My Top 5 Play-By-Play Announcers Of All-Time

My Top 5 Play-By-Play Announcers Of All-Time
M.D. Wright
1.29.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: New series of favorites -- as we move up to the broadcast booth and pick the favorites there.


Mind you, I am not excluding the Tom Brookshires and Don Criquis of the world, but I can only speak on the 25+ years that I have been watching sports. So I will stick with what I know and not who I've only HEARD ABOUT.


Without further adieu, here is my Top 5 Favorite Play-By-Play Announcers of All-Time (that is, 1979-Present ha). Also, this list is about guys I've actually listened to regularly or nearly daily on local stations or during network TV. Guys like Vin Scully, who I've only heard call 30+ games and other legends like that are not being ignored, I am doing this for the purposes of highlighting the guys who I actually hear most -- and not agreeing with everyone who likes to do a Who's Who list of icons and legends in the broadcasting booth.


1. MARV ALBERT.
Marv LITERALLY does it all. Basketball, football, baseball, hockey, boxing, Late Night TV, you name it, Marv has done it. He has the great, nasal, raspy tone that he has world renown for. And of course, his NBA coverage with the Knicks endeared him to three generation of fellow New Yorkers and Knick/Rangers fans as he called games for the Madison Square Garden network.


Who DIDN'T utter the phrase "YESSSSS!!! AND... THE... FOULLLLLLL!!!" imitating Marv growing up?

I could post a litany of Albert's best calls, but I will just link to a few, as they stand out best to me:


1992 NBA Finals: Game 1 -- Michael Jordan Hits 6 Three Pointers (Which was unheard from him at that time with his game not including the deep touch).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZCugyCT5lo

Marv's call: "Here's Jordan for three... YESSSSSSSSSSS!!! DID YOU SEE THAT LOOK? MICHAEL... INDICATING... HE CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"


1991 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals
Michael Jordan Dunks On Patrick Ewing
Marv Albert: "OH, WHAT A MOVE BY JORDAN... IT COUNTS... AND THE FOUL!!!"


And Johnny "Hoops" Andariese in with his legendary analysis afterward. Even as a Knick fan I was a huge Jordan fan and this was always a bittersweet thing for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS-N49j5Oos


Marv gets you with the dramatic pauses when he is on the call, for effect "And the Lakers lead 34....................... to 28. And Phil Jackson wants to talk it over"
. It builds the drama to a climax during important playoff games, and the NBA on NBC games are forever etched in my memory.


2. PAT SUMMERALL.
He had a simplistic style of calling games. I loved it, though. He let the crowd roar and tell you what was going on, he didn't talk 100 words a minute about gibberish. I loved his intros when he was with CBS Sports, as the camera would pan across the stadium and they'd show clips from previous games in NFL Films Slo-Mo fashion. He almost sounded like he was building up to force out words in dramatic nature (as he did with the end of the clip below)


"WELCOMMMMMME TO GIANTS STADIUMMMMMM WHERE THE NEW YORK GIANTS TAKE ON... THE DALLAS COWBOYS IN THIS PIVOTAL, NFC EAST MATCHUP!"


Here's an example of some of Pat's best work -- the 1990 NFC Championship. I nearly died this day, before Bahr made that field goal to win it for us ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buGkq9wEU2A

Here is another from the 1992 NFC Championship, which was EPIC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxkii-_hsG0


3. BRENT MUSBERGER.
Old Man Musberger. He of the "Alright, folks, the Canes are looking to take the lead here on this important drive, STAY TUNED!" or "Okay partner (usually Bob Griese or Gary Danielson), we're in for a good one today". Also his intros are legendary for games. He is the voice of College Football for this generation -- as Keith Jackson was for the generation previous. His knack for referring to freshmen players in both college football and basketball is hilarious to me and has made its way into my everyday vernacular -- as I refer to many of my friends as "Young" as a nod to Musberger.  He OD'ed with it during the 2010 National Championship -- repeatedly referring to University of Texas QB Garrett Gilbert as "YOUNG GILBERT". I was dying, as I'm sure a few other people who like Musberger were.


Previous to his current stint in college sports, Musberger hosted the pre-game shows in the NBA, MLB and NFL and has done studio work and was always in on an important call since the late 1970s.


And of course his CLASSIC intro:
"YOU ARE LOOKING LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE AT ____________ STADIUM..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2rBAvruTX0

4. AL MICHAELS.

Forget the 1980 USA win over Russia and that "Do you believe in miracles? YESSS!!!" call. I don't care about that and it pre-dates my memory. But Al Michaels has been the lead voice for Monday Night Football since Howard Cosell retired in 1986 and that's that. 

