OT: Favorite Sports Broadcaster of All Time
Yesterday afternoon, I was boredf watching the 1997 M v. ND game (Oh, how I miss a dominating defense) on BTN. The game was being announced by Keith Jackson and Bob Griese.
I found myself being reminded of why Keith Jackson was my favorite announcer of all-time and how much I miss his call on a Saturday afternoon. The way he told the story that was happening on the field, the quirky things he would say, and just the fond memories I have of him announcing Michigan games really stand out for me.
So, I wanted to know from the MgoBlog community, who are your favorite sport announcers/broadcaster of all time?
FTW.
Ernie was the consummate national pastime announcer.
In terms of entertaining though, I grew up on WGN cable daytime broadcasts of Cubs games in the 80's, so Harry has a special place in my heart.
Ernie was and will always be incredible, but Ufer's ecstatic rendering of Michigan football plays is at least on the same level.
Ernie somehow managed to express as much information about the game as a radio announcer, while at the same time letting the pictures speak for themselves. He didn't feel the need to fill every moment with his own voice (cough cough JOE BUCK cough)..
That, and he had some GREAT catch phrases.
The answer can only be ONE MAN!
nelly.
Vin Scully. I hate the Dodgers, but Scully is the king.
Ray Hudson, the fact that he's on a dodgy channel makes it even better.
Ernie, please. Preferrably with Paul Carey.
Marty Brennaman for sure.
At one point his son Thom was relaying the news about Sammy Sosa being DTD with a small injury and Marty immediately responded with "Good it'll give him more time to cork his bats."
7 comments in this thread and no one has mentioned Bob Ufer. That guy was the King.
football memories was Ufer's post-game funeral after we shut out OSU 22 shade. I was deer hunting with my Dad and we listened to whole thing on a crummy AM radio in the blind. I probably scared deer away all afternoon celebrating touchdowns.
Ufer wasn't the best, but he was ours.
The two will always be Harry Caray and Bob Uecker.
Hard to really say no to Keith Jackson. The deep voice has a lot to do with it, and of course, he could really tell story, like you said. He was old-fashioned, but in a good way.
Sean McDonough is growing on me, I just wish he wasn't paired with Matt Millen. I really like looking back at the clips from ND last year. I just like the way the pitch of his voice changes with exciting plays, but not in an annoying way.
A lot of people don't like Brent Musberger, but I don't mind the guy. He manages to do all the important games, so I sort of associate his voice with games that I should care about. Seems to make that particular game seem more important.
ya gotta go with the man who made "barnburner" a part of the vernacular.
also, Keith Jackson had the foresight to proclaim "Hello Heisman!" just before Desmond struck the pose.
but on a Michigan site, Ufer has to be The King.
One man, goodbye, hello heisman.
Just classic.
Or
Touchdown. No flags.
With many already on this thread. IMO Dick Enberg often gets overlooked, Im not claiming he is the greastest ever (I dont think there is one). Friendly touch, no gimmicks or tag lines, plus he is from the Great State of Michigan.
Hands down.
Anyone who dislikes Ernie Harwell is Canadian.
Some of my faves are Brad Nessler, Gary Thorne (miss him calling hockey), Harwell, and Musberger about 10 years ago (man he has gone downhill fast). All time fave tho is definately Keith Jackson.
Verne Lundquist!!! Outstanding golf coverage at the Master's, SEC football, college basketball and Happy Gilmore. The man can do it all.
I never heard him announce live, but I've listened to compilation CDs of him and I'd have to say Bob Ufer.
"Here we are in Columbus in front of a sellout crowd of 10,000 alumni and 74,000 truck drivers."
My favorite is the Keith Jackson / Bob Griese "dad" moment at the end of the Rose Bowl.
But I agree, Jacksons way with words and description put him right up there, if not the best.
Keith Jackson for football. Harry Kalas for baseball.
I loved to hear Harry Kalas say "Juan Samuel"
Marv Albert. He's Marvalous.
marv albert for me too.
I laughed out loud when the story broke (through Marv's bitter ex girlfriend) that Marv liked to dress in drag and sing Broadway show tunes.
Hard to imagine he was stealing my act!
Being a hockey fan, I've got to say Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond.
Mickey Redmond is one of the greatest. Ken Daniels is above average at best.
If you're going with the Wings, no one tops Bruce Martyn. Teaming up with Sid Abel was awesome.
but an icon nonetheless - Howard Cosell.
His verbal jousting with Ali is classic.
Jim Nantz. I know a lot of people find him too corny or whatever, but I just like the way that calls events. Maybe it's just the fact that I'm a HUGE golf fan, but he is way up there for me. Plus, he has one of the best jobs in the world. Calls the Final Four, next week heads to Augusta, GA, and every once in a while gets to do the SuperBowl. Tell me you wouldn't want that job!
I loved Ufer
For Baseball, George Kell is my all time fav.
The Kell/Kaline combination in the booth has always been massively underrated. Those guys were good.
I agree and here is some George Kell from 68'. Damn I have some great memories from those bleachers out there in center
The great thing about Kell was that, no matter how unimportant the situation, he seemed genuinely excited about what was going on, in his understated way. The Tigers could be down 7-0 in the 8th inning and still he'd be like, "And there's a base hit into left!"
Any of the numerous Tar Heels on the board want to second my nomination for Woody Durham? He and Mick Mixon were a great tandem for UNC sports and Mick is now doing great things as the play-by-play guy for the Carolina Panthers. I'm making this nomination despite my childhood allegiance to Duke.
Milo Hamilton. He's done an amazing job with baseball in several markets now. I spent my early years listening to him on Astros broadcast.
He is only amazing in the sense of unpredictability but Dennis Eckersley is fun to listen to. Something about an announcer that isn't afraid to be heard and in the process say some off-the-wall, crazy shit really adds to the viewing experience.
Jackson by a mile. I really miss him calling Saturday afternoon games, especially Michigan v anybody. Well Keith started getting on in age and unfortunately it started to show in his latter years of broadcasting. But still he was my favorite even when he would mis-pronounce names and get players mixed up.
Ufer. His line..."you know this crowd...they only give us 4000 tickets, 10,000 students, and 74,000 truck drivers" still makes me laugh.
And we were good back then. Really good.
Not only this, as most people around here know him for,
But also for every single intro he ever did, which always gave me chills. Nothing made me more pumped up then hearing him talk about Michigan/ Ohio State
How could no one mention Pam Ward and anyone associated with Fox's BCS team. Seriously...how?
The first, like, 400 favorites are all Ernie Harwell. And that's with no disrespect at all meant to the great ones we've had like Kaline & Kell, Blaha, Mickey, and Jim Brandstatter. They're all fantastic. Brilliant. But still like comparing a great ice cream sundae to Mount Ice Cream Everest.
As for national guys, Keith Jackson has been mentioned plenty and deservedly so, so I'll throw Gary Thorne into the ring. And Doc Emrick has really grown on me.