"Read this and be delighted by Verne Lundquist"

[Conigliaro's Potential]

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/12/10/7353359/nerve-lundquist-interview
 
I took a semester out of college and interned for Golf Digest magazine for parts of two years in the mid-90s. While I was there, there was one Wednesday night in February when I saw Verne Lundquist commentate on a basketball game somewhere on the East Coast, and then the next afternoon he was out at Pebble Beach doing the Thursday afternoon broadcast at the AT&T National Pro-Am or whatever that golf tournament was called at the time. This seemed like quite a logistical contortion, so the next week I got one of my editors to hook with me up with a producer at CBS, and I wound up calling Lundquist at his house in Steamboat Springs and getting a delightful anecdote from him about how this particular trip was the closest he'd ever come to missing the start of a broadcast, how he raced from whichever airport it was out to the tower behind the 16th green and clambered up it with 10 minutes to go before airtime. I babbled on about how much I'd loved his call of Jack Nicklaus at the 71st hole at the 1986 Masters, and he was absolutely charming and wonderful...even though he's lost a few MPH off his fastball in recent years (as happens to pretty much every aging commentator), this interview reminded me just how much I enjoy Lundquist's work in every sense.
 
If you could swap places with any single commentator and go back in time to watch all of the events that person watched from the position in which he watched them, who would you pick? I don't quite think I'd pick Lundquist, but he might well crack my Top 5.

 

[Infield Infidel]

He's my all time favorite announcer. Instead of trying to capture a moment, he let's the moment capture itself.
 
I've probably have heard his voice more than any other announcer's since I still play College Hoops 2K8. Him and Raftery together are fantastic. It's hard to believe they're still doing games together. 

 

[Spacemans Bong]

I'm surprised he's never done baseball. I reckon he'd be pretty good at it, given his enthusiastic yet not self-centered broadcasting style. 

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Al Michaels

 

[Vandalman]

Vin Scully

 

[mandro ramtinez]

A bit parochial, but I would pick Johnny Most.  That was an awesome piece, thanks for sharing it.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Bob Costas

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

Al Michaels

 
Especially if I got to do the OJ chase.  

 

[TomBrunansky23]

Let me give one vote for Jim Nantz...every Masters since 85 (I believe), the Final Fours, Super Bowls and even a Winter Olympics thrown in there for good measure.

 

[Average Reds]

Bob Costas

 

[mascho]

Let me give one vote for Jim Nantz...every Masters since 85 (I believe), the Final Fours, Super Bowls and even a Winter Olympics thrown in there for good measure.

Yep. As much as Nantz annoys me, he's up there for this list. Nothing like calling the Final Four and then flying out Tuesday morning to Augusta. Hard to top a week like that...he lives it each year.

 

[Average Reds]

That really was a great article.
 
For the announcer question, it's important to remember that we're not talking about who we think is the best, but who has the career you would like to replicate in terms of events covered.  Lundquist isn't the one, but he would be up there along with Costas, Michaels, Brent Musberger, Nantz .... But the guy I'd pick has to be Jim McKay.
 
As an announcer, McKay covered the NFL, MLB, golf majors, the Indy 500 (back when that was a huge thing) horse racing (Derby host for years) was the host for 12 different Olympics and worked the Wide World of Sports for more than 40 years. 
 
He quite literally saw it all.

 

[dcmissle]

He's my all time favorite announcer. Instead of trying to capture a moment, he let's the moment capture itself.
 
I've probably have heard his voice more than any other announcer's since I still play College Hoops 2K8. Him and Raftery together are fantastic. It's hard to believe they're still doing games together. 

A national treasure, in my book. I tune in to games I have no particular interest in just to hear him.

 

[Infield Infidel]

That really was a great article.
 
For the announcer question, it's important to remember that we're not talking about who we think is the best, but who has the career you would like to replicate in terms of events covered.  Lundquist isn't the one, but he would be up there along with Costas, Michaels, Brent Musberger, Nantz .... But the guy I'd pick has to be Jim McKay.
 
As an announcer, McKay covered the NFL, MLB, golf majors, the Indy 500 (back when that was a huge thing) horse racing (Derby host for years) was the host for 12 different Olympics and worked the Wide World of Sports for more than 40 years. 
 
He quite literally saw it all.

 
This is my pick as well. He also did Jeep Superstars back in it's heyday, I'm sure the parties were epic.
 
If I was picking whose job I'd tag along with right now, it'd be Chris Fowler. All four tennis grand slams, and then four months of on-location college football, some weeks flying to cover a night game in a different location after doing GameDay. Some Thursday games too. 

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

A bit parochial, but I would pick Johnny Most.  That was an awesome piece, thanks for sharing it.

 
This would be pretty cool-to see how basketball changed and evolved over 40 years, plus there were a ton of championships, and all time great players to watch.
 