He is synonymous with this VINTAGE MNF intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZtEci3NUQ4 that still gets my blood pumping and causes goosebumps in many NFL nostalgics. When you heard that tune, Al was coming in with what seemed like (to us NFL junkies) groundbreaking news as we had our Monday Night Football for the evening. 

Al is apparently a degenerate gambler, which is fine with me. I used to be one. I know a couple of them right now ha. But hearing him drop very subtle gambling hints and always talking about over/unders, blackjack tables and horse racing is hilarious to me, knowing gambling lingo. If, you know, gambling were legal, that is.

5. VERNE LUNDQUIST.

OLD MAN LUNDQUIST. He is a personal favorite of mine, because he called some pretty memorable NFL games in the late 80s/early 90s, which were the HALCYON DAYS of the NFL if you ask me and anyone else 30 and over. I also love him on his calls with Bill Raftery during the NCAA tournament. They call Verne "The Golden Throat" and his calls are definitely perfect for NFL football and MARCH MADNESS.

HONORABLE MENTION:

-- Ken "Hawk" Harrelson

-- Ian Eagle

-- Dan Shulman

-- Sean McDonough

-- Jim Nantz

-- Kevin Harlan

-- Kenny Albert

GUYS WHO ARE RELATIVELY YOUNG BUT WILL BE LEGENDS BEFORE IT'S OVER:

-- Gus Johnson

IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF. Gus is the MAN in these parts, BTW.

Feel free to disagree, this list is personal. But I'd like to see everyone else's list no homo.

DISCUSS>>>

Responsible Adults? What OF This?

Responsible Adults? What OF This?
M.D. Wright
1.28.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: Well, there is no note, this column entry is self-explanatory ha.


I want to make this as clear as possible: I am NOT judging anyone, nor calling anyone out specifically -- no need for private messages and inbox emails asking for the drop on someone ha.


But I think most of us grew up hearing this phrase "Responsible Adult" -- however, what does it entail? Is it purely a values judgment, or is there a criterion involved? WHAT OF THIS?


Personally, I have my own parameters that define what an adult is, and furthermore a responsible one. As I promised from the onset of 2010, I am making my columns and blogs interactive. I'm not a lecturer (until I get my Ph.D. ha), so I'd rather hear from you, rather than speak in absolutes.


I will say this about responsible adults --


1. They do what they say they will do, extenuating circumstances aside.
2. They are motivated to get up and work/look for a job, provide for themselves and/or a family if they have one.
3. They pay their bills -- ON TIME, again, extenuating circumstances aside (and no, those don't mean robbing Peter to pay Paul because you decided to max out your Visa at Bergdorf and want to use your grace periods every month or worse yet, allowing them to lapse).
4. (SEGUE) Aside from business losses and casualties that were unavoidable, they don't max out a dozen credit cards when they only earn $32,000 a year. WHERE THEY DO THAT AT?
5. They return phone calls.
6. They are organized.
7. They wash their dishes, don't allow their wash to pile up for a month, they don't invite people over to a nasty house (or worse yet, offer to allow them to spend the night(s) there when you might be susceptible to rats crawling across your beard -- and yes, beard goes for both men AND women ha -- at night) and there's rotten food in the fridge and dishes stacked high like that episode of Tom & Jerry where Tom was going to get killed by the mammy lady if they broke ha).


I could go on and on, but like Harry Caray used to say during the 7th Inning Stretch, "LEMME HEAR YA!!!"


DISCUSS>>>

Sports & Music

Sports & Music
M.D. Wright
1.28.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: Continuing the "Favorites" theme, this post is about a few random thoughts -- the connection and interaction between music and sports.


You all know me. I am the Sports Guy. I am a walking music almanac, having been collecting music since 1985 and having a database of 70,000 records across all genres (literally). Some of you go as far back as 6th grade with me, when I began keeping my "Stat Book" (this was pre-internet, you know, when you actually had to do some serious reading, research and compiling to get your information into a binder -- 1990, 1991, etc.) Guys like Antonio Townsend and Rod Glover remember, as Tony kept a stat book also back then. I'm the same way with music. I am a geek, especially when it comes to the business and legal side of the music industry. I learned about the importance of reading liner notes, understanding the significance of publishing, royalties, getting "points" on a record and the benefits of executive producing a record (even if you have no real input on it -- as some big wigs that I won't name currently do).


But one thing that will ALWAYS strike a chord with me is when some of my favorite rappers or even singers mention sports figures in their rhymes. I can name lyrics all day (literally) and I think almost more than anything else, those sports-tinged lyrics stand out to me more than anything else.


