As Philadelphia sports fans, we have become accustomed to listening to some great voices on TV and radio over the years. From Harry Kalas to Merrill Reese, the city has been home to plenty of memorable and hall of fame broadcasters. Who is the best of the crew today, though? Here is the 2014 Philadelphia Sports Broadcaster's Top 10.
1. Merrill Reese (Eagles Radio) - Though the Eagles are probably third out of four when it comes to my favorite Philadelphia teams, Merrill Resse's voice is not something to take lightly. Having been the lead guy for the Eagles since 1977, Reese has called so many historical games throughout Eagles history and it is an absolute treat to listen to him on the radio. He has a very recognizable voice and calls the game so well while also educating the common fan on the game. Merrill is a great mix of what an effective broadcaster is because you can hear his passion and heart in his calls, whether the team is winning or losing. Sometimes, when the game is one-sided, other broadcasters lose their "pep" and that is one thing I have never heard Reese do once.
2. Scott Franzke (Phillies Radio) - With the recent struggles of the Phillies, it may be hard to listen to an entire broadcast, but if I were to choose whether to watch the game on TV or listen to the radio, I'd choose the radio along with pretty much every Phillies fan. The duo of Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen started in 2006 and gradually became a Philadelphia trademark on the airwaves after the departure of Scott Graham and the passing of Harry Kalas. We all know that the Phils TV broadcast is very hard to listen to so having Franzke on the radio is a pleasure. He is extremely knowledgeable about the game and really has great dialogue for a sport that has a lot of dead time. While I do like Jim Jackson, his style doesn't really fit in baseball, so I think Franzke should get the full nine innings in the booth.
3. Tim Saunders (Flyers Radio) - When I think of hockey broadcasters I enjoy listening to, the first name that comes to mind is Mike Emrick. He is just a phenomenal voice to listen to, no matter what game may be on NBC. Though Doc may be the best in the hockey biz, the Flyers have been lucky enough to have Tim Saunders as their play-by-play man since 1997 and in ways, I believe Saunders mimics the style of broadcasting that Emrick offers. Not only does he paint a picture of the game so you can visualize what is going on, but his attention to detail in explaining plays and penalties is really great. Whether you are a first time listener or someone who tunes into him for every Flyers game, you are guaranteed to hear one of his signature high pitched goal calls at one point or another. Listening to a Flyers game through Saunders' voice is just a really cool experience.
4. Mark Zumoff (Sixers TV) - The Sixers, to the common fan, have been nearly un-watchable this year. Some people don't really understand the idea of the rebuild while others seem very supportive of the team's efforts to build a long-lasting program for years to come. One guy who you can always count on to look for the positive and the potential in this team is Marc Zumoff. The Sixers have endured a rough past few years since trading Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday, but Zumoff maintains a very optimistic attitude. I really do like how some of his sayings have become somewhat of a staple of his broadcasts. If the game is close and the Sixers defense looks good, it is almost 99% likely you will hear the phrase "locking all windows and doors". A big shot is made? "DOWN IT GOES". My personal favorite? All cotton. In his 20th season broadcasting for the Liberty Ballers, Zumoff has been a bright spot in keeping fans like myself invested in the team through their rebuilding phase.
5. Jim Jackson (Flyers TV/Phillies Radio) - Jackson joined the Flyers broadcast team in 1993 on the radio and two season later, he took over television play-by-play duties for the Orange & Black. While Jackson doesn't necessarily provide a plethora of enthusiasm through the games entirety, his traditional broadcast style and sound is really what makes him so good. The broadcast flows very smoothly and Jackson provides plenty of facts from Flyers history throughout the games and never forgets to say that the Flyers have scored for a case of TastyKakes. Jackson can also be heard as the host of the Phillies radio pre and post game shows as well as calling the balls and strikes during the fourth and fifth innings. While I am a fan of Jackson overall, his style doesn't really bode well with baseball in my opinion, which is why he isn't higher on the list, but his Flyers coverage is very enjoyable.
