Who are your Favorite Announcers?
May 3, 2008 by Evil E
I have created polls for 7 different categories, so come inside to vote for your favorites.
One of these days I will attempt to rate every announcer for EVERY NBA team, but for now, let’s stick with the ESPN/ABC & TNT playoff crews.
The categories are: Favorite Play-by-play Man, Favorite Color Analyst (Coach), Favorite Color Analyst (Player), Favorite Sideline Reporter (Female), Favorite Sideline Reporter (Male), Favorite Broadcast Trio, and Most Annoying.
I’m curious to hear who people prefer, so make your picks and add comments if you feel someone deserves extra recognition.
Loading ... Loading ... Loading ... Loading ... Loading ... Loading ... Loading ...My Picks:
Favorite Play-by-play Man = Dan Shulman & Mike Breen
None of the choices really stand out in my mind, but I like Shulman & Breen. Dan Shulman is probably better known for doing college hoops with Dick Vitale, but he calls an excellent NBA game as well. He’s very professional and rarely tries to be funny, which is usually a good thing for play-by-play men. Mike Breen has developed a nice rapport with Van Gundy & Jackson, and his voice isn’t annoying at all.
On the other hand, I have to turn the volume down every time Kevin Harlan does a game. The guy raises his voice every chance he can get, and “RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES!!!” got old a long time ago. Marv Albert & Dick Stockton bore me to death and Mike Tirico just seems like too much of a “Yes man.”
Favorite Color Analyst (Coach) = Jeff Van Gundy & Hubie Brown
Without a doubt, Jeff Van Gundy is the wittiest NBA announcer alive today. I love his sense of humor and the freedom that he speaks with. He goes off on tangents whenever he sees fit (perhaps I do too) and best of all, he’s not afraid to speak his mind. If he doesn’t agree with a player’s action, a referee’s call, a league decision, or ANYTHING really, he will say so. I also give him props for calling several Rockets games this season (remember, he coached them last year) and praising Rick Adelman left and right. Hubie Brown isn’t quite as funny, but he’s still very enjoyable to listen to. His teaching skills are legendary and you have to admire his passion for the game.
My choice for the worst former coach turned analyst goes to Doug Collins. I don’t find him funny at all, and he rarely brings up a point that I hadn’t already noticed. I guess this goes to show that you can make a career out of saying: “I remember when I coached Michael Jordan his rookie year…”
Favorite Color Analyst (Player) = Jon Barry
Jon Barry is intelligent, professional, and intelligible (the anti-Tim Hardaway). His self-deprecating humor does get old after awhile, but he’s still pretty solid. When brother Brent retires, I would love to hear them announce a game together (perhaps Drew & Scooter can be sideline reporters?).
I like Mark Jackson (especially when he says: “You’re BETTER than that!”), but I think he’d be somewhat lost as an announcer without his former coach (Van Gundy) by his side. I really can’t stand Reggie Miller anymore. His sense of humor doesn’t jive with me at all and he also seems to suffer from Sean Elliot syndrome (PLACING an emphasis on THE wrong words).
Favorite Sideline Reporter (Female) = Stephanie Ready & Cheryl Miller
I noticed Stephanie Ready last year while watching a Bobcats game. The first thing I noticed was how much respect she got (the announcers kept asking for her opinion on things, much more so than your average sideline reporter). And for good reason too! (Ready became the 1st woman to coach in men’s professional sports when she was named an NBDL assistant coach). Then I saw how damn cute she is (I remember KG giving her props in this regard as well). Her hair, makeup, and conservative dress styles are sometimes questionable, but I’ve seen how fine she can be.
I’m sure that Pam Oliver is going to get plenty of votes thanks to looks like this, but I’m going with Cheryl Miller as my #2 pick. Here’s why: she seems to elicit more honest and thorough player responses than any other sideline reporter. Miller has been around for a long time so most of the players already know her, plus I think they respect more than anyone else because of her numerous basketball accomplishments. She does her job well, which is more than I can say about her brother. Lisa Salters and Michelle Tafoya are pretty solid reporters as well, but I’m not a big fan of Holly Rowe.
Favorite Sideline Reporter (Male) = David Aldridge
I’m a big fan of Aldridge. D.A. is cool & calm (the anti-Stephen A. Smith) as well as professional & informative (the anti-Peter Vescey). That’s a winning combination. Ric Bucher is alright, but his weekly tanning salon sessions have got to stop! Yeah, I don’t know who Marty Snider is either.
Of course, Craig Sager deserves his own paragraph. On one hand, his presence is unique and he allows the players to laugh (Example #1: Nash, Example #2: Nash, Example #3: Garnett, Example #4: Baron). On the other hand, his entire career hinges on his ability to shamelessly wear silly clothing, which is a slap in the face to anyone out there putting in hard work and dedication to achieve respect in their given profession.
