Vote: Favorite play-by-play announcer? Least favorite?
You may have seen the box inside my On the Media column in the Sports section referring to this blog and this poll. I want to give viewers/readers a chance to tell me who is their favorite -- and least favorite -- play-by-play announcer. It's fairly simple. Vote for your favorite by clicking on the button after the name you want and then clicking on "Vote." Then scroll down and do the same for your least favorite.
You can vote only once on each poll. If you want to let me know what your No. 2 and No. 3 choices are, just send in a comment, available by clicking on "Comments" at the bottom of this post.
We've tried to provide a cross-section of national and local sportscasters. The deadline to vote has been extended. Voting now will close on Thursday, Oct. 30 at noon. And we'll be writing about the results in the next On the Media column.* Here are your choices, in alphabetical order.
-- Steve Springer
* Updated at 4 p.m. Oct. 29.
How could any list of the worst announcers not include Tim Mcarver and Ken Harrelson?
Posted by: Chet Hayes | October 17, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Unlike many critics, I like Tim McCarver. I notice he's left off your list. Afraid too many n egative votes? On the other hand, generally former ball players may not make the best sportscasters (see Joe Morgan, Buck Martinez, Stgeve Lyons, Mark Gubicza....Too many sportscasters simply forget that sometimes, silence is golden. We can SEE on TV what is happening. We don't need an elaborate commentary about what we are seeing.
Which brings me to boxing. First, why are announcers wearing tuxedos? And do we really need Lennox Lewis to explain what he himself seems not to undertstand? Reading off a teleprompter does NOT make fore enlightening commentary...and that goers for Steve Albert, Jim Lampley, et al....
AND, do we REALLY need Michnael Buffer and Jim,my Lennon, Jr.?
Posted by: Werner Haas | October 17, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Vin Scully is the gold standard. All others are pretenders, but I would add ESPN's Dan Shulman to the list.
Posted by: Doug in Toronto | October 17, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Steve,
I think you would do us all a very, very big favor and clear up the big mystery as to why Vin Scully is not on TV during the post season. He used to, right? Maybe Vinny just plain old doesn't want to, or there are contractural issues with other networks or he is biased or what? Find out and let us know the real low down, will you? Doesn't anybody realize that we can never again have a Gibson like call if we don't have Vinny calling it? We may only have one more year to listen to Scully so lets make sure he's on TV next October. Turning off the sound on my TV and turning on the radio to listen to Vin - give me a break!
Also, Joe Morgan has got to be the WORST announcer - God help us!
Posted by: Rob Wallace | October 17, 2008 at 10:18 AM
You did not include Charlie Steiner...
He would get my vote for worst....
He cannot get facts straight during broadcasts, forgets the number
of outs, etc.
No wonder New York did not keep him.
Just my opinion but it is shared by me own small group of friends.
Thank you.
Posted by: Larry Ross | October 17, 2008 at 10:20 AM
second and third favorites: Vin Scully and Jon Miller
second least favorite (after the dreadful Brent)--Jim Lampley.
It is amazing how many of these same people keep their jobs year after year. Is there no accountability?
Posted by: Curmudgeon7 | October 17, 2008 at 10:43 AM
You have to let us have a write-in vote on the least favorite sportscaster poll. As much as I hate to see the baseball season end, it at least gives me a five-month respite from Rex Hudler, his corn-pone rhymes ("if you don't hack, you got to go back") and his constant reminding us that he was a player, too. Joe Morgan, who had 2,056 more hits than Hudler, virtually never talks of his playing days. It always has to be about him. Then there's the skiers' lip gloss and the affectation of always holding a baseball and showing it to the camera.
Posted by: Jay Berman | October 17, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Wow, only 1 hockey announcer (the Kings' incomparable Bob Miller) listed! You have outdone yourself yet again. Besides slighting the Kings' radio voice Nick Nickson, you also left out the Ducks' TV and radio announcers as well as not even mentioning any of the national guys on Versus (insert same tired hockey cable channel joke here) like Mike Emrick, etc.
Posted by: Peter | October 17, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Least favorite by far - Steve Physioc, he does not realize it is TV and cannot stop talking. !!
Posted by: E. Wada | October 17, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Favorites:
2 - Marv Albert
3 - Dick Enberg
Least Favs:
2 - Jim Lampley
3 - Jim Lampley
I have to say that I always think of Brent Musburger not as a broadcaster but the person who I always remember from CBS Sports, especially on The NFL Today studio show. He did a lot the the NBA as well for CBS, but to me he'll always be the ring leader on The NFL Today to me
Posted by: The Class Rocks | October 17, 2008 at 01:12 PM
My actual least favorite is Rick Monday, but he wasn't listed. Ever since he took over for Don Drysdale, all he's done is a bad Vin Scully impersonation. Couple that with his extra syllables ("second-a-base" instead of "second base") makes listening to him pure torture. ESPN's Dan Shulman does that too.
