Announcers

[MUDPT]

Can we bring Pat Hughes back now that he's the Ford Frick winner?

[MU82]

Start a thread to keep track

I'd like that.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy trying to get invited to dinner.

Just tell me where to show up. 

[Scoop Snoop]

Just tell me where to show up. 

Offer to pick up the tab and you will probably get an invite.

[tower912]

And a booster seat.

[Scoop Snoop]

And a booster seat.

Good one! But why the teal?

[Jay Bee]

The world is not a patch in our jeans, guys

[Newsdreams]

He is an eater of meat.

Nah, I bet he swallows, #deepthroat.

[Scoop Snoop]

Before this thread sinks to the bottom of the page, your thoughts on what you like and what you do not like about announcers? I am admittedly sour on many of them, so take that into account.

Likes:

A quick analysis squeezed in when there is a stoppage of play. I especially like it with a sharpie pen showing how and why a play worked so well or what a team is doing that is messing up their opponents.

Announcers who are NOT motormouths. Raferty is my favorite. Offer insight, not blather. If you have nothing of value to say, shut up!

Realists who do not say (with :30 left in the 2nd half) "There's plenty of time left!". I get that they should not call a game too early.

Dislikes:

Telling us how many possessions the trailing team needs to win the game at the end. We can figure that out ourselves, thank you.

Saying "They do not need a three here" when the trailing team is down by 3-5 with about :30 seconds left. Technically, that's true, but let's get real.

Constantly critiquing the refs, as if the announcer's pontification on calls has any bearing whatsoever on the decisions. Focus on the game, dammit!  That's why you are paid the Big Bucks.

[rocket surgeon]

good idea scooper-

   i like announcers who aren't wearing the other teams jersey under their shirt

  vitale can be entertaining but he knows everybody of course...i just had lunch with...always someone from duke or UNC or kansas or...

      why doesn't he have lunch with someone from south dakota state? 

however, he's not going to be along for long or have the energy we are used to so we should appreciate him and what he has done for b-ball

[warriorchick]

Dislike:  Announcers that state the obvious.

"Well, if this team [that is currently losing] is going to win this game, they are going to have to put some more points on the board!"

How insightful!

[Scoop Snoop]

good idea scooper-

   i like announcers who aren't wearing the other teams jersey under their shirt

  vitale can be entertaining but he knows everybody of course...i just had lunch with...always someone from duke or UNC or kansas or...

      why doesn't he have lunch with someone from south dakota state? 

however, he's not going to be along for long or have the energy we are used to so we should appreciate him and what he has done for b-ball

I think Vitale can be entertaining in small doses, but he wears on me quickly. As I pointed out, I'm hell on announcers, so take that into account.

Vitale is a good example of announcers who make it all about themselves. Bill Walton is another guy who can be entertaining but after a while? No thank you. Especially with his effin' "conference of champions" schtick.

[THRILLHO]

Before this thread sinks to the bottom of the page, your thoughts on what you like and what you do not like about announcers? I am admittedly sour on many of them, so take that into account.

Likes:

A quick analysis squeezed in when there is a stoppage of play. I especially like it with a sharpie pen showing how and why a play worked so well or what a team is doing that is messing up their opponents.

Announcers who are NOT motormouths. Raferty is my favorite. Offer insight, not blather. If you have nothing of value to say, shut up!

Realists who do not say (with :30 left in the 2nd half) "There's plenty of time left!". I get that they should not call a game too early.

Dislikes:

Telling us how many possessions the trailing team needs to win the game at the end. We can figure that out ourselves, thank you.

Saying "They do not need a three here" when the trailing team is down by 3-5 with about :30 seconds left. Technically, that's true, but let's get real.

Constantly critiquing the refs, as if the announcer's pontification on calls has any bearing whatsoever on the decisions. Focus on the game, dammit!  That's why you are paid the Big Bucks.

Not a fan of using the sharpie because it covers up that part of the screen the rest of the game.

[Dr. Blackheart]

My rating scale for analysts is broken into Bread and Circuses (RIP James Ward).  Vitale and Walton are all Circus. Fran is Bread. Raf is a blend which is why he is the tops. 

Billy was Bread and Al was a blend like Raf.  If you cannot be a blend, be a Bread over Circus (that's you Dickey although Bardo has become stale Bread). Butch and Jordan are the emerging talents for me. I liked Lavin in the studio but he was not good in game.

