Vin Scully is God

[RShack]

(Those of you who remember the "Clapton is God" thing will get my point. If you don't remember it, that's OK, but please don't take offense at the phrase.)

The last couple evenings, I tuned my TV to the Giants-at-Dodgers on MLB-EI. I did this so I could enjoy seeing Dodger fans booing Barry while he failed to do it. But even better than watching all the times Barry didn't do it, the very best part was that MLB-EI was showing the Dodgers feed, which means Vin Scully.

If you are not familiar with this man, and if you appreciate good announcers, you should give this guy a listen before it's too late. He's been doing this for about a hundred years, and he's about 80 years old. He ain't gonna be around forever.

There are so many things he does well, and most of them are not the kind of things you can tell somebody about. The only way to "get it" is to listen to him for several games. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that he does it all by himself. He is the play-by-play guy and he is the color guy. He is a team of one. One minute he's describing the play, and next thing you know he's telling stories about Hank hitting dingers off of Drysdale, Drysdale drilling him, and weaving it all into the obvious Bonds story. He does it with such a natural ease that it is fair to say that he really does weave a tapestry.

Sometimes, if I'm up late, I'll tune in the Dodger game just to hear him. I don't care about the Dodgers. The main thing the Dodgers mean to me is the 66 WS. I grew up on Chuck Thompson and I love Jon Miller, and I have nothing but good things to say about both of them. But the simple fact of the matter is that Vin Scully is in a class by himself.

ps: He does not do all their games anymore. I think he does all their home games but only goes on the road with them to other cities in the NL-West. So, if you try to give him a listen and get somebody else doing the Dodger broadcast, it's probably because they're on the road somewhere east of the Rockies.

[byrdz]

(Those of you who remember the "Clapton is God" thing will get my point. If you don't remember it, that's OK, but please don't take offense at the phrase.)

The last couple evenings, I tuned my TV to the Giants-at-Dodgers on MLB-EI. I did this so I could enjoy seeing Dodger fans booing Barry while he failed to do it. But even better than watching all times Barry didn't do it, the very best part was that MLB-EI was showing the Dodgers feed, which means Vin Scully.

If you are not familiar with this man, and if you appreciate good announcers, you should give this guy a listen before it's too late. He's been doing this for about a hundred years, and he's about 80 years old. He ain't gonna be around forever.

There are so many things he does well, and most of them are not the kind of things you can tell somebody about. The only way to "get it" is to listen to him for several games. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that he does it all by himself. He is the play-by-play guy and he is the color guy. He is a team of one. One minute he's describing the play, and next thing you know he's telling stories about Hank hitting dingers off of Drysdale, Drysdale drilling him, and weaving it all into the obvious Bonds story. He does it with such a natural ease that it is fair to say that he really does weave a tapestry.

Sometimes, if I'm up late, I'll tune in the Dodger game just to hear him. I don't care about the Dodgers. The main thing the Dodgers mean to me is the 66 WS. I grew up on Chuck Thompson and I love Jon Miller, and I have nothing but good things to say about both of them. But the simple fact of the matter is that Vin Scully is in a class by himself.

ps: He does not do all their games anymore. I think he does all their home games but only goes on the road with them to other cities in the NL-West. So, if you try to give him a listen and get somebody else doing the Dodger broadcast, it's probably because they're on the road somewhere east of the Rockies.

Agreed, I watch the games quite a bit and there's no one that compares.

[gallden]

He does the radio right? I've really wanted to hear him for some time now but it just seems so late now.

[TGO]

He does the radio right? I've really wanted to hear him for some time now but it just seems so late now.

No, he does TV. He's done both during his career but he's currently a TV guy.

[66-70-83-??]

Agreed, I watch the games quite a bit and there's no one that compares.

I gotta disagree.

Vin Scully is EXCELLENT. But, Chuck Thompson at least "compares" to him.

And I actually think Jon Miller is BETTER.

I grew up listening to the great team of Thompson/O'Donnell.

My opinion is that Jon Miller is the best of them all. No one "entertains" like Miller. No one can keep you interested in listening to a 15-2 drubbing like Jon can with his funny stories, interesting stats, etc......

[TGO]

The best thing that Scully does is let the picture and the crowd noise tell the story after big moments. The 86 WS game 6, Kirk Gibson's 88 homer, he went silent for long stretches of time after the initial calls. And that's a beautiful thing. Too many announcers talk through those moments and it's usually annoying. The best TV announcers know when to shut up.

[66-70-83-??]

The best thing that Scully does is let the picture and the crowd noise tell the story after big moments. The 86 WS game 6, Kirk Gibson's 88 homer, he went silent for long stretches of time after the initial calls. And that's a beautiful thing. Too many announcers talk through those moments and it's usually annoying. The best TV announcers know when to shut up.

I agree to that 100%.

The great ones understand that the GAME is the story.

[Frobby]

Scully is awesome. I miss the days when he used to call NBC's game of the week.

Jon Miller is not only awesome, but he can do a mean Scully impression.

[bobmc]

The Shack is back back back.....

Scully - meh; Chuck - whatever; Miller es el hombre!

[RShack]

He does the radio right? I've really wanted to hear him for some time now but it just seems so late now.

I'm not sure, but I think that they do the first couple innings of simulcast, during which he is both radio and TV, and then other radio guys take over for the duration of the game. But I could be wrong about this.

[tennOsfan]

I wish the newer generations of announcers would learn something from Vin. He's still a joy.

[Chollie Eckman]

The most amazing thing about Scully is that he never stops talking. It's a nonstop dialog. He's the reason to watch Dodger games on late nite TV. The argument over who's better is like which flavor of ice cream is best? Scully is a joy to listen too and if you hear his voice the Dodgers are on.

[skipshot26]

I grew up in the LA area. Vin Scully is the voice of my childhood. It's hard to believe that he's still going and he's still great.

"The eastern most in quality and the western most in flavor..."

[weams]

The Shack is back back back.....

Scully - meh; Chuck - whatever; Miller es el hombre!

Gary Thorne es Mas Grande. Stay Gary, Stay.

[ixcuincle]

Scully is a legendary broadcaster...one of the greatest in the game. He does Radio and TV ; for some games he will do the first 3 innings on KFWB / Dodgers Radio and then the rest on the TV.