Which TV sportscaster, according to you, is a good one?

[EPC FAN]

So many times I read here how this guy or women is terrible, sucks, needs a sock in it, and any other derogatory term. Who the hell is actually good enough to suit your own perfection?
I ask in response to the coming retirement of Chris Berman. The thread about it here was very negative, which got me thinking about how many announcers have been skewered here. I wondered who you actually like. List them please.

 

[Nitwit]

Johnny Miller for golf. And Judy Rankin for the LPGA is very good too. Both will tell you straight up when a golfer makes a bad swing, or a bad decision. I also like Mike Breen for the NBA. Gruden does a good job on MNF. Howard Cosell was in a class by himself and set the standard.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Golic!

 

[WyomingLion]

Doc and Pierre

 

[Woodpecker]

Doc and Pierre are simply phenomenal.

I love Doc Emerick

 

[Jakey_John]

Doc is excellent. Joel Benninatti for the Caps is pretty damned good. Mike Lange is phenomenal. Brad Nessler is excellent. Gus Johnson is ok. He doesn't have to manufacture excitement for every play but he is not bad. Jim Nantz is good and would be better with someone other than Phil Simms.

 

[Jakey_John]

I love Doc Emerick

It is very refreshing how Doc never plays favorites and is genuinely excited for having the opportunity to see all the games and teams.

 

[CF LION]

Herbstreit doesn't suck....as long as he's not doing an Ohio State game.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Al Michaels and Chis Collinsworth, NFL games.

 

[21Guns]

I know who isn't: Phil Simms.

One of the biggest toolbags in the game.

 

[21Guns]

I actually LOVE Stan Savran, although he doesn't work that much anymore.

 

[21Guns]

In my opinion, the greatest play by play man ever was Fran Fisher: Fran made the game exciting, and was just the greatest. If you grew up listening to Fran, you were lucky. We are all fortunate to have been able to hear his broadcasts. I miss him dearly.

 

[Connorpozlee]

I love Doc Emerick

I don't like Emerick's style and I find Pierre to be wrong as often as he is right.

 

[mrtailgate]

Not just because it's right to say so, but Vin Scully is/was the greatest announcer bar none. Forget all the stuff on the side, but Bill Conlin told me he used to listen to the tape of Scully's call of Koufax' perfect game every year. Said you could not do it better.

I don't watch hockey but the times I did, the Doc guy is really good. Back in the day, the hockey guys LOVED Tom Mees of ESPN. He had the upmost respect of the players and everyone connected to the game.

 

[PSU_1991]

Locally, I think Steve Jones and Jack Ham are terrific. I wish I could listen to them instead of the TV announcers most of the time but the delay makes it too annoying. Nationally I like Blackledge and Herbstreit.

 

[Nittany Security]

Herbstreit, Fowler, Blackledge

 

[psu_83_drummer]

Doc Emerick

 

[Erial_Lion]

Ian Darke

 

[sluggo72]

Beth Mowins

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

So many times I read here how this guy or women is terrible, sucks, needs a sock in it, and any other derogatory term. Who the hell is actually good enough to suit your own perfection?
I ask in response to the coming retirement of Chris Berman. The thread about it here was very negative, which got me thinking about how many announcers have been skewered here. I wondered who you actually like. List them please.

John McEnroe is maybe the most insightful color guy I've heard in any sport. He thinks about tennis in a way that is very cerebral and is able to translate that into easily digestible bits for average and hard core fans. He also has some ridiculous stories.

 

[Jakey_John]

Jim Ross for the WWE was fantastic for those of you who watched.

 

[21Guns]

Actually, the greatest play by play man who ever lived, is probably Chick Hearn.

 

[21Guns]

Beth Mowins

She does the best she can, they have a rough road to travel.

She is no worse than the late Chris Schenkel, that's for certain. He might have been the worst in the history of the game.

 

[Jakey_John]

Lonnie from Major League was very good.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I also like a drunk Brent Musburger at an SEC game with lots of hot girls.

 

[Howie'81]

So many times I read here how this guy or women is terrible, sucks, needs a sock in it, and any other derogatory term. Who the hell is actually good enough to suit your own perfection?
I ask in response to the coming retirement of Chris Berman. The thread about it here was very negative, which got me thinking about how many announcers have been skewered here. I wondered who you actually like. List them please.

For college football, I'll take Brad Nessler. Very tired of Jim Nantz in almost every sport. He's just not fresh. Joe Buck, I don't get. What does he bring to the table? He's not half the sportscaster his father was.

