Gary Bender Announces Retirement

[AzStevenCal]

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.

I'm at the opposite end with much of what you said here. I agree that Williams is terrible and that McCoy was the best we ever had when he was younger. I hate that stupid "elevate and detonate" phrase along with most of his other attempts at cleverness. Other than that, he's a decent announcer. He follows the action reasonably well and is usually pretty accurate with names and such. Bender was a good announcer when he was younger but he's been pretty bad in Phoenix.

I think the play by play across the league is MUCH better than the commentary. There are very few color guys locally or nationally that I can stand but I have no problem with most of the play-by-play guys, other than the obvious homer aspect that exists for many of them. I often wish I could replace the color commentary with silence or elevator music - especially when it's Van Gundy or Mark Jackson.

Steve

 

[leclerc]

Van Gundy and Mark Jackson are awful, simply awful. I don't like the ESPN chuckers.

Leander has some bad catch phrases (downloads the three, three for three) but other than that he's okay (I like straight and sweet). I have nothing against Scott Williams. EJ is better though, except when he gets hung up on repeating "Again...".

On cue - again - all the best to Gary Bender, thanks for all the good times!

 

[elindholm]

I agree that Mark Jackson is beyond awful, but I really like Jeff Van Gundy.

 

[nathan]

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.

I used to hate listening to Tom Leander, but now I don't mind him because he's not Scott Williams.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

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.

How Scott Williams got a job talking on TV will always remain a great mystery to me. He's an affable guy, but one of the worst announcers I've ever heard. He stumbles, he stammers, he never stops talking, he says one ridiculously obvious thing after the next. Ideally, Majerle would return to the booth, and Williams would go anywhere but there.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm terrified of the day that Eddie Johnson gets a coaching gig, because he is BY FAR the best Suns color personality in any medium--and probably amongst all announcers (although I still like Al McCoy, I just don't get to listen to him at all in CA).

 

[TheHopToad]

I wish they would lure Dave Pasch away from ESPN to be the Suns' full-time TV play-by-play man. He's pretty good and lives in the area. They could use Leander (or anyone) to fill in when Pasch is doing Cardinals' games.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wish they would lure Dave Pasch away from ESPN to be the Suns' full-time TV play-by-play man. He's pretty good and lives in the area. They could use Leander (or anyone) to fill in when Pasch is doing Cardinals' games.

+1. He would be an excellent choice.

Steve

 

[BC867]

JARED DUDLEY!! 3 FOR 3!]

I thought he was saying "3 for 3", too, for Dudley's number 3 on a 3-point shot.

Then I heard him say it for Frye. I think Leander is saying, "Free for 3." For whatever that is worth.

 

[sunsfan88]

Is Al McCoy the guy that says "Absolotely!" whenever someone makes a 3?

 

[Chaplin]

Is Al McCoy the guy that says "Absolotely!" whenever someone makes a 3?

You seriously don't know who Al McCoy is? No, he is not the guy that says "Absolutely" after a 3. That's Leander.

 

[ninous26]

I thought he was saying "3 for 3", too, for Dudley's number 3 on a 3-point shot.

Then I heard him say it for Frye. I think Leander is saying, "Free for 3." For whatever that is worth.

Yes he says it for everyone.. Idk what he says but it sounds dumb as hell.

Is Al McCoy the guy that says "Absolotely!" whenever someone makes a 3?

Al McCoy used to be on TV now he's on AM radio.. He says "SHAZAM" when the suns hit a 3.. Probably the most signature word used when announcing the suns. He also says something like "Nash at the top of the key, waiting.. waiting.. looking.." Al also bashes the refs when they make stupid calls against the suns or gift another team.

 

[SirStefan32]

Is Al McCoy the guy that says "Absolotely!" whenever someone makes a 3?

WOW.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

You seriously don't know who Al McCoy is? No, he is not the guy that says "Absolutely" after a 3. That's Leander.

No kidding. Not knowing Al McCoy = you lose your Suns card.