Best Football Announcers

[BillsShredder83]

The John Murphy change up had me reading alot of negative posts on him, and I was a bit surprised. Grew up in the 90s so I've only heard Van Miller and John Murphy... unless there was someone else in there? Anyway my point is it's kind of hard to tell what makes a great home team announcer great versus good, and how would anyone know?  Who can name any other teams home announcers?

I'm not defending JM just saying it seems like someone that's "trendy to hate". 

 

Seriously who's a good announcer right now? I wanna listen to some play calls on youtube

 

Edited May 24, 2020 by BillsShredder83
typo

[QB Bills]

John Murphy is a good pbp announcer when you compare him to some other teams' radio guys. Obviously he's no Van Miller, but I think that's too much to expect. 

[Irish Dave]

Van Miller described the moment.  It's Radio; and he was in the day when home games weren't televised if not sold out.  He had a great, higher pitched, raspy voice.  Similar in that respect to Rick Jeanerette.  Murphy was Miller's partner and did a good job commenting....but I never liked Murphy's play by play - his voice is too stacatto deep.   Before Van Miller there was a guy named Stan Baron who also had a raspy higher pitch voice - for me that's the sound you want; you want it to feel like it's being told to you by a wise old man.....

[Kirby Jackson]

Murphy has a tough job in that he followed a HOF voice. He was the QB after Kelly. Van Miller was a legend that could harness the energy and paint the picture. It is a real talent and gift.

 

Murphy isn’t that. He’s gotten better as the play-by-play guy each year. He will never be better than adequate because he doesn’t have the tone or the instincts. Radio is a tough gig. 

With that being said Murphy loves the Bills. He’s a WNY guy through and through. That’s important to me when it comes to my team’s broadcast. I want guys that have the emotional investment, not guys hired into developing it. Buffalo has always had that and I’m thankful for it.

Edited May 24, 2020 by Kirby Jackson

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

14 minutes ago, Irish Dave said:

Before Van Miller there was a guy named Stan Baron who also had a raspy higher pitch voice - for me that's the sound you want; you want it to feel like it's being told to you by a wise old man.....

One announcer configuration had Van (pbp), Stan (colour), and 'Fan' (nattering by Martin Krimski, aka 'Jeff Kaye', noted for eventually moving on to NFL Films).  I recall my father listening to the games, and remarking all you had to do was listen to Van's and Stan's tones to know how things were going for the Bills.

[gomper]

Greg Papa. The best there is today.

 

 

[Irish Dave]

Oh Murphy does totally love the Bills.  He's great that way.  His voice has been on Bills Broadcasts since I was a kid (I'm 50 now).  But when you hear him it just sounds like some guy who lives down the street; not a gifted speaker; boring voice quality that doesn't lift the listening experience anywhere the way Miller did.  Not his fault.   

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

Having lived in a number of different NFL markets, I came to realize how lucky we Bills fans have been.  As others have noted above, Van Miller was great and a hard act to follow.  Some of these other markets have pathetic PBP guys and even worse color commentators.  Murph does a credible job.

[Mr. WEO]

6 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

The John Murphy change up had me reading alot of negative posts on him, and I was a bit surprised. Grew up in the 90s so I've only heard Van Miller and John Murphy... unless there was someone else in there? Anyway my point is it's kind of hard to tell what makes a great home team announcer great versus good, and how would anyone know?  Who can name any other teams home announcers?

I'm not defending JM just saying it seems like someone that's "trendy to hate". 

 

Seriously who's a good announcer right now? I wanna listen to some play calls on youtube

 

Murphy is still the Bills play by play announcer....

 

The negative comments were mainly with regard to his awful performance as a guy carrying a 3 hour radio show.

Edited May 24, 2020 by Mr. WEO

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

Not Bills related I know, but was kid living in Brockport in type 80s and would love listening to the Amerks game on the radio and loved listening to Rick Peckhams game call! Had a lot of excitement in is voice and was a wonderful listen

[T master]

Murph has a face for radio and is a good announcer but he needs a different TD call where Van and others have distinguished them selves from others by their personal way of calling a TD or a goal .

