It’s definitely a bias. But try to imagine he called Marino a cheater during that 1 Super Bowl that he played in.
Best Current NFL TV Broadcast Teams
- Thread starter Mugsy's Jock
- Start date
At this point, the nfl is 99% a QB reading a defense, nuanced route running, and whether the qB switched play at the line or made the right read. That’s it. Then it’s if a guy missed a block.
Romo is fantastic at that. I wish he’d call the game and they’d use the all-22 angle to see what the qb sees. I learn something every time he calls a game.
Otherwise its all just nonsense and cliches and rules analysis and did he or didn’t he (catch it, fumble it, first down or short). It’s idiotic nonsense
Next level will be more pointed toward fantasy. ISO cameras on WRs and showing who’s matched up with who and why QB and how qB is trying to get certain matchups etc.
Romo is fantastic at that. I wish he’d call the game and they’d use the all-22 angle to see what the qb sees. I learn something every time he calls a game.
Otherwise its all just nonsense and cliches and rules analysis and did he or didn’t he (catch it, fumble it, first down or short). It’s idiotic nonsense
Next level will be more pointed toward fantasy. ISO cameras on WRs and showing who’s matched up with who and why QB and how qB is trying to get certain matchups etc.
I voted for Harlan, who always does a great job singling out OL play and is generally really good at PBP in both football and basketball. Always found him underrated.
I still love Al Michaels and think that Buck, Gumbel, and Eagle are also good. I've never liked Nantz, mostly because he never comes across to me as a guy who enjoys football--I also always hated that he could never bother learning to properly pronounce Vince Wilfork's name--he always called him 'Wilferk,' and I let it make me slightly crazy.
Other than Aikman and Collinsworth, I don't get much insight or analysis from any of the color commentators--they're useless to annoying.
I still love Al Michaels and think that Buck, Gumbel, and Eagle are also good. I've never liked Nantz, mostly because he never comes across to me as a guy who enjoys football--I also always hated that he could never bother learning to properly pronounce Vince Wilfork's name--he always called him 'Wilferk,' and I let it make me slightly crazy.
Other than Aikman and Collinsworth, I don't get much insight or analysis from any of the color commentators--they're useless to annoying.
Who are you to tell a guy how his name is pronounced?
My surname ends in the letters A-R-A, and the penultimate syllable is pronounced "Air", not like the letter "R" - but 95% of everyone I hear speaking my name uses the latter pronunciation. Which isn't a big deal and is completely understandable, as mine isn't exactly a household name...but I bring it up because there's a guy playing for the Saints called "Kamara" who is pretty well known by now, and most of the play-by-play guys seem to know that his surname is pronounced "Kam-AIR-uh", but the number of other pundits and podcasters who get it wrong like they get my name wrong is ridiculous. That drives me crazy by proxy.
(Sorry for the tangent.)
Personally, this helps me remember. Like a good New Englander, just drop the 'r'.Who are you to tell a guy how his name is pronounced?
My surname ends in the letters A-R-A, and the penultimate syllable is pronounced "Air", not like the letter "R" - but 95% of everyone I hear speaking my name uses the latter pronunciation. Which isn't a big deal and is completely understandable, as mine isn't exactly a household name...but I bring it up because there's a guy playing for the Saints called "Kamara" who is pretty well known by now, and most of the play-by-play guys seem to know that his surname is pronounced "Kam-AIR-uh", but the number of other pundits and podcasters who get it wrong like they get my name wrong is ridiculous. That drives me crazy by proxy.
(Sorry for the tangent.)
Who are you to tell a guy how his name is pronounced?
My surname ends in the letters A-R-A, and the penultimate syllable is pronounced "Air", not like the letter "R" - but 95% of everyone I hear speaking my name uses the latter pronunciation. Which isn't a big deal and is completely understandable, as mine isn't exactly a household name...but I bring it up because there's a guy playing for the Saints called "Kamara" who is pretty well known by now, and most of the play-by-play guys seem to know that his surname is pronounced "Kam-AIR-uh", but the number of other pundits and podcasters who get it wrong like they get my name wrong is ridiculous. That drives me crazy by proxy.
(Sorry for the tangent.)
Exactly.Personally, this helps me remember. Like a good New Englander, just drop the 'r'.
999 out of 1000 Ian's are EEE EN. If you want to be EYE EN then spell it different. Ly.
Do you think Ian Eagle decided himself to be called "EYE-an"? I'm guessing he was called that name from birth...
Anyway, I wanted to also give props to Kevin Burkhardt - I'm happy Fox seems to be grooming him to be their #2 guy behind Buck, even though him now being in the MLB playoff studio leaves huge holes in Fox's football lineup for large chunks of October.
Anyway, I wanted to also give props to Kevin Burkhardt - I'm happy Fox seems to be grooming him to be their #2 guy behind Buck, even though him now being in the MLB playoff studio leaves huge holes in Fox's football lineup for large chunks of October.
I just learned that Ian Eagle decided to pronounce his first name that way as a tribute to his grandmother Ida.
At least that's the story to which he's sticking. I would've guessed it was a career-based decision based on the fact that "Ee-yun Eagle" sounds so dumb you have to wonder why his parents did that to him.
