OT: Will Leitch's Worst Sportscasters
by robert_d_wilfong
on Jun 30, 2008 1:22 PM CDT
http://www.maxim.com/The10WorstBroadcastersinSports/articles/24558.aspx
Before cable TV ushered in an era of 24-hour sports coverage and snarky, personality-driven commentary, professional play callers were endowed with a unique talent for actually enhancing the experience of watching a game. They offered valuable insight, knew how to play up a big moment, and knew when to shut the hell up.
Over the past two decades, however, too many play-by-play guys–even some of the biggest names–have become motormouthed hacks whose egos are perpetually on display. They pepper their commentary with a constant flow of inane banter and irrelevant pop culture references—anything to get more air time. It’s enough to make any fan watch a whole game on mute. In the name of taking back televised sports, we hereby call out these 10 broadcasters as the worst of the worst—and beg TV execs to muzzle them before viewers revolt.
10. John Madden
9. Walt Frazier
8. Mike Patrick
7. Billy Packer
6. Bill Walton
5. Bryant Gumbel
4. Dick Vitale
3. Joe Morgan
2. Chip Caray
1. Chris Berman
RDW's Bottom 5
5. Charlie Waters
4. Dick Hicks
3. Stuart Scott
2. Chris Berman
1. Bryant Gumbel
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ge's cock-eyed
get it straight miles.
"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08
.501 or bust!
by Jayslick on
Jun 30, 2008 2:49 PM CDT
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So many choices ...
Bryant Gumbel and Joe Morgan are the hardest for me to listen to but I’ll go with Morgan since he still has a job.
by northtexan95 on Jun 30, 2008 1:37 PM CDT 0 recs
I love that Walton clip
Incredibly cheesy, but it still cracks me up.
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
by TheBZA on Jun 30, 2008 1:38 PM CDT 0 recs
Trick Question
This is like asking ‘What is the worst way to get punched in the balls?’ There is simply no way I can, in good conscience, vote for only one of the above options. For this reason, I withhold my vote.
by Jack Nicholson 1974 on Jun 30, 2008 1:38 PM CDT 0 recs
perfectly fair
As I voted for Morgan I says to myself “How can you not vote for Walton?” So I created 9 more user ID’s to do the poll justice.
W: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
by hubcityraider on
Jul 1, 2008 12:03 PM CDT
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“They pepper their commentary with a constant flow of inane banter and irrelevant pop culture references—anything to get more air time…”
at maxim.com of all places…
by oc on Jun 30, 2008 1:39 PM CDT 0 recs
No joke
So what’s the deal, Leitch leaves Deadspin to write Maxim articles?
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
by TheBZA on
Jun 30, 2008 1:40 PM CDT
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I
thought he was leaving to write for NY magazine.
Chris Davis is a beast.
by coolaid on
Jun 30, 2008 1:45 PM CDT
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Didn't mean that literally
Just seems odd to me.
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
by TheBZA on
Jun 30, 2008 1:50 PM CDT
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bah... i like Joe Morgan...
...i still say he and Miller are the best in the game…
by oc on Jun 30, 2008 1:42 PM CDT 0 recs
-1
See my signature. If you want something from on air, watch this.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5qadt_al-oliver_latino
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
by TheBZA on
Jun 30, 2008 1:48 PM CDT
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That Morgan
Is a former great player with no idea of how to play successful baseball.
by BudLight on
Jun 30, 2008 2:04 PM CDT
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Did you watch the clip?
It has nothing to do with how to play baseball at all. You’re such a jabroni.
by Agreen07 on
Jun 30, 2008 2:07 PM CDT
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jabroni?
nice, old school for the new school.
Dino Radja >>> Soft Nowitzki
by Longhorn on
Jun 30, 2008 2:08 PM CDT
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Joe is an ol'-timey player whose just... ol'-timey...
...even if he is wrong most of the time… listening to him and Miller dispute something so meaningless was a lot more entertaining than watching Ramirez and Fukodome foul off 74 pitches…
by oc on
Jun 30, 2008 2:05 PM CDT
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Meaningless
That’s the perfect word for it. There was nothing insightful whatsoever in that “discussion”. I honestly feel bad for Jon Miller as he is dragged through that incredibly awkward, pointless dribble. It’s been a few weeks so I can’t cite anything specific, but that entire thing reeks of bad broadcasting, which is exactly what Morgan spews every night.
He is incredibly stubborn when it comes to how the game has changed since 1974 (Even when these “stats” prove exactly how awesome he was). He sticks to his guns regardless of how foolish it makes him look. He provides nothing insightful about the game beyond anecdotes of his playing days.
As far as a write in goes, I nominate Tim McCarver. He’s the only person I can’t stand more than Morgan.
Joe Morgan: (On Jay Bruce) I think he will. He brings energy to the team, and besides that, he is a pretty good hitter.
Ken Tremendous: I like that the #1 reason he will help his team is: "energy," and the distant #2 reason is: "ability to hit baseballs."
by TheBZA on
Jun 30, 2008 2:36 PM CDT
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McCarver... another ol'-timey player...