 

The Titans have 2 very good announcers in Pete Weber for the Preds and Mike Wells for the Titans both are very unique not only in their personal scoring calls but their voices are unique too which adds to their fit with the team .

 

It's like Generette calling the Sabres or better yet Ted Darling calling the Sabres just nothing like it ... 

 

[Mike in Horseheads]

20 minutes ago, T master said:

Murph has a face for radio and is a good announcer but he needs a different TD call where Van and others have distinguished them selves from others by their personal way of calling a TD or a goal .

 

The Titans have 2 very good announcers in Pete Weber for the Preds and Mike Wells for the Titans both are very unique not only in their personal scoring calls but their voices are unique too which adds to their fit with the team .

 

It's like Generette calling the Sabres or better yet Ted Darling calling the Sabres just nothing like it ... 

 

is that Pete Weber from empire sports day?

[Just Joshin']

1 hour ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Having lived in a number of different NFL markets, I came to realize how lucky we Bills fans have been.  As others have noted above, Van Miller was great and a hard act to follow.  Some of these other markets have pathetic PBP guys and even worse color commentators.  Murph does a credible job.

Murphy is not great but he is a good announcer.  He is not the devil some here paint him to be.  I agree with other markets - some are homers to the extreme, some just have bad football knowledge where they try to make up for it with yelling.  I suspect Murphy will look better when he is gone.

[Irv]

Mark Kelso and Steve Tasker.  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

is that Pete Weber from empire sports day?

Yes, former Buffalo Bisons radio announcer.  An 'easy' listen.

[First Round Bust]

for a few years in the mid 1970s WKBW radio won the radio rights to do Bills games in place of Van Miller:

 

the crew was Al Meltzer PBP - he was a sportscaster from Philly who worked weekends Bils game; Rick Azar color - he was long-time local WKBW TV sportscaster who also did the Bills weekly highlights show (previous week game on the Sat before next game) and Ed Rutkowski - sideline - former Bill

 

Overall quality was middle of the road - the rights went back and Van Miller returned

 

So other than original Van, Meltzer-Azar-Rutkowski crew, back to Van and then onto Murphy I guess that's your entire history of Bills radio coverage.

 

PS - Van Mller was also the voice of the Buffalo Braves, would hustle back to studio to the 11 PM sports (otherwise you got Chuck Healy from Strikes, Spares and Misses fame - if you don't know don't ask)

 

Jon Murphy is a former bartender - to me seems to have that loud be heard over the din-tavern voice rather than a broadcaster...that is what I think of most when he does a game, some guy in a bar yelling at the TV

 

 

[T master]

On 5/24/2020 at 9:47 AM, Mike in Horseheads said:

is that Pete Weber from empire sports day?

 

I believe he use to be with them but i'm not positive . I was told by a friend that he use to call games in NY but i never heard of him until i moved to the Nashville area .

Edited May 25, 2020 by T master

[Freddie's Dead]

Don Criqui.

[blacklabel]

I'm sure Murph has and does work hard at what he does, but he's never resonated with me. Some guys have a natural ability to flow with the excitement of the game. When Murph's excited I just feel like he's gonna pass out from trying so hard to sound hyped up. I suppose I was spoiled with Van all those years. He just had a knack for what he did. 

[eball]

On 5/24/2020 at 7:53 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

Murphy has a tough job in that he followed a HOF voice. He was the QB after Kelly. Van Miller was a legend that could harness the energy and paint the picture. It is a real talent and gift.

 

Murphy isn’t that. He’s gotten better as the play-by-play guy each year. He will never be better than adequate because he doesn’t have the tone or the instincts. Radio is a tough gig. 

With that being said Murphy loves the Bills. He’s a WNY guy through and through. That’s important to me when it comes to my team’s broadcast. I want guys that have the emotional investment, not guys hired into developing it. Buffalo has always had that and I’m thankful for it.

