Best & Worst Broadcasters

I'm a fan of Kornheiser also, as I try to catch PTI when I can. I'd have to say the one I absolutely can't stand is Joe Buck. I almost broke down in tears when it was announced that he would take James Brown's spot on Fox's NFL pregame show. I don't really have any qualms about any one else, though.

 

I actually like Dick Vitale, although preferably in limited amounts.

Billy Packer, however, I don't like.

If this were about general ESPN people I'd say a lot more, but most of them aren't actually broadcasters.

 

*winces* I completely forgot about Dicky V. Scratch what I said before: Vitale is the worst broadcaster on the face of the planet. I get a headache within 30 seconds of hearing his voice.

 

Probably the worst NFL Crew of all time was the ESPN SNF crew of Patrick, McGuire, and Theismann.

"Hey, now look at this here, this is amazing. Watch, Daunte Culpepper sees that he rush is coming and then, watch, watch this...<nothing happens>.....oh...."

Whenever there was an instant replay challenge their opinion was almost always wrong.

I like Joe Buck, but I agree with whoever said that he tries to be too dramatic alot. Especially when there's a throw over the middle. "OVER THE MIDDLE it's Shockey for a 5 yard gain"

Probably the worst announcing spectable I've ever heard was in 2003 when Wanny got fired before the season was over. They brought him into the booth for one of the Z games on FOX and it was just embarassing.

 

Best ever: Chick Hearns (L.A. Lakers, died a couple years ago-invented the phrases Slam Dunk! Game is in the refrigerator! Garbage Time! In and out--Heartbreak!, etc.)

Worst: Tim McCarver.

 

For hockey, I loved Thorne and Clement. I can't stand Darren Pang, and was especially peeved at him when he was asking Marty Brodeur about his divorce just after the Devils won the Cup in 2003 (and after he said he didn't want to discuss it).


And I hate, haaaaate Joe Buck. Every week, I keep hoping Aikman is going to finally *****slap him.

 

Tim McCarver is the worst freakin sports announcer ever. The man is SUCH a moron. Every game he says something so moronic that I have to yell at the TV. I know SO many people who turn on the AM radio commentators for games he does on TV. Why this idiot is still around, I have no clue.

Al Michaels and Bob Costas are my two favorites. Keep in mind I am speaking only for baseball. I have no idea what they are like on other sports.

 

I find the main thing thats important for a truely legendary commentator is that they need to have a unique and distinctive voice. Although he made many gaff's F1 commentator Murray Walker WAS the voice of Formula 1. His voice somehow translated to the audiance the high octane drama that vintage F1 was all about.

Another excellent UK commentator was Snooker's "Whispering" Ted Lowe. His was almost the opposite of what Murray Walkers voice was like, but again, his distintive voice summed up everything you needed to know about the sport he was commentating on.

 

Really? I find Kornheiser to be absolutely ponderous when he's speaking on MNF. Maybe he looks okay by comparison, but he brings nothing to the game when he's on.

Now, I do enjoy PTI a lot. Great show and I love the rapport between the hosts.

One guy who surprised me by how good he became in the booth was Troy Aikman. First few times he called a game I thought he was still battling some lingering concussions. But as time went on I appreciated his laid back approach. He didn't try to be bombastic or entertaining. He just talked about what was actually happening on the field and quite often brought some good insight.

 

Best: For hockey I love Doc Emmerich(sp?). He is by far the best, IMO. He is the voice for the Devils and all of hockey when he calls a game. I love listening to him while watching the playoffs (even though my Devils didn't make it far)last year, ) For some reason I don't like Chico Resch, he doesn't seem like a bad person, but I just can't take listening to him even though Doc makes up for him. I don't know what it is. I just don't think he has the voice for broadcasting.

For baseball, I would really like to hear more of Al Leiter during the season. His time doing the broadcasts for the Yankees wasn't that bad, I would really hope he would talk more though. I don't think I like Michael Kay that much. Ken Singleton is the best that I could pick from that group along with Jim Kaat (although he retired). On ESPN for baseball, I really like Joe Morgan and the other guy he's always with, I always forget his name.

