Fox poaches him from ESPN. Will team with Gus Johnson (who I find annoying). Raftery is great, though!
Raferty is great. Johnson is great. Excellent.........
Sorry...did not see this in the other thread
HUGE and enjoyable get. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Made my day--that is a first class pair of announcers/promoters.
Bill Raftery Leaves ESPN to Announce Big East Basketball for Fox
By Mason Levinson
June 27 (Bloomberg) -- College basketball analyst Bill Raftery agreed to call games for the new Big East Conference next season on Fox Sports 1, ending a relationship with ESPN that began in 1982.
Raftery will serve as lead analyst, working with play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, on regular-season and Big East Tournament games for the network that begins programming Aug. 17, Fox Sports said in a news release.
"I was fortunate to work at ESPN since its inception, and I'll be forever grateful to all the talented, professional people who supported me along the way," Raftery said in a statement. "Today, though, we turn the page. I've been associated with the Big East Conference since it began, and I feel the same excitement and anticipation now as I did way back then as the conference is re-born with Fox Sports."
Raftery, 70, who played three seasons at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, has been a basketball analyst on radio and television for 32 years, working with ESPN, CBS and CBS Radio. He coached Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, from 1970 to 1981, posting a record of 154-141.
The newly formed Big East begins business on July 1 following a split from the original conference that was founded in 1979. After retaining the rights to the Big East name, its schools will be Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova, Seton Hall, Providence, Marquette, DePaul, Butler, Creighton and Xavier.
Val Ackerman, the first head of the Women's National Basketball Association, was introduced yesterday as the first commissioner of the new Big East.
Gus Johnson is fun. Has a great attitude and is technically strong.
Raftery used to be very good but he has become a caricature of himself in recent years, with some ridiculous need to spit out one of his dopey catchphrases every 35 seconds.
The last couple years I felt sorry for Bilas when they had a three-man booth. You had two guys trying to describe basketball and the other spewing silliness. Sometimes, Raftery would bait Bilas, who is too nice a guy to tell him to shut the eff up. I'm sure Johnson will be dragged into Raftery's goofiness, too.
Oh well. I know that others like Raftery, so congrats to those who do.
Quote from: MU82 on June 27, 2013, 01:59:31 PM
Gus Johnson is fun. Has a great attitude and is technically strong.
Raftery used to be very good but he has become a caricature of himself in recent years, with some ridiculous need to spit out one of his dopey catchphrases every 35 seconds.
The last couple years I felt sorry for Bilas when they had a three-man booth. You had two guys trying to describe basketball and the other spewing silliness. Sometimes, Raftery would bait Bilas, who is too nice a guy to tell him to shut the eff up. I'm sure Johnson will be dragged into Raftery's goofiness, too.
Oh well. I know that others like Raftery, so congrats to those who do.
I am stunned that, of the two of the, it's Raftery you think has become a caricature. Gus Johnson is a carnival barker!
Bilas loves Raft. I've run into those guys (McDonnough, too) a few times in MKE and you can tell they're pretty tight.
I always thought Raftery would be fun to have a beer (or three) with
I never understood how pissed off or excited about announcers. The announcers have a .0000001% effect on the game to me.
That said, both these guys are big names and generally liked. Great for the new conference.
Raftery will be great for BEast.
Quote from: martyconlonontherun on June 27, 2013, 02:12:40 PM
I never understood how pissed off or excited about announcers. The announcers have a .0000001% effect on the game to me.
That said, both these guys are big names and generally liked. Great for the new conference.
People get pissed at announcers cause if they are bad, you have to listen to them the whole game. I don't know if anyone says they have an effect on the game, just on your viewing experience.
Expect him to announce plenty of Marquette games next year. Sounds like we are the top dogs for the first time.
http://www.barstoolsports.com/nyc/super-page/bill-raftery-and-gus-johnson-will-reunite-to-call-big-east-basketball-on-fox-sports-1/
Love Raftery. Like Gus. On air talent is important IMO. This is very good news.
This is awesome. Raftery is great and Gus Johnson is fantastic.
Hoped it as wishful thinking months ago. How great!
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on June 27, 2013, 02:07:58 PM
I am stunned that, of the two of the, it's Raftery you think has become a caricature. Gus Johnson is a carnival barker!
Johnson is just excitable. He's kind of like a college version of Kevin Harlan. The latter has simmered down some over the years and Johnson is maturing, too. Again, I think he knows his stuff.
Raftery, with the two-per-minute catchphrases, is starting to remind me of Vitale. Both are good for basketball, but they simply aren't pleasing to my ear. Others may disagree.
