My Favorite Play by Play Announcers
Lists like this are very subjective, but here are my ten favorite play-by-play announcers in sports.
1. Mike “Doc” Emrick. This man could be broadcasting croquet and it would be captivating. Listening to Doc call an NHL playoff game is like no other; it is truly an art form.
2. Gus Johnson. Gus is the most underrated broadcaster in the business right now. His enthusiasm and craftiness with words in unparalleled. It is a shame he is no longer on the NCAA Tournament, but between calling games for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Big Ten, Gus Johnson is a notable talent.
3. Jim Nantz. Be it the Masters, the Final Four, or the Super Bowl, Nantz is near the apex in his field. Tony Romo has been a revelation as a color guy and a lot of Romo’s success should be credited to Nantz, who does a tremendous job of setting his partner up.
4. Mike Breen. While I wish ESPN would find him new color commentators, Breen is fantastic. His signature “Bang” will forever be a part of the NBA lexicon.
5. Dan Shulman. When he left Sunday Night Baseball I was bummed. Shulman is a pro’s pro. Whether he is with Jay Bilas broadcasting a Duke-North Carolina game or doing an ALCS game on the radio, Shulman never disappoints.
6. Joe Buck. Fox has a special one here. Buck’s versatility stands out as he does both MLB and NFL games at the highest level. What sets buck apart in my eyes is his astuteness in real time.
7. Kevin Harlan. This man has the best vocals in sports broadcasting. Period.
8. Mike Tirico. I feel that Tirico has gotten a raw deal at NBC. Yes, he has the honor of calling Notre Dame games, but he should be on the network’s main package replacing Al Michaels.
9. Ian Eagle. His combination of enthusiasm and humor make him a must listen. Eagle’s ability makes even Nets games eminently watchable.
10. Chris Fowler. Yes, he does primetime college football games with Herbstreit, but where Fowler has really caught my eye is his work with tennis. He does the majors for ESPN and explains the game in a way that makes it easily digestible for even a novice.