Here's one of my all-time favorites by Cam'ron:


"We like Bird, Parish, Kevin McHale... Scott, Worthy, Jabbar and Magic... oh my God, it's magic... Isiah, Dumars, I will carve your casket... Phil, Scottie and Mike... Phil, Shaq and Kobe... my gats will detach you homie..." -- from "We Are The Champions", Diplomats, Vol. III Mixtape. Fitting title.


But rather than me name lyrics all day, give me some feedback: take a gander at this post, no matter the genre, think of some songs with sports-influenced lyrics and post them here for me. Let's have fun with this one.


DISCUSS>>>

Pet Peeve Phrase Of The Day: 1.28.10

Pet Peeve Phrase Of The Day: 1.28.10
M.D. Wright
1.28.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: Continuation of the Pet Peeve Series.


Quick hit for today --


Everyone knows this person. I know him/her. You know him/her. We have classes with them. We work with one. We see one who always has to sit on the front pew at church. We may even LIVE with him/her. And that person I'm talking about is the one who always has to utter:


"YEAH, BUT..." to everything you say. They seem to always be ready with a rebuttal to whatever you say, no matter how pertinent, contextual and accurate what you say may be. In the back of your mind you have to wonder what makes such a person tick, that they get off by always trying to refute what you say.


The other type of person who says that seems to always want to be right or sound "better" than you -- or have that "one-up" mentality. Personally, nothing drives me nuts more than this (if I have to be around such a person on a daily/regular basis). I can deal if I'm pretty sure I'll never see them again, but if it is someone who I am related to, work with, have class with or what have you... DEAR GOD.


DISCUSS>>>

Favorites Spree

Favorites Spree
M.D. Wright
1.25.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: As a spinoff to my Pet Peeves of the Day, I am also compiling a Favorites Spree on a semi-daily basis. With this issue, I will be listing some of my favorite words that have entered my vernacular over the past 15 years. The use of archaic wordage and unique verbiage is amusing to me because there are so many ways to express yourself using the English language.


As a wordsmith and as someone who literally studied the dictionary in elementary, middle and high school and parts of college, I have stumbled across words that just stick with me for whatever reason. Some of them are hilarious when pronounced phonetically. Some just look funny in script. Either way, here is a quick rundown of my favorites and why they made the list.


1. FLUMMOX.
Meaning:
To confound, confuse, to cause one to be at a loss.


Usage: "Brad Childress' stubborn play-calling and Brett Favre Worship, even after his continued misguided gunslinging still flummox me to this day."


I just love how it sounds, especially with someone who has a lisp ha. But even writing it is hilarious. Some people see it and say "WHAT ON EARTH???" and I go, "Exactly" ha.


2. VERBIAGE.
Meaning:
Active use of verbs and verb tenses in a phrase.


Usage: "The Bears don't use complex verbiage in their cadence, they just line up and go at the other team."


You know what my first encounter with this word was? Not in high school English. Not in college, but listening to a NFL broadcaster call a game and describing a Quarterback's hard count back in the late 80s. I kind of had an idea of what the word meant back then, but now it is part of my everyday vernacular.


SEGUE.


3. VERNACULAR.
Meaning:
Means by which one speaks and expresses one's self with words.


Usage: "This is a typical example of my everyday vernacular."


It just seems like a whole lot to say very little. Sort of like listening to certain foreign languages only to find out "THAT'S ALL THEY SAID??? SHEESH. I heard 5 sentences worth of chatter!"


SEGUE II


4. SEGUE
Meaning:
A transition from one thought or process to another; a seamless connection.


Usage: "This is a perfect segue for my story, thanks for the idea!"


Again, my first encounter with this word came from the sports world. I want to say Dan Patrick used it when he hosted SportsCenter on ESPN back in the late 80s or so who knows?


5. ASSUAGE.
Meaning:
To coddle, massage, cater to one's whims and desires.


Usage: "Surely you don't expect me to stand here and assuage your guilt. Own up to your mistakes and move forward."


I love certain words that, to the common listener or reader, seem not to have any meaning connection to the phrase and context in which they are being used. This is certainly one of those words. Plus I just love saying it, particularly when someone thinks they've out-witted me.

New York Football Giants 2010 NFL Draft Needs Assessment

New York Football Giants 2010 NFL Draft Needs Assessment
M.D. Wright
1.25.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: The 2010 NFL Draft is April 22-24, 2010 in New York City. The Giants have the 15th pick in the 1st Round of the upcoming draft.