And do your homework! 

[mileskishnish72]

I think Vitale can be entertaining in small doses, but he wears on me quickly. As I pointed out, I'm hell on announcers, so take that into account.

Vitale is a good example of announcers who make it all about themselves.

Whenever the topic of MU comes up, Vitale is quick to point out that he (Detroit) beat Al & MU. He is as reticent to bring this up as John Kasich is to tell you that his father was a mailman.

[Its DJOver]

Whenever the topic of MU comes up, Vitale is quick to point out that he (Detroit) beat Al & MU. He is as reticent to bring this up as John Kasich is to tell you that his father was a mailman.

He mentions it every time, but he also loved Al and talks us up every time.  He's also the only one I've heard that will still call us the Warriors on occasion, and he loved Otule when he was here and would talk about their eyes a lot.  As long as he's not working a Duke or UNC game, he's fine in small doses.

[Scoop Snoop]

Not a fan of using the sharpie because it covers up that part of the screen the rest of the game.

So buy a TV with a giant screen. And quit whining.

[dgies9156]

Dislikes:

1) Over-stating the obvious -- I loved George Thompson as a player and a person, but he was really really bad at doing this.

2) Know-Nothings -- Too often, we have both announcers and color commentators assigned to our games who really don't know our team. Many haven't taken the time to look at film, see what tendencies are and talk with Shaka and the players. Their aloofness is apparent in their commentary and in their lack of understanding of what's happening.

3) "I don't want to be heres" -- We don't see this too often but occasionally you get people whose attitude and lack of excitement suggest, "why am I here?"

4) Dick Vitale -- You ever love him or hate him! Vitale is exciting to listen to but he is all hype and no knowledge. He's a name-dropper extraordinaire. I question how much he knows about today's game.

Likes(d)

1) Al & Billy -- Obviously long gone but when Al and Billy were together, they were perfect. They knew the game. They wanted to be there and they were excited by it. With Dick Enberg as referee, they were the best college basketball trio ever.

2) Verne Lundquist -- Gosh was he good. Understated enthusiasm. The guy was and may still be a rock when it comes to NCAA basketball broadcasting. Really good in football too.

3) Respect -- Respect for the game means not talking over it. Letting people enjoy what's happening without talking and talking and even screaming. It's OK to be excited but let the viewers and listeners experience the moment, not the announcer's entertainment (why I hated Harry Carey and loved Vince Scully). My favorite lines were Jack Buck's simple, "go crazy folks, go crazy," or, when David Freese poked one in Game 6 of the World Series, "We will see you tomorrow night...." Another one was the late Ray Scott: "Starr, Dale, Touchdown!"

Some of my favorites:
Milo Hamilton
Vince Scully
Keith Jackson
Dick, Al & Billy
Ray Scott
Bob Uecker

Some of my least favorites
Howard Cosell
Dick Vitale
Harry Carey

[Scoop Snoop]

My rating scale for analysts is broken into Bread and Circuses (RIP James Ward).  Vitale and Walton are all Circus. Fran is Bread. Raf is a blend which is why he is the tops. 

Billy was Bread and Al was a blend like Raf.  If you cannot be a blend, be a Bread over Circus (that's you Dickey although Bardo has become stale Bread). Butch and Jordan are the emerging talents for me. I liked Lavin in the studio but he was not good in game.

And do your homework!

Amen to that! Oh, and please do not butcher the pronunciation of the players' names. No more "Ighodory"

[MUfan12]

At the pro level I really enjoy Marques Johnson. He's engaging but also breaks stuff down. When he first got the Bucks job he would sit in with the analytics team to learn that aspect of their game prep.

[Galway Eagle]

Idea for announcers. Hire 11 one alum from each school in conference and pair them up. I'd love to listen to the banter when there's truly vested interest in the games and pot shots at each other especially if the alums were around the same age.

[warriorchick]

I miss Johnny Most.

When I lived in Boston, would listen to him even though I hated the Celtics.  But his entertainment value had nothing to do with basketball knowledge.  Worst homer ever (or best, depending on how you look at it).

[Scoop Snoop]

Dislikes:

1) Over-stating the obvious -- I loved George Thompson as a player and a person, but he was really really bad at doing this.

2) Know-Nothings -- Too often, we have both announcers and color commentators assigned to our games who really don't know our team. Many haven't taken the time to look at film, see what tendencies are and talk with Shaka and the players. Their aloofness is apparent in their commentary and in their lack of understanding of what's happening.