Worst: Joe Buck, seriously I can't stand this guy. He just shouldn't be broadcasting. I can't watch a game with him on, I have to put it on mute.

 

Fixed for "homer" calling.

 

For Cricket, Richie Benaud is the best commentator by far. His subtlety and wonderful knowledge complement the actual game beautiful and it will be a sad day when he does retire from it.

Worst, I would have to say Tony Greig. He's not actually a bad commentator, but he is so Anti-Australian that it shines through and can ruin a broadcast.

 

best: Jim McKay - the Wide World of Sports - and best sportscaster of Olympics.

 

Best: [image=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/photo/vin_scully_tribute/405vinnie.jpg] The greatest baseball announcer the sport has seen.


[image=http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/hearn.jpg] Lakers broadcasts have never been quite the same since he died.



[image=http://www.risfsp.org/images/Walton_Bill2.jpg] He really needs to do more NBA brodcasts, because he's really great to listen to.



[image=http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/images/almichaels.jpg] He does it all.





Worst: [image=http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/images/tmac.jpg] I don't have the hatred for him as many people do, but he is Captain Obvious in the booth.

 

I used to love Phil Rizzuto (NY Yankees) - in fact I met him & got his autograph back when the Yankees were sharing Shea Stadium with the Mets. And if you listen to Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light that's Rizzuto doing the brief bit of baseball coverage during the song.

 

OH dear GOD NO!

Hawk is the absolutely most brutally annoying horrible broadcaster i've ever heard. Everytime i hear that "He gone" i want to drive down to chicago and filet him. This past season watching Tiger games on MLB.com (where you always get the home team feed).....I didn't think I could hate anyone as much as I do Tim McCarver, but....Hawk, you managed to pull it out of me.

He and the crew are just SO lacking in professionalism it's unreal.

That's actually the major problem with most broadcasters. Everyone's a shameless homer.

The art of quality broadcasting is near death!

(That being said Vin Scully is unquestionably the best thing currently going. I could listen to that guy all night long.)

 

When it comes to baseball announcers, I'm quite fond of Jon Miller. Not only does he call a great game, but he actually takes the time to learn the player's names. He asks the players themselves how they want it pronounced.

 

Yes, that's why he referred to Tigers pitching sensation "Jason" Verlander in their first round series against the Tigers (though to be fair, i'm sure it was written into his contract with ESPN that he had to devote all of his preparation time to the Yankees).

 

This guy http://youtube.com/watch?v=0-GHJTvXHiQ
lol

 

Madden is the best in terms of the most unintentionally amusing He adds so much to the entertainment of the game with his "WTH" commentary.

Al Michaels is very good. I also really enjoy Cris Collingsworth, actually. He isn't afraid to speak his mind and he has a really good grasp of the NFL, both in terms of players and the sociology of everything.

One of my favourite current teams is Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon. I like their calling, but I'm also biased towards them because Harlan used to be the announcer for the Chiefs and Gannon should have been our QB for years instead of Grbac

I can't stand Bryan Gumble. He called the KC/Denver game yesterday and when I went back and watched it, he was so annoying. If I had to hear that someone got "stacked up" another time, I was going to explode.

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

harlan called several suns playoff games last year, including the raja bell game-tying shot in game 5. good announcer.

 

Yeah, he does a lot of NBA these days. I still miss his local playcalling for the Chiefs, though. He had this characteristic- "Oh baby, what a play!" that I'll never forget.


-sj loves kevin spacey

 

Richie Benaud and that snooker guy are the most perfectly paired to their sports commentators I've heard. Benaud always has something relevant to say without saying too much.

Tim Lane is an excellent AFL commentator too.

 

This coming from the two bias Sox fans

 

Yeah, I find the extra effort he puts in Hispanic names kinda funny.