PA Announcers

[redice]

I'm watching the tape of the Cornell at Colgate game.   And, I couldn't help but notice the flamboyant PA announcer at Starr.    Personally, I hate that style.  And, hearing Starr's announcer makes me appreciate the more dignified sytle that the Lynah PA Announcers have exhibited over the years.   How do others feel about that?   If we someday have a Starr-like PA announcer, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?

[Liz '05]

Bad thing.  Although I wouldn't mind the "Team returns to full strength" call, I dislike the Colgate announcer's style.  I suppose, though, that when your fans aren't as rabid as ours, you need to do something to get them to cheer...

[Al DeFlorio]

That cheerleader crap is just nonsense.  I'm concerned that I heard some of that during the broadcast of yesterday's Cornell-Columbia wrestling dual meet.  Really bush league, as are train whistles, horns, bells, and other artificial noisemakers.

[Mr. Timekeeper]

I couldn't agree more.  The guy at Starr is truely off the wall.  He's just soooo annoying!  It actually took him six full seconds to gargle out the "last minute of play" announcement for the third period!

[Will]

I loved how the Starr PA announcer had to mention it every time Cornell iced the puck.  ::rolleyes::  Though, to be fair, I suppose someone has to educate the drunk Colgate students about how the game of hockey is played. :-P

[lhayes]

I love Arthur Mintz's style (especially "Good evening, hockey fans" -- our family's standard get-psyched phrase for years now).  The announcer who always drove me crazy was at Princeton, with announcements for "Princeton TIGERRRRRR goals."  As Al says, it's bush league stuff.  We don't need it.  And my impression this year was that Princeton now agrees, though I couldn't be sure since the PA was so inaudible.

[ugarte]

[quote lhayes]I love Arthur Mintz's style (especially "Good evening, hockey fans" -- our family's standard get-psyched phrase for years now).[/quote]Agree.  

{I don't like} announcements for "Princeton TIGERRRRRR goals."  As Al says, it's bush league stuff.  We don't need it.

I disagree. There is room for more than one style. I love Arthur's class in the booth, but I don't mind the home rink announcer revving up the crowd with a little homer enthusiasm in his calls.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote ugarte]...but I don't mind the home rink announcer revving up the crowd with a little homer enthusiasm in his calls.[/quote]
Little?

[ugarte]

[quote Al DeFlorio][quote ugarte]...but I don't mind the home rink announcer revving up the crowd with a little homer enthusiasm in his calls.[/quote]
Little?[/quote]Or a lot... I wasn't at the game last night so I don't know how bad it was and I don't remember ever being offended at Baker.

[lhayes]

[quote ugarte]I don't remember ever being offended at Baker.[/quote]

I haven't been offended either.   But to me, their PA announcements seem a rather pathetic reminder that the home crowd needs revving up.

[canuck89]

I think the home announcer SHOULD rev the crowd up.  Many different styles should also be accepted (In agreement with ugarte).  However, the guy last night had the cheesiest way of announcing that I have ever heard.  THAT style should not be allowed.  :-P

[KP '06]

[quote canuck89]However, the guy last night had the cheesiest way of announcing that I have ever heard.  THAT style should not be allowed.  :-P[/quote]
Sounded to me like he belongs in the WWF.

[canuck89]

Couldn't pinpoint it myself, but yes, that's exactly where he belongs.

[Rich S]

Having just been at Baker rink last night, I noticed that it's the same PA announcer as in the past but he no longer emphasizes "TIGERRRRRRR" as he previously did.

It used to annoy me a bit but I could live with it.  I agree that in all the games I've seen at Princeton, except for a few in the Apps/Halpern/Bertoli era, and recent ones vs No Dak and Notre Dame, when the place was packed and really into it, they have needed some encouragement.  If the PA guy can do that, I have no problem with it.

As for what's acceptable and what's bush league...

I was "raised" at Clarkson in the early 70s by the dulcet tones of Dean A. George Davis whom I can most accurately liken to the style of Bob Shepherd at Yankee Stadium.  A George, who only gave it up a handful of years ago, but still keeps the clock, would patiently wait until the rabid crowd quieted down and then calmly announce the scoring.  I can still hear his announcement e.g., "Clarkson goal scored by number 9, Jerry Kemp...assisted by # 4 Steve Warr...etc."  Any of you veteran fans here may well remember his style.  Understated and classy but informative.

That said Al, I think we need to update our sensibilities a bit and widen the view of what's expected and tolerated.  People like Dr. Davis and Mr. Mintz at Lynah are rarities these days and just because things that are done elsewhere are not done at Lynah, that doesn't automatically make them tasteless and bush league.  Our ears are bombarded with raucous noise everywhere, not just hockey games.  Spend a day or two in most high schools or around most HS athletic teams or in locker rooms.  I may not like the musical selections .::rolleyes:: but the reality is that it's part of our culture.

In Clarkson/Walker Arena, the famous bell used to be rung only after a Clarkson goal.  That made its sound special and treasured.  And while it may have annoyed the visiting team a bit, it was likely because of what it signified.  I never heard it called bush league or anything close to that by the visiting coaches or players I had contact with.

Ringing it much more frequently has diminished it's value I'd agree.  As a point of reference, old time NHL fans should recall the train whistle in old Chicago Stadium....classic.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Rich S]That said Al, I think we need to update our sensibilities a bit and widen the view of what's expected and tolerated.  People like Dr. Davis and Mr. Mintz at Lynah are rarities these days and just because things that are done elsewhere are not done at Lynah, that doesn't automatically make them tasteless and bush league.
[/quote]
To me, they are tasteless and bush league.  It doesn't surprise me at all that you feel differently.