12/21/24
May 12, 2003
Pat Summerall has hung up the mike: after 42 years as an NFL broadcaster. The deterioration of his play-by-play skills over the last few years notwithstanding, I'll be sorry to see him go. In the last year the sports announcing world has lost Jack Buck and Chick Hearn (to death), Ernie Harwell (to retirement), and now Summerall. Who'll be next? Scully? Enberg?
posted by Motown Mike to football at 11:12 AM - 9 comments
I'm rooting for Dick Enberg. I imagine he was probably forced into retirement years ago but missed his going-away party because he mistook the name on the function hall door for a player who retired from the NFL years before.
posted by yerfatma at 12:11 PM on May 12, 2003
Cap'n Swing - right before Madden took over MNF I was soooo in that camp. Remember him fucking up the Super Bowl call, saying the Pat's should just take a knee and gamble on the coin flip? But I have to admit I enjoyed his color commentary in the MNF booth last year. He's probably too young to die just yet, but I wouldn't mind seeing Bill Walton hang up the mic.
posted by vito90 at 03:18 PM on May 12, 2003
He's probably too young to die just yet, but I wouldn't mind seeing Bill Walton hang up the mic. I'm glad we're not hiding our true feelings here! I can't stand Bill Walton either, and my only consolation is that he is mocked and dismissed by his own co-commentators. On the flip side, I think Walton's sometimes-partner Tom Tolbert is a fantastic commentator. He's got a nice mix of humor, experience, insight and timing. He manages to turn minor things (like Mike Bibby constantly clipping his fingernails on the bench) into a really funny running joke.
posted by dusted at 03:37 PM on May 12, 2003
I really like Walton, he never fails to crack me up.
posted by corpse at 03:45 PM on May 12, 2003
Having Walton talk basketball is like having your rich uncle brag at a family reunion — you might learn something about how to get wealthy if you didn't want to smack him in the mouth (thank you, Bob Ryan!). I used to feel the same way about Joe Morgan, but I'm starting to soften on him.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:27 PM on May 12, 2003
Amen to Madden and Walton, but I'm tempted to say that The Brent Musburger should be the first to go. He's not a bad football commentator, but his refusal to learn how to actually pronounce player's names in basketball or even learn the place he's broadcasting in (he continually refers to Cameron Indoor as 'The Cameron') just irritate the ever-living-crap out of me.
posted by tieguy at 10:24 PM on May 12, 2003
omg, Enberg please....one reason "Almost an interception!"
posted by YukonGold at 05:07 PM on May 13, 2003
Enberg, yep - and before I have to gag through another 'Olympic Moment'.
posted by kloeprich at 05:28 PM on May 13, 2003
John Madden. /desperate plea to the Lord above.