Guess Bill Raftery's favorite games he's called...

[Dogdeacon]

Good News: Both UConn games!
Bad News: Syracuse 6 OT and his number 1 was some upset from the 2006 tournament.
Via Richard Deitsch podcast interview.

If he still worked for ESPN I think the conspiracy theorists would go nuts. But since its Raf and we know he loves us & really all of college basketball its just a funny coincidence. Took Onions, double order to say it though.

 

[BUConn10]

Raf is my all time favorite college announcer. The borderline indecipherable catch phrases like "man to man!" Or "onion" he says at the beginning of every game always make me chuckle without fail.

Also it's pretty clear the guy loves UConn, he always has good things to say about the program and our guys.

 

[Waquoit]

So his two favorite games are UConn gut punch losses? He's dead to me.

 

[intlzncster]

So his two favorite games are UConn gut punch losses? He's dead to me.

In fairness, he's probably half in the bag at most games. And from what I here, he could drink every single person on this board under the table. A friend saw Raf posted up at the bar after a game in NY, sat down, and talked basketball for a few hours. Raf apparently held court all night and was a great guy to boot.

 

[Inyatkin]

Listen to Raftery on the Rip buzzer beater in 98 vs. Washington. The absolute delight he takes in that moment is part of what makes it so awesome. "Terrific ... youthful ... exuberance!"

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Lingerie on the deck is one of the best lines ever!

 

[BoatShow]

I LOVE his pregame mumble thing.

 

[Gurleyman]

To a neutral person, the George Mason game was entertaining - I sort of wish we just wilted and lost by five or six in regulation instead of making it so dramatic. But that team was probably destined to flame out in a cloud of dust one way or another. If not to Albany or Washington...

I maintain to this day, and I would have even if we won, that the 6OT game was really dreadful basketball (in the overtimes, anyway). They sat in the zone and we just passed it around until we set a high screen for AJ Price at the end of the shot clock. Then we would just funnel everyone towards Thabeet, and Flynn and Harris would take turns trying to make 10-foot runners over him. You'd find pick up games with greater sophistication of basketball. The 4OT game with Cincy was more exciting with the shots being made - the difficult layup from Adams to force the third overtime is almost forgotten.

 

[dennismenace]

Raf is my all time favorite college announcer. The borderline indecipherable catch phrases like "man to man!" Or "onion" he says at the beginning of every game always make me chuckle without fail.

Also it's pretty clear the guy loves UConn, he always has good things to say about the program and our guys.

Someone preparing for a jump shot "he's got the puppies lined up"

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Losing to Cuse in 6 OT's was painful; but, that was an epic game from start to finish and a once in lifetime event (I was there). No shame in that game.

 

[Palatine]

Losing to Cuse in 6 OT's was painful; but, that was an epic game from start to finish and a once in lifetime event (I was there). No shame in that game.

Not Raf's fault we lost those games.

Besides the 4 OT Cinny game took a lot of pain away from the 6 OT loss.

 

[Silk31]

Someone preparing for a jump shot "he's got the puppies lined up"

"Get those puppies organized"...his one liners are amazing

 

[uconnfan68]

Lingerie on the deck is one of the best lines ever!

Send it in Jerome.

 

[Matrim55]

I maintain to this day, and I would have even if we won, that the 6OT game was really dreadful basketball (in the overtimes, anyway). They sat in the zone and we just passed it around until we set a high screen for AJ Price at the end of the shot clock. Then we would just funnel everyone towards Thabeet, and Flynn and Harris would take turns trying to make 10-foot runners over him. You'd find pick up games with greater sophistication of basketball. The 4OT game with Cincy was more exciting with the shots being made - the difficult layup from Adams to force the third overtime is almost forgotten.

1000% agree.

 

[Dogdeacon]

The 6OT game is a classic much like a 20-inning baseball game is a classic regardless of what happened or the quality it is simply amazing that it keeps going on - everyone ends up being collectively amazed & that buzz of excitement lifts the game regardless of the quality or the plays that keep extending the game.

Likewise I take the 06 game as a backhanded compliment, its not memorable if its not an unexpected upset of a good team and top program.

 

[MattMang23]

To a neutral person, the George Mason game was entertaining - I sort of wish we just wilted and lost by five or six in regulation instead of making it so dramatic. But that team was probably destined to flame out in a cloud of dust one way or another. If not to Albany or Washington...

George Mason? Don't know that guy.

 

[intlzncster]

To a neutral person, the George Mason game was entertaining - I sort of wish we just wilted and lost by five or six in regulation instead of making it so dramatic. But that team was probably destined to flame out in a cloud of dust one way or another. If not to Albany or Washington...

I maintain to this day, and I would have even if we won, that the 6OT game was really dreadful basketball (in the overtimes, anyway). They sat in the zone and we just passed it around until we set a high screen for AJ Price at the end of the shot clock. Then we would just funnel everyone towards Thabeet, and Flynn and Harris would take turns trying to make 10-foot runners over him. You'd find pick up games with greater sophistication of basketball. The 4OT game with Cincy was more exciting with the shots being made - the difficult layup from Adams to force the third overtime is almost forgotten.

I've thought the same. What you can say about the 6OT game: it was long.

 

[pepband99]

My favorite Raf call of all time...

Jeremy Lamb with a tomahawk against Columbia at Gampel. Watching the replay, as JL got high enough where, ahem, certain body parts are in the defender's face, and Raf yells out...

"cock that baby!!!!"

I almost fell off my chair laughing. He is a treasure.

 

[pepband99]

LOL - he did not yell rooster. Damnit you sissies @temery @Fishy

 

[UConniki]

Not Raf's fault we lost those games.

Besides the 4 OT Cinny game took a lot of pain away from the 6 OT loss.

I know, we were there, and that's exactly what I said to my kids afterwards!

 

[Chief00]

I saw him pick up the bar tab for the whole CBS crew. Not sure if he could expense it or not - but the crew seemed grateful and apparently that's a list game routine.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Raf might as well be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Absolute legend.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I saw him pick up the bar tab for the whole CBS crew. Not sure if he could expense it or not - but the crew seemed grateful and apparently that's a list game routine.

Raf's exploits as a drinker reaches legend status and from what I've heard it would not be close to the first time he took care of a very large tab out of his own pocket

 

[UConnNick]

"The Governor"! He's Mr. New Jersey. I believe he could run for Governor of NJ and win. He's virtually impossible not to like.

 

[imno1]

Lingerie on the deck is one of the best lines ever!

He was the main reason I started wearing lingerie