Speaking to another commenter ... why do the announcers matter? Because we either have to listen to them for 2-plus hours or mute the volume. I'd rather not watch an entire game on mute and I'd rather get some genuine insight from the announcers instead of constant reminders that the big fella scored with a kiss.
Quote from: Abode4life on June 27, 2013, 02:17:57 PM
People get pissed at announcers cause if they are bad, you have to listen to them the whole game. I don't know if anyone says they have an effect on the game, just on your viewing experience.
Still don't understand. You don't have to do anything and it's not like you need announcers to watch the game. You don't need commentators at the BC, so why do you need them at home? Go to a bar and watch a game. Turn it on mute and talk to friends about the game. Turn off the sound and listen to Homer. You have so many options than being forced to listen to the game. Only time it makes a difference is if you have a hall-of-fame type coach providing insight, which doesn't happen very often and you won't find that with any of these big-time announcers no matter what channel.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on June 27, 2013, 02:22:35 PM
Love Raftery. Like Gus. On air talent is important IMO. This is very good news.
Yep. Both of them have big followings, and will help bring in viewers. If there's a close game that Gus is calling, people turn it on.
This is a big deal. Adds a lot of credibility to FS1's coverage.
Quote from: Red Stripe on June 27, 2013, 02:12:08 PM
I always thought Raftery would be fun to have a beer (or three) with
I'd pay good $ for the honor
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on June 27, 2013, 01:43:47 PM
Fox poaches him from ESPN. Will team with Gus Johnson (who I find annoying). Raftery is great, though!
:)
I had dinner with Gus on Tuesday night and he said a huge announcement was coming this week for basketball fans. He wouldn't spill the beans, so this must have been it.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on June 27, 2013, 02:07:58 PM
I am stunned that, of the two of the, it's Raftery you think has become a caricature. Gus Johnson is a carnival barker!
I disagree...I find them both pretty good. Gus is who he is, at least during the 5 hours I spent with him the other day. I know that's a limited sample size, but I attend a few of these things and you ultimately see their true personas come out when they let their guard down. I would say he is that way during the entire evening. He's like the energizer bunny (nothing compared to Jay Glazer, however, damn that guy is running on something high octane. :D LOL)
I friggin love love love this move. Johnson and Raft are great. Sure, both may at times become caricatures, but after doing something for so long and being liked for doing it, you often tend to give people what they want (and expect).
I think this is great from a credibility standpoint. No, announcers don't make/break a league or network, but they can certainly affect the perception of it.
Imagine if Fox Sports had hired ESPN's or CBS' third-string crew. With no "names", they'd have no cache or anything at the table from day one.
The fact that Johnson and Raft are two well-known "brands" helps the credibility of FS1. Great, great get. And as a fan, I'm super stoked to see Raft. I'll miss him and Bilas as they had great chemistry.
Sweet MU raftery line from last season : "most gardners do their work during the day, but this one does his at night under the lights"
Quote from: Niv Berkowitz on June 27, 2013, 03:46:06 PM
I friggin love love love this move. Johnson and Raft are great. Sure, both may at times become caricatures, but after doing something for so long and being liked for doing it, you often tend to give people what they want (and expect).
I think this is great from a credibility standpoint. No, announcers don't make/break a league or network, but they can certainly affect the perception of it.
Imagine if Fox Sports had hired ESPN's or CBS' third-string crew. With no "names", they'd have no cache or anything at the table from day one.
The fact that Johnson and Raft are two well-known "brands" helps the credibility of FS1. Great, great get. And as a fan, I'm super stoked to see Raft. I'll miss him and Bilas as they had great chemistry.
Who knows....maybe Bilas will jump to FOX1 too?
Quote from: muwarrior69 on June 27, 2013, 03:50:50 PM
Who knows....maybe Bilas will jump to FOX1 too?
Unlikely. Charissa Thompson is in the Fox fold now, from ESPN. She is dating Jay Williams, who had his contract end with ESPN a few months ago. I don't think he resigned with ESPN, so you might see Williams come over to Fox.
ESPN is paring down a bunch of costs right now and willing to let some talent go, which Fox is happy to pick up.
Jay Williams is a douche bag
Onions!
How can anyone not love this? Both are outstanding!!!
I guess Gus won't be doing games on BTN anymore.
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
Quote from: muguru on June 27, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
I would think him leaving ESPN has little/no impact on his working NCAA Tourney games broadcast on CBS/Turner.
What a great addition, Bill Raftery is Big East basketball!
Quote from: mupanther on June 27, 2013, 05:30:34 PM
I guess Gus won't be doing games on BTN anymore.
