NHT: Has anyone ever turned into a football game because he wanted to listen to an announcer?

[Palatine]

I never have. It doesn't matter who the announcers are, some are bad some are good. But regardless of who the announcers are, I pick the games I want to watch by looking at which teams are playing and those are the games I watch.

Does anyone look at the announcers and decide that is the game I will watch regardless of the teams involved?

 

[uconnfan68]

If I had a choice, it was usually John Madden.

 

[Gburyhusky]

Yes, In the heyday of Monday Night Football (70s), Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell were sometimes a bigger attraction than the games. Cosell's halftime highlights narrations were outstanding. I dont think there are any announcing teams today that come close to that.

 

[noeynox]

What prompted this discussion?

 

[Stinger92860]

Yes, for the NY Giants - Marty Glickman (I was a very young kid) and Dick Lynch. I would turn on the radio and turn off the sound on the TV.

 

[Waquoit]

I rarely shut off the mute these days.

 

[HCCForever]

I never watched a football game purely for the announcers even for Madden and Summerall. I pick games based on the matchup of the teams. If the announcing is too bad, I mute. I never understood paying announcers' exorbitant salaries, but I am not a casual fan.

 

[coachcap]

Yes, for the NY Giants - Marty Glickman (I was a very young kid) and Dick Lynch. I would turn on the radio and turn off the sound on the TV.

Last game of the 1970 season. For some reason, the game wasn't broadcast locally.
Giants need a win & a Cowboys loss to make the NFC Playoffs. Trailing with 49 ticks on the clock, Fran Tarkenton engineers a triple reverse for the winning touchdown. I thought that Marty G. was having a coronary event while calling that play...

 

[KryHavok]

Only when Kieth Jackson was calling the games, didn't really matter who was playing, he was just fun to listen to. Now, I'll watch if I want to see a team win (or if Notre Dame or Alabama are losing).

 

[Gburyhusky]

Last game of the 1970 season. For some reason, the game wasn't broadcast locally.
Giants need a win & a Cowboys loss to make the NFC Playoffs. Trailing with 49 ticks on the clock, Fran Tarkenton engineers a triple reverse for the winning touchdown. I thought that Marty G. was having a coronary event while calling that play...

Great recollection! And you may recall that Marty Glickman was the UConn mens basketball radio play by play announcer for a season in the 70s. To this day I have a clear recollection of listening to him call a UConn game from Tulsa, OK (for whatever reason I remember that one).

 

[mnystrom]

yes, george Ehrlich . back in days of Kimball and bialosuknia. one of a kind.

 

[Waquoit]

I thought that Marty G. was having a coronary event while calling that play...

Marty was great in his brief stint doing UConn games.

 

[UConnJim]

I never tune in due to the announcers, but I will turn off a game that I'm not that interested in due to the announcers.

 

[Palatine]

What prompted this discussion?

The multi-million dollar salaries of guys like Romo and Brady. I mean really. People tune in because of them?

The reason only reason I watch a football (or basketball or hockey) game is the teams involved. Change the announcers and it doesn't matter. I will still watch the game. The announcers never entered into my decision to watch the game. Many times I have no idea who the announcers are.

I have never watched a game I'm not interested in because Marty Glickman or John Madden or Howard Cosell or Tony Romo was in the booth. I was curious if other people felt the same way.

 

[huskyblooz]

Never. It's all about the team playing. Which is why I dont understand the Brady contract.
Maybe, if there are two college games that i have mild interest in, i"ll watch the game with Gus Johnson.

 

[noeynox]

The multi-million dollar salaries of guys like Romo and Brady. I mean really. People tune in because of them?

The reason only reason I watch a football (or basketball or hockey) game is the teams involved. Change the announcers and it doesn't matter. I will still watch the game. The announcers never entered into my decision to watch the game. Many times I have no idea who the announcers are.

I have never watched a game I'm not interested in because Marty Glickman or John Madden or Howard Cosell or Tony Romo was in the booth. I was curious if other people felt the same way.

Yeah i think that is insane money to pay an announcer.

 

[tiger8mush]

I enjoy listening to Al Michaels, Tony Romo, and Troy Aikman. Can't stand Daryl Johnston and Greg Olsen - not sure if they're still in the booth.
Good announcers can make an average game more enjoyable/entertaining and I stay tuned in longer. Annoying announcers can make an average game boring and I eventually find something else to do.

 

[storrsroars]

Yeah i think that is insane money to pay an announcer.

You could put Roseanne and RuPaul in the booth and people will tune in because it's football.

Yes, In the heyday of Monday Night Football (70s), Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell were sometimes a bigger attraction than the games. Cosell's halftime highlights narrations were outstanding. I dont think there are any announcing teams today that come close to that.

That was when MNF was appointment TV. It was fun watching Meredith try to get under Howard's skin by playing the dumb rube and Howard's retorts. All part of the fun - they changed what a broadcast booth could be.

But, you didn't tune in for them. They just had the only game on Monday night so you were going to tune in anyway. But they made it more fun than say, Curt Gowdy and Merlin Olsen would've.

That said, I have checked out a Manning cast on a game I probably wouldn't have watched. Same with Diana and Sue.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I never have. It doesn't matter who the announcers are, some are bad some are good. But regardless of who the announcers are, I pick the games I want to watch by looking at which teams are playing and those are the games I watch.

Does anyone look at the announcers and decide that is the game I will watch regardless of the teams involved?

The announcer cost for guys like Romo, Aikman, Buck, and Brady is outrageous.

The talent recruitment people should all be fired.

 

[scotty0330]

I never tune in due to the announcers, but I will turn off a game that I'm not that interested in due to the announcers.

Ditto

 

[Alum86]

Only when Kieth Jackson was calling the games, didn't really matter who was playing, he was just fun to listen to. Now, I'll watch if I want to see a team win (or if Notre Dame or Alabama are losing).

“Whoooaa Nelllllly!!!! Here comes Vince Dooley and the Georgia Bulldogs between the hedges!”

 

[Rich]

Yeah.

Keith Jackson AKA G.O.A.T.

 

[uconnric]

Keith Jackson

"He's as nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs"

and of course "Fum-ball Nebraska's got it"

 

[Nostical]

I'd put it this way. Certain announcers can greatly enhance the enjoyment of whatever game you're watching. And their assignment can reflect on the perceived importance of a game. I don't get those who say they like watching with the sound off. It's like saying they love going to a college football game but don't care about the marching band. Announcers enhance a broadcast and the marching band adds a tremendous amount of spirit to college football.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

I never have. It doesn't matter who the announcers are, some are bad some are good. But regardless of who the announcers are, I pick the games I want to watch by looking at which teams are playing and those are the games I watch.

Does anyone look at the announcers and decide that is the game I will watch regardless of the teams involved?

I used to love listening to Keith Jackson and dare I say Howard Cosell when they covered college football.

They added something that you don’t get nowadays.

Cosell was memorable when he called the 1973 Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Alabama.