Fred Cusick would be neat as well-getting to see Bobby Orr, in his prime, doing something ridiculous on the ice pretty much every night would be an awesome job.  

 

[Don Buddin's GS]

A bit parochial, but I would pick Johnny Most.  That was an awesome piece, thanks for sharing it.

Back in the early Sixties I climbed up to Johnny's broadcast perch "high above courtside" before a Celtics game to ask him for his autograph.  He signed it "Swish, Johnny Most."
 
Years later, I worked for Group W Radio Sales as a national rep and WBZ was one of our stations.  The NSM at the time told me that Johnny used to expense hookers when he was on the road and the GM kinda looked the other way at it.
 
Every kid in New England could do a decent Johnny Most imitation back then.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

Dick Stockton has to be mentioned here.
 
All of the 70s Sox, including Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. The lead NBA broadcaster on CBS during the Bird-Magic era. Hosted the CBS coverage when Villanova beat Georgetown. Called Dan Jansen's gold medal in the Lillehammer Olympics. Plus tons of NFL and MLB games nationally and locally.

 

[Buckner's Boots]

Cosell got to see some  pretty amazing stuff, and work in some interesting times. I choose him.

 

[joe dokes]

Jim McKay (McManus for those of who worked at the Connecticut liquor store where he had a charge account) or Curt Gowdy.
 
Gowdy didn't have quite the studio chops that McKay did, but he did *every* sport.
 
Vin Scully also did quite a bit of football and golf for CBS in the 70s & 80s, IIRC, in addition to his almost 60(!!!) years of MLB.

 

[bankshot1]

I came to toss Gowdy's Stetson into the ring.
 
He was NBC's lead guy for baseball in the 60s to mid 70s, the first voice of the old AFL, did college hoops, and had the American Sportsman TV show that let him go fishing with Ted Williams. And I met him once, (brush with greatness) he was a polite, nice guy.

 

[joe dokes]

I came to toss Gowdy's Stetson into the ring.
 
He was NBC's lead guy for baseball in the 60s to mid 70s, the first voice of the old AFL, did college hoops, and had the American Sportsman TV show that let him go fishing with Ted Williams. And I met him once, (brush with greatness) he was a polite, nice guy.

 
I knew Gowdy did Sox games, but I had no idea he called Pats games on radio in 1987, acc to his wikipedia page, anyway. (I was out of NE for awhile).

 

[WenZink]

Al Michaels, hands down.  In addition to the 1980 Olympic Hockey, he also did the 1986 ALCS Sox comeback vs the Angels, the Pats' first championship in SB XXXVI, as well as the OJ chase, where he got to advise the clueless Peter Jennings that the "Baba-booey" informant was a hoaxster.
 
My sentimental choice would be Ned Martin, whose serene, laid-back approach was a perfect fit for a sport with a 162 game schedule.  He seemed to be having just a perfect time, even if the Sox were 20 games out in August and getting drubbed that night.  Because I heard Ned call so many games, I think I watch every game the way he did, and enjoy every inning of every game.  Imagine getting paid for that for over 30 years.  Mercy.
 
Edit.... I believe I'm wrong on SB XXXVI.  I remember Madden suggesting the Pats sit on the ball at the end of regulation, but I believe his partner was still Pat Summerall.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Yeah that was Madden and Summerall, the apex of Pam Oliver's career. Mariah with the anthem.
 
I would have picked Summerall if I was a huge golf instead of Olympics fan, because of that one game.

 

[Average Reds]

Dammit, I forgot Gowdy. He has to be on the list as well.

I'd still go with McKay, but Gowdy did had a great career.

 

[mabrowndog]

Vin Scully also did quite a bit of football and golf for CBS in the 70s & 80s, IIRC, in addition to his almost 60(!!!) years of MLB.

 
The very first college football game Vin Scully ever broadcast after he was hired by Red Barber CBS radio?
 
Boston University vs Maryland in 1949, with Harry Agganis quarterbacking the Terriers to a narrow 14-13 loss.
 
He called it from the top of the roof at Fenway.
 
The following spring Barber tabbed him as part of the Dodgers crew.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Re: Vin Scully and football, Scully of course called "The Catch" (Montana to Dwight Clark) in the 1982 NFC Championship Game.
 
I'm slightly surprised a baseball purist hasn't nominated Tim McCarver yet - he covered 24 World Series and at least one LCS every year from 1984 to 2013.

 

[Ramon AC]

Saturdays in the fall aren't the same without Keith Jackson on the mic.

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

I'm slightly surprised a baseball purist hasn't nominated Tim McCarver yet - he covered 24 World Series and at least one LCS every year from 1984 to 2013.

 
But then you'd have to share the booth with Joe Buck.

