Jim Nantz...I don't get it.

[broadbat]

Someone please explain why Jim Nantz is CBS' # 1 football play-by-play guy. When the network dumped Musburger 17 years ago, Nantz was the boy wonder heir apparent, inheriting all the big assignments.

Later he was the host of the NFL Pregame show, which was routinely hammered by Fox. So CBS hires James Brown away from Fox, giving the consolation prize of # 1 game announcer to Nantz.

He's pleasant, amiable, and knowledgable...and has a decent voice. But can anyone name anything memorable he's ever said or done? He is certainly not in the same league with Al Michaels and Joe Buck, who head up NBC and Fox telecasts.

I listened to part of the AFC game Sunday on the radio, where Dick Enberg, also a CBS announcer was doing the call...and unlike Nantz, he gives these events a definite "big game" feel.

In the past, if it was a big game, you could count on hearing a big game announcer...Gowdy, Enberg, Michaels, Summerall, etc.

I really can't imagine Nantz with that kind of reputation. He kind of blends in. I just don't get it....especially when you have somebody like Enberg already on the team. He may be a few years past his prime, but he's still better than Nantz.

[adam & doctor drew]

totally agree.

[Consider This]

Greg Gumbel hosted the CBS pre-game before James Brown. The network with the NFC package has always had higher ratings than the one carrying AFC games. CBS used to similarly clobber NBC, even with Bob Costas hosting, back when CBS had NFC games.

Nantz' nothingness is precisely why CBS wants him in the lead role. Musberger was seen as an anchor "monster" who demanded a seat at all the big assignments, even ones for which he wasn't well qualified. The Masters is the primary example. With Nantz in the top spot, there is less danger of a cult-of-personality at CBS.

Enberg was a favorite and is still terrific. Pat Summerall broadcast one of the bowl games on Fox this year. Though showing his age, he is still THE voice of football.

Joe Buck is tolerable when yelling over crowd noise doing play-by-play but it was gratingly irritating when he used the same delivery while doing the pre-game shows during the season. Glad not to see him hosting during the playoffs.

[WeatherSlave]

Ummm. He was in Tin Cup.

[Gail sirens]

They need to hire me again.

[cornfed]

I agree. Nantz is plain vanilla and seems like someone who was forced to learn the game of football and doesn't have a passion for it.

I was driving around and was "forced" to listen to Enberg and Bob Trumpy on the radio. What a treat. I'm 40, so Enberg and Trumpy bring me back to my youth. When I got home I watched the game and turned on the radio for the play by play.

[Sultanosurf]

Dick is one of the nicest guys in the world, which comes across in his work. He's like listening to Vin Scully or a friend to share a game. Nantz is also a terrific guy, but you're probably right, he's a little too low-key for NFL game calls. Then again, isn't the idea for Simms to shine? So maybe Nantz is the right counterpart. (Doesn't hurt that he can hold his own with the boss in a foursome, either)

Musberger has sure bounced back. Like him or not, he's getting a bunch of calls.

I'll take anybody, as long as it keeps McCarver away from us for a while...

[WalMartNation]

Nance may be vanilla, but for CBS that's not such a bad thing. Remember, this is the network that had Janet Jackson's non-fake boob hanging out on during the Super Bowl 3 years ago. Anybody who thinks that's been forgotten about at the network is dead wrong... and with CBS airing the SB this year (first time since SB 38) don't think that subject won't come up in the next few weeks somewhere in trash TV or tabloid land..
My point is.. boring is also safe. Nantz isn't the type to piss anyone off with opinionated comments about players' actions during a game (Joe Buck calling out Randy Moss for his fake moon to the Packers faithful in the 2004 NFC Wild Card game at Lambeau)... let the analyst do that stuff... Old vets who played like Simms, Theismann, Aikman, or even Dan Dierdorf are better at calling out today's players.

Nantz is good with golf, it obviously suits him better... but guys like Enberg, Michaels, and Summerall had that good ability to get excited when big plays and touchdowns happen for either team... not just the home one, or the favored one, or the one from the bigger TV market that will draw better national ratings for the network in next week's conference championship game. (by this I mean Joe Buck sounding depressed whenever Seattle scored on the Bears... who knows maybe he listed to some Cobain before he took to the air Sunday).

I actually like when Greg Gumbel was with Simms.. now Bryant on the NFL Network? That's a different story.

