Gary Bender Announces Retirement

AfroSuns

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Good luck to you Gary, Thanks for all the years..
Hall of Fame broadcaster Gary Bender, who has spent nearly two decades as the voice of Phoenix Suns local home game telecasts, will make 2010-11 his final season behind the microphone and retire from broadcasting.
Bender, whose first broadcasting opportunity came at a 1,000-watt radio station in Hutchinson, Kan., in 1964, will see his illustrious career come full circle as he returns to his Midwest roots to serve as a consultant to the Kansas University Alumni Association and the school's Endowment Association. In his new role, Bender will advise both organizations on communications, programs, and events, and also serve as keynote speaker at awards programs.
“Gary defines the word ‘professional’ in the broadcasting industry," said Suns President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Welts. “His class, talent and character have combined to give Suns fans 18 years of great memories and unforgettable moments lived through his words. He is part of our family, and the team and all Suns fans say ‘thank you’ for a job incredibly well done.”
Over more than five decades in the industry, Bender's voice has provided the track for some of sports’ most indelible moments. As the longtime voice of the Final Four on CBS, Bender called two of the most famous finishes in the history of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. He was courtside in 1982 for Michael Jordan's game-winner that lifted North Carolina over Georgetown in the title game, and in 1983 for North Carolina State's improbable championship-clinching win over Houston on Lorenzo Charles' dunk as time expired. And it was Bender who described the heart-wrenching race of speed skater Dan Jansen at the 1988 Winter Olympics on the day of his sister's passing.

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leclerc

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Bummer. Thanks for the memories Gary! I like his chemistry with Eddie Johnson and the guys. A fun and nice guy.

Does this mean we can have Al McCoy back on television? Or does he strictly do radio?
 

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Grant Hill!
Grant Hill might very well go into broadcasting, but he'd be a color commentator. Gary Bender does play-by-play.

Al McCoy won't be a consideration to go back to TV from radio play-by-play. He's pretty close to retiring himself.

With Tom Leander already doing TV play-by-play on all road games, it is probably a given that he will replace Bender as the TV voice of the Suns for the home games as well.

Personally, I think it's a good choice.

When Al McCoy retires, Jeff Munn will probably become the radio play-by-play man of the Suns. I think he already does the games that McCoy sits out.

I was hoping that Munn would become the radio voice of the D'backs, which he shares with The Guv'nor Greg Schulte. I can't stand listening to Sutton and Grace, so I watch the game on TV with the sound muted and listen to the radio play-by-play.
 

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can you guys explain what you mean by color?

I personally love Gary and Al because I grew up listening to them.. This is some sad news :(

Nash era over, rebuilding coming, announcers leaving... The whole face of this franchise is changing.
 

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can you guys explain what you mean by color?

I personally love Gary and Al because I grew up listening to them.. This is some sad news :(

Nash era over, rebuilding coming, announcers leaving... The whole face of this franchise is changing.

Essentially comedy relief.
 

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What's wrong with TC? He's not even a color guy. And he's still a lot better than Leander. I don't mind Brad Steinke though.

I mute TC at half-time. :D

I don't find TC particularly knowledgeable and he does not hold my attention. I do like Eddie Johnson although he can sometimes get carried away talking about his previous experiences playing basketball. However, Eddie is knowledgeable and I sometimes wish the Suns coaching staff were listening to him live. He seems to have a good handle on the game.
 
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AfroSuns

AfroSuns

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can you guys explain what you mean by color?

I personally love Gary and Al because I grew up listening to them.. This is some sad news :(

Nash era over, rebuilding coming, announcers leaving... The whole face of this franchise is changing.

I loved Bender too, but when you start calling a 9 feet jumper a 3 point shot. or you consistently cant identify your players, like calling Brooks, Childress when you have the best seat in the house; you know its time to go :)
 

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can you guys explain what you mean by color?
You deserve a serious answer. Generally a play-by-play announcer describes each play as it is happening. 'More crucial on radio than on TV.

Very few former players become play-by-play announcers. Announcer's voice and all that stuff.

A color commentator is usually a former player who analyzes the play and gives insight after the play, sometimes accompanied on TV by a visual replay. Sounding like a jock rather than announcer is a plus.