That’s an interesting and fair take. I respect that he cares about the Bills and tries hard; he’s just not good. I’ll admit it doesn’t really impact me at all because I never listen to the local broadcast. Full disclosure, I cringe when I hear most local broadcasters. I prefer a neutral play-by-play that still conveys excitement. 

[stuvian]

Dick Stockton

 

Dick Enberg

 

Brent Musberger

 

Madden and Summerall

 

Charlie Jones

 

Bob Trumpy

 

gimme old school

[wagon127]

I'm not even sure if its possible to sync up John Murphy's broadcast with the television these days. The radio streaming feed is bound to be behind by a minute or two. I am not about to invest in radio stereo equipment in this day and age. Plus, is wgr synced up with the spectrum feed, the digital antenna feed, or a satelite feed? There's no way all of these are all going to be at the same exact part of the broadcast.

Edited May 26, 2020 by wagon127

[Buffaloflash]

Murf is the Man!

He's a homer like me,I love his enthusiasm.

Steve T.(Great Bill Player)on the other hand...

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

11 hours ago, stuvian said:

Dick Stockton

 

Dick Enberg

 

Brent Musberger

 

Madden and Summerall

 

Charlie Jones

 

Bob Trumpy

 

gimme old school

Toss Musberger, call in Don Criqui.

[Charles Romes]

I could not take Van Miller.  When things were going bad he wore his heart on his sleeve and brought me down even more.  I don’t need to be made to feel worse about already soul-crushing losses.  I need to be reminded it’s just a game in those situations. 

[JESSEFEFFER]

On 5/24/2020 at 2:48 PM, First Round Bust said:

for a few years in the mid 1970s WKBW radio won the radio rights to do Bills games in place of Van Miller:

 

the crew was Al Meltzer PBP - he was a sportscaster from Philly who worked weekends Bils game; Rick Azar color - he was long-time local WKBW TV sportscaster who also did the Bills weekly highlights show (previous week game on the Sat before next game) and Ed Rutkowski - sideline - former Bill

 

Overall quality was middle of the road - the rights went back and Van Miller returned

 

So other than original Van, Meltzer-Azar-Rutkowski crew, back to Van and then onto Murphy I guess that's your entire history of Bills radio coverage.

 

PS - Van Mller was also the voice of the Buffalo Braves, would hustle back to studio to the 11 PM sports (otherwise you got Chuck Healy from Strikes, Spares and Misses fame - if you don't know don't ask)

 

Jon Murphy is a former bartender - to me seems to have that loud be heard over the din-tavern voice rather than a broadcaster...that is what I think of most when he does a game, some guy in a bar yelling at the TV

 

 

It is Rick Azar's voice on the call for OJ's run to break 2000. It did not seem like he was doing the color in that clip.  I had always thought he did the p x p so what you describe is news to me.  I wonder how many years that lasted.

[CIrvine]

Keith Jackson.

[Richard Noggin]

As a lover of Van Miller's everything, is it okay to question how much effing drama and suspense he added to seemingly ordinary play calls? I seem to remember a lot of (and please consider each dot to be like a tenth of a second): "Kelly takes the snap...................surveys the field.......................***** his arm......................**at this point crowd noise often indicates a development in the play that has yet to be narrated**..................the pass is in the air....................AND HE FINDS REED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD FOR A FIRST DOWN!!!" Then he'd give this succinct, effective, energetic recap quickly before the Bills ran up to the line and got off another play in rapid succession. 

 

I remember, let's call them pregnant pauses, in his play-by-play. 

 

And we liked it.

[BobbyC81]

On 5/26/2020 at 9:45 AM, Charles Romes said:

I could not take Van Miller.  When things were going bad he wore his heart on his sleeve and brought me down even more.  I don’t need to be made to feel worse about already soul-crushing losses.  I need to be reminded it’s just a game in those situations. 

Did anybody listen to Van’s radio broadcast of any of the Bills’ Super Bowls?