6. Larry Andersen (Phillies Radio) – Whenever there is a game-winning play or go-ahead run, you likely won't hear Andersen calling it, but rather yelling "YES" or clapping in the background. I think people who would tune in to the Phillies broadcast for the first time might find LA to be a homer, which he is, but I think having the former player viewpoint plays to his advantage more so than not. He gets pissed off at umpires but also includes a lot of educational tidbits to the game that people might find annoying if it came out of TMac or Wheels' mouth. Truthfully, Andersen is just fun to listen to because of how much he gets into it. If the Phillies suck, you'll know it. He doesn't sugar coat a thing and that is why he is a perfect partner in the booth to Scott Franzke.
7. Tom McGinnis (Sixers Radio) - I think McGinnis falls down to the seven spot for me because I honestly don't get the opportunity to listen to him as much as I'd like to. He adds a very traditional broadcast style to the airwaves that reminds me of Merrill Reese and he was awesome to listen to during the Sixers title run back in the early 2000s. His trademark line "Are You Kiddin' Me?!" can normally be heard after a big Sixers dunk that changes the momentum. Again, since I haven't had too much exposure to McGinnis, it is tough to comment too much, but what I have gotten to hear, I've liked a lot. For basketball, I prefer watching the game with a visual, so radio doesn't really come to mind for the Sixers, but if you haven't listened to him yet, I'd tune in at some point, because McGinnis offers another really nice sound to the list of already popular Philadelphia sports radio voices.
8. Keith Jones (Flyers TV) – Jones seems to be the main broadcast partner for Jim Jackson, with Bill Clement filling in when Jones contributes to NHL on NBC broadcasts. Jones is the opposite of Larry Andersen when it comes to color commentary. He takes a very professional approach to his style and makes sure to add details the view may have missed. Not to say LA doesn't do that, but Jones provides somewhat of a more knowledgeable viewpoint on the game and the team having played with the current Flyers coach. Jones sounds like a very educated analyst while Andersen, who I really enjoy, comes off as more of a fan.
9. Mike Quick (Eagles Radio) - Being a color commentator is a tough gig for anyone, no matter how long you do it. After the play happens, you pretty much get 10-15 seconds to analyze it and project to the audience what went down. On the radio, it is obviously tougher than on TV since you cannot see it, and I believe Mike Quick does a really good job of that. He compliments Merrill Reese well and although he may sound robotic from time to time, the information he puts out there is almost always accurate and his viewpoint on the game is interesting as well. I haven't gotten to listen much to Eagles radio since moving down south, but whenever I visit home for the holidays, I make sure Merrill and Mike get some radio time in my car.
10. Tom McCarthy (Phillies TV) - After being blessed for so long with the voice of Harry Kalas, there was no one who I could think of to replace him in the booth. That is, with the exception of Scott Franzke moving over from the radio. Between McCarthy's fake laugh's and semi-underwhelming broadcast style, the best way I can explain his broadcasting is "serviceable". There is nothing too flashy about it and it isn't bad, but it isn't great either. I think he would be a better fit on national broadcasts like a Joe Buck, because he just doesn't have that Philadelphia feel to him that a lot of the other broadcasters do.
Honorable Mention: Though they aren't involved in every aspect of the game, the duo of sideline reporters the Phillies and Sixers have add a really great vibe to their respective broadcasts. For the Phillies, you can catch Gregg Murphy anywhere around Citizens Bank Park and stadiums the Phils travel to, and he always brings a unique perspective to the game. Whether it is dining on some stadium cuisine in Arizona or perhaps just going through his Major League notebook, Murph has been a very solid addition to the Phillies team and he even earned himself some time in the booth during some Tom McCarthy absences. Hopefully there is more of that in the future.
For the Sixers, they have seen their fair share of courtside reporters over the years, but I think Molly Sullivan brings a very enthusiastic, yet extremely professional style to her reports. In my opinion, previous Sixers reporters in her position have come off as more of a neutral party on the team while Sullivan reports on them like she was born and raised in Philadelphia. Staying optimistic while working for a team that is 1-17 is no easy task, but Sullivan tackles it well, getting good, positive feedback from the coach along with the young Sixers talent. She has a really smooth delivery and doesn't try to be flashy or do too much with her limited airtime, which is a great quality.
I think one of the best parts of both Sullivan and Murphy is their social media interaction. Being able to watch the game is cool, but when the sideline personalities interact with fans on social media, it makes one feel like you are a part of what is going on.
Hope you enjoyed the broadcaster rankings. Thanks for reading!
Brandon Apter is a writer for Sixerdelphia.com