My only complaint about Joe Buck is that he forgets that even though the game he's calling is televised, people don't watch the screen at every second (making food, getting drinks etc). So when a ball is hit and all he says is "Into left field for Ramirez," you're not sure if it's a base hit, fly ball, fair or foul, etc. There could be blind people enjoying the game too. Vin Scully never leaves you wondering.
I've got to disagree with the first comment. Joe Morgan is the best color commentary man in the business. His insight is always right on target.
Posted by: Paul Colbert | October 17, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Tim McCarver ranks as one of the worst. He seems to think he has to make a comment about every situation, play , umpire call , pitching selection etc. Give the fans some credit for having some knowledge of the game.
Posted by: Harold | October 17, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Favorite
2 - Marv Albert
3 - Dick Enberg
Least Favorite
2 - Jim Nantz
3 - Jim Lampley
Posted by: J. Nevitt | October 17, 2008 at 08:59 PM
You should take Vin Scully out of the equation for favorite and see where all his votes go. Then you might have some interesting analysis to do. Right now, it's Scully and everyone else. Arbogast with ten least favorites???? I wonder if that Daily News guy figured out a way to vote ten times. I'm a Bruin fan and can't stand Chris Roberts because he doesn't speak normal English. "The ball on "that" 35 yard line." It's "the" 35 yard line. "We'll take a time-out with the score 55-52 in favor of the Bruins of UCLA." Does he have to take 16 words to say what he can in 8? Does he have to tell us they are the Bruins of UCLA? I think once he says "UCLA" or "Bruins", we know who he's talking about. How about this one?..."The foul is on Josh Shipp "on" UCLA." First of all, I know Josh Shipp plays for UCLA and, if I'm listening on the radio, I'm probably a die-hard fan, so Roberts doesn't have to tell me Josh Shipp is on UCLA. Plus I would say "of" UCLA not "on" UCLA. Roberts messes up the language or is redundant many times a game and every time he does or is, it jumps out at me.
Posted by: Bill | October 19, 2008 at 09:29 AM
After looking at the list, Vin Scully should be a unanimous choice for best. I grew up in Van Nuys and have lived in San Diego for 33 years. There are really only two things about LA that I miss: Cupid's Hot Dogs and listening to Vin Scully.
As for the worst, it has to be Musburger. Actually, it may not be fair of me to criticize him because I haven't heard him do a whole game in years. If he's doing a game, I either don't watch or watch with the sound off. How does he keep getting jobs?
Posted by: Rich Rudy | October 19, 2008 at 09:44 PM
2nd fave - Bob Miller. Least fave - Tim McCarver. The worst by far.
Posted by: John Glass | October 20, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Bob Miller is one of the best hockey announcer on the planet. The Ducks' Brian Hayward is without question the absolute worst. What a homer!
Posted by: debbie | October 20, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Vinny is in a class by himself. He's made millions upon millions enjoy this great game of baseball with his impecable style. Joe Buck had done the exact oposite. The TV ratings reflect his impact. His monotone and painfully boring play calling make any event he's calling excrusiating.We're so blessed to have Mr. Scully our entire lives.
Posted by: Bradley Bullard | October 20, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Will the five people who voted Bob Miller as their LEAST favorite announcer please identify yourselves so that we may shower you with cyber-manure in a flaming paper bag :) Seriously, what planet could you be living on?
Posted by: Marc Nathan | October 22, 2008 at 09:23 PM
How bout Mark jackson?
Posted by: J | October 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Judging from the coverage the NHL receives, I reckon they must be employees in the Times Sports department.
Posted by: patrick parsons | October 23, 2008 at 10:51 AM
GUS JOHNSON --- simply the best!
Posted by: jason miller | October 24, 2008 at 08:34 AM
tim mcarver has got to go. i cant lisen to him any more.
Posted by: steve | October 24, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Charlie Steiner is the absolute worst, and not just by comparison to the great one - Vin Scully. His attempts at humor contain a giant dork factor, when he gives the score it's wrong much of the time, and he's just plain irritating.
Posted by: James Gibson | October 24, 2008 at 09:18 AM
I hope Joel Myers is voted worst...Lay off the Cigs Joel
Posted by: Vahe | October 24, 2008 at 03:40 PM