Favorite Nationally Known Sports Broadcasters

[Fatter than Joey]

Cris Collinsworth is an exceptional color commentator.

 

I think he is really sharp -- but I hated him this last year.

 

I like Gus Johnson as well -- he should be the announcer of the world -- I'd watch a dog show if he was announcing it, even NBA basketball.

[ttsather]

I'll take Brad Nessler, Keith Jackson, Brent Musberger, Gus Johnson, Bert Lundquist, Gary Thorne, Mike "Doc" Emrick, Ron Jaworski, Harry Kalas, Marv Albert (NBA and NFL on Westwood One) and then of course Uecker, Scully.

 

I can't stand basically all NFL TV play-by-play guys. Al Michaels rises above mediocrity most of the time, but I get sick of how he and Madden essentially lose interest if a game isn't close and just start talking about whatever they want. Everyone else is just bad.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd watch a dog show if he was announcing it, even NBA basketball.

 

And the sheltie has laid a steaming log on the judge's left shoe!! OH my!

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

You got to remember though with guys like Aikman and Madden, they are coloring the number one games for their network. These games attract the most casual fans

 

All the more reason to be descriptive beyond imaginary/secondary factors - inform your fans, don't cater to their lack of intelligence/knowledge. One reason bad (imho) sportscasters bother me is that there's no one to call them out when they say stupid crap, and then the casual fan begins to assume that stuff is real/true.

[GAME05]

I always thought Matt Millen was pretty decent doing football games. I have the feeling he'll be back on TV soon enough.

 

I believe his name is Jason Klapisch, the late-night guy on XM. he has an excellent general-baseball show during the season. also has an excellent knowledge of minor-league players, so people call up about minor-league guys just as much as major-league ones.

 

so i guess the evolution of commentating has gone first the one-liner guys like Madden and Vitale; then the booth as entertainment like Dennis Miller; and now we're thrown lots eye-candy like Erin Andrews. wonder where commentating will head next.

[brewers4eric]

I'll put in a vote for Don Meredith. I liked the way he would whistle "take me out to the ballgame" when Howard Cosell would run through the baseball scores during the Monday Night Football broadcasts.

 

I used to watch NFL games based on whether or not Joe Namath was in the booth. Broadway Joe was so bad, that the game became more enjoyable. Every comment that he made ended with the phrase, "...on the play" in his Alabama/New York twang. A quarterback would get crushed and Joe would say something like "blitz bad, bad bad blitz". ESPN should pull him out of retirement and team him up with Suzy Kolber.

 

Iowa State basketball games were great when "the Roland Rocket", Gary Thompson, was broadcasting. Each game became a learning experience as he quickly analyzed and dissected coaching strategies, and passed along his knowledge to listeners.

[PKBadger]

I need to give a shout-out to Andrew Siciliano, the guy who hosts the Red Zone Channel on NFL Sunday Ticket. I only got to watch this channel once during the season (visiting my parents who have DirecTV) but I'm hooked now....not only is it fun to be able to bounce around to the most exciting games, but Andrew is legitimately funny and informative to boot.

[bucks2281]

Bob Uecker? Add another vote for Raftery.

 

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman did a superb job at the Super Bowl last night, too.

 

I don't even know what to say... never before have I watched the majority of the Super Bowl with the sound turned off. I kept wishing there was a way to mute just the announcers, as I love the crowd noise(s) of a sporting event. I loathe Buck's son, and Aikman is just... well, no point in me being any more of a jerk than I already have been here.

 

EDIT: On the flip-side of the Fox NFL coin, I think Curt Menefee is spectacular.

I'm not a fan of Buck during the baseball season. Not at all. But he did not over-dramatize anything during the game. He was short, simple, and sweet in his calls of the Randy Moss and Plaxico Burress TDs. I think he did a great job.

 

Most writers who analyzed the FOX broadcast of the Super Bowl agree that Aikman/Buck did a great job.

[danzig6767]

Since others brought up guys i like, i'll mention a few others from the college level.

 

Bilas and Lavin have called quite a few Badgers games and i like the job they do

 

For college football i always liked Keith Jackson and feel Brad Nessler and Griese make a good combo

[bball123h2]

Whoa nelly! I love watching cliff diving with Keith Jackson on Cheap Seats. Currently, I guess it's Joe Buck.

[TooLiveBrew]

Well, it's Duke-NC talk on ESPN... wonder if we'll hear about this after today...

[elbobbo82]

Pam Ward

 

Wow, I couldn't even write it down without laughing, she's terrible. However, Gus is great, and I used to love Keith Jackson

[Menotti80]

Speaking of Gus Johnson, it's now March and he is announcing the Marquette/Georgetown game right now.

 

Gotta love March Madness..... and Go Marquette

[craigharmann]

Bill Raftery has good insights, but his schtick is getting boring. I swear, every time I hear him, his call of man-to-man is incoherent and he just falls in love with his stupid phrases. Gus Johnson is a great college broadcaster. Clark Kellogg sure isn't bad at all.

[logan82]

Collinsworth used to work for FOX. He was they guy at the end who got picked on for a year or two before being moved to do games.

[sbrylski]

The guy from NBA Jam.

[BrewCrewForever]

The guy from NBA Jam.

"He's on fire!"

 

"Wild shot!"

[danzig6767]

Speaking of Gus Johnson, it's now March and he is announcing the Marquette/Georgetown game right now.

 

Gotta love March Madness..... and Go Marquette

Clark Kellog is a great sidekick to the ultra talented Gus Johnson

Listening to those two call the Marquette game was a pleasure, to bad Marquette had to choke at the end

 

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

Sean McDonough

[trouty42]

I like Joe Buck...mostly. He's very good at calling the game itself, but he can be a bit arrogant sometimes. His skill makes up for it.

 

Jon Miller is good, I could listen to him forever.

 

Can't stand Ron Jaworski, I've never liked that guy. Don't care what he has to say or how knowledgeable he is, he's just way too over the top in his presentation. He's no less arrogant then Joe Theismann, but I actually liked Theismann. Theismann was witty and entertaining, Jaws is just annoying. He's a Matt Millen wannabe, even down to believing he'd be a good GM. Laughable.

[Mr QL]

I like Bill Walton. I'm really disappointed that ESPN isn't having him to game anymore and only be a studio guy.