10 Great Games That Were Ruined By an Announcer

April 2, 2024, 12:48pm ESTBy Alex Hoegler

Being a sports announcer is one of the coolest jobs out there. You’re paid six to 7 figures to call the biggest sporting events on national television. And heck, you can make an epic sports moment even more great if you can call it properly.

Unfortunately, some of the best sports moments of all time were ruined by terrible commentary. I’m DeQwan Young, and today we present 10 times when the announcer ruined a great game.

And a big shoutout to JasonPorchVideos for suggesting this idea to us!

10. Dick Vitale: UConn vs. Syracuse in ‘95

UConn and Syracuse faced off in what was to be an exciting college basketball game in 1995. Nobody could really pay attention to the play on the court though. That’s because Dick Vitale was too busy trying to hog the spotlight to himself.

Dude…chill!

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9. Jim Nantz: 2012 AFC Championship Game

FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 22: Tom Brady (R) #12 of the New England Patriots talks with commentator Jim Nantz (L) after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 20-23. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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The 2012 AFC Championship Game was a pretty hyped-up battle. It was a rematch of the previous year’s title game. It was Ray Lewis and his Baltimore Ravens against the New England Patriots. Judging by his voice, it seemed as though Jim Nantz wanted Lewis’ retirement party to end that night in Foxborough.

Were you wearing a Patriots jersey during this game, Mr. Nantz?

8. Joe Buck: 2002 NFC Championship Game

Joe Buck, on left, and Cris Collinsworth during a press conference to announce the new NFL on Fox lead broadcast team at the News Corp Building in New York City. 5/2/02 Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles met in the 2002 NFC Championship — one of the top-3 biggest NFL games of the season. Brian Mitchell started things off with a bang. But Joe Buck seemed more worried about putting you all to sleep.

You need a cup of coffee there, Joe?

7. All announcers: Patrick Kane’s Stanley Cup clincher

PITTSBURGH – JULY 27: Mike Emrick addresses the media at the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic press conference on July 27, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The 2010 Stanley Cup Final featured the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. The Blackhawks were looking to win their first championship in 49 years, so the announcers had to be on their best behavior.

Unfortunately, this weird goal by Patrick Kane confused all announcers. We were deprived of a historic call as a result.

You can’t blame them. You just wish they could have trusted Kane’s instincts.

6. Pat Summerall: 1998 NFC Wild Card Game

Mad respect to the late Pat Summerall for having one of the most storied broadcasting careers ever. However, he didn’t seem to be that keen on calling an NFL playoff game for the ages: Brett Favre’s Green Bay Packers vs. Steve Young’s San Francisco 49ers in the 1998 NFC Wild Card Game.

Poor guy probably didn’t sleep much the night before.

5. Jim Nantz: Super Bowl 44

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – FEBRUARY 07: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is interviewed by CBS announcer Jim Nantz after the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Y’know, Jim Nantz is definitely one of the most legendary announcers ever. But for some reason, he really just seems bored for no reason. Super Bowl 44 was by far the worst performance of this man’s career. There’s just no enthusiasm.

One of the most iconic moments in NFL history took place. Nantz didn’t seem to care.

Did you put money on the Colts or something, Jim?

4. Joe Buck: Game 7 of 2001 World Series

UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 14: Baseball: NLCS Playoffs, Closeup of Fox Sports media announcer Joe Buck during Game 5 of St, Louis Cardinals vs San Francisco Giants series, San Francisco, CA 10/14/2002 (Photo by Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X67025 TK5

Nothing better than Game 7 of a championship series. Take the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, who met in the 2001 Fall Classic. Game 7 was a thriller for the ages, but Joe Buck had absolutely zero interest in being there.

3. Brent Musburger: 2013 BCS National Championship Game

Retired sportscaster and VSiN (Vegas Stats & Information Network) managing editor and lead host Brent Musburger (L) and boxing announcer and VSiN lead host Al Bernstein attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the VSiN broadcasting studio at the South Point Hotel & Casino sports book on February 3, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. VSiN is the first multi-channel network dedicated to sports gambling information and launches on Sirius XM Radio on February 27. Musburger and Bernstein will host a special broadcast before Super Bowl LI.

The College Football National Championship Game is one of the biggest sporting events of the year. It was Alabama vs. the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2013. But everybody can only remember Brent Musburger’s love for Katherine Webb, the girlfriend of quarterback A.J. McCarron.

Thanks for making us lose focus on the game, Brent.

2. Pat Summerall: Super Bowl 36

Football: NFC Playoffs: Portrait of NFL on Fox Sports announcer Pat Summerall before New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles game at Giants Stadium. East Rutherford, NJ 1/7/2001 CREDIT: Al Tielemans (Photo by Al Tielemans /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X62218

Super Bowl 36 featured Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show on Turf, AKA the St. Louis Rams. On the other side, it was some guy named Tom Brady leading the New England Patriots. It was a Super Bowl for the ages, but Pat Summerall didn’t treat it that way.

The Patriots won their first-ever Super Bowl in thrilling fashion. Summerall acted as if it was a blowout victory.