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Post by dungeon ball on Jul 14, 2008 10:44:48 GMT -5
So who is the worst? (since we seem to be asking those kinds of questions this July). For me, it's Vitale. I'm not even sure if you can call him an in-game commentator, though, because the guy never really actually talks about the game he's covering. He just makes hyperbolic statements about coaches, players, and anything else that distracts you from the game. He also has the very annoying tendency to equate outward emotion with passion. To him, Bruce Pearl, Calipari, Pitino, etc., are the best coaches out there because they sweat a lot, and yell. Same with players. He also NEVER lets the game play out. I feel like some of the best announcers know when to shut up and let the suspense of the game just be there. People always talk about his enthusiasm for the game, but if that manifests itself with total verbal diarrhea, then I don't care.
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Post by fsohoya on Jul 14, 2008 11:18:54 GMT -5
Even though he's a UMCP guy, I'll take Len Elmore over any of the screamers like Vitale or Gus Johnson. Solid analysis, low-key--I'm tuning in for a game, not a show, and that's all that I want.
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idhoya
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by idhoya on Jul 14, 2008 11:21:18 GMT -5
I lke Nessler. I like Gus. I like Nantz. Can Costas do it all? He's the best and the best should cover the best 2 weeks in sports. Btw, Enberg ain't that bad.
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FewFAC
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Post by FewFAC on Jul 14, 2008 11:51:51 GMT -5
Clark Kellogg? Really? I'm pretty tired of Packer's shtick, but there aren't many announcers going with any knowledge of the history of the game. Heck, much as it pains me to say it, I'd take Brad Daugherty over most of these guys, except maybe Bilas, if he wasn't so redneck into NASCAR.
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Boz
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123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on Jul 14, 2008 12:01:44 GMT -5
Daughety was always very good, even when doing UNC games.
NASCAR is dumb, as is all racing where the "athlete" isn't doing most of the work (other auto racing, horse racing....well, I guess that's about it; I'd include dog sports, but at least in those they give most of the credit to the pooch and not the handler).
Get back to college basketball, Brad!!
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HealyHoya
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Victory!!!
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Post by HealyHoya on Jul 14, 2008 12:03:51 GMT -5
agree that the timing is interesting. while i understand the tenor of those basically saying the devil we know (Packer) may be better than the devil we don't know (Kellogg), it is time for packer to move on. too old, too bitter, too critical of today's players. I get it, they have shortcomings, attitude problems and poorer fundamentals than players from the 60s and 70s. Enough already. turn the page.
next....
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Jul 14, 2008 12:05:44 GMT -5
OK, here's my take on some of the guys mentioned in this thread.
Bilas -- Excellent. Knowledgeable. calm, cool collected Raftery -- Can't help but love this guy. The spiritual successor to Al McGuire Elmore -- Yes, as someone mentioned, a UMCP guy... but despite that, a really solid, insightful analyst.
Gus Johnson -- Personally, I get a kick out of Gus. But if I had to listen to him repeatedly? I think he would drive me absolutely nuts. Way too cute/folksy. Enberg -- Professional. Not the best, but who are the options? Nantz -- Better than Enberg. Pro.
Vitale. This guy is not an analyst. He is an entertainer, whom I personally do not find entertaining. The entire game he talks about hoops history, the games from 20-30 years ago, the coach's kids and wife, the heart and soul of all the Duke kids. Critical action is happening on the floor and he's harping about stuff that has nothing to do with the game whatsoever. An embarrassment. If they want to throw him on at the half for some energy, ok. But get this guy off TV during games.
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The Stig
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Post by The Stig on Jul 14, 2008 12:09:20 GMT -5
Packer out - Good. Nantz staying - Bad.
Count me in as a Gus Johnson fan. Nantz can make an incredibly exciting game seem boring. His call of the GU-UNC game a couple years ago was horrible - no enthusiasm whatsoever. Gus Johnson would have been running up and down the court screaming his head off.
I like a little over the top enthusiasm, as long as it's genuine like Gus Johnson's. Fake enthusiasm is horrible (see James Allen).
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Jul 14, 2008 12:21:34 GMT -5
This calls for breaking out the tune we sang in New South while watching the GU - Georgia Tech East Regionals Final 23 years ago (sung to the tune of nanana nanana, hey hey hey, goodbye...) Billy Packer, Billy Packer, hey hey hey, you're a EditedThis killed me. Not very original, but still hilarious. As for Enberg, I have to defend him, somewhat. I spent many years listening to him as the voice of the Rams and the Bruins before he hit the national stage. For years, he was simply one of the best announcers in America. Many of you weren't around to hear him in the '70s and '80s. He was really good. I pine for Enberg when I have to listen to Chris Roberts call the Bruin games now - the guy is a bore, and can't tell the difference between a 7 yard gain and a 9 yard gain, or an 18 foot 2 point shot and a 20 foot 3 point shot.
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hoya95
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Post by hoya95 on Jul 14, 2008 12:34:52 GMT -5
Is anyone else baffled by the Clark Kellog promotion? I haven't got much against him, but it sure seems like Bilas, Rafftery and Len Elmore were way ahead of him on the depth chart. The only thing I can think of is that all of those guys also work for ESPN and perhaps ESPN wouldn't let them go completely or CBS wouldn't buy them out of their contracts. But CBS has kind of ruined a move that would have been pure joy 10 years ago. They fired Packer for saying the Kansas-UNC game was over (and I'll never have a problem with an announcer saying what they actually think as opposed to trying to sell you into not switching the channel), and they replaced him with the inexplicable team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellog. Just weird.