...ol’-timey players being ol’-timey stubborn… isn’t that the appeal?
old men talking baseball… what’s wrong with that?
by oc on
Jun 30, 2008 2:40 PM CDT
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here's a Morgan gem... taken from last year's Rangers-Angels showdown...
“well… what is OPS?... it’s just a number…”
i scoffed at this too… but, i can kinda see what he’s trying to illustrate… OPS shouldn’t be the above-all, determining statistic of how well a player or team does at the plate…
if that were true, the Athletics have no reason being as good as they are this year… pitching withstanding…
by oc on
Jun 30, 2008 2:42 PM CDT
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except when you compare...
The OPS allowed by their pitchers to the OPS compiled by their pitchers… then it would make total sense. Who needs stats to make sense though?
by NoNameOnCard on
Jul 1, 2008 3:58 PM CDT
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Oh my
And oh my to the plus ones as well. What is wrong with you people?
by zywica on
Jun 30, 2008 3:31 PM CDT
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my thoughts too
I’m floored. Morgan is the most obviously bad baseball guy I’ve ever listened to.
W: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
by hubcityraider on
Jul 1, 2008 12:05 PM CDT
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Bryant Gumbel
no doubt. If you don’t vote for Bryant Gumbel it isn’t because you don’t think he’s the worst, but rather you never had to experience any of the games he has recently called on the NFL network.
by Agreen07 on Jun 30, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs
Haha,
I forgot about him. Didn’t he do a Dallas game last year?
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on
Jun 30, 2008 1:49 PM CDT
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yeah
Romo was supposedly on the Packers.
Dino Radja >>> Soft Nowitzki
by Longhorn on
Jun 30, 2008 1:52 PM CDT
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and his first name was Terry or something like that
How do you call an entire NFL game and then get the QBs first name and team wrong?
by uthornfan on
Jun 30, 2008 11:43 PM CDT
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Every game he did for the NFL network
was horrible
by Agreen07 on
Jun 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT
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It also contained...
a moment where Gumbel forgets how to count to 11 (or 12, as he claimed)...
by NoNameOnCard on
Jul 1, 2008 4:00 PM CDT
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Voted for Gumbel
Listening to the Cowboys games on NFLN is terrible with him and Cris Collinsworth.
Chris Davis is a beast.
by coolaid on Jun 30, 2008 1:48 PM CDT 0 recs
I like Packer and Madden
especially Madden. He shouldn’t even be on that list. Dan Hicks is good too… I can think of a lot worse than those 3 guys.
Dino Radja >>> Soft Nowitzki
by Longhorn on Jun 30, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs
I agree...
Madden is entertaining.
Truthfully, I usually watch those games just because he is announcing them.
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on
Jun 30, 2008 2:19 PM CDT
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I'd like to do a write in
John Buck.
Dino Radja >>> Soft Nowitzki
by Longhorn on Jun 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT 0 recs
The Royals catcher?!?
Oh, c’mon, he’s really eloquent. :)
"Boy, that is a gutless, 6-foot-7, .200-hitting formerly good player. What a joke." -Tom Grieve RE: Richie Sexson
by ghtd36 on
Jun 30, 2008 2:49 PM CDT
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“I say, chap… that stolen base was downright dandy… it appears i’ll have to refine my technique, methinks…
balderdash!... let us continue this challenge of sport, shall we?... where you attempt to… motor yourself 90 feet further, and, in the best interests of my club, strive to squelch your advancements!”
by oc on
Jun 30, 2008 3:02 PM CDT
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OMG
I agree with Longhorn.
Today is a dark day for the mother f’ing dirkatron.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Jun 30, 2008 3:07 PM CDT
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I hate when Stu Scott
tries to speak in ebonics on ESPN. It’s so annoying. It reminds me of Scoop Jackson and what Whitlock said about him: “Scoop is a clown. And the publishing of his fake ghetto posturing is an insult to black intelligence, and it interferes with intelligent discussion of important racial issues.”
by Agreen07 on Jun 30, 2008 2:10 PM CDT 1 recs
i'll admit
i use ‘cool as the other side of the pillow’ at times.
Dino Radja >>> Soft Nowitzki
by Longhorn on
Jun 30, 2008 2:12 PM CDT
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I'm talking about when he goes further
way further..to the point of not making sense.
by Agreen07 on
Jun 30, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
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Maybe you could make it your signature!
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 30, 2008 2:43 PM CDT
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The worst I've ever heard
Joe Avezzano has done some Cowboy games on the radio…he sounds like a muppet. When I heard him I pictured these guys:
I guess it was the beatings made me wise. But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize.
by TheJeezus on Jun 30, 2008 2:37 PM CDT 1 recs
Unfuckinacceptable. Where is Rex Hudler? Where?
Rex Hudler has chunks of Stu Scott and Chris Berman in his stool…
Did you know that Rex Hudler is IN DEMAND as a motivational speaker? Did you?
This is a traveshamockrage.
Even his nickname is the planet’s worst. Can you think of a more dumbass nickname? Can you? It is a cartoon dog. That’s right, he prefers to be go by the moniker of a cartoon. And a dog.
