It usually starts with some inanimate object…maybe a hair brush, maybe even a wooden kitchen spoon…But invariably, if you ask play by play announcers how they got their start, they will tell you they were the ones running around the living room announcing games for their parents at a very early age…Hey, let’s be honest…who of us hasn’t called our own games even if it’s on the court….”Three seconds to go, he/she dribbles to his left, (raise voice here), he/she shoots, IT’s GOOD, IT’s GOOD!….You can even buy an app and customize your own call!
Play by Play is one of those classic sportscaster dreams…but it’s nowhere as easy at is it seems…Unless, perhaps, you listen to Justin Kutcher of FoxSports or Dave Goucher of the Boston Bruins, who joined us recently at the Boston University sports journalism seminar series….”Just call the game”, said Kutcher. “forget all the notes, the stats,. the stories, just call the game”…Great advice…some of the classic calls over the decades are simply nothing more than reactions to what’s going on….”Do you believe in miracles?”…”I can’t believe what i just saw!”and as long as the San Francisco Giants are on the brink of their second world series title in three years, the classic Russ Hodges call “The Giants win the pennant!”
Goucher and Kutcher got their starts at WTBU radio and took jobs in small markets that required them to do everything from sales, to media relations, even wearing the mascot uniform…thankfully, for Justin, no videotape exists of those times but he relishes telling the story and considers it part of the learning process….and for every aspiring broadcaster, Kutcher gives another piece of advice, “Record everything you do. Not only will you need it for your resume reel but it’s a great way to critique yourself and see if you’re getting any better.”
“Be yourself”, intones Goucher. Don’t try to be something, someone you’re not”…The Bruins long time radio play by play admits to thinking about what he’d say when the team was on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. But in the end, for the most part, he painted the picture to tell the story…
Play by play is the glamour job in the industry, no question…but it takes hours of practice and a lucky break here and there…too many put themselves ahead of the game itself and wind up on websites like Awful Announcing or The Bleacher Report…Just call the game baby, just call the game….
24 Comments
Taylor Williams posted on October 28, 2012 at 12:20 pm
The closest I’ve come to doing play-by-play is writing highlights for scripts in 524, but without question, this seminar provided me with a number of good insights and takeaways. It’s going to be tough to adequately address them all in this space, so I’ll start by tackling the easier question of my favorite call: Skip Caray, 1995, when my Braves won their only World Series, the lone bright spot in the disastrously unremarkable history of Atlanta sports.
This particular clip covers his key calls from the bottom of the ninth inning. It’s not one for the hall of fame, but it does capture the process of a good call that both our guests alluded to: enthusiastically building the moment, calling the decisive play, then shutting up. I have to say, when the job’s done right, it’s worthy of the iconic and revered status fans ascribe to those who do it.
According to Dave, a good play-by-play sportscaster can tap into the mindsets of fans and deliver the calls accordingly. But as sports journalists, we’re continually reminded of our duty to remain impartial in our reporting. Occupying the play-by-play title on a professional payroll allows the journalist to part from that responsibility. He crosses the line, integrating his natural feelings as a fan into his work, bringing the two sides closer together without the strict confines of impartial reporting. It’s a testament to the variety of jobs and roles that exist for multi-faceted sports journalists in today’s market.
Which leads me to my perhaps my biggest takeaway – the beauty of the small market. Personally, I’ve accepted the fact that truck stops like Wheeling, WV and Sioux Falls, SD are my havens and destinations as an entry-level journalist. The necessity of having a diverse skill set has been drilled into all our heads in BU classrooms, but in small-market newsrooms, the versatility takes the form of mascots, PR, etc., as Professor Shorr noted. Play-by-play seems to be the epitome of such a job where the responsibilities run far deeper than the title suggests. The hours can suck and social sacrifices are inevitable, as Justin pointed out. But that’s the reality of the business, and I thought both our guests portrayed their jobs accurately without sugarcoating their downsides.
This seminar reinforced another theme that’s recurred through the semester: the importance of personality. Whether they’re in the locker room or the broadcast booth, sports journalists have to have a certain “je ne sais quoi,” a natural way of putting people at ease and letting the dialogue flow. But being on the air also heightened amounts of color and energy. Play-by-play reflects the difficulties of meshing those two traits, as evidenced by Justin’s story about his struggles to get the personality of his new analyst, Eric Crouch, to come through on the air.
In the end though, play-by-play is just another skill, another in-road waiting to be paved. It’s subject to the same rules and standards of accuracy and credibility as other avenues of communication. I’ve always banked foremost on my interviewing and writing skills, but after this seminar, I’d jump on a chance to add play-by-play to the list.
Taylor Williams posted on October 28, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Sorry, guess the link to Atlanta’s only great moment in professional sports didn’t copy. Here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_u4eGI0aCU
Ashley Driscoll posted on October 28, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this week’s seminar and listen to what our guests had to say. I do, however, have a few favorite play by plays…
Favorite professional sports play by play… http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19951361&c_id=mlb
Dick Stockton calling Carlton Fisk’s home run in the 1975 World Series, which Stockton dubbed “one of the more dramatic home runs in World Series history”. After calling it, he explained the relevance of the home run to fans by saying that they would move on to a 7th game (we’ll end the story there because I don’t like the ending of that particular World Series…)
Favorite college sports play by play… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeExa2R2nf0
Dan Davis’ reaction to Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary Pass to Gerard Phelan in the game versus Miami in 1984. As a Boston College graduate and former student athlete, not much compares to this moment (even if it was before I was alive!). Davis’ reaction is priceless (not to mention 10 times more dramatic than that of Brent Musburger) – the amount of excitement, disbelief, and emotion in his voice heightens the experience of watching that moment in history.
Personal favorite… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqUjo_rOxYc
Kerri Strug’s vault exercise at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta (I remember watching this live). “She’s the last to go, she’s the only one who can do it,” is the set up by John Tesh. Tesh is joined by Tim Daggett and Elfi Schlegel, who provided the color commentary, and all 3 focus on Kerri’s injury after the first vault. Surprisingly, not one of them has any immediate reaction in the first few seconds, perhaps out of shock. They have a more dramatic reaction when the score comes in and they realize the United States won gold.
Nobody said play by play was easy, but when done right, it can make a big difference in the fans’ experience of the moment. The above links feature memorable moments in sports history, both in their own right and because of the play by play coverage of them. Al Michaels’ memorable broadcast of the 1980 Olympics was the highlight of his career and the call is still discussed today. Those 5 words, and his emotion as he called the game, altered his entire career and give us a great example of what a play by play should sound and feel like.
