Best/Worst Sportscaster??
While sitting here watching curling (with the rest of MGOBLOG nation) I was wondering how Andrew Catalon got the gig as curling announcer because clearly even after a week of curling action he knows absolutely nothing. So here are my votes for best/worst announcers in major sports:
Best: Brent Musburger, Seems like a decent guy, plus he has his own drinking game: http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/005660.php
Worst: Kirk Herbstreit, Duh.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^
meant to say JEFF van gundy
February 21st, 2010 at 3:06 PM ^
Yeah, he went to Yale before transfering because he wasn't good enough at basketball. And then he coached middling talent to a .575 winning mark over a decade in the NBA. What a retard.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
Obviously he's got a good education but sometimes I just don't want to hear a commentator bitch the entire game about everything that he possibly can. I can remember a few times he even legit argues with the people he's calling with, and it's really distracting.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
I happen to like his schtick, but I can certainly understand how some people don't. In reference to Texas guy, I'd just maintain that there's a major difference between calling Van Gundy annoying (legit) and calling him stupid (clearly not the case).
February 21st, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
let me propose Mark Jackson for worst.
Not only are his comments terrible his voice is annoying.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
man down!
Yeah, he could ease off that a little. Still, I like the rapport he and Van Gundy have in the booth together. And both men definitely understand the game.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
lou holtz is absolutely terrible as an analyst. besides having to listen to his severe ND bias, u have to listen to him cough up phlegm between each word.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
After listening to Lou Holtz, I began to question if it was indeed Lee Corso who had the stroke.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^
When I first read the phrase "MGOBLOG Nation" I bristled at the words, that's far too close to "Buckeye Nation" for me. I'd strongly suggest that we don't ever use that phrase.
As for Musburger being the best... you yourself pointed out that he has a drinking game revolving around him- that implies that you simply repeats the same things over and over. If I want human interest stories, old clips/stories (often involving how Brent Musburger watched something awesome rather than the awesome event itself), or love for USC then I'll listen to Musburger. But, if I want good in-depth commentary on why something just happened, why a team is lined up the way it is, or an accurate description of an obscure-ish rule then I'll go to someone else.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure who I think the best commentator is, but I do know that I absolutely hate Pam Ward.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
has anyone seen the MSNBC/CNBC coverage of olympic hockey? roenick & Mike Milbury are turrible. they snap at each other and play antagonistic roles but it comes of as FAKE!
February 21st, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
So she's not James Earl Jones--at least she isn't obnoxious like the BTN guys.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:56 AM ^
Oh, so you have audio-video footage proving Pam Ward is a royal bitch who has no business broadcasting collegiate athletics. Well I'll be darned.
I guess now I have to change my Wayne Larrivee vote now that you've converted me to the Pam-Ward-is-she-devil camp. Man, the more I think about that video the more egregious it seems. Can you imagine being that kid's parents or sibling and watching that broadcast? I realize Ward didn't realize her mic was still on but there's just no excuse.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^
Anyone who says anybody besides Keith Jackson for best announcer is wrong. Yup...wrong.
Best:
Football: Keith Jackson. Enough said.
Baseball: Ernie Harwell and I like Jon Miller too
Basketball: Gus Johnson (can't believe some are hating on him) and I am really liking Bobby Knight as an analyst.
Hockey: Either Mickey Redmond or Don Cherry
Worst:
Football: The Ron Pitts bottom of the barrel team that FOX assigns the Lions game to every Sunday.
Baseball: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, although Mario and Rod are really giving them a run for their money lately with their no balls commentary refusing to criticize anything the Tigers do.
Basketball: Wayne Larrivee and his penchant for having a heart attack call when a player misses a free throw. Have you ever tried doing something else while watching a game he announces? I'm cooking ramen last night in the kitchen and running into the room after hearing him go crazy only to find out Douglass gets called for a handcheck at mid court. I usually mute him.
