Why are NFL Announcers So Bad?

[WordLife]

I think football, especially the NFL, has collectively the worst set of announcers. Not to say I could do a better job, but if you don't have the "A" team broadcasting a game, you are left with just awful announcers, play-by-play and commentating.

Dick Stockton is way past his prime and needs to retire from everything. He did the NBA playoffs and butchered every single name. Today, he and Brian Baldinger keep calling Derek Smith, Derek Lewis, at least 3 times...

Anybody else have takes on these announcers as a whole or am I the only one?

 

[Radio Junkie]

I'm a big fan of Baldinger. That is very strange that he got a name wrong. He knows more about football than anybody I have heard. I think he's very good. What game were they doing?

 

[Nock]

And Dan Diedorf is in bed with Peyton Manning!! Peyton this and Peyton that all day today.

Nock

 

[KeithE4]

And Dan Diedorf is in bed with Peyton Manning!! Peyton this and Peyton that all day today.

Reminds me of the annual John Madden manlovefest with Brett Favre, which will again happen on October 7 vs. Da Bears. But as bad as Madden's getting now (he really is becoming the Harry Caray of football), I'll still take him over Dierdorf any day of the week.

 

[oldvnewschool]

To me, NFL Announcers will always be bland.

But there are those that can rise on a daily basis to make a 50 game blowout at least sound half way decent.

I would still listen to Michaels & Madden because they both know that how to make a game exciting when it really isn't.

The problem with sunday regional NFL announcers from CBS & FOX, is that their dialouge is "way too much" about game and players.

I agree with all of the love affair stuff with star players; this isn't the NBA where it's all about the stars all the time.

On top of that, most of the announcers on Sunday afternoon are company guys for whatever network they work for that are put their to up their

status within the network.

Clearly Bill Macatee shouldn't have been calling a game within 50 miles of San Diego or Cleveland, beacuase he just stinks in my opinon.

And then sometimes you have sons of broadcast legends getting high raises and higher spots to work on because of their family heritage

(Mostly excluding The NFL on FOX).

And then there are the aging veterans, like Dick Stockton, that don't simply have it anymore.

To me, all the best sounding football announcers, except for their MNF crew, have all gone to ESPN.

And that's how it will be for years to come.

 

[quadraphonic]

Could it be also Dilution of Talent because there's so many announcers doing games every day now, not just four or five big televised games every weekend.

Like the same problems the lower-tier MLB and NFL teams face.

 

[BRNout]

>>Could it be also Dilution of Talent because there's so many announcers doing games every day now, not just four or five big televised games every weekend.<<

No, I don't think that's it. The number of weekly televised NFL games hasn't changed significantly in many years. And, some of those announcers on regional games were pretty dull in the 70s and 80s too.

I think the difference is that the marquee announcers for FOX and CBS now are not as outstanding as their predecessors once were. Back in the day, you had Pat Summerall and John Madden (after Tom Brookshire) on CBS - which was a great team and you had NBC with Dick Enberg and a rotating sidekick (NBC was the weakest of the bunch - but Enberg was great), AND you had ABC's excellent booth with Cosell, Gifford and a rotating chair that included Meredith, Karas, Dierdorf and OJ. Now, we've lost a lot of those classic sportscasters and there are fewer guys with the talent to take their places.

Yes, NBC's SNF team of Madden and Al Michaels is the best of the current crop. But, after that, it is a quick downhill ride. And, ESPN's MNF guys are quite forgettable.

Perhaps it is the way that sportscasters are now groomed - more frequently being retired athletes than true broadcasting professionals. I'm not sure what the deal is, but you guys are right about the coverage not being what it once was.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Part of the problem is the Bob Costas / Jim Nantz syndrome: you may be good at calling golf, but football is something entirely different.
I agree, a lot of the ex-players aren't good for much either. Charles Barkley [I realize he is from the NBA], Rich Gannon (although he's fresh meat), Boomer Esaison, etc.

 

[WordLife]

I actually think Rich Gannon is pretty good...I think the one team I can't stand is the one with Tony Sirgausa...That's just gosh awful

 

[Studio20]

I would still listen to Michaels & Madden because they both know that how to make a game exciting when it really isn't.

The problem with sunday regional NFL announcers from CBS & FOX, is that their dialouge is "way too much" about game and players.

... Two examples of diverse audiences: The regional games, especially the early ones, are usually only seen in those cities, and surrounding cities....the focus will be squarely on those two teams, with few exceptions (i.e. late season game to decide a playoff berth, etc.)...Madden and Michaels play to the same auidence, but also the entire nation. They have to be much broader than the "regional" announcers.


=.

Clearly Bill Macatee shouldn't have been calling a game within 50 miles of San Diego or Cleveland, beacuase he just stinks in my opinon.


macatee gets the fill in as a reward for his yeoman service in golf and tennis, with the occasional NFL game.
Note, he is filling in for veteran Don Criqui, who replaced Tony Roberts as the voice of Notre Dame football....God love him...

And then sometimes you have sons of broadcast legends getting high raises and higher spots to work on because of their family heritage

Well...Joe Buck and The Careys have pretty much earned their status as top shelf announcers. All Thom Brennaman has done is call some of the BCS games, and is the lead announcer for the Big Ten Networks Football games...he ll work MLB on FOX...as well as an NFL game this week..

BTW, look for Pat Summerall to work either a college or NFL game later in the year, and is penciled in to do the Cotton Bowl .