Jonathan Lemons posted on October 29, 2012 at 8:46 am
Great play-by-play announcing is the soundtrack to the great (and, I suppose, the not-so-great) moments in our sports memories. Just like music can evoke the feelings of times past, so too can a play call. Through its rhythm, tone, and energy, calls can instantly transport sports fans back to a very particular place in time. Those magic moments indeed.
While I understand and largely agree with the point Justin Kutcher was making by recommending that announcers sometimes “forget all the notes, the stats, the stories,” and “just call the game,” he and his fellow announcers do so much more than that.
In his book, Call of the Game, Gary Bender describes the incredible preparation that goes into each game and the remarkable balancing act the play-by-play announcer must perform on game day. Setting the stage for the game, putting performances in context, quickly and accurately describing the action, identifying (and pronouncing!) players’ names, teeing up your broadcast partner for analysis, transitioning in and out of commercial breaks, reading advertising promotions, knowing when to touch on stories/background information you’ve researched about particular coaches or players and when to stick with the game action, and making it all informative and entertaining is no small task. That much of this balancing act goes unnoticed by viewers is a testament to a quality play-by-play announcer.
Growing up a Boston native, I’ve been spoiled by many excellent play-by-play announcers on TV and radio. Gil Santos, Joe Castiglione, Sean Grande, Don Orsillo, Mike Gorman, and Sean McDonough to name a few.
Listening to a baseball game on the radio feels like a vestige of yesteryear and there is something about (WEEI’s Red Sox radio announcer) Joe Castiglione’s voice and delivery that seems to complement this notion perfectly.
On TV, I always loved Sean McDonough’s call of the Sox games, his opening line for home games, “Welcome to Boston, Massachusetts, the Athens of America”, and his terrific chemistry with Jerry Remy. I’ve grown quite fond of Don Orsillo over the years but McDonough seemed to do everything Orsillo does, (especially considering they have extremely similar voices), but with a bit more enthusiasm and even better chemistry with Remy.
Finding and demonstrating chemistry between broadcast partners is, in part, trial and error, but much of the responsibility also falls on the play-by-play announcer and McDonough is widely regarded as among the best in the business at doing so.
A 2011 article about McDonough by the Globe’s Chad Finn called him “a play-by-play man with a reputation for getting the most out of his analysts.
Before teaming up with McDonough on Monday Night Baseball for ESPN in 2011, Aaron Boone told Finn, “In doing my homework and asking around,” “‘What do you know about Sean McDonough,’ in the industry, people said exactly that,’ ’’ Boone said. “ ‘For you, it’s going to be great, because he’s going to bring out the best in you.’ Everyone says he has that gift.’’
One more quick note on McDonough – he is truly remarkable in his ability to call so many sports, including football, basketball, baseball and golf, at such a high level.
I don’t have a specific moment that jumps out to me other than a call Don Orsillo had in 2006 or ’07 when David Ortiz hit a walkoff homerun against the Rangers, his fifth in a Sox uniform. As Papi had made so many clutch hits over the years, Orsillo yelled in an excited disbelief, “How many times can you go to the well?!”
It wasn’t a particularly important game (I think it was in June) and it wasn’t against the Yankees, but Orsillo’s call still resonates with me because it was exactly what I was thinking at the time. How on earth does this guy keep getting these clutch hits? How many times can we expect this to happen? Orsillo nailed the call by articulating that exact sentiment with those great pipes of his.
Kendall Salter posted on October 29, 2012 at 9:22 am
I grew up wanting to broadcast games. I once took an old kiddie recording set and called several innings of a Dodgers-Pirates game, just for fun. I wanted to see what it was like. I was 12, and it was hard, and I recorded over the cassette soon after that.
Doing play-by-play well is so difficult, which is why so many of us can point out flubs and mistakes by commentators. Some of the most prominent announcers — Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Jeff VanGundy, etc. — are a constant target in this regard. But on the whole, these guys are some of the best. I suppose that the style of commentating you like is up to you. Obviously people like Gus Johnson and his patented over-the-top style or he wouldn’t be on the air. Some, like Kucher, don’t prefer that.
I like my broadcasters more understated. I am fortunate enough to have grown up listening to Vin Scully call Dodgers games and Chick Hearn on Lakers broadcasts. These are/were two of the best there ever were. Scully is unparalleled in baseball, and what makes him so different makes him good. He has no color guy. He does the game solo. And when the moment is big, he says his bit and shuts up. There are times when he’ll go an entire at-bat saying nothing, because he wants you to “let the crowd tell the story.”
After all, aren’t announcers meant to make you feel like you are closer to the game?
I liked the fact that each of our guest speakers had their own approach to their profession. Each displays personality in their own way, and each strives for accuracy and excitement in their calls.
But I have too many favorite calls to recount here. I like Buck’s call on McGwire’s 62nd. “Is it enough? Gone!” Anything called by Keith Jackson is a winner. More recently, Ian Darke’s call of “Go, go! USA!” is up there.
But my recent favorite has to be in a moment of defeat for the Dodgers. With their season on the line against the Giants (the Dodgers would lose), Scully kept it simple. He also quoted Dylan Thomas. What’s not to like.
“What was that great poem: Do not go gently into that good night? Rage, rage against the dying of the light? Well, that’s where we are.”
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/mlb/dodgers/video-vin-scully-quotes-bob-dylan-dodgers-playoff-hopes-slowly-die
Jason Lind posted on October 29, 2012 at 10:36 am
Dave and Justin expressed a similar sentiment when asked what makes a good call. Justin said, “Set up the moment, hit it and get out.” Dave was more blunt: “Capture the moment and shut up.”
The archetype for that ideal is a call that transcends sports. Al Michaels’ call at Lake Placid remains a teaching tool for young sports broadcasters who look to let the moment speak for itself. Darren Rovell interviewed Michaels for the 30-year anniversary of the game: http://www.cnbc.com/id/35520760/Miracle_On_Ice_One_on_One_with_Al_Michaels_30_Years_Later
Michaels says the call was spontaneous, and it took a supreme amount of focus to stay in the moment as time expired.