 

[Op2]

In defense of some of the sportscasters on SportsCenter, I think some of them could be good in other circumstances but that ESPN encourages that "Yeah, look at me, I'm so cool" kind of vibe in the sportscasters than I and some others dislike so much. I recall watching Scott Van Pelt on ESPN years ago and thinking how good he was. Then I got rid of ESPN. Then I got it back for a bit last fall via Sling TV (only for a couple months) and got to see Scott Van Pelt again and he was really annoying because he was full force into that I'm-so-cool persona that so many sportscasters on ESPN adopt.

 

[olelion]

Honestly, what real purpose do any of them serve? They're gasbags plain and simple. Some moreso (Herbstreit) than others. I just don't need someone barking in my ear as I watch a game, nor do i need a gas bag telling me what I just saw.

 

[Woodpecker]

Harry Doyle
Pepper Brooks

 

[Still in State College]

Radio guys are where the real talent is. Calling games on TV is more about letting the game breathe as everyone can see what is happening. On the radio you have to paint the picture. I was never a Yankee fan but I used to love the exchanges between Scooter and White. Talking about the traffic on the bridge, not following the "other league". All funny stuff, but baseball's pacing gives you the ability to have those exchanges.

Of the ESPN guys I probably like John Saunders the best.

 

[Nitwit]

Being partial to Philadelohia teams, I'd rate Gene Hart among the best ever for hockey. Even on radio, you could follow the puck and the intensity of the game by the intonation in his voice. He also spoke fluent Russian which was a big asset to getting all the names pronounced correctly. He was a very interesting Renaisance man, and an opera buff. Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn will always be my favorite baseball announcers. Richie was so down home and understated that it made for a perfect team. And who could forget Harry's home run call, or pronunciation of names like Morandini. Dave Zinkoff of the 76ers was also one of a kind. "Macadooooo for two". Or "times out remaining" instead of time outs. Or Eeeeeervinggg for a Dr J dunk. But I could never stand any of the Eagles announcers. They are horrible.

 

[sluggo72]

She does the best she can, they have a rough road to travel.

She is no worse than the late Chris Schenkel, that's for certain. He might have been the worst in the history of the game.

who is 'they'?

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Football Play-by-Play:
- Brad Nessler, Joe Tessitore, Al Michaels, Brent Muffburger are my favorites. Bob Wischusen was surprisingly good IMO last season.

Football Color Commentary:
- Todd Blackledge, Mike Mayock, and Kirk Herbstreit are my favorites. Brock Huard was surprisingly good last season too.

Among the worst to me across all categories are Gus Johnson, Beth Mowins, Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, and Matt Millen.

 

[sluggo72]

Being partial to Philadelohia teams, I'd rate Gene Hart among the best ever for hockey. Even on radio, you could follow the puck and the intensity of the game by the intonation in his voice. He also spoke fluent Russian which was a big asset to getting all the names pronounced correctly. He was a very interesting Renaisance man, and an opera buff. Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn will always be my favorite baseball announcers. Richie was so down home and understated that it made for a perfect team. And who could forget Harry's home run call, or pronunciation of names like Morandini. Dave Zinkoff of the 76ers was also one of a kind. "Macadooooo for two". Or "times out remaining" instead of time outs. Or Eeeeeervinggg for a Dr J dunk. But I could never stand any of the Eagles announcers. They are horrible.

So you are a Philly guy and leave Big Al Meltzer and By Saam off the list??? SMH

 

[21Guns]

who is 'they'?

Her and Pam Ward, her predecessor. Both female play by play announcers who worked major college football games for major networks.

 

[21Guns]

Lundquist needs to retire. He can't even follow the damn game anymore. These guys hold on to their positions for far too long.

Sorry, but I am not in the "love Herbie" crew like others...He is a horrible homer, and he slants his calls when his team is on the field.

 

[Alphalion75]

So many times I read here how this guy or women is terrible, sucks, needs a sock in it, and any other derogatory term. Who the hell is actually good enough to suit your own perfection?
I ask in response to the coming retirement of Chris Berman. The thread about it here was very negative, which got me thinking about how many announcers have been skewered here. I wondered who you actually like. List them please.

Doc Emrick and Vin Scully are the best.

 

[21Guns]

ABC's number one day crew this year is Tessitore and Blackledge, which should be great. Fowler is still working the primetime games with Herbie, and that's about a step down from Tess and Todd.

The worst thing about this year is, another year of MUSH MOUF. That guy, needs to be thrown down a mine shaft.

 

[LafayetteBear]

Bob Costas sets the standard, IMO. He is a great play by play announcer and sports fan, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of sports history. Particularly in baseball. The fact that Joe Buck, rather than Costas, has been the play by play guy for most of the recent World Series is just a travesty.

 

[21Guns]

"Johnny Most and Tommy Heinsohn"

--Every Celtic fan ever--