Happy Hour!

We haven’t filmed one in just about a year, but this week’s addition of Happy Hour features our annual baseball preview. Feel free to agree – or disagree – and let us know!

Boom! No More Madden

Al Michaels Takes Cake as Best Broadcaster of All Time

by Matt Shanley

For nearly three decades, one voice has been synonymous with fans in each of America’s four major professional sports.

His voice has been immortalized in the form of sport, film, and video game. Aside from his extraordinary ability to absolutely carry a broadcast team, Alan Richard Michaels should be recognized for the diversity he has displayed in making memorable calls in a variety of events that won’t soon be forgotten.

Michaels’ voice has become so relevant in the sports world over the past thirty years, it would be nearly impossible to imagine some occurrences without his legendary voice in the background. Though it is tough to favor any particular broadcast moment, three seem to stick out in the minds of fans more than others.

Before recently, good times were hard to come by for the Boston Red Sox. Who do you think was there when the supposedly cursed team came up with a memorable moment? That’s right. It was Al Michaels. In the 1986 American League Championship Series, the Sox trailed three games to one against the California Angels. In the ninth inning of game five, with the Angels leading 5-4, centerfielder Dave Henderson, who played his previous season with the last place Seattle Mariners, came to the plate. On the fifth pitch of the at bat, Henderson smacked a pitch off of relief pitcher Donnie Moore. “Astonishing,” said Michaels. “Anaheim Stadium was one strike away from turning into Fantasyland and now the Red Sox lead 6-5! Dave Henderson, it’s a long way from Seattle!” The Angels would never recover, and the Red Sox would advance to the World Series where they would eventually lose to the Amazin’ Mets in devastating fashion. Oh, Buckner.

Just five years later, the New York Giants matched up against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Though the running backs from both teams, Otis Anderson and Thurman Thomas, had record-setting days, this game is remembered best for Bills’ kicker Scot Norwood and his attempted 47-yard field goal at the last second. Four of the most revered words in Giants history came soon after, spoken by none other than Michaels. “No good! Wide right!” This was the second of six Super Bowls called by Al Michaels, the most recent being this past year when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals.

Perhaps the most popular call in Michaels’ broadcast history came during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The heavily favored Soviet Union ice hockey team was well rested in the days before its game against an inexperienced United States team. With ten minutes to play in the contest, the Americans were given the lead following a goal by U.S. captain Mike Eruzione. The Americans would never relinquish this lead, and with time expiring, Al Michaels made the call: “Eleven seconds. You’ve got ten seconds. The countdown is going on right now. Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

In addition to these events, Michaels has also broadcasted the NBA Finals, championship fights, and he annually calls the Triple Crown of horse racing. He has been the voice of the pop culture phenomenon that is Monday Night Football for twenty two years. He is, quite simply, a legend.

Calling somebody else the best broadcaster of all time, now THAT would be a miracle.