National announcers you like

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Most announcers fall into 2 categories for me, non offensive white noise and hate them with a a fiery passion of 10 suns (looking at you Joe Buck). I think I can list three I actively enjoy listening to Al Michaels, Mike "Doc" Emrick and (God help me) Tony Romo

[Cyno]

Doc Emrick because he was my team's guy before he went national. I also like Tony Romo a lot. I also like when the Van Gundys do basketball, especially Jeff when he gets ornery.

Sometimes they let David Cone do national baseball games and he's always really knowledgeable. One of the few former baseball players I can think of who really embraces analytics, too.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Al Michaels is probably the best. He's into the game but not falsely enthusiastic; he'll get hyped if something awesome happens, though. Knows hui stuff, pleasant voice.

If Romo would drink about 3 fewer cups of coffee before the game, I'd throw him on the list. What he's saying is usually spot-on, he's just so wired.

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Once again, I am likely the only person who will openly admit to liking Joe Buck.

[Cyno]

I love Joe Buck when he's a guest on other people's shows. He actually lets his personality and sense of humor shine through and tells these crazy, almost Uecker-esque stories.

[Push R Truth]

I like Aikman but holy shit it should be illegal for him to call Cowboy games. He is garbage tier for cowboy games. He sounds like he's still on Jerry's payroll... which is possible


I love Al Micheals because he's one of the last guys that has to clout to say it like it is with no repurcussions. He'll question refs, rules and flat out say a shitty game is a shitty game. I respect that.


And I'll second Joe Buck. When he's on FOX he appears to have this strange neutered kinda indifferent vibe and it sucks. But when he's in interviews or on other shows he's a funny and cool guy. I hope someday soon he takes a page of Al Micheals and just starts acting like "himself" during normal sports broadcasting.

[BRV]

There's an article on The Ringer about the early days of NFL on FOX and Joe Buck explains that he tried too hard to replicate the legendary Pat Summerall, but since he's not Summerall in personality or voice characteristics, it failed him miserably.

When Troy, Cris, and I took over for Pat and John, I tried to do my version of Pat Summerall, which made me sound boring. I didn’t fall into the trap of trying to sound like my dad. I didn’t fall into the trap of trying to do anything as anybody else. But when the three of us stepped into that void, that void felt so big that I tried to imitate Pat. It didn’t work.

That perfectly explains why he sounded so unenthusiastic for basically the entirety of the first decade of the century, because he was copying Summerall's minimalist tone. Buck's infamous call of the David Tyree catch from Super Bowl XLII sounds underwhelming because he's calling it the way Summerall would have called it. Don't believe me? Go back and watch the end of Super Bowl XXXVI. Summerall almost sounds bored when calling Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal, but that's just the tone he always took as a play-by-play man.

Since Buck became himself, somewhere around 2010 or 2011, he's become one of the very best broadcasters in all of sports yet he still gets his share of vitriol directed at him because of how he handled the early half of the 2000s.

[arrogantmodel]

Joe Buck should stick to baseball.
Al Michaels is one of the best.
I don't mind Collinsworth, unless he's doing a Pats game, and then he just sucks Brady's dick dry. Obnoxious.
Tony Romo is still settling in, but I like him.
Aikman is hit or miss.

[BRV]

NBA

- Jeff Van Gundy: He's knowledgeable about the sport and he's not afraid to call a spade a spade when he sees some bulls**t like a star player flopping or diving or the league catering to a handful of players.

- Marv Albert: He was a bit of a caricature of himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s but he's settled back into what made him a national star through the 1990s. He's the voice of basketball for a generation of fans.

NFL

- Al Michaels: He's simply the best play-by-play man in sports today. Even his failed run as the lead of the NBA on ABC in the mid-2000s was better than most. But fortunately for NBC, they have his heir apparent waiting in the wings...

- Mike Tirico: One of the most talented today, you know it's a big moment when his voice raises, but he doesn't scream over the moment or try to make it all about his call with some witty catchphrase (looking in your direction, Gus Johnson).

- Joe Buck: I said my peace about him earlier, but he doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. He's arguably one of the best broadcasters in two separate sports.

- Greg Gumbel: I don't know why he's been demoted to third pairing at CBS because I think he's great at calling a game and letting the moment speak for itself.

MLB

- Don Orsillo: One of the great shames was when the Red Sox let Don Orsillo walk and now the only time we get to hear him is on a national broadcast. He'll be the lead for TBS' baseball coverage within a matter of years.

- Brian Anderson: He's a rising star in the sports broadcasting world and for good reason. I thought his coverage of the Red Sox' run through the American League postseason was outstanding.

[Cyno]

One of the biggest losses for Monday Night Football and IMO, ESPN in general, is when Tirico left for NBC. He was EXCELLENT as the PBP guy and the people that have taken his place since are atrocious.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Jan 21, 2019 13:48:07 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Doc Emrick because he was my team's guy before he went national. I also like Tony Romo a lot. I also like when the Van Gundys do basketball, especially Jeff when he gets ornery.

Sometimes they let David Cone do national baseball games and he's always really knowledgeable. One of the few former baseball players I can think of who really embraces analytics, too.