At least that's the story to which he's sticking. I would've guessed it was a career-based decision based on the fact that "Ee-yun Eagle" sounds so dumb you have to wonder why his parents did that to him.
Nantz and Romo are calling the Ravens-Falcons game on Sunday. Que? (CBS has sent them to some pretty weird games this season...)
I'd go with Cleveland-Houston myself - Browns looking rejuvenated, Texans on an eight-game winning streak.
Watching this NO/Pit game right now I have to agree with this. He's awful. A different kind of awful from guys like Fouts, Booger, or Aikman, but awful nonetheless.
The question was who is the best announcer, not who I personally like the best. I really dislike Barry Bonds but I still think he was a great baseball player.
Also your comparison to Marino is moot. Unlike some QBs, no one would ever accuse Marino of cheating because he never did so.
OK, I'll be a contrarian. I like Romo a lot. And I really don't get the issues with him people have. I'd take his childish excitement over the sanctimony or idiocy of most of the others any day.
I also enjoy Romo. He certainly has the insight into the game and brings some real enthusiasm.
Yeah, Al Michaels at 74 is still way ahead of everyone on the list.
Romo is getting better, but still has a ways to go. And he's not close to being good enough to overcome the smug idiocy of Jim Nantz, who needs to suffer career-ending laryngitis.
Madden used to get enthusiastic as well, but either naturally or by practice he was able to modulate his voice. I don't mind Romo's enthusiasm at all, but he loses control of his pitch and the change can create a negative reflex response in a listener.
If Romo's voice coach could get him to temper the sound while maintaining the emotional context, he'd get criticized far less for his enthusiasm
If Romo's voice coach could get him to temper the sound while maintaining the emotional context, he'd get criticized far less for his enthusiasm
Ok, that’s fair, I can see that, I guess. I should have said ‘it doesn’t bother me’ as opposed to ‘I don’t get why’. I might even go as far to say I like it, or would at least prefer it to the melodrama of Buck or Nantz (though I will say I think Buck has toned that down since the days of Randy Moss mooning Lambeau). I think he’s smart, offers great incite and is kind of a breath of fresh air. Monday night is an abomination. Michaels is still gold standard. I’d put Romo towards the top of the rest of the list, tone or not. I can’t say I’ve watched a game with Gannon in a while but I seem to remember liking him fine. I’d rather listen to Romo on a helium balloon than Fouts spew garbage. Aikman doesn’t bother me at all but I don’t particularly love him. Does Greg Gumbel still do games? He was fine.
Can we all agree to be glad that Beasley Reese doesn’t cover 13 of our games anymore?
Edit: two small points - Madden got enthusiastic like your grandpa used to, it was mostly gibberish; and Michaels started out quite high pitched as well, if you watch the Miracle
On Ice replay it sounds like he’s going through puberty. I think Romo will be fine.
My opinion is the opposite. I really hate announcer voice or voice coach sounding people. It is one of the reasons I find podcasts so refreshing.
I wasn't suggesting he become a voice-coach robot. Merely saying that if his voice doesn't fluctuate so drastically, what some people find difficult about his enthusiasm wouldn't bother them so much.
Not everything is an extreme.
I'll take Eagle and Fouts all day every day over the disaster that is the Monday night crew. At least Eagle is half decent, even if Fouts is a moron.
Tessitore being delightfully surprised at every single play drives me nuts. And the other two are just as dumb and goofy as Fouts.
Tessitore being delightfully surprised at every single play drives me nuts. And the other two are just as dumb and goofy as Fouts.
Monday night is horrible.
Add me to the list who hates Romo. Only announcer where I will usually mute most of the game. He just rambles on and on. He certainly takes away from the game. I didn't think it was possible but I believe he got worse this year.
Michaels is good. Eagle is good. Buck and Aikman are fine.
I like Harlan as well.
Add me to the list who hates Romo. Only announcer where I will usually mute most of the game. He just rambles on and on. He certainly takes away from the game. I didn't think it was possible but I believe he got worse this year.
Michaels is good. Eagle is good. Buck and Aikman are fine.
I like Harlan as well.
Well some good news, you might have noticed that the last Monday Night broadcast did not feature Booger in his sideline 'disability-mobile' contraption, supposedly because of potential issues operating outdoors. Booger will be in the announcing booth for their playoff games and every indication is that, at the prompting of the League, that infernal idiocy has been assigned to the dustbin of history.
The Chiefs should hire Tony Romo as their defensive coordinator - say what you want about his style, but he knew exactly what the Pats would do on every third down in overtime, which is a lot more than you can say for Bob Sutton.
[EDIT - I see this is being discussed in the Pats forum as well.]
[EDIT - I see this is being discussed in the Pats forum as well.]
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Proof positive that there is a segment that hates all announcers, period full stop. And it hates because it loves to hate. Because Romo added a fuckton of value last night.
That’s really funny. Can’t remember the last time I’ve heard an athlete crack a topical joke that had a bite to it.
It says that there's a whole generation now that will endlessly masturbate to huge amounts of random dubious social media 'data' in an attempt to find some deeper meaning in such pointless exercises, and if you can appropriately snow the right venture capitalist who barely grasps this crap...you may be able to retire before you're 30.
Witten retires from broadcasting:
I'll be curious to see who ESPN hires to make the MNF booth even worse.