OT: American Sportscaster/play-by-play Mount Rushmore

Submitted by stephenrjking on

Prompted by the retirement of Brent Musburger, Mike Hall tweeted this:

 

Here's an impossible task: American Sportcaster Mount Rushmore. You only can put up 4. I think Brent's in there. Who ya got?

— Mike Hall (@BTNMikeHall) January 25, 2017

Someone in response pointed out that one needs to differentiate between "sportscaster" and "play-by-play" guy, which is probably wise.

It's not easy. I don't think Brent is there (he would make the college football mount, along with Keith, Verne, and... hard to narrow down a fourth. Maybe Joe Tess in a few years). 

Focusing on just play-by-play guys, I would list Al Michaels, Vin Scully, Howard Cosell, and Keith Jackson, even though I'm not a big fan of Cosell even granted the generational differences there.

Brent actually has a better case if you expand the field beyond play-by-play, because he was an iconic studio host for CBS for years. Cosell fares well there, too. Jim Nantz becomes a legit candidate, even though I don't like him, as do guys like Chris Fowler.

Who ya got?

MGoBoard
Recruiting
media

timot

January 25th, 2017 at 6:03 PM ^

Howard Cosell (sense of the moment): 

"Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"

Gus Johnson (capturing the moment):

"The slipper still fits."

Marv Albert (catchphrases):

"Yes. And the foul."

"Yes. Serving up the facial."

"He hits from downtown!"

Ray Scott (for the minimalists):

"Starr...Dowler...touchdown Green Bay."

 

Joined: 06/07/2011

MGoPoints: 53

Blue in Denver

January 25th, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

Michaels, Summerall, Jackson, Scully.

2nd team: Mel Allen, Nessler, Thorne, Lundquist

 

Worst: (probably  unpopular except the first one)

Joe Buck, Gus Johnson, Dick Vitale, Hawk Harrelson.

Honorable mention: Marv Albert, Rod Allen

Joined: 02/11/2013

MGoPoints: 843

m1jjb00

January 25th, 2017 at 6:08 PM ^

I'd add for consideration for the college-football wing Chris Schenkel, though his wiki bio talks mostly about his work on bowling.

Jim McKay is a studio guy but deserves a mention in contexts like this regardless of the specific requirements of play-by-play or analysis.

In the category of Most unpopular choice ever, I submit for best color guy Curt Schilling.  Yeah, but ... he'd point out stuff that was so much more interesting and insightful than anybody I've ever heard.  I think the gap between him and the next best is huge.  Personally, I don't care how much I disagree with someone's politics on TVs and movies if they're succeeding in one of three things: making me think, telling me something I don't know or making me laugh.  I get that others will disagree, or at least draw a line tighter than mine.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 8065

ST3

January 25th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^

Baseball just lends itself to sportscasting. More dead time to fill. The best knew when to let the silence hang in the air. Radio guys are better, too, because they are painting the picture for you.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52561

Gr1mlock

January 25th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^

National:

Al Michaels

Keith Jackson

Howard Cosell

Jim Nantz

 

Honorable mention to Marv Albert, Verne Lunquidst, Mike Tirico, and Dick Enberg. 

 

Local/team aligned:

Ernie Harwell

Vin Scully

Jack Buck

Bob Ufer

Joined: 12/24/2013

MGoPoints: 6257

Uncle Soaky

January 25th, 2017 at 7:07 PM ^

Al Michaels, Dick Enberg and Vin Scully

 

All four did play-by-play in multiple sports, even though Jackson and Scully, especially, are overwhelmingly known for a particular sport.

Joined: 01/02/2017

MGoPoints: 378

smwilliams

January 25th, 2017 at 7:27 PM ^

Obviously, everyone is gonna have their own opinions, so here's my Mount Rushmore:

Keith Jackson

Marv Albert

Harry Caray

Al Michaels

As a boxing fan, Jim Lampley finishes in a close 5th.