Favorite Broadcast Trio = Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson
In my opinion, ESPN/ABC’s lead trio of Breen, Van Gundy & Jackson blows TNT’s trio of Albert, Fratello & Miller out of the water. Unfortunately, it looks like the former group is going to split up next season, so enjoy it while it lasts. Van Gundy and Jackson are both being mentioned as leading head coach candidates, so one or both may not return next year. (Of course, if I included TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew of Ernie, Kenny & Charles, they would run away with the vote, and deservingly so).
I feel bad for Mike Fratello, because I actually like the Czar of the Telestrator. But Marv Albert gets more boring every year and Reggie Miller would make it difficult for ANY broadcast team to succeed. Which brings us to…
Most Annoying = Reggie Miller
I’m going with Reggie over Sager as most annoying. And it’s not like I’m a longtime Miller-hater: in 2000, I was the only person rooting for the Pacers in a room full of Laker fans. But as a TV analyst, I can’t stand the guy. He offers little insight and analysis (which is what he’s supposedly there for), he’s not funny at all, and it’s almost painful to listen to him speak. Several NBA players retire every year, so I have a hard time believing that they can’t find a better replacement (hint hint).
I’m not voting for Craig Sager because we only have to deal with him for 5-10 minutes per game. But let’s say that someone from TNT contacted me and suggested that if Sager won my “Most Annoying” poll, they would replace him with Erin Andrews. Well then, that’s a different story entirely. 
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Holy crap. Craig Sager just said, “as a former mascot myself.” That explains things a bit I suppose.
“Willy the Wildcat” for Northwestern. WOW
If you vote “Other” for Most Annoying, why don’t you add who that person is?
I like Mike Breen a lot as a play by play guy but actually preferred his predecessor Brad Nessler. Nessler-Walton was a pretty good pair… they fed off of each other well.
Jeff Van Gundy is probably the most enjoyable commentator we’ve had in years.
Breen is great I think he does Knicks games also speaking of Knicks Walt Frazier is horrible. Favorite catch phrase i knew some of them don’t have any but Mark Jackson’s ‘Momma there goes that man” makes me laugh whenever he says it. Hubie is great from a X and O’s point i always learn something new. Sager is funny because I think all the NBA players think he is a joke and sometimes they make fun of him in interviews
Rich you hit it on the nail. Mike Breen is my all-time favorite and being a Knicks fan, I’m glad he does Knicks games because that the only shining light to the Knicks MSG broadcasting network. But Walt Frazier is the most terrible side announcer in the game, as bad as Reggie Miller is, I would prefer him to do Knicks games. Ha! Imagine that, Reggie doing Knicks games, NOT! But you get my point. Walt has the worse rhymes too. Swishing and dishing, shaking and baking! Nigga please!
Hey, I like Frazier! He’s eloquent. I enjoy his smooth voice, solid vocabulary, and the way he enunciates. Plus it’s gotta be tough to stay focused during Knicks games in recent years, so at least give him credit for that.
I would compare Clyde with another hall of fame player turned color commentator: Tommy Heinsohn for the Celtics. I can’t stand that guy! He’s a homer to the max, his voice is grating, he slurs words, and he shouts whenever he feels like it. Frazier is the opposite, so I like him for that.
David – That’s funny because Bill Walton the analyst annoyed me for a long time, but last year he started to grow on me and now I don’t mind him at all. It’s too bad he has to deal w/ Stephen A. all the time tho. Brad Nessler is pretty solid. I think he only does college games now.
I’m shocked at how many people like Marv Albert. And y’all are sleepin on Dan Shulman & Stephanie Ready!
Good point Frazier I will have to get him another chance next year. Maybe he has couple of drinks before the game that’s why he sounds so relaxed.
Come on Evil you don’t want a Tommy Point? Tommy definitely has a couple before the game but it affects him the opposite to Clyde. Your right Super Homer
I think Marv is like that old uncle he has been around so long you forget that he
likes to bite women and burn them with candles. He has been around so long you let him slide. HE’S ON FIRE classic line he gets a tommy point for that.
I need to hear Shulman more does he do the ESPN games with the female lady i don’t know her name?
Yeah, I’ve seen Shulman w/ Doris Burke, Hubie, and Jon Barry. I dunno about Tommy as a player but as an announcer he’s a mad lunatic.
I hope Dick Stockton retires soon. Over his last 2 games, I’ve heard him say the wrong player’s name at least 3 times. Last night he said: Sam Cassell has the ball, passes it to Sam Powe. For real? 2 Sams on the same team? These kind of mistakes are ok once in awhile, but when they start becoming a common occurrence, you’ve gotta go.
