Al Michaels Names The Toughest Sport To Announce 'Without Question'

by Larry Leo

April 21, 20249 Comments

Appearing on "The Dan Patrick Show," legendary announcer Al Michaels admitted that hockey has always been his toughest challenge to do play-by-play for...

quote:
Baseball is a different sport to do, obviously. You have some time; it's more relaxing. I mean, baseball was easy for me, and then a ton of football. I've done 900 NFL games and probably a couple hundred college games — I get how to do football. Hockey is the hardest. Without question, Hockey on radio is the hardest. Because if you're in your car, you can picture a baseball game. This team's at-bat, this team's in the field. In football, this team has the ball, and this team's on defense.

In Hockey, the change of possession is so quick and so rapid. You don't get to see — like, if you're a fan of the Rangers, but they're playing Winnipeg, you know who your guys are; you have no idea who the other guys are. So, I think guys who do Hockey on radio very well have a great deal of respect from me because I think it's the toughest.

(The Spun)

Filed Under: NHL

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Liberator•12 months

Always admired Al Michaels' spontaneity, honesty, every-guy modesty and professionalism. As others note, his "Do you believe in miracles?" 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team call was iconic.

Hockey is definitely the most difficult Game to call. Announcers' play-by-play eyes need to process, anticipate, recognize and describe multi-faceted action on the fly to the audience. The best announcers without a doubt are indeed Hockey announcers.

THE Best of All-Time: Gene Hart (Flyers). Sam Rosen (Rangers). And of course, Doc Emerick. Though an Islander/Rangers Fan I would watch Flyers games just to listen Gene Hart call and paint game-action like a 3D DiVinci.

RolltidePA•12 months

Don't forget Mike Lange, who did Penguins games for 46 years and is in the Hall of Fame. Man is a hockey announcing legend. No announcer created excitement like he could.

TouchdownTony•12 months

He’ll always be the voice of the miracle on ice.

NOSTRODAMUS•12 months

I’ll never forget how he pronounced Rydell Melancon’s name in an early 80s game against Kentucky. Let’s just say Al apparently didn’t do his homework.

cajunmud•12 months

I bet he got the Rydell part right.

LSUtoBOOT•12 months

And oddly he’s most famous for announcing the gold medal win in 1980, miracle on ice.

14caratgoldjones•12 months

Gary Thorne was a great Hockey announcer

Parrish_Dawg•12 months

He was excellent. They also had that cool theme song in the backdrop that got you ready to watch hockey.

NorthstarinLA•12 months

Gary was a great guy. Happily retired in Florida. Watched him call a ton of hockey games at UMaine and in the pros.

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