Al Michaels is a legend in 3 sports. While he may not have a special NFL call, he has the #1 call of any sport in "Do you believe in miracles?" Goosebumps 40 years later.
He 100% has a special NFL call. Monday Night Football. Vikings vs Packers. Antonio Freeman makes a great catch and goes in for a touchdown. Al Michaels says “He did what?” That is his special call.
@@FORTBLOX56 Al Michaels does incredulous calls better than anyone. Of course you have "He did WHAT??", As well as Malcolm Butler's interception in SB49 and his stunned "That's Impossible!!!" in the Double Doink game
I don't think announcers should be judged so much if they have their one or two great moments because so much of that is dictated on people's response to it, a thing outside of their control. Al had been the voice of Monday Night Football for twenty years and Sunday Night Football for sixteen years, both of which at their times marked marquee game of the week typically. His passion, emotion, chemistry with (most) of his partners, and probably most importantly for him- his wit- made him one of the very best ever. I think the top five play-by-play announcers on tv for the NFL are Michaels, Dick Enberg, Don Criqui, Sam Rosen, and Dick Stockton.
Harry Kalas at #8 is an absolute JOKE. I put his voice right up there with John Facenda because he's not JUST announcing play by play from a booth but he's narrating NFL Films longer and just as effective as Facenda.
I also liked Pat Summeralll and Tom Brookshire on CBS NFL Games back when Coach John Madden was Coaching The Oakland Raiders. I also think Marv Albert should have been on this list. I liked his Play by Play when he was doing NFL Games on NBC.
The thing they aren’t talking about with John Madden is his educating presence. He literally taught courses on how to watch football. He simplified the game. The reason he seemed to be stating the obvious is because he has taught us so well that it has become obvious. He was also always teaching for the new fan. Stan Lee once said, “every comic is someone’s first.” Madden took that approach to calling football
1:23 Frank Gifford. #MNF. 5:21 Verne Lundquist. #CBSSports. 8:14 Harry Kalas. #NFLFilms. 12:50 Merrill Resse. #FlyEaglesFly. 15:58 Bill King. #HolyToledo! 21:07 Al Michaels. #TNFonPrimeVideo. 24:39 Myron Cope. #HereWeGo! 29:06 Howard Cosell. #NFLonESPN. 33:54 Pat Summerall and John Madden. #FoxNFLSunday. 39:22 John Facenda. #NFLNetwork.
Honourable mention: Paul Allen radio commentator of the Vikings Even though I’m not a Vikings fan, can’t deny the man is incredibly passionate about his team and you can hear it in his voice Plus he’s had some very memorable calls ( even though most of those are calls are ones of complete heart break like the 2003 finale against the cardinals and the 2009 NFC championship)
As a MN resident, I can say he is awesome and most people here love him. I would put him as my second favorite radio pbp guy after Frank Herzog of the Redskins. After that, I would pencil in Joe Starkey, Gil Santos, Merrill Reece, and Bill King.
I was hoping they would show that classic bone-chilling moment where Howard Cosell would make that stunning, somber announcement that music icon John Lennon died on that same Monday night the Patriots and Dolphins squared off in Miami. It showed that Howard Cosell had a soft side to his sweet talking, take no prisoners image he had during his career as a sports announcer.
I know the "he did what?" call from Al Michaels on Freeman's MNF catch was in 2000 but for some reason when I hear it it's the most 90s sounding thing to me.
I loved listening to John Facenda, I still can remember him saying stuff like it was a cold winter day and the warriors from teams are approaching the cold frigid battlefield.
I would like to add as an honourable mention the late Gil Santos. As the long time radio voice of the Patriots Gil personified class and professionalism during his illustrious broadcasting career. May he RIP
Paul Allen the radio broadcaster for the Vikings is a legend is my opinion. The guy can keep you're full attention even if the vikings are getting crushed. Minneapolis miracle call was brilliant. (Not a vikings fan)
Packers fans always get a kick out of his calls of anguish and defeat. The Nate Poole catch: "Caught...Touchdown! No!! NO!!!!" Favre's INT in the NFC Championship vs the Saints: "This isn't Detroit, man! This is the Super Bowl!!!" Blair Walsh's missed FG: "Are you kidding me?! The season CAN'T end like that!!!"
Verne Lundquist is one of my all-time favorite announcers, and I'm glad he was on this list. Excitable but not too over the top, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor.
@@davidfromcolorado5295 hahaha that would be INCREIDBLY petty And also, the Steelers won 4 Super Bowls in that era versus the 1 that the Raiders won, so what the hell does he have to be bitter about?
It makes me so happy to see Gene Deckerhoff given honorable mention seeing as though he comes from such a small market. He's been the voice of the Bucs since I was a kid.