[GunnerBill]

I never head Van Miller but as someone who has tried to do play by play for soccer it is harder than it looks and it is a real skill. The one thing I remember being taught is that while your job is to convey excitement to the listener / viewer it is also to paint the picture the scene that they can't see. Even in those moments of high drama.

 

I provide the link below to the commentary of the late, great, Brian Moore as an example. The most dramatic ending to an English soccer season ever. 1st v 2nd on the final day. Arsenal score the vital 2nd goal in the last minute of added time to leapfrog Liverpool and claim the title and listen to what Moore does..... he paints the picture. He describes the desolation of the Liverpool players. It is incredible commentary in that moment of extreme drama to remember what your job is.... it is to paint the picture. I think it might be the single greatest piece of sports commentary ever.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFo1eyWbTtc

[HOUSE]

For Buffalo Bills fans...

The best announcers are found with the volume off.

[BobbyC81]

13 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I never head Van Miller but as someone who has tried to do play by play for soccer it is harder than it looks and it is a real skill. The one thing I remember being taught is that while your job is to convey excitement to the listener / viewer it is also to paint the picture the scene that they can't see. Even in those moments of high drama.

 

I provide the link below to the commentary of the late, great, Brian Moore as an example. The most dramatic ending to an English soccer season ever. 1st v 2nd on the final day. Arsenal score the vital 2nd goal in the last minute of added time to leapfrog Liverpool and claim the title and listen to what Moore does..... he paints the picture. He describes the desolation of the Liverpool players. It is incredible commentary in that moment of extreme drama to remember what your job is.... it is to paint the picture. I think it might be the single greatest piece of sports commentary ever.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFo1eyWbTtc

 

13 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I never head Van Miller but as someone who has tried to do play by play for soccer it is harder than it looks and it is a real skill. The one thing I remember being taught is that while your job is to convey excitement to the listener / viewer it is also to paint the picture the scene that they can't see. Even in those moments of high drama.

 

I provide the link below to the commentary of the late, great, Brian Moore as an example. The most dramatic ending to an English soccer season ever. 1st v 2nd on the final day. Arsenal score the vital 2nd goal in the last minute of added time to leapfrog Liverpool and claim the title and listen to what Moore does..... he paints the picture. He describes the desolation of the Liverpool players. It is incredible commentary in that moment of extreme drama to remember what your job is.... it is to paint the picture. I think it might be the single greatest piece of sports commentary ever.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFo1eyWbTtc

In  possibly the worst example of painting a picture that I heard, back in 1986, the San Francisco Giants hired a broadcaster named Phil Stone to their radio team.  Phil had previously done just TV broadcasting.  Here was his radio call:  “Here’s the pitch, centerfielder’s under it, inning over.”

[Haslett_Stomp]

On 5/26/2020 at 1:00 AM, stuvian said:

Dick Stockton

 

Dick Enberg

 

Brent Musberger

 

Madden and Summerall

 

Charlie Jones

 

Bob Trumpy

 

gimme old school

 

+ Curt Gowdy

 

20 hours ago, CIrvine said:

Keith Jackson.

 

He was great, even created a new verb: "collisioned" as in "he collisioned with the receiver."  One of my high school English teachers referenced this on occasion as an example of bad grammar.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Haslett_Stomp

[jkeerie]

21 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

As a lover of Van Miller's everything, is it okay to question how much effing drama and suspense he added to seemingly ordinary play calls? I seem to remember a lot of (and please consider each dot to be like a tenth of a second): "Kelly takes the snap...................surveys the field.......................***** his arm......................**at this point crowd noise often indicates a development in the play that has yet to be narrated**..................the pass is in the air....................AND HE FINDS REED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD FOR A FIRST DOWN!!!" Then he'd give this succinct, effective, energetic recap quickly before the Bills ran up to the line and got off another play in rapid succession. 

 

I remember, let's call them pregnant pauses, in his play-by-play. 

 

And we liked it.

I did hate it when the QB would be back to pass and Miller would say..."He lets it fly..."  You'd envision a 20 yard plus pass and then Miller would continue..."and the pass was completed for 3 yards."  Drove me nuts.