Rex Hudler is the worstest. And if you say different, I will fight you…
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on Jun 30, 2008 2:41 PM CDT 0 recs
Thou protest too much
I think you really have a man-crush on The Wonder Dog. Or maybe … just maybe … you’re one of his throng of jilted lovers.
by robert_d_wilfong on
Jun 30, 2008 9:37 PM CDT
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Outrageous and mendacious
I am a notorious over-protester. And my intense hatred for all things Hudlerian is well documented:
http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/12/28/124227/72
Every breath that “man” takes’ is an affront to our very existence. He must be shunted with extreme prejudice.
In summary, sir, you have poor taste in the broadcasters you hate. I smack you across the cheeks smartly with my velvet gauntlets.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jul 1, 2008 2:25 PM CDT
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Another write in vote
Tim McCarver is gawdawful.
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
by txranger7 on Jun 30, 2008 2:42 PM CDT 0 recs
+100
Nailed it.
"Boy, that is a gutless, 6-foot-7, .200-hitting formerly good player. What a joke." -Tom Grieve RE: Richie Sexson
by ghtd36 on
Jun 30, 2008 2:50 PM CDT
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On the other side of the coin...
Who do you think is the best?
I think Pat Summerall (at least in his heyday) has to be in the conversation. Same with Keith Jackson. Vin Scully’s up there, and I’ve held for a long time that Gary Thorne is grossly underrated, especially in hockey.
And I know I’m a little biased, but I think Ralph Strangis and Darryl Reaugh are about as good as it gets in hockey.
Oh, and Eric Nadel rules.
"Boy, that is a gutless, 6-foot-7, .200-hitting formerly good player. What a joke." -Tom Grieve RE: Richie Sexson
by ghtd36 on Jun 30, 2008 2:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Gary Thorne
He is the king of mispronouncing names. This becomes doubly retarded during the course of a hockey game. PLUS, he overgrandioses (my favorite newly made up verb) his voice like no other.
If he learns to speak normally and pronounce names correctly, you can put him back in the discussion. Until then… no f’in way.
by NoNameOnCard on
Jul 1, 2008 4:04 PM CDT
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Joe Buck
What an awful, awful man.
Though honestly I wouldn’t openly loathe him to the extent I do if it wasn’t for the fact that he broadcasts so many big events. Seriously, Joe Buck is the announcer for both the Super Bowl and the World Series. And he sucks. Something is wrong there.
Give me Gus Johnson or Marv Albert or John Miller or the chubby affable, Gumbel.
And Tom Grieve is the best color man in sports.
Believe that, fools.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Jun 30, 2008 3:11 PM CDT 0 recs
Tom Grieve best?
Not even close.
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on
Jun 30, 2008 3:13 PM CDT
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You're a Tim McCarver man, aren't you, Miles?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Jun 30, 2008 3:16 PM CDT
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Tim Mccarver
puts me to sleep.
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
by miles on
Jun 30, 2008 3:29 PM CDT
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haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
seriously it is hurting to laugh this hard. TAG? ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
by Agreen07 on
Jun 30, 2008 3:16 PM CDT
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Says the guy who gave a +1
to the post about Morgan and Miller being the best in the game.
by jparks77 on
Jun 30, 2008 3:21 PM CDT
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You don't like Jon Miller either?
Or are we talking strictly on the basis of the color guy?
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 30, 2008 6:21 PM CDT
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I don't mind Jon Miller
for myself. Morgan is just dreadful. It’s just hard to listen to someone who is literally wrong about the majority of things that he says.
by zywica on
Jun 30, 2008 6:41 PM CDT
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Agreed on both counts, except I would go farther than don't mind him on Miller
I think Miller is really good.
I’m solidly on board, however, with the Joe Morgan for Mayor of Ignoramus Heights campaign.
Don't knock masturbation, it's sex with someone I love .
by Brian Thomas on
Jun 30, 2008 8:58 PM CDT
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Someone constantly jabbing me in the ear
with an ice pick is better
by zywica on
Jun 30, 2008 3:34 PM CDT
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The Razor.
No one anywhere is better than Daryl Reaugh.
by NoNameOnCard on
Jul 1, 2008 4:05 PM CDT
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I was really just giving a +1 to
the subject part about liking Joe Morgan…I’m not sure who I like most, one of the guys from one of those ESPN crews.
by Agreen07 on
Jun 30, 2008 3:30 PM CDT
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This conversation
begins and ends with one man…
Ken Harrelson.
Go Vote for Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, Bradley and write in Murphy. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2008/ballot_reg.html - Vote up to 25 times on as many email accounts as you can think of!
by tdi1985 on Jun 30, 2008 3:12 PM CDT 0 recs
HE GONE!
"Boy, that is a gutless, 6-foot-7, .200-hitting formerly good player. What a joke." -Tom Grieve RE: Richie Sexson
by ghtd36 on
Jun 30, 2008 4:14 PM CDT
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love John Miller, Nadel, Harwell but best ever....
Holtz.
- "If you keep hitting me you're going to break my spirit" -Bullwinkle
by