At first glance, Gus Johnson seems like a dropout from the Michaels’ school of play-by-play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgeqrYxu_YM
Justin took a shot at Johnson during the interview, which was not surprising. He is a polarizing figure. Perhaps the most idiosyncratic national broadcaster in sports, Johnson approaches the craft differently than a lot of his peers. In a few interviews (here’s a good one → http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/12/gus-johnson-interview.html), Johnson describes an ambition “to make every event as theatrical as possible.” Where most play-by-play men or women work as a medium between fan and sport, Johnson openly admits to wedging himself between the two. “I think I’m doing a good job of taking bad games and making them at least a little bit interesting,” he says.
All of that may sound incriminating, but it has made Johnson one of the most successful and recognizable voices on air. He covers the NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball and even mixed martial arts (which is a perfect marriage of voice and sport). Last year, Fox named Johnson as its lead play-by-play voice for college football and basketball coverage.
Justin said that a good play-by-play person is also a passionate fan, and should always have the mentality that three million people are watching his or her broadcast. It would be tough to accuse Johnson of breaking either of those rules. Johnson toes a line. Drawing too much attention is dangerous in this field (look what it did to Dennis Miller in the Monday Night Football booth → http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-400_162-220306.html), but Johnson’s squealing and grunting is there to glorify the moment. His intentions are clear and enthusiasm is rarely misplaced. To me, play-by-play is not the same objective ground as print and broadcast sports journalism. The announcers are there to call the game, but also to facilitate entertainment through the game. This is not straight, hard news. The broadcasters are certainly there to inform, but there is a heavier emphasis on entertainment in this business. Despite the detractors, Johnson’s rise to prominence indicates that his brand of play-by-play and in-game storytelling is popular.
Someone wrote that Al Michaels’ final words during the Miracle on Ice sounded like the nine-year-old in him. With flair for the dramatic and a desire to make every game matter to the fan, Gus Johnson calls like he never grew up.
Here’s one of my favorite play-by-play calls. Heavy bias here… it’s Mick Hubert, voice of the Florida Gators for over 20 years. I grew up in Gainesville, Fla. I remember nervously watching this in a friend’s living room, TV muted and radio on so we could hear his call.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZUTy7U25lw
Phillip Kisubika posted on October 29, 2012 at 3:57 pm
For me. play-by-play broadcasters have a lot in common with sports talk radio people. They both have to be the voice of their audience, and they have to be able to tap into the pulse of the fans. The best ones find ways to either relate to the fan bases (in the case of local play-by-play announcers) or be able to walk into almost any kind of event and call the game the best way they can (in the case of network play-by-play people).
You see guys like Vin Scully with the Dodgers and Ernie Harwell with the Tigers, broadcasters who became part of the team’s culture and history, and it’s easy to see how much fun the job can be. Especially when it comes to team announcers, the accusation of being a homer is rampant. But there’s a certain charm to it, and the best ones can have those tendencies and still call the game the right way.
My favorite play-by-play broadcaster was Larry Munson, who called University of Georgia football from 1966-2008. Munson had a flair for the moment and could describe scenes with the best of them. Here’s a sampling of his best calls (http://youtu.be/Vx7QR57uYsg?t=1m13s).
I enjoyed hearing what Justin and Doug had to say about their craft. Though the simplest advice they gave was to just call the game, there’s a lot more that goes into a good broadcast. Sometimes, the best you can do is go with your instincts and try to be as correct and authoritative as possible, but you also have to be able to work well in concert with color commentators and analysts.
Paul Ryan posted on October 30, 2012 at 11:01 am
When we started the semester back in October, I circled October 24th on my calendar and made sure I was going to be free on that Wednesday night. As someone who currently broadcasts for WTBU, I found Justin and Dave’s advice to be extremely helpful and their insight on how the business works intriguing. Like many of the others who have commented, one of the big takeaways I got from the seminar was to make the big call then get out of the way. However, I was surprised to hear how little prep work and reading of game notes these guys do. I completely agree with Justin in that you should “just call the game” and that knowing the game is greater than all else, but I think reviewing game notes and doing a good amount of research is important to do and does not always have to be a “crutch” as he put it.
One of the great things about play-by-play is there’s no real right or wrong way to call a game. Some people love Jack Edwards, who often goes over the top and is considered a “homer” by many. Personally I think Edwards is a lot like John Sterling of the New York Yankees. When both aren’t going over the top and being utterly ridiculous, they each call a very good game. In my opinion, each should stick to a straighter style of PxP instead of screaming catch phrases every other play. Then you have someone like Dave, who calls the game much more down the middle. Sure Dave is broadcasting for the Boston Bruins, but it’s much easier to listen to Dave from a neutral fan’s perspective as opposed to Edwards.
Another big point I took from the seminar was when Justin said you need to find that right level of enthusiasm. I find that listening to my old broadcasts, I’m at about a 2 or 3 when I should be at around a 6. You shouldn’t be at a 10 every single play like Gus Johnson, but you need to find that middle ground so you can hit that high note when it finally comes. One of the most important things about a broadcasters job is the build up to the big play. It’s where the greats distinguish themselves from the rest. Building up to that big play only helps add to the excitement of the game. Some people claim Gus Johnson is too enthused (example: UCLA-Gonzaga) while Joe Buck is not enthused enough (example: David Tyree in Super Bowl 42). The greats always build up to the moment and I think it’s one of the most important parts of the job.
In terms of favorite call, it’s impossible for me to narrow it down to just one. Just from the link Professor Shorr posted, the calls on the Miracle on Ice, “The Shot Heard Round the World,” “The Play,” Ali knocking out Joe Frazier, Jack Buck’s call of Gibson’s home run in ’88, and Verne Lundquist’s “Yes Sir” in ’86 all came to mind before posting. A personal favorite of mine is Howie Rose’s call of Stephane Matteau’s overtime winner back in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Great build up on the call.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ziarOEosIc
The May Day goal by Rick Jeanneret is another classic. Also with great build up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xxSsEqjIk
I love Gary Thorne and wish he would do more hockey, but here’s Mattingly’s home run in the 1995 ALDS against the Mariners.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=2685722
And an obligatory post with Gary Thorne calling the BU National Championship game. The game-tying goal comes at about 5:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-At13ZliXw
And in what is not a professional call, but my favorite call of all-time, Plano East vs. John Tyler in high school football. If you haven’t seen this video, I highly recommend watching the whole thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHkABO0VwCg
Nate Weitzer posted on October 30, 2012 at 11:50 am
Play-by-Play announcing has to be one of the more difficult yet thankless jobs in sports. This is probably true because the best announcers are so understated and mistake-free that we hardly notice them. If you can truly ‘capture the moment’ the way Justin and Dave talked about, then your audience will find it difficult to distinguish between the call and the game itself, it’s all part of the same memory.
