Here's the thing... it's not just that they need to find a replacement to do the play by play, they will, and on some level the broadcasts will be, while not necessarily better, or more entertaining, certainly more informative.
But, John's retirement means another kind of loss, one that's been taking place for years now, the loss of imitable, unique sounding voices.
The broadcast booth lends itself to storytellers. People whose cadence and phrasing take the listening experience to another level. Instantly identifiable, often anchoring us to a time and a place.
And with that comes fertile ground for comedians and impressionists.
Billy Crystal's Cosell, John Caponera's Harry Caray, Harry Shearer's Vin Scully...
And who among us hasn't said, "Need Money? Hi, I'm Phil Rizzuto for the Money Store." at least once?
The current crop of potential replacements, and indeed the current crop of play by play broadcasters around the dial, (Do they still have dials?) seem as if they were manufactured at the same plant.
No disrespect, but I can't imagine some junior high school kid sitting at home working on his Justin Shakil or Jeff Nelson. Both fine broadcasters BTW.
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe this next crop will grow into it, find their uniqueness, land those catch phrases.
I mean, "You know Suzyn, you can't predict calling baseball games." At least I hope so.
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15 comments:
It will take 10 years before the Yankees find a replacement.
I'm not sure I have ten years.
Wonderfully well put, Doug.
Yes, it's one more loss from Idiosyncratic America, now being relentlessly mashed into one, big homogenized, corporatized nothing. The place where all the buildings look the same, all the music sounds the same (and never changes), all the sports owners are more interested in putting corporate logos on the uniforms than finding unique and delightful broadcasters.
The Mets, with their Gary Cohen/Ron Darling/Keith Hernandez trio, are one of the very few franchises to still sponsor rare and enjoyable voices on their broadcasts. Once they're gone...
And for all you Bob Marley fans out there:
"John no gone
No no no no John no gone
They try to fool the Yankees population
When they tell us John is gone
No no no no John no gone..."
"And what a difference Ledee makes"
John Sterling saluting Ricky Ledee on a game winning hit
HEY ED!
I can send you three of those ten years!
I'll VenGrow them to you . . . . .
Rickie Ricardo is the proper successor. Everybody knows that. It's obvious. It would be a shame to deprive his Spanish speaking audience, but the New York Yankees need a distinctive voice and Rickie gives them that. It should remain part of the brand.
But radio is a declining medium and a young, pliable corporate baritone will cost less. That's what will matter ultimately. But it'll be another small degradation of a once great franchise
Of all the new voices, Emmanuel Berbari (hope I spelled his name right) has the best voice by far. But he's very young and his style hasn't come into its own. Maybe in ten years, he'll call himself Emmanuel the Barbarian and develop his own unique harangue.
Justin Shakil sounds too bland. Put some life into it, man!
I was listening to the Islander game last night. (Hey, did you know the Islanders, after being given up for dead at least a dozen times this season, clinched a playoff berth last night!?) Suddenly, in the 3rd period, Islanders Radio play by play man Chris King is going into "It is high; It is far; It is gone!" And he did it very well! John Sterling would be proud.
Brendon Burke on the Islander tv broadcast also did a John Sterling tribute. On the fourth Islander goal, he's yelling "Islanders goal! Islanders goal!" A tribute to John Sterling's Islander goal calls when Sterling used to do the Islander games!
Maybe they can do a rotation of Ricardo and Burke in the radio booth.
Nicely said, Doug. Weird old America is disappearing faster than a Stanton laser to the bleachers.
I'm with Publius. Get Ricky. He even sounds like John with his voice and cadence a lot of times. And he seems like a good match with Suzyn.
RIP Whitey Herzog. The hits keep coming.
The White Rat - wow
It took me years to get over the loss of Phil Rizzuto in the booth (Don’t get me started, White!) but it may take even longer with John Sterling. The way his rich baritone voice would rattle the speakers in my car (like Bing Crosby’s low notes) and his joyful win warbles and homer calls will never be forgotten.
And one more vote here for Ricky Ricardo.
For many years i have enjoyed the voice of John Sterling during my endless and lonely insomnia nights.
Really hate to lose this soothing baritone and remarkable way of being able to be overexcited and tranquil at the same time.
The worst thing that could happen now, is that the blog would fade too. That would be truly devastating.
Thank you Stang!
Don't worry, Urban Farmer!
To quote another pop culture phenomenon, "We will never break the chain!"
John is the last of the old time baseball announcers. The game has changed. The way the game is announced has changed. Hey, I'm an old fart and the torch has been passed and I'm not liking it either...
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