[Old School Hound]

In honor of the great Greg Gumbel passing away, I figured I'd start a thread on the topic of sports broadcasting. This is something that is near & dear to me. I've broadcasted HS Basketball games for one of our local radio stations for 6 years, done both play-by-play & color. Even tho I was pretty green when I first started out, but soon developed a good rapport with my broadcasting partner, and we were good to go after that. I love watching a good game, no matter what sport it is, but particularly basketball, but to go along with a good game, I love the broadcast of the game.

The guy gets a lot of slack, but I really don't understand why now, is Joe Buck. I remember listening to him 20 years ago and he was just so dull & bland. I think he really turned that around near the 2011/12 season, when he was having issues with his voice and issues with his hair. But since then, he is definitely more jubilant on a big play or a big game, and he has always meshed well with Troy Aikman, whom I think out of all the major play-by-play guys for the NFL, is by far the best other than Greg Olsen. Buck also had a great connection w/ Tim McCarver during the World Series, I really enjoyed listening to McCarver, he was so knowledgeable of the game. Then Buck moved on w/ John Smoltz, and they developed a great chemistry in their short time together. 

Of course, mostly everyone's go to was Pat Sumerall & John Madden. By far the greatest to ever do it. Sumerall was always so calm & poised, had such a smooth voice calling the game, and then you had the loud, sometimes obnoxious Madden, but somehow it worked well together for so many years. 

Al Michaels is another one, sort of lost his luster since he left Sunday Night Football and moved to Thursdays, but he has one of, if not the most iconic call in sports history with "do you believe in Miracles?" when US Hockey team defeated the Soviets in 1980. Then he was the voice of the Reds for many years before being replaced by Marty Brennaman. Michaels went on to call some iconic NFL games, namely with Madden after he left Fox. 

Then the aforementioned Brennaman, who was the voice of the Reds for over 40 years. I recall growing up and listening to him & Joe Nuxhall all the time, hardly ever watched but always listened. They had some all time great calls, but what a time to start with the Reds, right in the middle of the Big Red Machine. 

Those are some of the ones that I always have enjoyed in my life, there's several current names that I really like listening to. 

Kevin Harlan
Brian Anderson
Dan Schulmann
Jay Bilas
Gus Johnson
Jim Nantz
Mike Tirico


So who does everyone else have in mind? Figured this would be a fun topic to debate about.

Good thread, STAT.  Congrats on being a broadcaster. That must be a lot of fun. 

Like everything else, I like guys who , not only call a great game, but entertain me, as well.  Gus Johnson gets some criticism for being too over the top, but I like him. My life wouldn't have been as enjoyable as it has been without Brennaman / Nuxhall and Micheals/Nuxhall.  Also, I spent hundreds of hours listening to the great Cawood Ledford.


As far as a consummate broadcaster who possessed all the skills of calling a great game, painting a great picture for the listener, and telling great stories, Vin Sculley , famed Dodger announcer,  had no equal.

I also enjoyed Keith Jackson calling college football and the great Curt Gowdy doing pro football back in the day. And who can forget the great Dick Enberg , who did baseball for the Angels and then did pro football as half of the great tandem with Merlin Olsen. Enberg also did college basketball with Al McQuire. I also loved the sports gameshow he emceed, called "Sports Challenge," back in the '70's . Multi-talented guy.