Top 50 Sportscasters

Last week the American Sportscasters Association came out with their top 50 sportscasters. A panel headed by Dick Enberg, selected the tops in the industry and they can be found at the following link.

Their top ten included (1) Vin Scully, (4) Curt Gowdy, (5) Howard Cossell, (6) Bob Costas, (7) Jim McKay, (8) Keith Jackson, (9) Al Michaels, and (10) Dick Enberg.

I'll do my list a little differently. I'll list my favorites in the different sports.
MLB Baseball--(tie) NBC's Bob Costas / Tony Kubek, NBC's Vin Scully / Joe Garagiola, WGN's Thom Brennaman / Steve Stone.

NBA Basketball--NBC's Marv Albert / Mike Fratello. (Runner Up-CBS's Dick Stockton / Tom Heisnsohn)

PGA Golf--CBS's Pat Summerall / Ken Venturi. (Runner Up-NBC's Vin Scully / Lee Trevino)

College Basketball--NBC's Merle Harmon / Fred Taylor (Runner Up-NBC's Dick Enberg / Al McGuire / Billy Packer and CBS's Verne Lundquist / Bill Raftery)

Tennis--NBC's Dick Enberg / John McEnroe / Bud Collins

NHL Hockey--ABC's Gary Thorne

College Football--ABC's Keith Jackson / Frank Broyles (Runner Up-ABC's Brent Musberger / Kirk Herbstreit, ABC's Al Michaels / Lee Grosscup, ABC's Chris Schenkel, ABC's Bill Flemming, ESPN's Ron Franklin)

NFL Football--(tie) CBS's Pat Summerall / Tom Brookeshire and NBC's Don Criqui / Bob Trumpy. (Runner Up-ESPN's Mike Tirico, NBC's Dick Enberg / Merlin Olsen)

NFL Pre-Game Show--CBS's NFL Today with Brent Musberger, Irv Cross, Phyllis George and Jimmy the Greek.

There are many names I am omitting and forgetting. Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Pat Hughes are radio men that I grew up listening to. Jack Buck with Hank Stram was entertaining on Monday Night Football Radio while Buck with Mike Shannon on St Louis Cardinal radio described the action to me while laying in bed every night. Many of those that I mentioned are those that I grew up listening to and I grew a fondness of. However broadcasting and many broadcasters have drifted away from storytelling towards over-zealous enthusiasm.

There are those who may not ever see this list, but are very good at their craft. A good friend of mine is currently the play by play man for Minnesota Gopher Basketball. Mike Grimm got his start at WMT in Cedar Rapids broadcasting high school football and basketball. In 2001 he went on to be the voice of Iowa Women's Basketball alongside Karen Schulte. The two formed an announcing team that were among the best in Division I women's basketball. Each broadcast was informative and entertaining while keeping the focus on the ladies of the court. After spending time in St. Louis, Grimm is in the middle of his third year with the Gophers. He continues to broadcast in the storytelling style and does an outstanding job of painting a picture.

One national person I enjoy in Spero Dedes. Spero has done some work for CBS College Basketball and is currently a studio host on the NFL Network as well as radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers. With the NBA on XM, I enjoy falling asleep to the Laker broadcasts.

I encourage you to list your favorite announcers in the below comment section.