Joined: 08/20/2010

MGoPoints: 9917

Cowboy Cody

January 25th, 2017 at 7:51 PM ^

As an old dude I always enjoyed the team play-by-play guys. Al Michaels, my all-time favorite, for the three years he covered the Reds..."two on, two out, two-two on the batter. Deuces wild in the 9th." Dom Valentino when he called play-by-play for the Cincinnati Royals (I know, I know) and would say Tiny Archibald just hit a long jumper "from the Coke machine in the lobby." And Cawood Ledford when he called Kentucky basketball games..."turn around jump shot. Beauty!"



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 05/30/2013

MGoPoints: 2752

chatster

January 25th, 2017 at 8:14 PM ^

Started listening to and watching sports in the 1950s in the NYC metropolitan area.  There have been many great ones. Too hard to narrow down the selections, and I'm sure I've left many out.
  • Boxing: Don Dunphy (Honorable Mention: Jim Lampley)
  • Baseball: Vin Scully (Honorable Mention: Russ Hodges, Jon Miller, Jack Buck, Mel Allen, Don Orsillo)
  • NBA Basketball: Marv Albert (Honorable Mention: Johnny Most)
  • College Football: Keith Jackson (Honorable Mention: Jim Simpson, Brad Nessler, Sean McDonough)
  • Pro Football: Curt Gowdy (Honorable Mention: Chris Schenkel, Dick Enberg, Jim Nantz)
  • NHL Hockey: Gary Thorne (Honorable Mention: Mike “Doc” Emrick, Win Elliot)
  • Studio Hosts: Jim McKay (Honorable Mention: Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, “Men in Blazers” – Michael Davies and Roger Bennett)
  • Soccer: Ian Darke (Honorable Mention: Andres Cantor, Ray Hudson)
  • Tennis: Bud Collins (Honorable Mention: Dick Enberg, John and Patrick McEnroe)
  • Golf: Jack Whitaker (Honorable Mention: Jim Nantz, Verne Lundquist)
I’d almost love to hear Ray Hudson do commentary on a Michigan football game.

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26987

chatster

January 27th, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^

My selections were based on people whom I'd listened to on more than a few occasions. I appreciate that MGoBlog rightly is focused more on Michigan pro sports franchises than on franchises that I've rooted for or followed during my lifetime, so I can't really judge the broadcasters for the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons. 

Having spent most of my life in the NYC metroploitan area, apart from a long stretch living in the shadows of Fenway Park, and having been a fan of the New York/San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox when it came to Major League Baseball, I never learned to appreciate Ernie Harwell, because I rarely, if ever, would hear his Tigers broadcasts.

EDIT: Because I came to the "Michigan Family" late in life, thanks to a child who's a "Double Wolverine," I regret having missed listening to Bob Ufer's Michigan football broadcasts.  Fortunately, YouTube clips have enabled me to hear some of his classics. He was great!

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26987

zggolfer

January 25th, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^

Keith Jackson, Curt Gowdy, Ernie Harwell, and Howard Cosell.  Jackson was College Football for so long, Gowdy was everywhere in the 70s as was Cosell.  Harwell was a transistor radio sitting on the couch with my grandfather.  I dont think you could get a kid to do that for 5 minutes these days.

Joined: 10/16/2010

MGoPoints: 480

rschreiber91

January 25th, 2017 at 11:23 PM ^

People always forget the old school broadcasters that they never heard live when making these lists.  My first team all Mt. Rushmore is:

Red Barber

Keith Jackson

Vin Scully

Howard Cosell

 

Second team:

Mel Allen

Al Michaels

Jack Buck

Marv Albert

Joined: 10/10/2012

MGoPoints: 629

Qonas

January 26th, 2017 at 8:08 AM ^

I'm going with Vin Scully, Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson, and Brent Musberger.

 

Second-Team Honorable Mention: Vern Lundquist, Marv Albert, Al Michaels, and Ernie Harwell (for some homerism).

Joined: 01/12/2011

MGoPoints: 138