While play-by-play guys aren’t usually given a ton of credit for successful broadcasts, they are at the forefront of any criticism about the announcing. Sites like Deadspin, Awful Announcing, and even the friendly Media Critics we had as guests last week, will point out any mistake that these guys make in a heartbeat.
Sometimes the level of scrutiny is fair, but sometimes it’s petty and unfounded. I point to the Facebook page called Joebucksucks, which has 17,630 likes, and contains links to various articles attacking Buck as someone who is only on the air because he has a famous father. Perhaps his brand of announcing is not your cup of tea, but Joe Buck is consistently professional and his style is not so obtrusive that it necessitates this kind of negative attention.
So much of the broadcast depends on the repoir between the play-by-play and color commentators. Buck is a classic play-by-play guy who sets up his usual partner (Tim McCarver) with opportunities to provide analysis. If there is a genuine animosity towards this team, it may be due to the way McCarver presents his opinions. Again, the play-by-play announcer has a responsibility to provide the background to a game while telling you what’s going on, and if they execute in that style, there shouldn’t be much cause to attack them.
The best broadcast teams are comprised of an understated play-by-play guy and an animated, yet knowledgeable analyst. Currently, Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden as well as Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy are two of the best announcing teams in the business. Their coverage of NFL and NBA games is simply enjoyable and informative.
While it may not be as exciting as some of Marv Albert’s historical calls: “A spectacular move! By Michael Jordan!” their style of commentary is subtle, and the analysis complements the professionalism of the play-by-play broadcast.
These teams exemplify where the field of broadcasting is headed. There is enough opinions about the game disseminated on Twitter and the Blogosphere that play-by-play guys can simply describe the action and leave any deeper conclusions to their partners.
In the end their job is to set up the analyst to provide some insight on a subject that the audience is naturally curious about, and to call the action in a way that promotes excitement when needed, and ancillary when appropriate.
Bobby LeBlanc posted on October 30, 2012 at 2:15 pm
When I was younger, I always used to think how cool it would be to do the play by play for the Red Sox. I can say now that I don’t think I will ever do play by play for a living, but I do have great respect for guys like Justin Kutcher and Dave Goucher. What they do is extremely difficult, maybe even more so for Dave doing hockey on the radio.
I really like what Jonathan said about play by play being the soundtrack to the greatest moments in our sports memories. I completely agree. Whenever I think about my favorites moments, I don’t just think about what happened, but I always remember the call as well. Even when I go to games and something great happens, I like to go home and listen to the calls that were made during the game. For example, one of the best games at Fenway I’ve ever been to is when the Red Sox beat the Rangers 19-17 back in 2008. I have since downloaded the game so I could listen to the call that Don Orsillo made when Kevin Youkilis hit the go-ahead home run.
“Youkilis to left, deep, far, three-run shot. Second home run of the night! 19-16 Red Sox on top! You kidding me?”
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280812102
It’s much better to listen to, but it’s a moment I’ll never forget. Orsillo really added something special to the moment that I saw at Fenway Park that night. Great announcers do that. The best moments in sports aren’t just remembered by the play but by the call as well. Announcers contribute a lot in making the moments memorable.
Justin gave some good advice about making a great call. He said you have to setup the moment, build it up, hit it and then get out. I think that is exactly what Verne Lundquist did when he called Tiger Wood’s chip shot at the 2005 Masters. The call is one of the top ten in Professor Shorr’s link to classic calls on Yahoo Sports. Lundquist and his partner discuss the shot beforehand, and then he makes the call. He builds the moment as the ball rolls closer and closer to the hole, and then makes a simple call. “Oh wow!… In your life have you seen anything like that?” Then, as Justin says, he gets out and allows the audience to listen and watch the crowd go nuts. It’s a call that really brings me back to the moment. I was watching the chip, sitting around a television in an airport with my dad, brother and a bunch of other guys. When the ball went in, everyone yelled and even jumped to their feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJfhUGM4Yc
There is a lot more to play by play than simply making the great call. You have to prepare before the game and be ready to setup your analyst during the game. You have to have a strong knowledge of the game you are calling. I think it’s great when the announcer can tell me something I don’t know about what’s going on in the game. The worst is when all the announcer does is make blatantly obvious points consistently throughout the broadcast.
The most memorable call for me has to be Joe Buck’s call when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series. I can’t say that it’s the best call I’ve ever heard, but it’s definitely one I will never forget. What can beat watching the Red Sox win for the first time in 86 years with your dad and hearing Joe Buck say, “Back to Foulke. Red Sox fans have longed to hear it. The Boston Red Sox are world Champions.”
http://www.hark.com/clips/lrmjfmqczg-2004-world-series-final-out
Greg Picker posted on October 30, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Play by play has always been a passion of mine and it is why I currently am at Boston University taking Professor Shorr’s classes. I can remember being very young playing sports video games and annoying my brother by calling the play by play. Now at BU, I am extremely proud that I get to call BU hockey on a regular basis.
Hearing from Dave and Justin helps to reinforce the passion I have for play by play. It might not be that glamorous the first few years riding the bus in the minors, but if that’s what it takes to make it to the big show then I will gladly put in my dues.
One of my favorite calls of all-time begins at 1:45 of this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qsURndMW-w&feature=related
Joe Carter hit a World Series winning walk-off home run to help the Blue Jays repeat as champions in 1993. The best calls are the ones that are genuine and come across completely naturally in the spur of the moment. You can tell that’s what happens to Tom Cheek, the voice of the Jays on this call. If you take a step back and digest what Cheek says, he is completely accurate; it is impossible to hit a bigger home run in your life than a walk-off to win the World Series. In 150 or so years of baseball, it’s only happened twice. It might be a sweeping statement made by Cheek, but there is no chance for Carter to hit a bigger home run in his life.
It also helps that Cheek was the actual Jays announcer and not a neutral national broadcaster. When you compare Cheek’s call with the neutral call, it’s not even a comparison of which is more exciting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzMk8EQfzM
In addition, since I can remember following baseball I have never seen the Blue Jays fans with something to get anywhere close to excited about. I enjoy watching the video of the Skydome go crazy despite the fact that I’m not a Jays fan. I just enjoy seeing fans who don’t always have a lot to cheer about get to enjoy that moment of being on top.
