The Role of Commentators in Sports

Image Courtesy of The New York Post

By Zachary Lichter

As a person who has dreamed of being the next play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees, I have seen how hard it is to call a game in any sport. People think that calling a game is easy. Well, it is not. There is a lot of preparation, memorization, and concepts to keep in mind while calling a game. Many announcers have been able to perfect the art of calling a game for years; Jim Nantz, Kevin Harlan, and Al Michaels are some of the most notable names in the world of sports broadcasting. But what makes them great, and what does it take to be a good commentator?

The play-by-play announcer is very important because he or she is the person who is in most contact with the viewer. The average person watching the game does not know exactly what is happening, so the announcer puts it in easier terms. Some play-by-play announcers are known as the voice of a sports team, such as Vin Scully, who was known as the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years. There is one play-by-play announcer in particular who tends to do his job better than the rest, however:  Ian Eagle of CBS Sports. Eagle does a great job of reacting to the play that is happening and providing an energized account for the viewer. The play-by-play announcer needs to be ready to say anything as the play happens, and Eagle is the perfect example.

Besides, the play-by-play announcers are great analysts. Analysts usually are former players or coaches who explain why the play happened, as well as some background knowledge. These analysts can give a better perspective due to their playing or coaching experience. Some of the best analysts in football are quarterbacks because during their playing career they were needed to see everything on the field. This is no different for commentating, since something is happening in every play, and every action needs to be analyzed. 

One example of a skilled analyst I’ve always been a fan of is Tony Romo. Romo played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons and is one of the best analysts in the industry. Since joining CBS after his playing career, Romo has done a great job analyzing plays, since he knows the game so well. When Romo calls games, he often predicts plays before occurring. In the 2019 AFC championship between the Patriots and the Chiefs, Romo telegraphed multiple Patriots plays before they were even called, including a winning touchdown pass for the Patriots. 

As one may see, sports are filled with many amazing commentators, who can provide a unique, exciting, and intelligent account of a game. So maybe the next time you watch a game in any sport, turn up the volume on your TV and listen to the commentators. You might be surprised by how much preparation goes into calling a game. It might also give you a key aspect of appreciation for what they do.