Name your favorite Sports Play by Play personality

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:42 pm

My list goes like this:

1) Howard David

2) Gary Thorne

3) Marc Vandermeer

4) Martin Tyler

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:03 pm

1. Chip Carey
2. Vin Scully
3. Al McCoy
4. Ron Jawarski (for some reason)
5. Al Michaels

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:10 pm

I hope past or present is allowed

All time favorite...the late great Lindsey Nelson..
voice of the Mets, ND football,and longtime voice of the
Cotton Bowl.
2. As an Indian fan..love Tom Hamilton calling the Tribe on radio.
3. Again from the past and present ..Ernie Harwell and Vin Scully,and Curt Gowdy.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:17 pm

1. Vin Scully

2. Vin Scully

3. Vin Scully

4. Bob Miller

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:19 pm

snaz16 wrote:I hope past or present is allowed

Yup everyone is allowed. You must go way back to remember Mets PBP man Lindsay Nelson. Damn good choice too.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:29 pm

Vin Scully (living)
Jack Buck (rip)

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:30 pm

Mike Lange.

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:55 pm

Vin Scully....no doubt.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:02 am

The king:
Jim Hughson (CBC/Rogers Sportsnet, hockey and baseball)

His court:
Jim McKay (ABC, everything)
Rick Jeanneret (Buffalo Sabres' radio and TV)
Howard David (CBS Radio, NFL)
Phil Liggett (Versus, cycling)

And while we're at it, what about analysts?

The king:
Teddy Atlas (ESPN/NBC, boxing)

His court:
Ray Ferraro (TSN, hockey)
Steve Matchett (Speed, F1)
Troy Aikman (FOX, NFL)
Bill Raftery (ESPN/CBS, college hoop)

Take care,
PK

bulls23 · Post by **bulls23** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:17 am

1. Jack Buck
2. Wayne Larrivee
3. Pat Summerall
4. Al Michaels
5. Vin Scully (being from the Midwest, I really only got to hear him on NBC's game of the week, shame)
6. Thom Brennaman
7. Dick Stockton (of the 80s and 90s, he is slipping a bit lately, another shame)
8. Joe Buck (although he seems not as good lately for some reason)?
9. Bob Costas
10. Gary Thorne

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:37 am

Vin Scully puts me to sleep! I don't know how you Dodger fans can listen to that man game after game after game. I'd put Jerry Coleman up against Scully any day of the week:)

Mark Grant and Matt Vasgersian are pure comedy on the Padres TV broadcasts. Mark's goofiness and Matt's deadpan sense of humor are one of the reasons I was even able to watch the Padres towards the end of this season. Vasgersian is the play by play guy in Sony's MLB game for those who didn't know.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Keith Jackson yet. The voice of college football IMO.
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sTSvbv9uLlY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:47 am

macsomjrr wrote:Vin Scully puts me to sleep! I don't know how you Dodger fans can listen to that man game after game after game. I'd put Jerry Coleman up against Scully any day of the week:)

Mark Grant and Matt Vasgersian are pure comedy on the Padres TV broadcasts. Mark's goofiness and Matt's deadpan sense of humor are one of the reasons I was even able to watch the Padres towards the end of this season. Vasgersian is the play by play guy in Sony's MLB game for those who didn't know.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Keith Jackson yet. The voice of college football IMO.
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sTSvbv9uLlY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

You have to F'n kidding me.

Jerry Coleman....UGH!

Great American hero...YES. Great announcer? Heck no.

Coleman with Leitner is torture on the ears.

Mark Grant is great...nice guy also....he used to work out with our pitchers when I was coaching JC ball at Grossmont.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:57 am

Curt Gowdy(RIP)
Chip Carey(RIP)
Jim McKay
Jim Hughson
Gary Thorne
Teddy Atlas
Max Kellerman
Bill Raftery
Troy Aikman
Marty Brennaman
Clark Kellogg
Ray Ferraro
Vin Scully

Leadfoot5 · Post by **Leadfoot5** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:04 am

Matt Vasgersian

I'm so bummed he's leaving the Padres... Oh and I agree with Pigpen, Jerry Coleman is the worst pbp guy I've ever heard. I grew up in Philly listening to the likes of Harry Kalas, so I'd rank him #2 behind Matty V.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:27 am

I'm not saying he's the best, but my favorite is easily Harry Caray.

I pity those of you too young to have missed hearing him at his best or even at all. From the late '70s until his stroke he was as good as anybody and even in his waning years he was still capable of greatness.

He's been caricatured for so long, sometimes at his own behest, that few people remember the things that really made him great: His total disregard for anything except the fans and his ability to turn 162 games every year into intimate affairs involving the club, Harry, his cast of friends and you.

He didn't give a damn about the players, the owners, management or anything else. He just told it like he saw it and never, ever pulled any punches. Political correctness meant nothing to him and he was beyond caring.

To this day when I watch a ball game I hear in my head exactly what he'd say in certain circumstances. The Caray-Stone partnership was a blessing for a baseball fan.

