Great Sportscasters' Memorable Quotes From the US and Memphis

10. "Back, Back, Back, back..." - Chris Berman, ESPN

The first time I heard this I thought someone was quacking like a duck.  Chris Berman's catchy phrase made watching baseball highlights of home runs much more amusing.

I think of this as the early days of ESPN, before sports received the coverage of today and before the Deuce-ESPN 2, and ESPN Classic.

9.  "The Memphis State Tigers are not the number one [college] basketball team in the country." -Dick Vitale, ESPN

In the pre-Coach Cal days, most Memphians perceived Dickie V. as a villain for this unfair opinion.  Dickie V. said this after that week's No. 1 team lost.

It looked like Memphis State (now University of Memphis), previously No. 2, was headed for a No. 1 ranking. 

I believe the Tigers received the No. 1 ranking and lost that week.  Memphians still weren't liking Dickie V., even though he was correct.

8. "Cubs Win! Cubs Win!" - Harry Caray, WGN

It sounded like Harry Caray was astonished and excited every time he said this.  It is easy for me to say, as someone who is not a Cubs fan, the Cubs winning in the 80's was an infrequent event. 

Even without cable, I managed to see some Cubs baseball games on TV in the summer.  As a youngster, I thought Cubs games were the best programming on cable in summer days. 

I really would like to see a game a Wrigley in person.  Harry Caray gave off a very cheerful vibe.  I think that is what made him such a great sportscaster.

You know you are a big-time sportscaster if Saturday Night Live impersonates you.  I would often laugh at the Harry Caray skits, however I found the impersonation of Harry cruel at times. 

The funniest part of the skit that I still remember is Harry rocking his head back and forth repeatedly and enthusiastically saying "Cubs Win! Cubs Win!"

7.  "[This game] is over.  It is time to warm up the bus, baby" - Dick Vitale, ESPN

Dickie V. can call a college basketball game that is blowout and paint a funny vivid picture in your head. 

When he says this, I often think about the team bus driver going out to the parking lot to warm up the bus and the bus driver's thoughts about leaving the game early and the blowout.

6. "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!" -Andres Cantor, Univision

With one word, Senior Cantor can evoke more emotion and speak more slowly than any other sportscaster around. 

After awhile I think "Is he done yet? I could have fixed my microwave dinner in the time it took him to say one word." A goal is even more special with a long yell from Senior Cantor.

5. "This Week in Baseball" Mel Allen, WLMT Memphis affiliate

The clear, crisp and exciting narratives of Mel Allen on the weekly TV show reviewed interesting happenings inside the game of baseball.  This was my favorite show as a kid.  I remember watching it and thinking this is such a great show.

4. "This is Ho-ward Co-sell" - Howard Cosell, ABC, Monday Night Football, Boxing

I still remember listening to his rhythmic voice broadcasting Monday Night Football.  He must have studied Shakespeare to speak like this. 

He is my favorite announcer to impersonate.  I was young, so all I've got is 4 words. 

If you have heard him, I bet you can impersonate him with four words too. 

If the person you see next is over 32 years of age and might be a sports fan, turn to them and get into character.  It will be interesting to see what kind of reaction you get.

3. "From downtown" -Marv Albert, National Basketball Association on ABC

This was my favorite phrase to say from NBA telecasts that I sometimes watched on Sunday afternoons.  I really liked this phrase. Growing up I thought Marv's accent sounds like he was from New York City. 

Growing up while wearing two hats as the announcer and star player in my game of one-on-none, I would attempt to beat the buzzer and win the game with a last second, long distance shot as I practiced shooting basketball outside or playing Nerf basketball inside: Five, four, three, two, "from downtown", nothing but net. 

2.  "And here come the Rogues" -Dave Woloshin, Radio Announcer, AISA Indoor Soccer, Memphis Rogues

I had fun listening to the voice inflection and optimism of Dave Woloshin as the Memphis Rogues went on the counter-attack. 

Dave Woloshin is now on TV as a play-by-play analyst for Memphis Tigers basketball broadcasts.

1.  "Great Caesar's Ghost!" -Jack Eaton, WMC-TV Memphis NBC affiliate

People from the Memphis area are unlikely to forget the now retired, jolly, sports newscaster Jack Eaton as he gleefully punctuated a wow highlight with "Great Caesar's Ghost!". 

This catchy phrase often followed a great play by one of the hometown heroes of Memphis Tiger basketball in the 80's like Andre Turner, Vincent Askew, William Bedford, Keith Lee, Baskerville Holmes, Sylvester Gray, Kenneth Moody or John Wilfong.  The other memorable quote from Jack Eaton is "Great Scott!". 

I translated "Great Scott" to mean very good, but the best was "Great Caesar's Ghost!".  Jack Eaton's personality is jovial and it shined through in his sports reports.

From my experiences, Jack Eaton's smile and happy energy is one of a kind for sports broadcasters.