I grew up hearing Dick Enberg & Verne Lindquist plus Pat Summerall-John Madden are the gold standard of broadcasting NFL games with Pat Summerall letting the picture tell the story
The three football voices I look up to since I’m in the field of sports broadcasting are Al Michaels, Pat Summerall, and Verne Lundquist. Those guys are and were the best at what they did which was narrate a game in their own styles and with their own emotions. I hope one day I’ll be able to do the same as these three guys whether it will be on radio or TV and do it in a way that will bring excitement and emotion to the fans.
Omg, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, but I would listen to John Facenda whenever he did a Sabel NFL film. Listening to him made watching and enjoying football that much more fun.
I like number two and number one John Facenda when you listen to his voice when he narrated NFL films it was like Morgan Freeman reading the dictionary you couldn't turn away or move away you had to hear the whole story! How we miss that great voice from John Facenda!
Imagine if he did play-by-play for the original Roller Derby instead of the late, great Walt Harris; King would be a bigger homer with the San Francisco Bay Bombers than the late Dick Lane was with the LA Braves and later the Los Angeles Thunderbirds of the rival Roller Games promotion!
Myron Cope's most famous catchphrase could wind up being immortalized well beyond recordings. Three months after he passed away, the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center renamed asteriod 1993 MC as "(7835) Myroncope" and said that if the asteroid is ever determined to have satellites (a number of asteroids do), the first one found would be named "Yoi!" and the second would be named "Double yoi!".
Pat Summeral was an analyst on Ray Scott's broadcasts for several years. As a play-by-play announcer, Summeral was Scott with a deeper voice, a slightly more refined delivery, and, certainly, with a more colorful partner in John Madden. Summeral and Madden made up the best, most recognizable network television announcing team in the history of the NFL. But Summerall's decision to most closely model Ray Scott proved invaluable when Pat transitioned from analyst to play-by-play announcer.
The NFC East at one point had great PBP men for each team (all of whom you see at some point in this video)-Brad Sham (Dallas), Bob Papa (NY Giants), Merrill Reese (Philly) and Frank Herzog (Washington).
As a resident of Georgia for close to two decades I have to put Larry Munson's name forward as one of the most iconic sports voice of all time. He is most well know for calling UGA games but he also called Atlanta Falcons games so he still qualifies for this list.
After the game against the Raiders which the Browns lost because of the interception Ozzie Newsome was in the locker room answering questions of reporters and he said the exact words " we lived and died by the pass all year. This time we died." That NFL TV program covering the playoffs lifted that right off him without saying they quoted that from him. Sports Illustrated quoted exactly the same line but they gave Ozzie Newsome the proper credit.
For those who don't want to watch the entire video to see the list: 10. Frank Gifford 9. Verne Lundquist 8. Harry Kalas 7. Merrill Reese 6. Bill King 5. Al Michaels 4. Myron Cope 3. Howard Cosell 2. John Madden/Pat Summeral 1. John Facenda (NFL Films)
"The Autumn Wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea, With a rollicking song, he sweeps along, Swaggering boisterously. His face is weather beaten. He wears a hooded sash, With a silver hat about his head, And a bristling black mustache. He growls as he storms the country, A villain big and bold. And the trees all shake and quiver and quake, As he robs them of their gold. The Autumn Wind is a Raider, Pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down, And laugh when he's conquered and won." ~_~
My favourite announcers when watching games on TV here in England were Pat Summerall & John Madden both of them were absolute dynamite together. When it comes to announcers who call different sports some are good, some are not so good but very few become legendary & are synonymous with the sport they called Murray Walker in Formula 1, Ken Squier in NASCAR & for me when it comes to football John Facenda fits right in in that rare, exclusive club, he is THE voice of football.
If updated for today: T-1) Summerall & Madden T-1) John Facenda 3) Al Michaels 4) Merrill Reese 5) Kevin Harlan 6) Harry Kalas 7) Howard Cosell 8) Alan Roach 9) Tony Romo 10) Dick Enberg HM: Verne Lundquist, Dan Dierdorf, Dan Miller
No way Tony Romo is already a legendary voice. Way too early in his career. Kevin Harlan is more known for basketball. Not having Bill King on your list is practically criminal and who the heck is Alan Roach? The rest of your list isn’t too bad although John Facenda should remain at number one
If you're gonna have Verne Lundquist and Harry Kalas on this list - both of whom I admire - you also gotta have Frank Herzog. He is at least as identifiable with the NFL at its best as them.