I don't pretend to have any objectivity on this topic. I lived with Harry voice ringing in my ears for decades. Hell, I lived in the city when he died so I even lined up and went to his wake. Ever baseball season I still think that it's a damn shame he isn't here.

Put me in the "pro" column on Vin Scully. He's the B.B. King of sports announcers. He understands the total sonic picture and he knows that what he doesn't say is as important to that picture as what he does. He knows how to let the game breath around his commentary.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:46 am

RobVarak wrote:I'm not saying he's the best, but my favorite is easily Harry Caray.

A lot of Harry is in his son Skip...who I'm a BIG fan of. That's one hell of a broadcasting family. Chip Caray, the grandson, is probably the best of the bunch though...at least from a play by play point of view.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:49 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:I'm not saying he's the best, but my favorite is easily Harry Caray.
A lot of Harry is in his son Skip...who I'm a BIG fan of. That's one hell of a broadcasting family. Chip Caray, the grandson, is probably the best of the bunch though...at least from a play by play point of view.

Chip's ok, but he's got a very common problem among younger announcers. Every game is not Game 7 of the W.S, every HR is not a MONSTER BLAST and every strikeout is not the culmination of baseball hurling up to that point in history.

It takes the perfect touch to be excited for every game but still keep in mind that these same viewers are going to be back tomorrow for game 73.

I was sorry to see Chip go, but Len Kasper is as good or even better.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:59 am

pigpen81 wrote:1. Vin Scully

2. Vin Scully

3. Vin Scully

4. Bob Miller

No kidding, i was gonna write the exact same thing.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:59 am

pigpen81 wrote:
You have to F'n kidding me.

Jerry Coleman....UGH!

Great American hero...YES. Great announcer? Heck no.

Coleman with Leitner is torture on the ears.

Leitner is hideous but you can't be serious about Coleman. Maybe my ears have become conditioned to his style and my lack of quality time out of San Diego/LA biases me but what would a Padres radio broadcast be without "you can hang a star on that one!" Its better than Scully's monotone Dodger commentary.

In step with my Padres bias would also be my vote for Tony Gwynn. I love hearing his take during at bats.

TheGamer · Post by **TheGamer** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:25 am

RobVarak wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
RobVarak wrote:I'm not saying he's the best, but my favorite is easily Harry Caray.
A lot of Harry is in his son Skip...who I'm a BIG fan of. That's one hell of a broadcasting family. Chip Caray, the grandson, is probably the best of the bunch though...at least from a play by play point of view.
Chip's ok, but he's got a very common problem among younger announcers. Every game is not Game 7 of the W.S, every HR is not a MONSTER BLAST and every strikeout is not the culmination of baseball hurling up to that point in history.

It takes the perfect touch to be excited for every game but still keep in mind that these same viewers are going to be back tomorrow for game 73.

I was sorry to see Chip go, but Len Kasper is as good or even better.

totally agree and especially about Len Kasper. I like Bob Brenly with Kasper, but I'd like to hear Kasper with Steve Stone. Also, Pat Hughes should be awarded immediate sainthood for making Ron Santo tolerable. Santo has to be the worst sports analyst ever.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:32 am

TheGamer wrote:Santo has to be the worst sports analyst ever.

Rex Hudler...end of discussion. I have to watch Angel games on Mute.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:40 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:
TheGamer wrote:Santo has to be the worst sports analyst ever.
Rex Hudler...end of discussion. I have to watch Angel games on Mute.

I've never heard Hudler, but he's worse than Steve "Psycho" Lyons? If so, that's beyond bad -- it's horrific.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:38 am

I should have added Phil "Holy Cow" Rizzuto. I always enjoyed his work as the Yankees broadcaster.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:44 am

Myron Cope and Harry Carey are my 2 all-time favorites, both one of a kind. From today's announcers, I've always liked the Cards' announcer, Mike Shannon, and playing The Show for the last few years has also made me a fan of Vasgersian.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:48 am

snaz16 wrote: 2. As an Indian fan..love Tom Hamilton calling the Tribe on radio.

Nice to see Hammy get mentioned!

And of course Herb Score, who just recently passed away, deserves a mention.

And I also agree on Vin Scully. He's my favorite thing about those free previews of MLB Extra Innings, I always try to catch a Dodger's game just to listen to him.

But my all-time favorite is the Cavs' play-by-play guy Joe Tait. He's 72, he's been the voice of the Cavs since the team's inception, you'd think he'd retire by now, but he's been totally re-energized by LeBron. His signature call... "WHAMMM WITH THE RIGHT HAND!!!!"

One thing I love about Joe Tait, when LeBron first came into the league, when everyone around here was going gah-gah over him, believing all the hype way before the kid even stepped on the court, Joe Tait remained totally objective. He had the ultimate, "I'm not getting sucked up into all this hype until the kid proves he can live up to it" attitude. It definitely came across in his broadcasts. It was refreshing.

Of course now, he's as gah-gah as the rest of us!