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chrisoldsFiled under: Beckett Football, Beckett HQ, NFL | Tags: Dallas Cowboys, NFL Network, Rick Romo, Tony Romo
I can’t tell you why Bryant Gumbel identified Tony Romo as Rick Romo on NFL Network coverage last night.
Perhaps Gumbel was in the booth for the 2007 Pony World Series in Washington, Pa., last September. If so, he would have repeatedly called the name Rick Romo as the manager of the Long Beach Pony All-Stars, who finished second in the world to Puerto Rico in the tournament. Dylan Romo was one of the players on the team of 14-year-olds.
Which one is Rick? Not exactly sure. It’s either the guy on the far left, or the guy second from the right — both are named Romo. Rick, which one are you? 
Yes, that was what Bryant Gumbel called Tony, in introducing the Wendy’s..uhhh…Home Depot NFL Network Post-Game Show. It was the last of dozens of brutal mistakes made by Gumbel during last night’s Cowboys-Packers telecast.
Not a problem really, it was just another game…OF THE CENTURY.
Bryant is one of the most overrated and arrogant sportscasters of all time. He should take a lesson from his understated, steady brother, Greg, on how to prepare for a game.
In our ever-changing sports environment that now relies so heavily on forced entertainment and production presentation, we are losing the art of play-by-play. There are still some great ones hanging on, but the “the good old days” really are loaded with the talent that most of today’s prime announcers can not hold a mike to.
Here is my own personal all-time Top 10 list of play-by-play broadcasters.
1. Verne Lundquist – from the Cowboys in the ’70s-’80s, to two of golf’s most famous calls (“Yes Sir!!” as Nicklaus drains a birdie at 17 en route to winning his sixth green jacket at Augusta & “In your life have you ever seen anything like that?” on Tiger’s amazing chip-in at 16 in the 2005 Masters) to the most entertaining college football coverage on CBS’s SEC coverage.
2. Vin Scully – the poet laureate of sportscasters
3. Curt Gowdy – the Voice of TV sports in the ’60s and ’70s
4. Mark Holtz – the voice of the Texas Rangers who died too young
5. Frank Glieber – another golden voice that died too young
6. Harry Carey – HOLY COW!
7. Ray Scott – The voice of the Packers
8. Chris Schenkel – brought us all the “color and pageantry of college football”
9. Charlie Jones – another do-it-all network pro and another former WFAA sportscaster
10. Jim Nantz – hello friends
Got one of your own to add to the list? Let’s hear from you.
It would do a lot of good for most of today’s golden throats to go back and check the tape. Are you listening Bryant? Josh Lewin?