Once upon a time when Al McCoy was doing simulcasts on TV and radio (once cable started televising all home games as well as away), he gave away some secrets.

Such as his "Looks good .........................is good!" which, on radio, sounded like he was predicting that the ball would go in. In actuality, he waited until after the ball went through the hoop to say it.

Simulcasts can be annoying because while watching the game on TV, you don't really need a non-stop stream painting a picture, which is an art on radio.
 

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me, im going to miss his play-by-play calls.

i wish we could get rid of leander and williams.

bender and ej are cool
 

BC867

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me, im going to miss his play-by-play calls.

i wish we could get rid of leander and williams.

bender and ej are cool
I agree with AfroSuns. I've always liked listening to Gary Bender, but he has lost 'half a step' in his announcing.

I wonder if he has a groin injury. :)
 

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You deserve a serious answer. Generally a play-by-play announcer describes each play as it is happening. 'More crucial on radio than on TV.

Very few former players become play-by-play announcers. Announcer's voice and all that stuff.

A color commentator is usually a former player who analyzes the play and gives insight after the play, sometimes accompanied on TV by a visual replay. Sounding like a jock rather than announcer is a plus.

Once upon a time when Al McCoy was doing simulcasts on TV and radio (once cable started televising all home games as well as away), he gave away some secrets.

Such as his "Looks good .........................is good!" which, on radio, sounded like he was predicting that the ball would go in. In actuality, he waited until after the ball went through the hoop to say it.

Simulcasts can be annoying because while watching the game on TV, you don't really need a non-stop stream painting a picture, which is an art on radio.

Thank you for explaining sir.
 

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Ya Bender would pull a blunder about once every couple minutes the last few times I listened to him. Not a terrible decision to retire imo. I wouldn't mind Williams retiring also. For some reason, that guy rubs me the wrong way.
 
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AfroSuns

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Ya Bender would pull a blunder about once every couple minutes the last few times I listened to him. Not a terrible decision to retire imo. I wouldn't mind Williams retiring also. For some reason, that guy rubs me the wrong way.

My problem with Williams is, he sounds too "non-bias", not sure if this makes sense but i just don't get the vibe that he is really into the Suns. plus his knowledge of basketball is crap for someone who played professionally.
 

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I despise Scott Williams as a color guy. He makes up stupid nicknames for every player and gets excited for no reason and thinks he's funny.
 

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Suns don't really have great commentators.

When Frye hit that buzzer beater against Indy our announcers barely acknowledged as otherwise commentators usually go crazy with that kind of stuff.
 

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Suns don't really have great commentators.

When Frye hit that buzzer beater against Indy our announcers barely acknowledged as otherwise commentators usually go crazy with that kind of stuff.

This.

They go more crazy over a 3 pointer.. I am so sick of hearing:

JARED DUDLEY!! 3 FOR 3!

Steve Nash, spots up!! AAAND downloads the 3.

I'd rather hear "boom goes the dynamite"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45DRy7M1no
 

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I'm glad Bender is retiring... the guy missed plays multiple times every game... say there were fouls when the ball just went out of bounds, say the foul was on the wrong person, get names confused, etc. Whatever color guy he worked with seemed to have to constantly bite his tongue so he didn't correct him & embarrass him. I think the weirdest thing I ever remember hearing him talk about on air was that he showers every time after he poops... I don't know how that came up or why.
 

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I actually think Leander's "elevates and detonates" goes well with monster dunks, but I give almost all of his other catch phrases a 1/10. At least he is not senile or anything. I think the gets more criticism than he deserves.

Scott Williams is terrible and you can tell he only took this job as a jumping board to another job for the Bulls or UNC or something. He's no Suns fan. You can't call Chuck Hayes the "chuck wagon" when that's what Barkley was often called while he was here.

Bender was only okay. McCoy was the best here in his much younger days.

I actually think there are not that many good NBA play-by-play guys. I'd rather hear the game noise with no play-by-play, just commentary. I can see what is going on.
 

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Anyone listen to radio broadcasts? Tim Kempton is the biggest homer I've ever heard. According to him, the Suns fall victim to the "worst call he's ever seen".
 
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