[adam & doctor drew]

what does Nantz have to do with Janet Jackson?

are you suggesting that CBS is worried it'll get fined if the play-by-play guy criticizes a player or coach on air?

[jrat33]

Nantz isn't good with golf....he's fantastic with golf!

[Kace]

What Jrat said.

[Fake Post]

Here's my word to describe Nantz.

Smooooooooooth!

[JoinUsForCake]

Jim Nantz is the best all-around talent CBS Sports has - the argument really doesn't need to get any further than that.

Enberg? Love the guy but over the years he has started botching stuff too often. I can easily see why they left him off.

[SpxGrunt]

Originally posted by JoinUsForCake:
Jim Nantz is the best all-around talent CBS Sports has - the argument really doesn't need to get any further than that.

Enberg? Love the guy but over the years he has started botching stuff too often. I can easily see why they left him off.I agree! There's no one I'd rather hear call an NFL or NCAA basketball game than Nantz. He never gets in the way of the game.

[John Fricke]

Jim Nantz is a model pro on so many levels.

voice?

sheesh the man is "the" voice of the masters. so good at it that he will, even upon retirement, always be considered that.

In addition to his professional accomplishments and abilities he is a truly decent guy.

I admit a bias in my relationships with him and I can understand why someone prefers something over another (and PBP is just one area, there are different tastes in everything - hence "Stephen A. Smith" or "JT the Brick" or "Jim Rome" or The Golf Channel... it's all in your personal taste)

What I'm not sure I get is why a thread on a major national industry board questioning the abilities of a hall of fame broadcaster.

[Kace]

But when it comes to bringing a big game atmosphere, one man stands above all.

Gary Thorne. That man could make a phone book eventful.

[elmo1959]

Nantz a Hall of Fame broadcaster? Slow down a bit. As the original poster said, Nantz has many strong points. But at best, he's about a #3 guy on a major TV network's NFL lineup. Among CBS announcers, Enberg, Gumbel and Criqui all bring more of a "big game" feel to their telecasts.

Unlike many of the true 1st string announcers that have been named, I imagine Mr. Nantz could walk through most airports in our nation largely unrecognized. Compare that with the frenzy that must accompany Summerall, Michaels, Buck, Enberg, and Marv Albert. Yes, they're all older. But Nantz has been CBS's #1 guy for most of two decades without leaving much of a footprint.

And try this: grab a few random NFL fans sometime, and see if they can identify Nantz's voice in the first few seconds of his play-by-play. Could they honestly name him over other interchangeable voices like Ian Eagle, Gus Johnson, Tom Hammond, Bill Macatee and Craig Bolerjack? I doubt it.

Even lesser-hyped guys like Dick Stockton, Don Criqui, Kevin Harlan and Mike Patrick have instantly recognizable styles and cadences that characterize their game calls.

Jim Nantz is a solid broadcaster, from all accounts a good person, and a competent NFL play by play guy. But when I add his name to the list of legendary names who have called a Super Bowl on TV, his blandness stands out.

[ January 16, 2007, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: elmo1959 ]

[Tripe Face]

I watched NFL Network's replay of Super Bowl 22 Redskins vs Denver from San Diego. 1987.

The ABC team was Frank Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf. Dan was great... I always thought HE should be the #1 NFL analyst in tv... not Madden. But that's water under the bridge.
Frank was smooth, insightful, but had to work to get in a comment because Michaels was a NIGHTMARE.
First off, he wouldn't shut up. Second, his voice was much higher at the start of the game... it was annoying. I'm just glad he's improved over the years. Bottomline... that booth wasn't big enough for all three.

Nantz is great at golf, great at NCAA hoops... just ok at NFL football. Perhaps he's not as big a football fans as he is hoops and golf.

Summerall is my all time fave for the NFL... but the best in College is Keith Jackson.

I do have two questions:

#1Can't Fox find SOMEBODY good to host their pre-game show? Mind you corralling Terry, Howie, Jimmy isn't easy but that guy they have is weak.

#2 Will someone please kidnap that Sharpe guy off CBS's set and rtake him somewhere and sit him down with a speech therapist for about 6 months so that we can understand what the man is saying? It's not white boy's racist complaint.

I don't have a problem with black guys bringing a little "urban" style to the broadcast. I enjoy getting pissed at Michael Irvin and I enjoy Stuart Scott on ESPN (but please retire the cool as the pillow cliche, it got old about 5 years ago) And Sharpe's brother is great on tv (can you tell I can never remember which Sharpe is which?).