Hockey: Definitely Mike Emrick. If you listen closely enough during telecasts involving Pittsburgh (almost every game) you can hear his pants ruffle from the chub he gets every time Crosby touches the puck. Listening to NBC call the Stanley Cup the last couple years has been difficult.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:57 PM ^
Has lost it and is no longer interesting. It's pure Canadian nationalism now, without any actual insight. It's obnoxious.
His Phaneuf >>> Lidstrom (who he refused to say the name of, because he's a jackass) argument was just amazingly bad.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
I used to be a huge fan of Cherry, but in the past 5 or so years he has really turned into a senile old man.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
What the HELL was he before?!
February 21st, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
A crotchety old man.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:10 PM ^
Best: Keith Jackson
Worst: Pam Ward
February 21st, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
Football:
Don't her name but she does football for ESPN 2. She did the Indiana/Michigan game last year. Just awful.
Golf:
Kelly Tilghman
Johnny Miller
Hockey:
Pierre "Peckerhead" Maguire
Mike Emrick
I'll be the first to say that Matt Millen is an excellent football announcer on ABC. However, the CBS team has the best all around sports broadcasters.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
she does the majority of games on ESPN2 in the morning.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^
Best: Keith Jackson, and I will agree, just this once, with the poster who said that anyone who says anything else is "wrong," even though I see the fallacious nature of such reasoning.
Favorite: the late Bob Ufer. His death left a hole in the UM program that will probably never be filled. Sadly, in this era I don't think an announcer will ever be allowed to call games like Ufe did. Football just isn't as much fun without him.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
Thank you for mentioning McGuire, as he is busy spouting off during the Olympics and making them much worse. Can someone tell him to stop shouting all of the time?
Actually, I would like to nominate NBC's/Versus' hockey coverage no matter where it is as the worst sports coverage. (Spoiled CBC fan)
Best for me: Keith Jackson for football and Jim Hughson for hockey.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
Pierre just said the Russian hockey team is speaking Russian on the bench right now. I hate that man.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
I'm so happy I have no sound for the Russia/Czech game. Though I really wish CBC were covering it (and the US/Canada game tonight). What's up with that?
February 21st, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
CTV outbid CBC back in I believe 2005 for the broadcasting rights to the games, so they are all on TSN/Rogers.
On a completely unrelated note, did anyone else in the Detroit area get their audio feed cut out during the Czech goal so the weather service could say how much snow we were getting? God I hate NBC!
February 21st, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^
I'd be thrilled. They know how to cover sports. But nooooooo, they had to go and lose the broadcast rights to CTV, whose signal doesn't reach out here like CBC Windsor's does.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
Don't read the replies to your post. Save your innocence.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
But Musburger is worse because he's always calling big games, so more people have to suffer through him.
As to why he's so bad: because when Musburger calls a game, it's all hyperbole, and it's all about him. He doesn't know how to let the game stand on its own because he doesn't seem to think the game is good or important enough without him. Every marginally notable event within a game becomes OMG DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES. In short, he's the king of self-centered hyperbole.
A good announcer should complement the game, not get in the way.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Have you ever noticed that he cannot go a broadcast without mentioning USC or Texas?
February 21st, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
Best: Chris Spielman
Worst: Pam Ward
THE HORROR
THE HORRORFebruary 21st, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
How could we forget about Erin Andrews?!
February 21st, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
Because aside from her looks she isn't actually that memorable as a sportscaster?
February 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
I sure calling a game and or color commentary isn't exactly brain surgery; but it does require you to think reasonably quickly on your feet, pay attention, and carry on a semi-coherent conversation with another person while watching a fast moving sporting event.
For his ESPN segments Lou Holtz has a week to analyze a football matchup, and provide one tiny dose of insightful opinion with absolutely zero interruptions or distractions . . . and he STILL fucks it up!
Having to endure his moronic, spittle-flecked ramblings has gotten very old.