The Giants weren't as bad as they appeared (defensively -- the offense was just fine minus terrible situational play-calling at times by Offensive Coordinator Kevin Killdrive *ehem* Gilbride), but there are always needs that must be filled as players age (Fred Robbins), get out of shape and aren't nearly as productive as they once were (Antonio Pierce) and quite simply don't cut it for the scheme that the Giants like to run (Danny Clark). Those are the glaring holes. The Giants still have a few small moves that can be made in the draft that can shore up their future for the next 3-5 years at least.


Pick #1. The major issue is the linebacking corps.
The first pick should be used on a Mike or Wheel. These are Pierce and Clark's positions, respectively. Pierce appears to be 7 months pregnant these days and can't run middle-of-the-field to sideline, much less the "sideline-to-sideline" that he was touted for when the Giants signed him as a free agent after leaving Washington.


Clark is a good run defender, but with Osi Umenyiora in front of him (playing poorly against the run; serving more like a swinging gate before being benched due to his lack of production against the run all season late in the season), it wasn't all on Clark. Plus the scheme employed by former Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan left the LBs in coverage (a major weakness for Pierce and Clark because they no longer have the speed to run downfield against the better Tight Ends and Wide Receivers who ran into their zones). Strongside linebacker Michael Boley is a speed linebacker who is decent in coverage, but even he had a hard time when he finally did get back into the lineup and played consistent games after injury early.


Good Pick:
MLB/ILB/OLB


1. Brandon Spikes, Florida
2. Sergio Kingle, Texas
3. Rolando McClain, Alabama


Pick #2. The Giants' defensive line strength is somewhat overstated. Although GM Jerry Reese signed several players to bolster the depth, they were just bodies all season. DT Rocky Bernard did next to nothing all season. DT/DE Chris Canty lacks leverage to get to the QB, especially standing 6'7" and being relatively light in the legs. DE Justin Tuck was injured all season and played like a warrior, but a healthy year for Tuck yields 12-15 sacks. He only had 7. Likewise with DE Osi Umenyiora. It was obvious he lacked the burst he normally has coming off ACL surgery, and most of us sports guys have watched enough guys come back from that injury to know it takes a year and a half (or a second season after surgery) to get close to where the player once was. The thing with Umenyiora is that he's torn the knee ligament before. There were questions about his drive this season, especially with his total disregard for defending the running game. He got after the quarterback all year, had 6 sacks (7, depending on who you ask) and several forced fumbles and recoveries, but the Giants were gashed all season when teams ran to their left side (the Giants' right side -- Umenyiora, Cofield and Clark) and most of that was off the edge -- at Umenyiora. As previously stated, he was benched late because of this; although Kiwanuka was no better, given that he couldn't even break engagement with the opposing teams' LT when he became starter and was no better against the run.


Tuck should be fine, Robbins will be 33 and was injured also most of the season. Umenyiora has unofficially said that he may not come back to the Giants next year. Who knows? New Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell will be catering to the Giants' previous strength -- blitzing, attacking the QB with just their front four and allowing the back seven to make plays. We shall see.


Good Pick:
DE/DT


1. Best available at pick #46.


Pick #3. You can never have enough good cornerbacks. The Giants have two, but they were both banged up all year (Ross) or slowed and only played in parts of 13 games (Webster). The other healthy CBs are nickel CBs at best right now; although CB Terrell Thomas will be a starter next year, particularly if Ross does not get back to full strength. That hamstring injury was dubious, because no one spends 4 months recovering from a hammy.


The current CB depth chart consists of:
1. Corey Webster (C)
2. Aaron Ross (C-)
3. Terrell Thomas (A-)
4. Kevin Dockery (C)
5. Bruce Johnson (C)
6. DJ Johnson (INC)


That's not convincing, healthy or not.
Don't be surprised if the Giants go 2nd or 3rd round with a CB pick.


Good Pick:
CB


Pick #4. This is a toss-up, because the draft turns from best player to best value while addressing the rest of your needs. The Giants could use some depth along the offensive line, but it is not PARAMOUNT at this point. The bigger concern, at least at this pick, is SAFETY. There are never more than 4 or 5 NFL-ready safeties in the draft, so finding one in the 100s range is going to require some serious scouting. Nonetheless, there are two major issues with the Giants' secondary. Starting FS Kenny Phillips has a chronic and degenerative condition called patellaosteoarthritis in his knee. It is the reason he was benched after the Week 2 win vs. Dallas in the 2009 season. He could've played through it, as he admitted the day after being informed he was placed on IR on Sept. 24. Considering how the FS position was a veritable sieve and left the Giants playing virtually 10 on 11 all season, one has to question the wisdom of placing Phillips on IR when his play was not negatively affected by the condition. Especially given the fact he has not had surgery yet and probably won't. What was the point of placing him on IR if he could have played and still has not had surgery. That condition is very serious, however; because it may not ever get better and it will cause bone-on-bone pain for young Kenny; and in football that is never good.