The only person in this mob who actually talks about the basketball is Hubie Brown, so he’s the only one I won’t put on mute. Steve Kerr also tries to talk about the game itself, but he is usually jested for it.
That’s why it’s so pointless to listen to their analysis. You don’t learn anything about the game, just the personality.
I remember after high school I went back to watch a Holiday Classic. I sat down to watch a game with Tom Blackwood, former coach of Miramonte High School, and one of the most legendary coaches in California high school history (I think there’s a state hall of fame to reference for that).
I wish in the future they would allow a radio tuning within your satellite/cable server. Say there’s an NBA game on. Well, I don’t want to listen to the default NBA track (with Marv Albert and all those douche bags). I want to listen to a different audio track- like on a DVD. I want to listen to the Tom Blackwood radio channel that will be covering this particular NBA game.
Wouldn’t that be cool? I wonder if we’ll ever have multiple audio options for tv stuff like sports.
Also, you’re right about Van Gundy. I thought his little tirade on why McLovin should have been nominated for an Oscar was awesome- pretty much solely because nobody in the Academy has the balls to nominate a performance like that (or a picture like “Superbad”, apparently, thats nomination alone would have staved off the 40% decline in viewership the Oscars experienced this year. They just can’t find a balance between arthouse and commercial fare.
But, true to the title of his position, he rarely talks ball. That’s my one complaint. He’s one of the great NBA coaches, so I just feel deprived.
Reggie Miller during the 3rd quarter after a foul on Sheed:
“Here’s Rasheed – RaSHARD – Lewis going against RaSHEED Lewis tryna tightrope on the BASEline. That’s a little TONGUE twister, BUT I GOT IT OUT THERE MARVELOUS!”
Marv: “And it is Rashard Lewis, on the line. Rasheed WALLACE committed the foul.”
Yeah, I’ll say it: anyone NOT voting for Reggie Miller as most annoying is kidding themselves. I DARE you to play the audio excerpt from the above scenario 20 times in a row without wanting to stab yourself with a blunt object.
No more Miller-time please!
Okay, geez. I retract my vote for Sager. I mute Reggie. I didn’t know he was such a queerbait.
Speaking of Stephen A., Evil (saw your comment on him and Walton above), did you see his recent article on race in the NBA?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3382363&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2
He comments on the fact that the last two MVP’s (Dirk and Nash) are white and that there are murmurings in the black community that the NBA is deliberately seeking white talent to appease its white fanbase. He rejects this notion.
Noble. I guess I’m supposed to be happy he’s able to see beyond his own blackness. Only thing is: I think he’s wrong.
And my main reason was your speculation (with evidence) on the racial divide between teams from primarily white areas versus teams from primarily black areas. See, I don’t believe in Providence.
His argument is embarrassingly riddled with holes, contradictions, and near-sightedness. Sorry, Stephen, but in case you haven’t been watching the Democractic race for the Presidential nominee: this country is still very, very racist.
I expect W.E.B. DuBois to start appearing in much greater frequency on high school shelves in the next 20 years. At least I hope so.
Race matters again?
I just read the article. Wow, Stephen A. is jumping all over the place here. I’m not even sure what his final thoughts/ conclusions are and I don’t think even HE knows. Like you said, his entire article is filled with holes and near-sightedness.
Here’s what I want to know: how can someone write an entire article revolving around race and then conclude it by saying “enough with the race issue?”
I’ll just say this…
To me, there is a HUGE distinction between white American players and International players (of all skin hues). Reason #1 is the global economy. Basketball is one of the most popular sports globally and thus global expansion should be embraced. Race matters in America is a whole OTHER entity. Stephen A. tried to tackle all of these issues at once and I believe the end result is garbage.
I’m not going to do the same here, but I believe that race issues matter to almost everything. I wish it weren’t the case, but that’s how it is. One of these days I will speak my mind on the matter, but right now, Stephen A’s article is just giving me a headache.
Did anyone hear Van Gundy when they showed Tommy Heinsohn on camera? It was something like:
“You know what I love about Tommy as an announcer? He’s completely objective. There’s no “homer” in him at all.”
And then they all started laughing… It was a great moment.
Hey, Cameron wants to say something to the voters:
“Craig Sager? Really? Reeeeeeealllly??? Do you even watch basketball, smacktards?”
I have to concur. Who in the blue fuck is picking Marv Albert for play-by-play and Sager for sideline reporter? This kind of douchebaggery raises my blood pressure.