He's been kind of getting irritating with the analytics towards the end of the season but that's more so cause we get him more due to the Yankees

He's a good analyst tho and no doubt could get a job in coaching

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Jan 22, 2019 16:52:07 GMT -5 BRV said:

NBA

- Jeff Van Gundy: He's knowledgeable about the sport and he's not afraid to call a spade a spade when he sees some bulls**t like a star player flopping or diving or the league catering to a handful of players.

- Marv Albert: He was a bit of a caricature of himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s but he's settled back into what made him a national star through the 1990s. He's the voice of basketball for a generation of fans.

NFL

- Al Michaels: He's simply the best play-by-play man in sports today. Even his failed run as the lead of the NBA on ABC in the mid-2000s was better than most. But fortunately for NBC, they have his heir apparent waiting in the wings...

- Mike Tirico: One of the most talented today, you know it's a big moment when his voice raises, but he doesn't scream over the moment or try to make it all about his call with some witty catchphrase (looking in your direction, Gus Johnson).

- Joe Buck: I said my peace about him earlier, but he doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. He's arguably one of the best broadcasters in two separate sports.

- Greg Gumbel: I don't know why he's been demoted to third pairing at CBS because I think he's great at calling a game and letting the moment speak for itself.

MLB

- Don Orsillo: One of the great shames was when the Red Sox let Don Orsillo walk and now the only time we get to hear him is on a national broadcast. He'll be the lead for TBS' baseball coverage within a matter of years.

- Brian Anderson: He's a rising star in the sports broadcasting world and for good reason. I thought his coverage of the Red Sox' run through the American League postseason was outstanding.

Keep him away from Mark Jackson and Vice Versa and they do okay for themselves

When you put them with each other, they bring the worst out each other

Also shout out to Mike Breen who is a good voice

[Andy Martin]

Kevin Harlan

[Deleted]

Wouldn't say he's my favorite or anything, but Joe Buck's grown on me over the years

I like Charles Davis as an (NFL) analyst

Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth have been doing it together for so long (*Val Venis voice* Heheheh) that I've taken them for granted, but there's a reason they have been

Tony Romo is phenomenal, it's crazy how spot on he is with his analysis

Mike Breen & Jeff Van Gundy for NBA games

Dick Enberg (Edit: Damn, completely forgot that he died) has done a few Tigers games over the years and it was always a treat listening to him

[Milkman Norm]

Jan 22, 2019 17:14:56 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Jan 22, 2019 16:52:07 GMT -5 BRV said:

NBA

- Jeff Van Gundy: He's knowledgeable about the sport and he's not afraid to call a spade a spade when he sees some bulls**t like a star player flopping or diving or the league catering to a handful of players.

- Marv Albert: He was a bit of a caricature of himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s but he's settled back into what made him a national star through the 1990s. He's the voice of basketball for a generation of fans.

NFL

- Al Michaels: He's simply the best play-by-play man in sports today. Even his failed run as the lead of the NBA on ABC in the mid-2000s was better than most. But fortunately for NBC, they have his heir apparent waiting in the wings...

- Mike Tirico: One of the most talented today, you know it's a big moment when his voice raises, but he doesn't scream over the moment or try to make it all about his call with some witty catchphrase (looking in your direction, Gus Johnson).

- Joe Buck: I said my peace about him earlier, but he doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. He's arguably one of the best broadcasters in two separate sports.

- Greg Gumbel: I don't know why he's been demoted to third pairing at CBS because I think he's great at calling a game and letting the moment speak for itself.

MLB

- Don Orsillo: One of the great shames was when the Red Sox let Don Orsillo walk and now the only time we get to hear him is on a national broadcast. He'll be the lead for TBS' baseball coverage within a matter of years.

- Brian Anderson: He's a rising star in the sports broadcasting world and for good reason. I thought his coverage of the Red Sox' run through the American League postseason was outstanding.

Keep him away from Mark Jackson and Vice Versa and they do okay for themselves

When you put them with each other, they bring the worst out each other

Also shout out to Mike Breen who is a good voice

Anderson is the Brewers regular TV play by play guy when he isn't doing basketball or the TBS national game. He's gotten significantly better over the last decade.

[Rican]

Second the love for Van Gundy, Mike Breen and Marv Albert. I also love Doris Burke.

[BRV]

I forgot to mention college football. While no one will be able to surpass Keith Jackson or Verne Lundquist, we're fortunate as fans to have the current lead voices for ABC/ESPN (Chris Fowler) and CBS (Brad Nessler), who are the best possible consolation prizes for not hearing Jackson and Lundquist on Saturdays anymore.

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Jan 23, 2019 12:27:15 GMT -5 BRV said:

I forgot to mention college football. While no one will be able to surpass Keith Jackson or Verne Lundquist, we're fortunate as fans to have the current lead voices for ABC/ESPN (Chris Fowler) and CBS (Brad Nessler), who are the best possible consolation prizes for not hearing Jackson and Lundquist on Saturdays anymore.

Honestly, I don't like ANY of the college PBP guys other than maybe McDonough.

And Gus Johnson is the outright worst. He goes into a hyper screaming fit whenever a player so much as sneezes.

[fw91]

Matt Vasgersian for baseball