Causing a Furor

Last year the American Sportscasters Association (ASA) issued their list of the top 50 sportscasters of all time-- http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/top50sportscasters.html. Unfortunately, as member of the organization’s advisory board, I was part of the decision-making process. Fortunately the names of individual voters were not revealed since the list caused quite a furor on talk radio shows across the country. Here in Atlanta I remember Chris Domino of 680 the Fan calling the list something like “idiotic.” Such is talk radio. But now as I look at the list, I still believe we were right in most cases, but there were some errors and omissions.

I was thinking about this list driving home from Turner Field the past two nights. Thanks to the miracle of Sirius/XM radio—and it is a miracle to those of us who relish hearing sports events from around the country—I was listening to the Dodgers and Diamondbacks from Dodger Stadium. The announcer was the incomparable Vin Scully. The next night, it was the San Francisco Giants against the world champion Cardinals with Jon Miller at the Giant’s mike. After listening to both it was easy to determine that the Scully choice as the No. 1 sportscaster of all time is irrefutable. But the ASA’s pick of Jon Miller in the No. 19 spot, was way off base. Miller is an incredible talent and probably deserving of a top 10 ranking, albeit against some very stiff competition.

Vin Scully--the best sports broadcaster ever

At 84, Scully still comes to each game as he has for the past 63 years with facts and anecdotes like no other broadcaster. He was a Red Barber protégé’. He moved with the Dodgers to L.A. in 1958 and covered all the great Dodger players on both coasts from Jackie Robinson to Sandy Koufax to Kirk Gibson. He also called football and golf. When he missed a few games at the opening of this season with a cold, he made headlines in every part of the nation.

Jon Miller has many of the characteristics of Scully—melodic voice, an uncanny ability to describe the details of a play, and the knack of moving flawlessly between radio to television. Miller was with the Baltimore Orioles but due to a dispute with ownership, left for the West Coast. California’s gain.

While Scully and Miller are outstanding there are other Hall of Fame announcers still on the air, including Bob Uecker, voice of the Brewers; Marty Brenneman of the Reds; and Milo Hamilton, once a Braves broadcaster, now in his last season with the Houston Astros. None are in the top ten on the ASA list, but there’s a good argument they all should be. In fact Uecker was not even among the top 50 and Joe Buck was. Although Joe is a budding Hall of Famer he hasn’t been around long enough to earn his stripes. His father, Jack, the Cardinals play-by-play voice, is another legend, who justifiably ranks 11^th of all-time.

One of the problems with the ASA list is that it includes broadcasters from all sports. Hence, those who call baseball—the sport most conducive to radio listening—can’t all be toward the top. At No. 6 is Howard Cosell, who turned broadcasting into an issues-oriented pursuit and changed the field forever. Bob Costas comes in at No. 6, but if you created a category of the best sports interviewer of all-time he would head the list.

Then, of course, you have make room for the old-timers such as Graham McNamee, a journalist turned broadcaster in the very early days of radio; Marty Glickman, a voice for New York sports for four decades and a former Olympian; Jack Whitaker, a brilliant essayist for golf and horse-racing on CBS; Russ Hodges of “The Giants Win the Pennant…” fame; Bob Elson of the Chicago White Sox, known as “The Commander” for his experience in the U.S. Navy; and Clem McCarthy, who once called the wrong winner of the Kentucky Derby. You also had to leave room for specialists such as Bud Collins, the great tennis commentator.

Fortunately some of the greats still ply their trade and you can judge for yourself who’s among the best.

As for as the list, maybe that’s why lists are created—to cause discussion and controversy. The ASA list certainly did that.

Quick Take…Dusty Baker, manager of the Cincinnati Reds was in Atlanta this week. He also appeared on Dan Patrick’s FOX radio show this morning. One of the most genuine guys in the business, Dusty talked about coming to Atlanta as a kid just out of Del Campo High School near Sacramento. An African-American, Dusty had no use for the South in the 1960s but with Hank Aaron's support, he managed not only to adapt, but to thrive and went on to have an outstanding 16 year career, which included a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 1981…Also Dusty was the on-deck man when Aaron hit his historic 715^th home run. When he came to the plate Baker doubled, but he said by that time no one cared. In fact, after the ovation for Hank,  Dusty said he  “heard the clanking of seats” as most of the fans headed for the exits.