Kaleigh Fratkin posted on October 30, 2012 at 5:48 pm
“Less is more.” While there are commentators who fail to live by this motto, announcers like Kutcher and Goucher, embrace this idea and “just call the game.”
Play-by-play announcers create an atmosphere for listeners and viewers. And although their job is to describe the game, sometimes saying too much takes away from their overall job. When I watch a game on television, the most annoying thing is when an announcer says too much or is yelling at the top of his lungs the whole game. It overpowers the game and is distracting.
My favorite play-by-play commentator is Mike Emrick, also known as “Doc”. He has been the television play-by-play voice for the New Jersey Devils since 1993 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. He is considered the best hockey play-by-play announcer on television for his knowledge of the game and ability to call what he sees. “Doc” has announced some of hockey’s most memorable moments, managing to find happy mediums between yelling in excitement and silence, thus allowing the viewers to grasp the special moments. The following clips sum up Emrick as a quality announcer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf3pmAB451A
The clip below, is my favorite play-by-play call. Emrick’s call was in the 1994 Olympics gold medal game when Sweden beat Canada in a shootout. Until that day, Sweden had never won the hockey gold medal at the Winter Olympics and Canada, the cradle of the sport, hadn’t seized one in 42 years. This call was, in my opinion, superb. When Paul Kariya missed the final shot allowing Sweden to win, “Doc” announced it as he saw it and left the rest for silence. Silence said it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5sEzu1njoA
While Emrick is an example of hockey’s best play-by-play announcers, Rick Jeanneret is an example of one of hockey’s worst play-by-play announcers. He is a good commentator because he gets almost every call right, but he explodes unnecessarily on mediocre plays. Furthermore, he yells “scores” for way too long making it a distraction. It’s one thing to get excited when a goal is scored, but Jeanneret crosses this line of excitement making it annoying. Viewers can see when a goal is scored so a quick “scores” by the announcer is acceptable, but a prolonged “scores” is irritating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhNw5g6KD4
This week’s seminar offered a lot of take away. Needless to say, play-by-play announcers are an important part of a game. Emrick and Jeanneret are good examples of how hockey announcers (and all announcers for that matter) can differ in style and make a big impact for viewers watching. Goucher and Kutcher put it succinctly; the best way for a play-by-play announcer to capture a memorable moment is to “just call the game.”
Jashvina Shah posted on October 30, 2012 at 7:30 pm
I love listening to radio broadcasts and calling them, but I’m awful at play by play commentary, so I usually stick to color. That being said, I love listening to play by play commentary — especially on the radio. Just a few words can capture the emotion from an entire season, and those play by play calls have the power to be really special.
Unfortunately I didn’t get to attend this seminar (I really wanted to because I love broadcast games, even though I’m a print journalism major) but I feel as though it’s an important topic because play by play people are vital to broadcasts. Even though perhaps they don’t receive as much attention as color commentators (who are tasked with analyzing), they’re the people that can make the broadcast good or bad. They hold everything together and have the potential to make memorable moments, like when John Havlicek stole the ball (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4fTjcJwImw), even more memorable.
I really admire people who can do play by play and who can do it well, because it isn’t easy to keep the conversation going or to keep up with fast-paced sports like hockey and prevent viewers and listeners from muting the sound. Good play by play people can make boring game on TV exciting and they have the power to make those games on the radio suspenseful and entertaining.
When I was in Australia I listened to a lot of hockey games on the radio, ranging from BU games on WTBU (because I think Greg and Paul did a great job last semester on those calls) to Devils’ playoff games. I actually had to listen to Game 7 of New Jersey’s series against Florida, and I’ll never forget Matt Loughlin’s call of Adam Henrique’s game-winning goal in double overtime (unfortunately the clip isn’t on Youtube).
I’m fortunate enough that, as a Devils fan, I was able to hear Mike “Doc” Emrick for almost every Devils game I watched. He’s the best play by play broadcaster in all of hockey, and at one point he became at least half the reason I watched every Devils game. He’s always been fair and unbiased and always called every game with so much emotion. He made the games exciting even when they weren’t.
My favorite play by play call of all time is from Bobby Orr’s flying, Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZR2MGFDTYE. Like a lot of my other classmates I also really love the Miracle on Ice call (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYscemhnf88). It may only be a few words, but it captures something that’s so much more, and emotion that you can’t get from a picture or even just the video. You need that play by play call to really understand it.
And here’s one that I think is a great example of what not to say (I apologize for the poor quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4D1q_mgpHg.
Patrick Thomas posted on October 30, 2012 at 11:39 pm
What an awesome seminar.
How Dave lived in West Virginia called the games and basically ran the team is beyond me. That takes a lot of dedication and passion. And for Justin to move out west only making $400 or $500 a month? That’s bold.
Hearing them speak on what is great (and not so great) about the business made me step back and think. Why do I want to do this? Is it for the fame or because I get to be around sports?
For me, I know that I will never get to play football again after college. My athletic career is over. But, doing play-by-play gives me an opportunity to get as close to the action without playing. It is a dream come true.
As some of you may or may not know I am a ginormous Auburn fan. Attached is the call from the voice of Auburn Radio, Rod Bramblet, during the national championship game. Bramblet calles the field goal as time expired. (It is in the last five minutes of the clip).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RLO4wKC3XM
I could probably play that clip in my head a thousand times. I believe the best commentators paint a narrative with words. They rarely mess up and are so smooth. If I closed my eyes, a great play-by-play sportscaster could give me the best visuals without me ever seeing the game. That is more needed for radio guys but TV play-by-play announcers can be great at it as well.
My favorite might be Keith Jackson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV-tVEbwreY
Sports commentating is an artform and skill that is not always appreciated. Several of the topics we have discussed have dealt with the relevance of a certain issue to today’s world and the world of sports. In my opinion, play-by-play is something we as journalists and people could never do without.
You can hear it by radio, live streaming on the Internet and even watch it on your television screen. It gives the person of little or average knowledge of sports an idea of what is taking place.
Sure, it is important to know stats but like Joe Buck said to Justin “just call the game”. Possibly the biggest aspect of calling a game is knowing how to set up your color guy. Comfort doesn’t come over night and how well a color analyst catches on could be up to the play-by-play announcer.
I hope to be a part of the world of play-by-play. To make it though, it might take us to a place we don’t want to go.
In my opinion though, I kind of have the same attitude as Dave when he said, “I just couldn’t believe someone was going to pay me for this”. The greatest takeaway for me is and has been a recurring theme in a couple seminars—be willing to start anyway.