Ufer was always my personal favorite, he was a wonderfully shameless homer of course, but the passion he displayed was genuine, infectious and yet he remained a consummate professional.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
The Seidman, Andrew Seid, WCBN FM Ann Arbor.
Duh.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
No Seid, you're trash.
You know Rob Salaman is better than you ever were.
But at least we all know Tony Bolton is trash.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:39 PM ^
and for worst: paul maguire - when he was with griese and nessler he was the clown of the group
February 21st, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
Ware is Mr. Cliche'. How did he ever win the Heisman?
February 21st, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
the same way throwing for 4,699 yards, and 44 touchdowns won't win you an Emmy.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
Marv Albert- Dude just bites.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
but I don't have to like it. -1
February 21st, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
Musberger is just painful to sit through. I went a couple years not watching any non-Michigan game he called because I can't stand his over the top platitudes.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
Best: Herbie in CFB, Bob Knight in CBB
Worst: Joe Buck. His awfulness transcends any specific sport.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
I'll take three Joe Buck's over one Jumping Joe Morgan.
Every time he starts on a rambling trip down memory lane and ends up slabering about the big red machine, I want to slaughter a puppy and hang myself with it's gastrointestinal tract.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
You sir are correct.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
Worst: Kirk Herbstreit, Duh.Garbage. Herbie is terrific. You're saying he's the worst just because he's a Buckeye. If anything, he's a Big 10 man. Not only that, but if he actually wrecked some Les Miles deal, then good on him. (I know it sounds strange after 8-16 the last two seasons, but I can't stand Les Miles.) Keith Jackson is probably the best, but he had to go ahead and retire, that stupid JERKFACE!! This man has possibly left a greater mark on sports than anyone else, except for maybe Howard Cosell ("Frazier goes down!"). Other guys have their trademark phrases (Marv Albert, "Yesss!) and styles (Dick Vitale), but Keith Jackson is a master at making an amazing moment in sports even more memorable. "One man! Good-bye...Helloooo Heisman!" He came up with the nickname The Big House. "4th and 5, the National Championship on the line right here. He's going for the cornerrrr--he's got it! Vince Young scores." He came up with the nickname The Big House. I can't stand the obnoxiously biased Gary Danielson, but supposedly he's a decent color guy. Pam Ward with Ray Bentley makes me sick. I don't know who's worse: Pam Ward sucks and her voice is irritating, but Ray Bentley has mental deficiencies. Chris Berman's voice also makes me want to kill myself. Lou Holtz sucks and is way too biased (and a cheater, but I digress), but I like his pep talks and that newspaper trick he does sometimes. I actually like Lee Corso. He's amusing and seems to have fun announcing, but I think the poor guy has lost a step since his stroke. His quirks make him an icon. Overall, Keith Jackson. I also love Jerry Remy and Eck on NESN. Aikman and Gruden are pretty good too.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Down Goes Frasier.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
Wow, I have no idea how I let that happen. I feel like that German guy pretending to be a cop in Die Hard 3 when he gives himself away to McClane by saying "Yeah, it looks like it's going to rain dogs and cats," only worse. Also I wasn't accompanied by a guy wearing my adversary's dead friend's badge.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:09 PM ^
Mike "Doc" Emrick, Pierre McGuire, and Eddie Olczyk are the WORST announcers to go along with Brent Musberger. I just can't stand listening to any of those guys. Pam Ward is awful.
I love listening to Mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels. They call a fair game and when Mickey get's pissed it's the best. Bob Knight has an incredible basketball IQ and it's nice to hear someone who actually knows what they're talking about
February 21st, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
No one beats Hubie Brown. That guy is a walking, talking, hoops encyclopedia. He knows every aspect of basketball and it's fun just listening to him go on and on about the most technical things. Also, back in the day they had Danny Ainge calling games for a while, and he was hilarious. I think he was a little too racy for the network though.