NationStates Jolt Archive

Who would you list as the best sportscaster or sports journalist?

For me the answer is easy.

The best of all time is the man who made football the national game. Yes I am referring to the most loved and most hated sportscaster of all time. The late Howard Cosell. The man who made football a part of pop culture from 1970-1983.

http://www.jamescampion.com/cosell.jpg

Howard never played the game, but he was the greatest. He spent his career "telling it like it is." I was too young to see him do MNF, but I have seen some games on ESPN Classic. I love how he argued with Dandy Don and Gifford (who were much less intelligent than he was.) I've read his book "I Never Played the Game" and laughed at his rips on them, but he was very much correct when he called sports journalism a "Jockocracy." That is very true today when you see the dolts broadcasting today or analyzing the games like Harold Reynolds, Michael Irvin, Jeff Brantly, Jon Kruk, etc.


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For local announcers, I go with White Sox TV play by play man Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. I'm biased there though. He is a homer and fans of other teams hate him with a passion for his obvious bias in favor of the Sox. I love him though. His level of bias can only be compared to the late great Michigan football broadcaster Bob Ufer. I love when Hawk exploded when Buehrle was ejected on the August 1st game against the Os. I love his homerun calls to. "Frank drives it way back!!!! Corey Patterson looks up!!!!! YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOOOAAAAARRRRDDDD, YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

http://svt.se/content/1/c6/07/53/99/peterjihde370_2.jpg

Peter Jihde, because he roxxors my boxxors, and I ain't talking about computers, if you catch my drift.

Howard Cosell actually passed through my mind, but for me the best of the best is recently retired Bill McLaren, a Scottish rugby commentator - he _made_ the 5 (now 6) Nations tournament for _decades_! Voice of rugby, internationally.

Richie Benaud - an Australian cricket commentator who covered games for Britain's Channel 4. There was even a computerised version of him that would sit on your desktop telling you what was happening (and eat sandwiches during the lunch break):

http://www.channel4.com/sport/cricket/interactive/richie.html

Murray Walker no contest!

"Excuse me while I interrupt myself" being a personal favourite.

My friend Justin does a wicked John Madden impersenation.

My friend Justin does a wicked John Madden impersenation.

Madden rules Mondays! <wishes he could stay up and watch tonight's game>

Richie Benaud
John Motson

My friend Justin does a wicked John Madden impersenation.
I used to like Madden, but the more I watch him the more I can't stand him. MNF's ratings have been steadily declining towards the shitter since 1984 when Cosell and Dandy left the show. You can't blame bad match-ups because Howard and Co. made the biggest blowouts interesting and full of drama (usually that drama was fighting in the booth). MNF is now so boring I only watch if a team I like is playing.

Al Michaels, easily.

http://www.miracleonice.us/doyoubelieve.mp3

Al Michaels, easily.

http://www.miracleonice.us/doyoubelieve.mp3
YOu can definitely make a case for Al Michaels. He broadcasts every sport imaginable.

Richie Benaud - an Australian cricket commentator who covered games for Britain's Channel 4.
And Oz's Channel 9.
Is there any alternative? Of course not. Richie is the one and only man who impersonates Cricket (until Warney becomes a commentator).

Plus he knows what he's talking about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Benaud

Biased, cause I'm a Cubs fan, but I gotta say Harry Caray.

Second vote for Al Michaels. He seems pretty solid as a broadcaster no matter who he teams up with. As a second vote, I'd go for Pat Summerall. If Madden gave him style, he was the one who really gave Madden class.

Biased, cause I'm a Cubs fan, but I gotta say Harry Caray.
I'm a Sox fan. Harry Caray spent about as much time doing the Cubs as he did the White Sox. He started singing during the 7th inning stretch at old Comiskey in the summer of 1977 with organist Nancy Faust accompanying him. It was Bill Veeck's idea to give him a mic when he did that. He was great when partnered with Jimmy Piersall. Caray used to get totally loaded during games too. WHen he went to the Cubs, he was already past his prime.

Chick Hearn... nah, not really. He was an icon for the Lakers though..

Gotta go with Harry Caray.

Edit: Also, Chip Caray sucks.. he just does.

Hawk Harrelson (http://www.heavethehawk.com/)
best south side announcer. Stoopid Harry cant steal all chicago credit
GO SOX

Hawk Harrelson (http://www.heavethehawk.com/)
best south side announcer. Stoopid Harry cant steal all chicago credit
GO SOX
I love Hawk Harrelson.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/fan_forum/tyib/y2005/play.jsp?c_id=cws
Go to that site to hear some of Hawk's calls.
I love the Dye walkoff. You can even hear Nancy Faust beginning "Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye" as she plays that song whenever the Sox homer, win, or if the opposing pitcher gets yanked.

I was at the game where Timo hit the 2 run single to win it against the Angels. I was also at the game for the Pierzynski walkoff.

I don't like that heavethehawk site BTW. I've seen it before. It sounds like either Daver from the Whitesoxinteractive.com board made it or a Cub fan made it.

Hawk Harrelson, YESSSSS!!!!!!

Foster Hewitt.

http://webhome.idirect.com/~glenjenn/mountpleasant/hewittpix/Foster.jpg

I love Hawk Harrelson.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/fan_forum/tyib/y2005/play.jsp?c_id=cws
Go to that site to hear some of Hawk's calls.
I love the Dye walkoff. You can even hear Nancy Faust beginning "Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye" as she plays that song whenever the Sox homer, win, or if the opposing pitcher gets yanked.

I was at the game where Timo hit the 2 run single to win it against the Angels. I was also at the game for the Pierzynski walkoff.

I don't like that heavethehawk site BTW. I've seen it before. It sounds like either Daver from the Whitesoxinteractive.com board made it or a Cub fan made it.

Hawk Harrelson, YESSSSS!!!!!!
w00t a cool person, very cool. All hail the white sox.

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For local announcers, I go with White Sox TV play by play man Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. I'm biased there though. He is a homer and fans of other teams hate him with a passion for his obvious bias in favor of the Sox. I love him though. His level of bias can only be compared to the late great Michigan football broadcaster Bob Ufer. I love when Hawk exploded when Buehrle was ejected on the August 1st game against the Os. I love his homerun calls to. "Frank drives it way back!!!! Corey Patterson looks up!!!!! YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOOOAAAAARRRRDDDD, YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!"
Dude, that was so awesome. I love yelling with my friends YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOOOAAAAARRRRDDDD, YESSSSSS!!!!!!

Dude, that was so awesome. I love yelling with my friends YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOOOOAAAAARRRRDDDD, YESSSSSS!!!!!!
I love "He GAWN" too. I almost like it as much as his old "Grab some bench" call. Hawk rules, but I will say I'm not the biggest fan of DJ. I miss the days when Tom "Wimpy" Paciorek was the color man.

Yah, he gawn is classic. I luv listening to him, and all my friends agree. Well the sox fans anyways.

I used to like Madden, but the more I watch him the more I can't stand him. MNF's ratings have been steadily declining towards the shitter since 1984 when Cosell and Dandy left the show. You can't blame bad match-ups because Howard and Co. made the biggest blowouts interesting and full of drama (usually that drama was fighting in the booth). MNF is now so boring I only watch if a team I like is playing.

it's just as well. He doesn't do a serious Madden impression, it's more fo a "what if John Madden were unable to dress himself correctly" sort of thing. That line of humour.

Murray Walker for hilarity, although eh did annoy me. And Richie Benaud. :)

MADDEN!! BOOM! tough-actin' tanactin!