3) "I don't want to be heres" -- We don't see this too often but occasionally you get people whose attitude and lack of excitement suggest, "why am I here?"

4) Dick Vitale -- You ever love him or hate him! Vitale is exciting to listen to but he is all hype and no knowledge. He's a name-dropper extraordinaire. I question how much he knows about today's game.

Likes(d)

1) Al & Billy -- Obviously long gone but when Al and Billy were together, they were perfect. They knew the game. They wanted to be there and they were excited by it. With Dick Enberg as referee, they were the best college basketball trio ever.

2) Verne Lundquist -- Gosh was he good. Understated enthusiasm. The guy was and may still be a rock when it comes to NCAA basketball broadcasting. Really good in football too.

3) Respect -- Respect for the game means not talking over it. Letting people enjoy what's happening without talking and talking and even screaming. It's OK to be excited but let the viewers and listeners experience the moment, not the announcer's entertainment (why I hated Harry Carey and loved Vince Scully). My favorite lines were Jack Buck's simple, "go crazy folks, go crazy," or, when David Freese poked one in Game 6 of the World Series, "We will see you tomorrow night...." Another one was the late Ray Scott: "Starr, Dale, Touchdown!"

Some of my favorites:
Milo Hamilton
Vince Scully
Keith Jackson
Dick, Al & Billy
Ray Scott
Bob Uecker

Some of my least favorites
Howard Cosell
Dick Vitale
Harry Carey

Really nice post dgies. Agree about Al and Billy. Howard Cosell had an annoying voice, so he was handicapped from the gate.

Musburger and another announcer whose name I have forgotten were calling a Cowboys game decades ago when Roger Staubach was QB. As Roger headed back to the line, the other guy said "Roger walks like a sissy." Dead silence, then "What did you say?" "Roger walks like a sissy." Then one of the best zingers ever in sports announcing. "When you played football....did you wear a helmut?'

[MU82]

Marv Albert was the best basketball PBP announcer ever IMHO. Really good at football and hockey, too.

Always liked Mike Emrick for hockey. Kevin Harlan is outstanding for basketball, and quite good for football.

Pat Hughes has been a pleasure to listen to; his work with Santo, who was lovably terrible, was especially noteworthy.

Ian Eagle is excellent.

Analysts:

Spanarkel is about the best college hoops has. Bilas knows his stuff, but he sometimes suffers from "I'm smarter than everyone" syndrome. I'm always glad to see Brian Butch doing one of our games. Jim Jackson is solid. I think Raf is a little overrated -- tries too hard to belt out his next catchphrase, and makes a few too many non sequiturs referring to crapola that happened in freakin' 1972 -- but I'll definitely take him over most others.

Greg Olsen is outstanding; thought he'd be good but he's even exceeded my expectations. I think Fox would be insane to throw bazillions at Brady, when Olsen is already one of the best.

Johnny Miller was fun to listen to; he'd say anything and criticize anyone.

I know I'm leaving out lots of good PBP folks and analysts. As I said in an earlier post, the really good ones add to the quality of a broadcast.

[panda]

Marv Albert was the best basketball PBP announcer ever IMHO. Really good at football and hockey, too.

Always liked Mike Emrick for hockey. Kevin Harlan is outstanding for basketball, and quite good for football.

Pat Hughes has been a pleasure to listen to; his work with Santo, who was lovably terrible, was especially noteworthy.

Ian Eagle is excellent.

Analysts:

Spanarkel is about the best college hoops has. Bilas knows his stuff, but he sometimes suffers from "I'm smarter than everyone" syndrome. I'm always glad to see Brian Butch doing one of our games. Jim Jackson is solid. I think Raf is a little overrated -- tries too hard to belt out his next catchphrase, and makes a few too many non sequiturs referring to crapola that happened in freakin' 1972 -- but I'll definitely take him over most others.

Greg Olsen is outstanding; thought he'd be good but he's even exceeded my expectations. I think Fox would be insane to throw bazillions at Brady, when Olsen is already one of the best.

Johnny Miller was fun to listen to; he'd say anything and criticize anyone.

I know I'm leaving out lots of good PBP folks and analysts. As I said in an earlier post, the really good ones add to the quality of a broadcast.

Olsen is awesome - Such an engaging guy and does a great job of picking apart the finer parts of the game in a succinct manner.