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Message: [QUOTE="connie, post: 3091644, member: 7882"] Well, I think I see where you are going here; and I generally agree (with all the usual qualifications and reservations). Hard to generalize. I mean, Vin Scully was telling stories during the doldrums of summer long before Cosell took to the air on MNF. Old baseball radio broadcasts were a mixed bag. Actions sports--hockey and BB--have pretty much always featured just terrific on air talent. But yeah; as the entire affair became increasingly commodified, the form began to coalesce around certain practices with an eye toward maximum marketability, or minimally, securing attention time (which is really what the advertisers are buying). I am sure most will agree that even within the constraints of the form, a good play-by-play guy or gal can follow the game while also engaging in the other banter and storytelling. (Eric and Megan are a good example.) The best will accomplish both, and do so in a manner that synthesizes past with present, the particular with the general. As for Cosell, I admired what he did for Ali. And he was an ok boxing announcer (give me Don Dunphy). But he disparaged ex-athlete announcers (as if those who played the game had little of interest to offer). I can think of dozens of NFL announcers I prefer. McCarver, like many catchers, was always knowledgable and a good storyteller. I won't speak to later in his broadcasting career. But his days as a Mets broadcaster were great. [/QUOTE]