BTN is 49% owned by Fox.
Quote from: muguru on June 27, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
He might be able to. ESPN "loaned" Jay Bilas and others over to CBS in the past to call NCAA Tournament games so it is not unprecedented.
Quote from: muguru on June 27, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
He is still with CBS.
I have no use for Gus Johnson, but thrilled will the Raftery news.
I like Raft because when he gets excited he sometimes refers to MU as the Warriors.
Quote from: muguru on June 27, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
As per ESPN he will still do CBS http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9430328/bill-raftery-leaves-espn-fox-sticks-big-east
Quote from: muguru on June 27, 2013, 05:35:09 PM
I love getting Raf but if it means he won't call NCAA tourney games anymore, than I don't know how I feel about it. Seems kind of bittersweet then.
People just don't read crap anymore, do they?
Quote from: mileskishnish72 on June 28, 2013, 07:01:50 AM
I like Raft because when he gets excited he sometimes refers to MU as the Warriors.
Only true knowledgeable basketball fans know that MU is and will always be Warriors. Golden Eagles is just the PC name used by the phonies.
Quote from: martyconlonontherun on June 27, 2013, 02:12:40 PM
I never understood how pissed off or excited about announcers. The announcers have a .0000001% effect on the game to me.
That said, both these guys are big names and generally liked. Great for the new conference.
You've clearly never watched a game called by Mark Pritchard and Lon Elmwood.
I do like both guys but I hope Johnson finds a way to be balanced in his excitement. At critical moments or the end of the game... his energy is great. But when a guy makes a nice shot in the first five minutes let's not pretend it is the greatest moment ever.
Quote from: klyrish on June 28, 2013, 12:19:02 PM
You've clearly never watched a game called by Mark Pritchard and Lon Elmwood.
I am guessing you are referencing Len Elmore. What's crazy is that he is a Harvard Law grad so one would think his training would yield exceptional precision and accuracy in his commentary. What is obvious is that his part time gig gets little prep. He should be held accountable for butchering players' names. It really is inexcusable.
I try to be objective.
Bill Raftery is a great pickup imo. He knows the teams and league. He's extremely likable as a person. It is such an admirable trait to be able to offer constructive criticism in a positive way. This is a big Raft trait. He likes what he does. And, it shows. It's fair to say that He isn't the same at times, but that can be expected at this stage of his career. His work is still very good more often than not at this time. At some point that will change. I don't think it will in the early stages of the new league during the transition period.
Partnered with Gus Johnson. Johnson is solid, but not great imo. He has a lot of potential to be better than he is at this time. Some will have blanket reaction/opinion based on their like or dislike for his enthusiasm. For me, when it is natural in certain parts of a game, it's great. But when it's manufactured, which for me has happened too much in recent years, it's far less appealing. His prep isn't always what I'd like to see, and pairing him with Raft, might not provide the best balance there. But both are solid enough and likable enough to do fine.
Raft isn't play by play and I always separate the two jobs. But pne can think of Verne Lundquist or Dick Enberg when thinking of Raft. Enberg's worked slipped more and sooner than Verne, but Verne's has too. Raft is slowly going down that path. And, at times, he could do better to slip in the catch phrases on some spots vs others, more judiciously. That's fair.
I like both Raft and Johnson, and I think it's a good start for the new league.
I would have to agree regarding Len Elmore. He's clearly intelligent and understands the game, but prep was lacking. And, for some, likability wasn't there as much as some pf the others. Plus LE was/ is more of a debate person.
Harlan is good pbp imo. McDonough is good. Leading the viewer/listener, adding to the broadcast, without being the focal point. I like Ian Eagle as well.
Quote from: keefe on June 30, 2013, 12:18:07 AM
I am guessing you are referencing Len Elmore. What's crazy is that he is a Harvard Law grad so one would think his training would yield exceptional precision and accuracy in his commentary. What is obvious is that his part time gig gets little prep. He should be held accountable for butchering players' names. It really is inexcusable.
Mike Patrick (who messes up every person's name and what team they're on) and Len Elmore...the John Madden of NCAA commentary without any of the funny noises. Besides the general humor stemming from his weird voice.
You are so right, Willie.
So does this mean there will be only one Big East game on any one day?
Quote from: muwarrior69 on July 02, 2013, 03:10:57 PM
So does this mean there will be only one Big East game on any one day?
What makes you say that? I'm assuming there will be other crews and other games for both FS1 and FS2. In fact, it has already been announced that everyone in the conference will play New Years Eve. I'm assuming this is just the headliner crew.