 

[rlsb]

Marty Glickman. Not only broadcast but actual experience (1936 Berlin).

 

[joe dokes]

Marty Glickman. Not only broadcast but actual experience (1936 Berlin).

 
That's a good one.   As a broadcaster, though, he always remained pretty local to NY. He even did a *high school* game of the week on local NY TV in the early 70s at a time when he was still doing the Giants on radio.
 
Glickman also gave Marv Albert his start.
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/1/27/3916116/marv-albert-50-year-anniversary

 

[Average Reds]

Saturdays in the fall aren't the same without Keith Jackson on the mic.

 
Yes, they are much, much better without that old coot.
 
Still had a nice career, which is the point of this thread.  But not a top 10 career.

 

[berniecarbo1]

Al Michaels.....Miracle on Ice.....given the times and the national sentiment to be the one to call that game, to me, he tops the others as far as events covered. Plus all his coverage of baseball (was the play nby play guy for the The Big Red Machine Reds of the 70's) as well as his football and other Olympic gigs, makes him #1 in my book.  A close second is Jim McKay (the '72 Olympics and the PLO hostage taking) along with seeing the world on "Wide World of Sports".
 
On the local scene I would love to have been Gil Santos and covered the Patriots almost from their inception, through the dark years to the Promised land with Brady...

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Al Michaels.....Miracle on Ice.....given the times and the national sentiment to be the one to call that game, to me, he tops the others as far as events covered. Plus all his coverage of baseball (was the play nby play guy for the The Big Red Machine Reds of the 70's) as well as his football and other Olympic gigs, makes him #1 in my book. 

Also the earthquake before Game 3 in 1989.

 

[Infield Infidel]

 
Yes, they are much, much better without that old coot.
 
Still had a nice career, which is the point of this thread.  But not a top 10 career.

 
Any Top 10 is subjective, but Jackson did 10 Olympics, a ton baseball, including the Bucky Dent game, and 3 World Series. Four years of calling basketball with Bill Russell. And then a lot of big college games, including the Miracle at Michigan, OhioSt-Miami OT title game, and almost every Rose bowl from 1989-2006, including the USC-Texas title game (his last game). 

 

[joe dokes]

 
Any Top 10 is subjective, but Jackson did 10 Olympics, a ton baseball, including the Bucky Dent game, and 3 World Series. Four years of calling basketball with Bill Russell. And then a lot of big college games, including the Miracle at Michigan, OhioSt-Miami OT title game, and almost every Rose bowl from 1989-2006, including the USC-Texas title game (his last game). 

 
By the end of the 90s he had lost his fastball, and had become something of a caricature of himself.  But in the (pre-cable) 70s, he *was* college football on TV. (along with Chris Schenkel)

 

[doldmoose34]

Al Michaels.....Miracle on Ice.....given the times and the national sentiment to be the one to call that game, to me, he tops the others as far as events covered. Plus all his coverage of baseball (was the play nby play guy for the The Big Red Machine Reds of the 70's) as well as his football and other Olympic gigs, makes him #1 in my book.  A close second is Jim McKay (the '72 Olympics and the PLO hostage taking) along with seeing the world on "Wide World of Sports".
 
On the local scene I would love to have been Gil Santos and covered the Patriots almost from their inception, through the dark years to the Promised land with Brady...

 
Bernie, you sure about this? I thought Marty Brennerman was play by play guy for Reds then
 
that was a great read, I could hear Verne's voice as I did

 

[Dan Murfman]

Bernie, you sure about this? I thought Marty Brennerman was play by play guy for Reds then
 
that was a great read, I could hear Verne's voice as I did

He did play by play for the Reds '71-'73

 

[Spacemans Bong]

Michaels did the 72 World Series on NBC as a 26 year old. He also announced for the Giants later.

Jackson did the 1986 NLCS, which is one of the best playoff series ever, and did a bunch of playoff and World Series games in the 70s.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

Michaels did the 72 World Series on NBC as a 26 year old. He also announced for the Giants later.

Jackson did the 1986 NLCS, which is one of the best playoff series ever, and did a bunch of playoff and World Series games in the 70s.

 

[LoweTek]

You guys are forgetting our own Ken Coleman, who started in Cleveland as the Browns announcer in the Jim Brown days, who was the voice of the Red Sox (later succeeded by Joe Castiglione) after Gowdy and for years would do football games, in particular he loved doing Harvard-Yale every year. Remember Harvard beats Yale 29-29?

Speaking of Johnny Most's perch at the Garden, I did play-by-play ECAC Division II hockey on college radio. For a while they had a four team tournament DII cousin to the Beanpot called the Teapot. When we were set up to broadcast all the tournament games, they put me right in Johnny Most's chair.

Great view. Something I'll never forget.