to their radio calls uncomfortable in no small part because I like them and they’re not well-suited to it.
Trying too hard with your least list.
Favorites : Tony Romo and Paul Keels (Ohio St football,basketball radio guy) are the 2 that stick out to me as the ELITE ones ,but i really like Bill Walton ,Keith Jackson, Paul Carey and Ernie Harwell (probably listened to 1000 Tiger radio games from like 1978-1990) Paul Keels,Ernie,Paul Carey,are great radio voices can listen to them for hours and hours
I actually like 100s of them esp people that "know the sport they are covering" like Gibby,Jake Morris ,Petry Harry Carey ,anyone that can add more than just "its 2-2 with one out"
Not a fan of : Joey Galloway and Gary Danielson ... Joey doesnt do his homework for the game hes covering and Gary Danielson is just the worst "game caller" ive ever heard
April 27th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
Paul Keels is an elite professional radio guy for sure.
Favorites: Harry Doyle, Jim Brockmire, the guy from Semi-Pro.
Worst: Costas, Michaels, Walton, Vitale, Captain Rodvious.
I don't know who my favorite is, but Joe Buck is definitely my least favorite. It's like having Troy McClure call a game. I try to avoid him at all costs. If he's calling a M game, I just mute the TV.