JVG is funny. He talks so much shit about the Lakers (lakers fan) it bugs the shit out of me. He steps on them and grinds his foot until they are crushed and dead. Thinking about him minus the haterade he’s drinking the guy is hilarious.
I like Reggie Miller. He’s funny. I like his ucla educated country ass indiana accent having delivery. He’s a player. He’s screws up phrases, plays, etc. Listening to him his funny to me because he’s a former player trying to get behind the mic and he isn’t that good.
Who I find most annoying for one reason or another is the chick that has been doing the halftime interviews during the Jazz/Laker games the past few days. She’s a LOP and I dunno why….probably cuzz the Lakers have been getting waxed, but no, she’s a jackass.
Lisa Salters I believe. What’s a LOP?
loser on principal..
is there a way to stay logged in when I leave the site?
Actually, there is, and I just figured it out. Click here to create your permanent username and then an email will me sent to you with your password. Then log in and you should be good to go!
http://www.rotoevil.com/wordpress/wp-login.php?action=register
I change my former player pick from Barry to Mark Jackson. Jackson just cracks me up too much. Looking forward to seeing what he can do as a head coach…
Two worst of all time – Tommy Heinsohn tfor being a total HOMER and his stupid Tommy Points; and Walt Frazier who butchers the English language at least 15 times per game!!!!
I think my dream team of those I’ve heard would be:
Hubie Brown
Jeff Van Gundy
Rick Carlisle
Bill Walton
That’s right! Walton! The original Laker nuthugger! I’ll admit it, I miss him. His slobbering over the Lakers really pissed me off (especially since he played for Boston at one time), but he was just too damn unpredictable with what he’d say next.
JVD and Hubie have already received many props. As for Carlisle; he’s just too lucid for me to leave out. A lot of coaches, they put the mic in front of them, and they start talking like they see the world through a kaleidoscope. You ask yourself, “Is this really his thinking process during a game? You’re fucking telling me this is the reason why I don’t have that job?” Carlisle doesn’t do that.
One of the most memorable Mark Jackson quotes was during a Miami game, and it was the 3rd or 4th time D-Wade “flopped” on offense trying to get a call and ended up on the floor and Mark Jackson said in almost spite, “is Dwyane Wade filming another Converse commercial that we don’t know about, GET UP D-WADE!”
JVG has classic lines every single game, I love that they are doing the Western Conference Finals.
And being an LA guy, biased or no biased, Chic Hearn will forever be cherished and loved. BUT i want to mention the duo of Ralph Lawler and Bill Walton.
Bill Walton “WHERE will the clippers be WITHOUTH sean rooks!?!” – classic.
This past year Ralph Lawler (now with Mike Smith – a dynamic pair) was doing the pregame conversations, and they were talking about Ricky Davis and his huge slump. Ralph mentioned how he talked to Ricky before the game and that Ricky said that today HE had a feeling that he was going to go off. When Ricky finally checks in into the game, Ralph then turns to Mike and says, “lets see if Ricky was right about his feeling, or if he just had indigestion”
Ralph Lawler is the freakin MAN. I became a fan while living in LA, and now that I’m not there, I miss hearing him every game. Unfortunately, I never got to hear him with Walton, but my buddy Dave is a longtime Clippers fan and said that was his favorite duo as well. I wasn’t a fan of Walton when he first joined ESPN, but he’s grown on me over the years.
Anyone who’s announced over 2,000 Clipper games and has yet to go off the deep end deserves some props, but Lawler is really funny.
I’m totally on board with the Reggie hate. He has to go, easily the worst announcer right now. I like Marv because he reminds me of the excitement of watching Michael Jordan when I was getting into hoops. Dick Stockton is enjoyable for me because he might not be obvious about it but I’d say he is definitely a Celtic fan and I like to see that in a national guy. Hubie is my favorite color guy I love seeing him in the booth when I turn on a game. What is Walton doing these days? I miss him!
I didn’t vote for sideline reporters because I think they are pointless and annoying and I don’t ever remember them bringing anything of value to a game.
Also, a lot of Tommy hate! The guy has been a Celtic since “56 and is 75 years old! I would never in a million years watch a national broadcast of a Celtics game if the local guys were on. I did get those 1986 Celtics DVDs and Tommy was the national broadcaster for that series. Knowing how he is now, I thought it was quite hilarious watching him try to remain impartial calling a Celtics NBA Finals. These days he’s just calling the games for the locals so I don’t see a problem with the homerism. He’s a legend who is a link for the new generations of fans with the great teams of the 60s and 70s. I have learned a lot about Celtics history and basketball from him in between drunken rants and “BING BANG BOOMS” and Waltah love sessions
Reason #573 to love Jeff Van Gundy: he just gave a shout out to Detlef Schrempf and Dino Radja!!!