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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Cooperstown

posted by on February 19 at 11:14 AM

Via Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times comes word of some great news for Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus.

RSS icon Comments

1

A fitting (if slightly overdue) honor for the man who is literally The Voice of summer evenings in the Pacific Northwest...

Posted by Jeff | February 19, 2008 11:24 AM
2

True dat Jeff. You could hear this guy's love for this team on his voice. Well deserved.

My oh my....

Posted by SeMe | February 19, 2008 11:32 AM
3

Man, they'll let anyone in, won't they?

Posted by heywhatsit | February 19, 2008 11:43 AM
4

Why do baseball fans have to flaunt their lifestyle?

Posted by elenchos | February 19, 2008 11:45 AM
5

Good for him. He's no Bob Uecker, but at least he's ours.

Now, if only we could find a way to remove Mike Blowers from the broadcast team...mediocre player, crappy sportscaster.

Posted by Hernandez | February 19, 2008 12:00 PM
6

@1.

Werd.

Posted by Reality Check | February 19, 2008 12:05 PM
7

My oh my!

Posted by AL | February 19, 2008 12:57 PM
8

@ Hernandez -- eh, Blowers is all right. What I like about him is his former-player angle on the players. Dave Sims, though, is much better suited to football announcing and talks about New York too much -- like anyone here gives a fuck. Rookie season. Who knows.

Happy for Niehaus. I thought he was losing it a couple of seasons back, but seemed comfortable in his skin again last year.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | February 19, 2008 12:58 PM
9

Ah, Dave Niehaus. If only he had a clue. And could speak English.

Posted by umvue | February 19, 2008 1:18 PM
10

Heh. At least he doesn't say Mah-Losers!

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | February 19, 2008 1:31 PM
11

this is great news. he is one of the baseball world's best broadcasters.

Posted by jelky | February 19, 2008 1:33 PM
12

i can find nothing to complain about in this instance.

Posted by max solomon | February 19, 2008 1:58 PM
13

I love dave. and blowers isn't that bad compared to rick rizzs. oh dear god is that man annoying, on top of the pervy vibes he gives off.

Posted by twig | February 19, 2008 2:10 PM
14

just dont let buhner back in the broadcast booth.

Posted by SeMe | February 19, 2008 3:07 PM
15

"Get out the rye bread and the mustard, Grandma, it's grand salami time!"

Posted by derkle | February 19, 2008 3:59 PM
16

Dave has never, as far as I know, done any national broadcasting. That's the real sign of a quality broadcaster: when the network execs pay you the big bucks to work the big games.

Dave's like your old Uncle who tells funny stories, but gets lost on the way to the grocery store. Niehaus tells great stories about old ballplayers, but he's pretty clueless about the game in front of him.

Seattle fans love him because he is the only announcer they've ever had. Rick Rizz doesn't really count.

The Baseball Hall of Fame awards the Ford Frick prize to someone EVERY YEAR! All the good, old-time broadcasters already won: Niehaus is one of the last of the old school guys who hadn't won. It's kinda like Bob Dole's pres run in '96.

I'd still take Niehaus over Harry Carry (complete fool) or Hawk Harrelson (biggest Homer since Simpson), but that is damning praise at best.

"Don't mistake Activity for Achievement" - John Wooden

Posted by Sir Vic | February 19, 2008 4:15 PM
17

@16:"That's the real sign of a quality broadcaster: when the network execs pay you the big bucks to work the big games."

My sarcasm meter is all out of whack, but I have to assume you're being sarcastic here. Yes? Please?

Posted by gnossos | February 19, 2008 7:18 PM
18

@17 Not really. That statement is true in most businesses. If you're really good, the bosses will promote you to a position where your talent can be utilized. Dave is a regional treasure, but nationally unknown. Most of the national broadcasters also have gigs for local teams, so it's not like Niehaus would have to give up calling M's games if he "got the call". As it is, he's been in AAA his entire career (and hopefully a few AA meetings). That doesn't sound like HOFer to me.

The biggest point is that his entry to the HOF is TOTALLY unlike players, managers & execs. The rules state that one broadcaster every year gets the award and subsequent enshrinement. There are more broadcasters in the HOF than 3B's, by quite a few. If the HOF required that, every year, each position should have an inductee, then we'd have Dan Wilson getting in as a catcher, after all the top All-Stars made it. It would become like the Basketball HOF, which inducts a part-time coach from a Bulgarian Middle School Girls team in the 60's. Their rules require 5+ inductees every year, totally cheapening the product. The Ford Frick Award is baseball's way of making each team happy by inducting their long-time broadcasters, regardless of talent.

I really don't mean to bag on Niehaus. I just want everyone to realize this is about his longevity, not merit. Basically, every longtime broadcaster, regardless of talent, will be inducted.

Posted by Sir Vic | February 20, 2008 9:03 AM
19

For the love of a lazy god. Can you link to the article instead of the blog?

Posted by lazy | February 22, 2008 9:48 AM

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