Who knows? We might end up doing big time college and pro sports too.
Matt DeFonzo posted on October 31, 2012 at 6:45 am
This semester we’ve debated whether sports talk radio personalities and certain Internet writers are journalists, so perhaps we can have the same debate with play-by-play sportscasters. If so, allow me to begin it by saying this: the folks who do play-by-play are in fact genuine reporters…but only when they’re not actually part of the team. Furthermore, color commentators are also journalists when they’re not affiliated with any particular sports club.
One of the definitions of “journalism” on dictionary.com is, “the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business.” That means anybody who somehow reports the news is a journalist, including Justin Kutcher. When he’s broadcasting a sporting event for Fox, Kutcher is, in actuality, bringing people sports news as it’s happening in real time. The news can’t be any more new than talking about a game or match as it’s happening. Therefore, Kutcher is legitimately a journalist when he’s talking about game that’s going on right in front of him because he’s broadcasting news live.
On the other hand, play-by-play announcers aren’t journalists when they directly work for or are a part of the team they cover. For instance, though I’m sure he’s very talented, I don’t think Dave Goucher counts as a journalist when he’s fulfilling his play-by-play duties. While Goucher fits the description of a reporter in that he’s also broadcasting news events live, it seems as if he’s actually a part of the team as opposed to an independent newsman. Visible on his hand during last week’s edition of the sports seminar was a large ring, presumably from when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011. There is also a photo of him on youtube.com holding up the Stanley Cup. When you’re involved with a team enough to get to participate in their championship celebration, I don’t think you can be impartial enough to be considered a journalist.
In addition, I believe play-by-play broadcasters’ partners in crime, the color commentators, should be considered journalists as well. The role of the color commentator is to tell stories and provide deeper explanation as to what’s going on in the game. Let’s say Michael Vick throws an interception in a game called by Troy Aikman. The play-by-play broadcaster will let everyone know the result of the errant pass, and Aikman, given his many years under center for the Dallas Cowboys, will likely be able to give more detail as to why the pick was thrown. By adding such depth he is contributing via broadcast to the news that has just occurred, thereby asserting himself as a journalist in agreement with the above definition because he is broadcasting news.
Finally, color commentators should be held to the same standards as play-by-play announcers as to whether they’re journalists or not. That is, if they’re too involved with a team, they shouldn’t be considered journalists.
In sum, though there are instances in which play-by-play and color commentators should not be considered journalists, they are generally true reporters in the literal sense of the word.
Davis VanOpdorp posted on October 31, 2012 at 12:57 pm
I want to build on Matt DeFonzo’s post above me. After thinking about it, they aren’t the most objective people either. I mean, maybe Justin Kucher and Joe Buck are, because they work so many different games for Fox Sports and are, most of the time, the only ones broadcasting that particular game, entertaining fans from both teams.
But Kucher talked about it himself. He says that he has to be a little bit more of a fan of the team you’re doing play-by-play for, so that way the fans can relate to you. You have to be a fan in order to capture the high moments as well as dwell in the low moments, because that is what the audience will be doing when they are listening to you.
Therefore, there has to be some sort of bias that goes into play-by-play. That’s why I think that some play-by-play guys aren’t journalists. However, at the same time, that’s why I think the field is so important.
It is in my opinion that fans sometimes want to hear what they want to hear. Why is Tommy Heinsohn so popular as the color guy for CSN? Because he complains about EVERYTHING, just like a lot of fans in the crowd would be doing.
Therefore, being a fan of a team you do play-by-play for is so important. Red Sox fans in 2004 heard Joe Castiglione scream in excitement and astonishment, the exact reaction that was necessary in Boston. Should John Sterling have had that same reaction in New York? Of course not! Do you think Yankees fans wanted their play-by-play announcer to be excited that their team didn’t close the deal? Absolutely not.
No, play-by-play commentators as part of teams aren’t journalists. But the role they play is very important in sports media.
Nick Hansen posted on October 31, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Play-by-Play is an entirely different animal than sports writing. As a print journalist, I appreciate the fact that these guys are on their toes for three hours a night describing the action for millions of people.
Justin and Dave seem to take a very minimalistic, no frills approach when it comes to their job. I think that works for them, but I disagree that it is the only way to call a game. I agree with Jason Lind that sometimes an announcers exhuberance can add a lot to the game.
A specific example of this is Kevin Harlan. He does a good job calling his games and occassionally gets a little excited, but I find it hard to listen to him ever since he left the Minnesota Timberwolves. His style has become neutered ever since he went national.
Harlan and his partner Trent Tucker called Wolves games like excited 12 year old boys, but with a much better vocabulary.
Thes guys were great because they had great catchphrases like:
“KG SLAMS IT DOWNWITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!”
“GOOGLIOOGALLIIOOGALLY Baby” (Talking about Tom Gugliotta)
“THE BIG TICKET PUNCHES ONE HOME.”
(Sorry about the all caps, it’s the only way to do Harlan’s voice justice)
I found this quote from Harlan from an interview with Timberwolves.com:
““I could kind of go off on some calls and really be more flamboyant because we were trying to get on the map in terms of where this team was going to register on Minnesota sports fans’ minds. It was a creative time, a very fun time, a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants time and a shoot-from-your-hip time, and for a young guy like me, that was just heaven.””
http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/kevin_harlan.html
The play by play is a big part of the fan experience. Harlan definitley contributed to the Wolves becoming my favorite team. My brother and I used Harlan’s catchphrases as we shot baskets in our driveway.
I don’t have a favorite play-by-play moment, but this collection of Harlan announcing KG dunks just about sums up everything I love about his style.
SO BUCKLE UP, BABY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc55hijZgRs
Amy Barry posted on October 31, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Five seconds after a great play happens. That’s what an announcer has to make history. Those five seconds. You can’t plan it. You just have to go with it, like Dave did when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.
Play-by-plays are especially good when a win is unexpected or an upset like when Appalachian State beat #5 Michigan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q5JPeJnRi6s
Sometimes, the simplest calls are the most effective. Duke trailed Kentucky, 103-102 in overtime with 2.1 seconds reaming. Grant Hill threw a full court pass to Christina Laettner, who dribble once, turned, and hit a jumper as time expired for the win. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AY-iq58_oz4
You have the history making play calls; “Do you believe in miracles?” (Which is a personal favorite).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CGACsSW4Iqw
Then the one liners, “Send it in, Jerome! ”http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sqSwZgpOad8
Whatever the call may be, however historical or not an announcer can make it that much better or worse.