The other issue is lack of depth. With Phillips out, the Giants were playing with high school talent. Michael Johnson plays hard, but he just does not have the instincts nor the range necessary to play consistently at the NFL level nor is that range sufficient to make up for average instincts. CC Brown is a sick joke of an NFL player, I will not waste words on him. He's good on special teams and occasionally stacking the box, but in coverage, he is a Giants fan's nightmare. Reminders of CB Elvis "TOAST" Patterson from the early 80s.


Aaron Rouse came in and was a decent stopgap, but he got beat quite a bit as well. His takes were often sloppy and having played the secondary myself, I watch their technique all the time -- his angles were pitiful and he's not a big hitter, even though he's 6'4" and 230 lbs. Go figure.


The Giants only have rookie Sha'reff Johnson who they drafted in '09 in the secondary.


Don't be surprised if the Giants go SAFETY in the 3rd round, but for now, I'm predicting 4th Round, because LB, DT/DE and CB may be more pressing.


Good pick:
Best available.


#5 Pick. At this point in the draft, you just want a hard worker and a value pick. There are usually good finds with linemen on both sides of the ball and a nickel corner/potential special teams star to be had here. WR Sinorice Moss may not return, so the Giants may look at one of those smallish WRs who is a spark plug who can return kicks or serve on the coverage team. They may also be looking at RB, but a backup only; as Andre Brown will be returning (non Giants fans and even those Giants fans who don't fervently follow the team forget he was a steal in the '09 Draft and ran very well at NC State).
Good pick:
RB/WR/ST player


#6 Pick. Most likely a lineman. The Giants had a very good 2009 Draft. WR Ramses Barden will see the field more in 2010 and LB Clint Sintim may move into the Wheel LB spot should Danny Clark leave this year. David Carr is almost sure to leave with 5 or 6 starting QB (6, if Favre finally DOES retire now that the Vikings have been eliminated from the NFL Playoffs for 2009) positions up for grabs in 2010.


Good pick:
Best available/OLB/Backup QB


#7 Pick. No one really cares, but you can never have enough CBs. The Giants do not know if P Jeff Feagles will retire or not, so they may either resort to drafting a guy off the street (bring back Rodney Williams ha?) or maybe letting me try out for the position. I can punt 45-50 yards in the air!


See you for the 2010 NFL Draft -- April 22-24, 2010 here in New York City.

Pet Peeve Phrase Of The Day: 1.23.10

Pet Peeve Phrase Of The Day: 1.23.10
M.D. Wright
1.23.10


***EDITOR'S NOTE: As part of an ongoing series, this is the next in line for the Pet Peeve Phrase Of The Day.

Today's Pet Peeve:
(Remember, this is all in fun, people who think I'm being a curmudgeon and complaining need to go play in traffic)

People who say "but uhmm" when attempting to converse, and while I'm there, using the non-word "CONVERSATE" instead of "converse".
The other phrase that goes with that is the reliance upon filler words such as "like" when not describing a person or inanimate object.

1. "But Uhmm" or "But Uhhhh".
Usually uttered when the speaker is at a temporary loss of words or cannot formulate their next thought coherently or quickly enough. I'm not the English Nazi by any stretch, but listening to someone speak for 10 minutes straight using those two sounds is very annoying. My professor Dr. Shelly Brown-Jeffy taught me a useful trick when it comes to avoiding the use of filler while speaking --

IF YOU CAN'T FORMULATE YOUR THOUGHTS, JUST PAUSE. Then start back speaking, but for the love of everything sacred, listening to someone speaking like Mike Leach here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-2oOupZM_c

2. "Conversate".
Where did this come from? People trying to seem articulate and not understanding conjugations? WHERE THEY DO THAT AT? I love hearing it the most when the person just KNOWS that it's the proper manner of speaking. Worse yet, when they try to correct you. I nearly died once when this girl tried to correct me straight up and down that 'conversate' is right and 'converse' "just doesn't sound right".

O_o.

3. "Like".
So people are walking metaphors now ha?

Person 1: "Yeah, he's a like... ummm doctor or somethin''.
O_o

Person 2: "But like, isn't he still in school though?"
o_O

Person 3: "You're right, but his girl was saying that like, he works part time outside of school, too."

PASS THE MOTOR OIL. Castrol Syntec 10W-30, preferably.

DISCUSS>>>