I wonder if you tweeked Facenda's voice just enough it Probably would sound like Kalas. Just a Thought. Now Here's my Top 10. 1. John Facenda 2. Harry Kalas 3.Howard Cosell 4. Madden and Summerall 5. AL Michaels(HE DID WHAT?) 6. Myron Cope 7. Merle Reese 8. Bill King 9. Frank Gifford 10. Vern Lundquist.
Chris Berman is my favorite football commentator for football highlights. "He makes a move.. WWOPPP!" "Jerome Bettis! Rumblin', Bumblin', Stumblin', into the End zone!! TTOOUUCCHHDDOOWWNN!!!!" "..N he's to the 30, the 40! HE COULD, GO, ALL, THE, get in there, WAY!! AND THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME!!! .. DeSean Jackson! Puts the Eagles.. to an unprobable, 38-31 victory!" Chris Berman's catchphrases are iconic and delivered with enthusiasm
At least you got the top one right. John Facenda was, is and will always be the greatest voice in professional football. Nobody else even comes close. To those pro football fans who were not alive or not old enough to remember John Facenda and his narration of NFL Films.....I truly feel sorry for them all. But at least they can get on the internet in form or another and look him up and watch and listen to him. John Facenda, the greatest voice of professional football ever and for all time.
1. Dick Enberg 2. John Madden 3. Pat Summerall 4. Al Michaels 5. Keith Jackson 6. Merlin Olsen 7. Vern Lundquist 8. Frank Gifford 9. Harry Kalas 10. John Facenda
People could almost forget Gifford and Sumerall where "ex-jocks." Gifford did Franz Klammer's '76 downhill, Pat of course did The Masters and US Open Tennis for years.
How does Dick Enberg not make the top 10? He was the voice of basically every major sports milestones in Colorado history. The Drive, The Fumble, 89 AFC Champ, 89-90 Orange Bowl, 94 Nuggets Upset Sonics, SB XXXII, etc. Enberg should at least be made an honorary Coloradan.
As a NY Giants fan, Pat and John and boom! Lawrence Taylor hit the QB again! Made me happy. The super bromance over 30 years, sorry, it's the best. And Pat was the super drunk. 20 beers in him and you'd never know it!
Fun fact: Simmons was also the voice of the A's...so in 1989 (calendar or season) he called the Super Bowl for San Francisco and the World Series against San Francisco.
Is Keith Jackson going to make this list? I missed him on Monday Night Football. Curt Gowdy belongs on this list! Verne Lundquist was a great broadcaster! I tried my hand at broadcasting. Doing a football game is not easy, not easy at all! Lundquist was great! Bless his heart is such a southern expression and Verne did that perfectly. Harry Kalas had a super voice for football. I really enjoyed listening to him. Merrill Reese clearly loved the Eagles. So what? I lived in NJ, close to Philadelphia and was an Eagles fan for a time. I never heard Mr. Reese though. Too bad. He sounds great. I don't know Bill King either. Regardless, he sounds great here. In his favor, I was a Raiders fan back then, but I was either working or working out, all the time back then. I got scores from friends I worked with. I was getting in shape to join the military. Sorry, Mr. King. Al Michaels. Hmmm. Yeah, no. I just can't stand the guy. What gets me watch those broadcasts was Cris Collinsworth, who I've met. Cris is the nicest guy ever. I saw him play in Cincinnati when I went to high school there for 2 years and met my wife. So, I only watch those games too hear Cris Collinsworth, not Al Michaels. Not Al Michaels at all. I've heard stories about him, that's he's a jerk to crew members and staff. So, I'm not a fan. I have listened to Myron Cope. He broadcast for the favorite team of my hero, my Cherokee grandfather. He loved the Steelers. He just loved that team. I've said before, I'm so glad my grandfather got see the Steelers win Super Bowls. He was so happy about that. I loved Howard Cosell! My father despised Howard. That gave me impetus to like him even more. I loved his vocabulary. That added so much to his broadcasts. He told it like it was, and I loved him for that. His mixing with Ali was awesome. I read his book when I was a kid and found it fascinating. Madden and Sumerall were perfection as football announcers. That team was just the very best. I heard some questioning of Sumerall as a play by play announcer. And I call BS on that. Pat Sumerall was awesome, just amazing. Then to add John Madden? Over the top, the best! Yes, John Fasenda had The Voice of professional football. Period. He was synonymous with pro football for me. I miss him very much. He had a way of adding drama, bringing emotions, and color to any football game. He is sorely missed from NFL Films. Requiescat in pace, John Fasenda.
Joseph Francis "Joe" Buck. The Voice Of The NFL On Fox Since The 2000s Including Super Bowl Broadcasts On Fox From Super Bowl 39 In 2005 To Super Bowl 54 In 2020.