As a print journalist I give props to these announcers. To be able to describe the action and be on their toes, with as little as two hours of prep time for a sport they’ve never even heard of is hard work and dedication. Writers have hours to make a deadline and make a great punch line for their readers, announcers have five seconds. I take my hat of to them.
Greg Huntoon posted on October 31, 2012 at 4:20 pm
After hearing what Justin and Dave had to say, I originally had the same thought process that Nick just mentioned. Is being enthusiastic and over the top a bad thing? I don’t believe it is. But then when I thought about all my favorite play-by-play announcers, they all had the more laid back approach that our speakers were talking about.
Now I find the over the top announcers very entertaining. For example, the goal calls by Florida Panthers radio play-by-play man Randy Moller are hilarious (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3b_7S-sGBo), but they need the exciting moment to be at the top of their game. I enjoy watching the highlights of those calls, but don’t know if I would want them calling my team’s games on a regular basis.
I like the announcers who can be calling a 3-0 football game in the second quarter and still demand my attention. Being a big college football fan, Brent Musberger and Keith Jackson have always been able to do this for me. My first memories of watching sports revolve around Keith Jackson talking about a team’s menacing defense as they take the field. And now, as an adult, I make it a point to tune into the beginning of the ABC Saturday night game for Musberger’s “you are looking live” call with the aerial view of the stadium. I enjoy the defensive-minded games, because it allows for those great announcers to build the drama. Then, when the big moment happens, they do what everyone else has already quoted our guests as saying, “hit it and get out.”
While my favorite call might be the entire 1998 Rose Bowl, for a specific play I’ll choose one that Patrick already brought up: Keith Jackson’s “Helloooooo Heisman” call. He does everything that a great announcer should do. He sets up the play, hits it with a memorable call and then gets out. Notice the 50 seconds of silence between his famous line and the next time he talks. It takes you into the moment and makes the call even better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV-tVEbwreY
Nate Boroyan posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:57 pm
First of all, I have to admit that I virtually grew up a Boston Bruins announcer. It was literally a two-hour time block penciled into my day where I would play hockey in my basement and “call” the game that I was pretending to play. Can’t really do that nowadays…
Anyways, three play-by-play calls come to mind instantly: Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles?”, Gil Santos’ call of the Patriots first Super Bowl win, and Joe Castiglione’s “Can you believe it.” Despite hearing Al Michaels’ call throughout my life, I can’t call it my favorite because I never heard it live, so I will stick to Santos and Castiglione.
In my mind, both calls are unique in that the showcase different ways to approach the climax of a championship season. In the case of Castiglione, like Dave Goucher, he was able to prepare in advance for calling the most memorable moment in Red Sox history. Rather than painting a picture his four word phrase, “can you believe it,” allowed Sox fans to bask in the glory and remember the pain that had defined the franchise for 86 years. It was short and sweet and told a story within itself. In essence, it forced us all to reflect.
Santos’ frantic yelling of “its good! Its good! and the Patriots are Super Bowl Champions!” made listeners feel as if they were watching (listening) to a game along side a fan just as passionate as them. Unlike Castiglione, Santos never had time to pause and think about what he would say in the event of a Patriots win. If he had a particular call in mind, it was certainly altered after the Pats blew a 17-3 lead. Santos also had to contend with remaining focused during Brady’s legendary drive at the end of the game, there was no time to get complacent. Therefore, when Vinatieri split the uprights, Santos could only react rather than plan.
This is one of the reasons why Santos sits above Castiglione in my book. Santos’ call could not be duplicated, it is original and is not a catchphrase. Castiglione however, has incorporated “can you believe it” into virtually every Red Sox moment since 2004. Now, it seems old and cliche, which is a shame.
Additionally, Santos’ call reminds me of what Justin Kucher said about “just call the game.” That is exactly what Santos did. There was no need for any added emotion, the game scenario and the stakes at hand were created enough tension. I know what Kucher and Goucher alluded to in there discussion seemed like common sense, but too many play-by-play announcers make the broadcast about them rather than about the game. I couldn’t agree more with Kucher’s remarks about stats and random side stories… that’s really not what the audience is looking for or cares about at the time.
While I am not the biggest fan of Joe Buck, he had one of the greatest calls in World Series history last year when David Freese hit his walk off home run in game six against the Rangers.
The call still gives me chills and I am not even a fan of the Cardinals. In paying homage to his late father, Buck delivered the most simple message: “we will see you tomorrow night.” Never once did he even say that ball is gone, its a home run. He allowed the fan watching on tv to see the ball clear the center field wall and didn’t say a word after Freese reached first. Instead, he allowed the crowd noise to tell the story.
Andrew posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:59 pm
The life of a play-by-play person is nothing glamorous. Frankly, for every Dan Shulman and Marv Albert there are thousands of guys who didn’t make it, and it’s not that they didn’t want it as badly. Sports journalism – in particular play-by-play – is just so damn hard to crack. I don’t know if I could do it.
My sports idol and my favorite play-by-play man is undoubtedly the late Howard Cosell. Although I wasn’t alive to hear any of his calls, recent advances in technology have helped me listen to this broadcasting pioneer. Cosell had many outrageous characteristics that made him either loved or hated. He even characterized himself as, “Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these. Of course, I am.” Regardless of his polarity, Cosell revolutionized the broadcasting business.
Cosell is the exact opposite of what Mr. Kutcher and Mr. Goucher describe as some of the things they like in broadcasters.
However, both Kutcher and Goucher both said multiple times “never be bigger than the moment”. And Cosell delivers here…Let the moment speak for itself, Let the moment be…Let It Be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n73GFvAyIjs
Whether it is Kirk Gibson hobbling around the bases; the US winning a hockey gold medal; Giants winning a pennant; those pesky band members in California memorial stadium; no matter if it was rehearsed before hand or improvised live; the reason why these plays are great is because of the story the goes along with it.
Even though we are fans at heart, it is the people that can get out of the way and let the moment happen that will be successful in this job. Like I said earlier I don’t know if I could do it.
