The List — Sports’ Best Announcers (In Honor Of Gus)

I haven’t been a big fan of the Big Ten Network since its inception, but I will now have to tune in for basketball games on the BTN:

Gus Johnson, everybody’s favorite basketball announcer/screaming maniac, is taking his March Madness niche and expanding it to the BTN this season as a play-by-play announcer. Gus’ shtick never wears off and I can only imagine that Jesus’ voice sounded something like this.

There are plenty of terrible announcers spawned for the deepest depths of disgrace: Jim Nantz, Bill Walton, Stephen A. Smith, Paul Maguire, Lou Holtz and Emmitt Smith, to name a few. But, in honor of Gus’ new gig, this week’s list highlights the five sports announcers and analysts not named Gus Johnson who I would want to hear on any given day:

1. George Blaha — Yes, he’s a homer. But he’s our homer. As a young Pistons and Spartans fan, George was the voice of my childhood and he continues to bring it to every MSU football game and every exciting night of NBA basketball.

2. Ernie Harwell — Keeping with the Detroit theme, I would still pick a summer night with Ernie over one spent with odd couple Mario Impemba and Rod Allen. Every now and then, we are lucky enough to hear the sweet-sounding 90-year-old Ernie on the air.

3. Gary Thorne — So maybe he can be a moron at times (I’m guessing Gary doesn’t get much personal time with Doug Mirabelli or Curt Schilling), but Thorne’s smooth voice has been a staple of the NHL playoffs and a few Red Wings Stanley Cup runs for years.

4. Dick Vitale — Dicky V’s combination of craziness, basketball insight and personal connections make him college basketball’s best voice. Also, anybody that has coined his own vocabulary deserves major recognition.

5. Charles Barkley — I’ve said more times than I can count that I would pay money to just sit and stare at Sir Charles while he talks to himself about anything. Money? Politics? Shoes? Gambling? Rajon Rondo’s excuse for a jumper? I’d be there.

• Sat 21st
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• Sun 22nd
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• Mon 23rd
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• Tue 24th
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