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Madgesdiq
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Post by Madgesdiq on Jul 14, 2008 14:09:39 GMT -5
#2 Dick Enberg -- the senility is tough enough to take on its own, but you combine that with an uncomfortable level of homoeroticism and it gets downright creepy listening to one of his broadcasts. (I would add "not that there's anything wrong with that," except that there IS something wrong with that....when it's a case of college kids and a creepy old man). This is hilarious. I completely agree with your sentiments on "Dick." He is the Captain Ouver of sportscasters.
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Jul 14, 2008 18:44:28 GMT -5
Besides Boz and Madgesdiq , you all do realize that Dick Enberg is senile? He's can't go more than 5 sentences without butchering one of the following:
1. player's name 2. team name 3. the score 4. a call made by the referee 5. some other vital piece of info any play-by-play guy should be able to relate
I grant that he was good in the past, but oh my has he fallen off.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Jul 14, 2008 18:51:40 GMT -5
Besides Boz and Madgesdiq , you all do realize that Dick Enberg is senile? He's can't go more than 5 sentences without butchering one of the following: 1. player's name 2. team name 3. the score 4. a call made by the referee 5. some other vital piece of info any play-by-play guy should be able to relate I grant that he was good in the past, but oh my has he fallen off. I don't hear him often, but did notice what you are talking about the last few times he's done games I watched. Sad... like Pat Summerall in his later days.
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Post by HoyaLawya on Jul 14, 2008 18:53:10 GMT -5
Is anyone else baffled by the Clark Kellog promotion? I haven't got much against him, but it sure seems like Bilas, Rafftery and Len Elmore were way ahead of him on the depth chart. The only thing I can think of is that all of those guys also work for ESPN and perhaps ESPN wouldn't let them go completely or CBS wouldn't buy them out of their contracts. Reportedly it's in Bilas' ESPN contract that he can only go 4 rounds deep into the NCAA tournament doing game coverage, then he's got to be back doing ESPN studio analysis for the FF. I don't know if the others have a Cinderella's Pumpkin Clause, but with ESPN, maybe it's a preferred arrangement. How much longer does that 11 year $6 Billion deal with CBS have left in it, anyway? The Tiffany Network is just not equipped to handle the package very well. ABC (+ ESPNs) can't stage a rescue effort soon enough, imho.
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moe09
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Post by moe09 on Jul 14, 2008 19:11:55 GMT -5
Man, I was really excited about pulling the, "There is a God" line...
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Jul 14, 2008 19:21:17 GMT -5
Brad Daugherty is a huge NASCAR fan. He wore #43 because it was the number of his boyhood idol, Richard Petty.
As for Packer, he's got the Raycom/ACC games for life, but if ESPN wants to make a play for him and pair him with Mike Patrick, it's an easy pick.
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Gold Hoya
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Post by Gold Hoya on Jul 14, 2008 22:42:12 GMT -5
The Tiffany Network is just not equipped to handle the package very well. ABC (+ ESPNs) can't stage a rescue effort soon enough, imho. You're seriously proposing a Final Four announced by Mike Patrick (or Brad Nessler, or Brent Musburger again) and Dick Vitale?
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Filo
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Post by Filo on Jul 15, 2008 11:27:23 GMT -5
I like Kellogg a lot. I am very happy with the change.
As for others:
- Bilas and Elmore are great.
- Nantz is OK but I think lately he has added a nasty / judgmental edge, probably from working with Packer too much.
- Gus is OK but a bit too much for me sometimes.
- Enberg was great, but time waits for no man...
- Vitale: love the enthusiasm, but I can get my enthusiasm fix by watching the Trojan and Bruin cheerleading squads.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Jul 15, 2008 12:07:26 GMT -5
Billy Packer: Good riddance to bad rubbish.
A nasty, curmudgeonly bigot whom I will not miss for one minute.
I'm sure he hated the fact that Big John had to throw him a life line after his "monkey" comment about Iverson. If Big John had so chosen, he could have buried Packer right then and there. He didn't. Credit to Big John.
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Buckets
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Post by Buckets on Jul 15, 2008 12:26:34 GMT -5
Is anyone else baffled by the Clark Kellog promotion? I haven't got much against him, but it sure seems like Bilas, Rafftery and Len Elmore were way ahead of him on the depth chart. The only thing I can think of is that all of those guys also work for ESPN and perhaps ESPN wouldn't let them go completely or CBS wouldn't buy them out of their contracts. Reportedly it's in Bilas' ESPN contract that he can only go 4 rounds deep into the NCAA tournament doing game coverage, then he's got to be back doing ESPN studio analysis for the FF. I don't know if the others have a Cinderella's Pumpkin Clause, but with ESPN, maybe it's a preferred arrangement. How much longer does that 11 year $6 Billion deal with CBS have left in it, anyway? The Tiffany Network is just not equipped to handle the package very well. ABC (+ ESPNs) can't stage a rescue effort soon enough, imho. Contract runs through 2014, but seems like it should be up sooner since they signed a renewal with a couple years left on an old agreement.
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