Sandeep Chandrasekhar posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:14 pm
First, my favorite call of all-time was Joe Starkey’s (of KGO radio in the Bay Area) call of The Catch II in the 1998 NFC Wild Card Game between the 49ers and Packers. I’ve been a lifelong 49ers fan and still to this day maintain that the miraculous catch by Terrell Owens with three seconds left in the game was the primary reason I got into sports. However, I did not realize until much later that Joe Starkey’s call of the play was what made the moment extraordinary. He was able to capture the moment and screamed, “Owens! Owens! Owens! He caught it! He caught it! He caught it!”. Those words still resonate with me to the day. I will never forget this moment, and I believe that great calls often coincide with great moments in action. Here’s the link to the play and call:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzThn8pkpC0
During the seminar, both Justin and Dave mentioned the need to stay level-headed during the majority of the broadcast and then raise the voice and emotions during the big moments in the game. While I do agree that level-headedness is a tremendous quality, I believe the best broadcasters in sports consistently express their personalities throughout the entire game, instead of just the biggest moments. The best broadcasters can make a boring game seem interesting. To accomplish this, play-by-play broadcasters need to be exceptional storytellers, express their passion for the game, and be able to talk smoothly.
Three broadcasters that fit these qualities are Joe Starkey, Jon Miller (former Sunday Night Baseball pxp), and Keith Jackson (former college football broadcaster). I was fortunate to listen to each of these guys during my childhood and I often tuned in to most of the games they broadcasted. They had an uncanny ability to gauge the listeners’ interests by laying out the scene in every situation in the game. Whether the game is close or a blowout, these broadcasters made it seem like every moment in the game was interesting. If I can maintain my attention throughout the game, I believe the broadcast has been successful.
Unfortunately, I do not believe many of the current headline national broadcasters are very appealing. For instance, while Justin Kutcher has a close relationship with Joe Buck, I believe Buck does a very poor job of laying out the scene in the game. The Giants/Tigers World Series had some of the lowest-rated games ever, and I believe the ratings would have substantially improved if there were more engaging and entertaining broadcasters on the telecast. If I was not a fan of either team, I probably would not have watched a single game because I personally feel Buck just calls the game as it is without expressing any emotions into the game. The broadcasters’ emotions bring the excitement and intensity of the game to the viewers.
Ultimately, I believe the best broadcasters can keep the attention of the viewers for the duration of the telecast. They combine great storytelling with tremendous emotion, which can make the most boring games seem fun to listen to or watch.
Tim Larew posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I’ve done some really cool things in college so far, but having the opportunity to be the play-by-play commentator for the BU men’s basketball team for the past three seasons has been undoubtedly one of the best experiences – not just of my college career, but of my life.
I started as a beat reporter freshman year, then ended up calling my first ever game in the America East title game because Jeff Cohen – the color commentator at the time – was out of town and couldn’t get to Vermont.
Being thrown into such a high-pressure situation was an unforgettable experience. I had never called a game, and I had to step up and call one of BU’s most important contests of the decade. I remember staying up the night before and preparing for at least four hours – going through both teams and looking at career statistics and trends for each player.
The broadcast went smoothly. I was a little bit nervous – more because of my friends and family that were listening than anything – but I had a great time and a good call.. despite the disappointing loss on BU’s end.
When I took over play-by-play the following year, I found that I was preparing less and less for each game. I think at that point it was mainly just because I knew the America East – not just BU’s squad – inside and out. It did have a lot to do with confidence, though, and with that experience under my belt, I began to look at play-by-play commentators in a different light.
I noticed that confidence plays such a huge factor in how effective and entertaining a play-by-play commentator is. I had to prepare less and less in order to simply call the game and get players’ names/stats right… things like that… But was I entertaining for the listeners? Probably not nearly as I would have liked to be.
In the offseason I spent a lot of time going through highlight videos of Gus Johnson’s play-by-play calls. No matter how you feel about him, it’s near impossible to deny he isn’t entertaining beyond measure. Gus does what he does so well, and it’s his confidence that fuels everything. He can say literally whatever he wants – the most outrageous, never-heard-before phrases – and they turn into newspaper headlines and Sportscenter pre-commercial teases the next morning.
One of my favorite calls of his ever was in the 2010 Sweet Sixteen when Kansas State topped Xavier (my dad’s alma mater) in double OT. It was an incredible game, but what made it truly unforgettable for me was Gus’s call:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVEIeD91vIc
His screams when Jordan Crawford hit that 35-footer to tie it up at 87 in the first OT had me literally jumping off my couch screaming along with him. There was so much emotion, so much passion in that call in particular that I’ll never forget the events he was commentating. Was the game itself unforgettable? Maybe. It was certainly a classic, but Gus’s play-by-play call undoubtedly played a huge role in why I’ll always remember that game and cherish that memory.
As I move forward in my play-by-play basketball commentary career – which is most likely going to come to an end after this school year – I’ll always remember that confidence tops everything. You’ve gotta have fun with it. I’ve also learned that lesson from Tyler Murray, a great friend and previous colleague of mine at WTBU. I only got to call 5 or 6 games with him while we were at school together, but each time was so much fun. Tyler would say silly things during the broadcast, but he made them work. You don’t always have to go by the book, just be confident with whatever you do… and do it well.
Caitlin Donohue posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:05 pm
The stamina and knowledge required of play-by-play announcers is unparalleled by any other field in sports broadcasting. Not only must you know the game inside and out, but you have to clearly speak about it at a rapid pace. Like some of my classmates, being a play-by-play announcer was a dream of mine as a child. Having become a Red Sox fanatic in 2004, I dreamed of being the first woman to take Don Orsillo’s position someday. Little did I know that he also dreamed of being “the voice of the Red Sox.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFi1IQUfgw
I think Orsillo reiterates a lot of what Kutcher and Goucher said in our last seminar when he states the importance of being truthful because “the fans at home know when you’re not being truthful.” This clearly is more difficult than it sounds, though. In such high-pressure situations as a championship game, sometimes you may slip up and make a wrong call without intending to do so; or even worse, you might crack and reveal too much of your own bias if a bad call is made on the field, like in this video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPD6iSvGjsw
Extreme? Maybe. But I think it’s actually very common. The Wall Street Journal points out that biased announcers do not always give you the straight facts of the game. If I were a Red Sox play-by-play announcer, I cannot imagine not being biased. Would that therefore make me not as qualified to announce for them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHUQ-qFyjqI
I learned a lot from last week’s guests about the spontaneity and intelligence needed to work as a play-by-play announcer. I admire our guests for being able to speak so quickly and honestly about the game, but I no longer want to be the next “voice of the Red Sox,” as I don’t feel that I have that necessary neutrality or control.