OT: Brent Musburger to retire

Submitted by translator82 on

Brent Musberger announced he's retiring from sportscasting and he'll be calling his last game on Jan. 31 (Tuesday). 

Link

Long before his ABC/ESPN days, Musberger was the face of CBS' The NFL Today. 

Michigan highlights he called that stand out in my mind include the 1989 basketball national championship game, 1991 football vs. Notre Dame (Desmond Howard's diving catch), and UTL I.

Edit: AP reports that ESPN and Musberger said the Sugar Bowl/Mixon comments did not factor into this decision (I personally find that dubious)

MGoBoard
Other
ESPN
brent musberger
looking live
all the tostitos

translator82

January 25th, 2017 at 11:54 AM ^

That riveting Georgia vs. Kentucky SEC basketball showdown at Rupp Arena. ESPN is trying to spin it as he's going to end his career where he called the classic Villanova-Georgetown 1985 title game (Yes, it was in Lexington). 

Should also note: CBS canned him on the eve of the 1990 NCAA national championship game (UNLV-Duke) on April 1 and everyone thought it was a joke because it was April Fools (only it wasn't). Looks like that was over a contract dispute plus new CBS Sports management. Link

Joined: 10/16/2008

MGoPoints: 1854

translator82

January 25th, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^

The link I posted discussed it: He was in the middle of contract negotiations that had turned tenuous and CBS Sports had new leadership. They canned him with a couple months left on his contract but still let him call the title game (awkward...). 

Joined: 10/16/2008

MGoPoints: 1854

jmblue

January 25th, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^

77 years old?  Wow.  I guess I hadn't given his age much thought, but I would have guessed him to be about a decade younger than that.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102831

Fab and Fresh

January 25th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

Aside from Keith when he was doing his thing, I rarely even notice who calls games. I noticed Brent for this first time...REALLY noticed him...during Oklahoma's bowl game this year. Can't stand the guy after hearing him attempt to defend the indefensible. I also have a very hard time believing that his comments didn't clear the path to the door him him. Fuck that guy.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 04/14/2013

MGoPoints: 2623

charblue.

January 25th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

a sometime announcer of games of his choosing? I guess he doesn't have the same pull as Keith. Oh well, no more of us  'looking live' at games with Brent, I guess. Great career, overall, if not a bit stale in his latter years on air.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11405

Bando Calrissian

January 25th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

You are looking live at the shuffleboard court at the fabulous Del Boca Vista...

But, seriously. I accidentally bumped into Musburger on the court at Crisler before a game. I was heading over to sub for Basketball Band and he was heading up the tunnel. That was over a decade ago, and even then he looked like the Cryptkeeper up close. Surprised he made it this long in the booth and was still pretty much on top of it.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68120

Huss

January 25th, 2017 at 11:43 AM ^

A young Musberger called John Smith and Tommie Carlos "blackskinned stormtroopers" for having the audacity to raise their fists, so I would not mind it at all if that creepy old man croaked on-air during his last hoorah.  It's the fate he deserves.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 1925

bacon1431

January 25th, 2017 at 11:52 AM ^

While I don't wish him death, he has never had my respect for not publicly apologizing for those comments and coming clean. Awful mistake he made, but he should just own up to it now and use his puplit to amend for those comments. 

Joined: 07/26/2008

MGoPoints: 25285

Late Bluemer

January 25th, 2017 at 11:51 AM ^

I thought he was great in studio with NFL today

I always liked him on basketball

I loathed him on CFB pbp.  The way he overhyped and over reacted to everything drove me nuts.  I will admit however that he seemed to tone it down over the last few seasons to the point where I actually prefer him over most of the pbp announcers out there today.

Joined: 03/09/2016

MGoPoints: 3163

Late Bluemer

January 25th, 2017 at 2:34 PM ^

The amazing thing about Speilman as an announcer is how much he has improved over time.  I was watching the tape from the 2002(?) Michigan-MSU game that was posted on here last week and the difference was striking.  Even his voice seems better -- i thought he was a little high pitched and squeaky when he first started.  I am hoping for the same level of improvement from Brian Greise over time.

Joined: 03/09/2016

MGoPoints: 3163

BoFan

January 25th, 2017 at 11:54 AM ^

Brent had a lot of odd moments and I wasn't a big fan. But with both him and Verne retiring that's a loss of two big voices. They both have to be in the top 5 all time. Far Behind Keith Jackson, the GOAT.

Joined: 03/09/2012

MGoPoints: 19943

Qmatic

January 25th, 2017 at 11:58 AM ^

Musburger at 77 still calls a way better game than Chris Fowler.

I might get negged for this, but Fowler is one of the worst Marquee PBP guys in America.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32780

WolverineHistorian

January 25th, 2017 at 12:12 PM ^

I was debating making a tribute video of him calling Michigan football games like I did with Keith Jackson but I figured a ton of people would turn on me.

Brent has called many iconic Michigan football moments over the last 30 years. I think it needs to be done.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55466