OK my rant is over. Let's get back to the game.

[Kace]

I think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe should have their own show.

[adam & doctor drew]

Originally posted by John Fricke:

What I'm not sure I get is why a thread on a major national industry board questioning the abilities of a hall of fame broadcaster.this is a board about opinions.
the opinion of some people here, including me, is that Nantz is boring, bland and never adds anything to the event he's calling.

what's wrong with that?

[The Thrill]

Bring back that computerized talking head cartoon CBS used to have on The NFL Today.

[Junk Junk]

Wasn't there chatter at one time about putting Nantz on either the Early Show or as a replacement for Dan Rather on the Evening News?

[Sir Dropham Pants]

Originally posted by Kace:
I think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe should have their own show.As long as Sterling does all the talking. I still can only catch every third or fourth word Shannon says.

[Crash Davis]

Originally posted by Kace:
I think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe should have their own show.Blip blop flizzim flazzim, lay im down a slakim yakim.

Verbatim quote from Shannon last week: "I really think Peyton Manning has the advantages with all that plethora of receivers at his disposable."

Arrrrrrrrrrgh.

[SpxGrunt]

Originally posted by Crash Davis:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Kace:
I think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe should have their own show.Blip blop flizzim flazzim, lay im down a slakim yakim.

Verbatim quote from Shannon last week: "I really think Peyton Manning has the advantages with all that plethora of receivers at his disposable."

Arrrrrrrrrrgh.</font>[/QUOTE]http://www.cinema.vrn.ru/images/soundtracks/pootiemain.gif

[WalMartNation]

Originally posted by adam & doctor drew:
what does Nantz have to do with Janet Jackson?

are you suggesting that CBS is worried it'll get fined if the play-by-play guy criticizes a player or coach on air?I don't know if you read the whole post.. my point was Boring Is Safe. Nance didn't obviously didn't rip Janet Jackson's costume 3 years ago.. but if you think a network that was on thin ice with the FCC because of that incident is going to put some over-opinionated pbp guy in the lead booth, who might get more attention for his comments than his ability to call a game, like Buck is with Fox, you're not seeing the bigger CBS sports picture.

[guesswhoiam]

Originally posted by Crash Davis:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Kace:
I think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe should have their own show.Blip blop flizzim flazzim, lay im down a slakim yakim.

Verbatim quote from Shannon last week: "I really think Peyton Manning has the advantages with all that plethora of receivers at his disposable."

Arrrrrrrrrrgh.</font>[/QUOTE]I wish someone would post on YouTube the Saturday Night Live clip of Tracy Morgan impersonating Eric Dickerson reporting from the sidelines at an NFL game. hilarious 'cuz it's true.

[adam &amp; doctor drew]

Originally posted by WalMartNation:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by adam & doctor drew:
what does Nantz have to do with Janet Jackson?

are you suggesting that CBS is worried it'll get fined if the play-by-play guy criticizes a player or coach on air?I don't know if you read the whole post.. my point was Boring Is Safe. Nance didn't obviously didn't rip Janet Jackson's costume 3 years ago.. but if you think a network that was on thin ice with the FCC because of that incident is going to put some over-opinionated pbp guy in the lead booth, who might get more attention for his comments than his ability to call a game, like Buck is with Fox, you're not seeing the bigger CBS sports picture.</font>[/QUOTE]name me someone who got a TV station or TV network in trouble with the FCC because of what he or she said on camera.

[ January 23, 2007, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: adam & doctor drew ]

[JoinUsForCake]

Originally posted by Kace:
But when it comes to bringing a big game atmosphere, one man stands above all.

Gary Thorne. That man could make a phone book eventful.AGREED! It's a travesty that we can't hear Thorne do any NHL games! :(

Gary Thorne doing NHL play-by-play is THE best sportscasting on the planet, bar none, hand-down, period.

[Big City]

Originally posted by broadbat:
He is certainly not in the same league with Al Michaels and Joe Buck, who head up NBC and Fox telecasts.He's got it all over Buck. JB's lame. Bring Marv back to TV!

[Kace]

Gary Thorne doing NHL play-by-play is THE best sportscasting on the planet, bar none, hand-down, period.Without him calling an NHL game (better yet, with Bill Clement on color), the NHL suffers.

One of Gary's best performances was some New Year's Day Bowl game where Iowa beat LSU on a last second touchdown.