Friday, August 20, 2010

Rosen Ranked Among All Time Best NY Sports Announcers

Neil Best at Newsday lists his 25 best New York Sports announcers of all time and Sam Rosen checks in at #17...

17) Sam Rosen
It is sometimes said that there are 25,000 hockey fans in New York and they’re all watching the Rangers. Yet, 26 years on the same job says a lot. And doing it with style and with an inimitable flair fosters an indelible bond.

Rosen is a play-by-play addict. If he’s not doing the Rangers, he’s broadcasting football for Fox or hockey for the NHL Radio Network. He’s also done boxing, “Giants Journal” and has ably filled in on Knicks games. And if he’s doing neither, he’s calling someone for another gig. Rosen has had a cherished and glittering career.

But if you ask him about his most memorable interview, he’ll say it was with Jimmy Carter after he won the Oregon primary in 1976. Rosen was then working for the UPI Radio Network.

...being able to watch games on Versus and NBC as well as Islander and Devils telecasts reminds me of how lucky we are to have a talent like Rosen calling Ranger games. He will forever be the voice of winter for me the way Bob Murphy was in the summer.

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14 comments:

Rick said...

Call him a homey, but that is the organization that pays the bills. We all know you cannot bad mouth the boss. But Sam does have class, style and substance. Nothing wrong with being the professional that he is. We could have Chico.

Pete J said...

Sam is the nicest guy and loves to talk Rangers even after the game with the fans outside. Class act!

Anyone else miss the trivia contest with him and Joe?

LI Joe said...

my pet peeve is he will only say what the crowd is chanting if its favorable. like "the fans are starting a lets go rangers chant". but if they are chanting negatively or booing he never mentions it.

i'd rather he stay silent both ways otherwise its really annoying. my ears can hear the lets go rangers.

AnnoyingJoe said...

They're are definitely homers, But they do a great job and they're honest. I don't know what a Ranger game will sound like without Sam.

On this subject, We went down to carolina new years eve for the game this past year. We were standing by where the team came out for practice and could see down the tunnel where John Gianone was doing pre-game interviews. We started calling him, he came down the tunnel and talked to us for about ten minutes about the team. He couldn't have been nicer. We've had similiar experiences with JD and Dave Maloney. They're all great and appreciate the fans.

Matty said...

He's definitely a homer but it could be much worse... we could have to listen to jack edwards, that guy is about as dumb as they come. Sam is great. And i definitely miss the trivia contest

Unknown said...

Sam's my hero. At least we don't have the guy who is the voice of the Buffalo Sabres. I HATE HIS VOICE.

AnnoyingJoe said...

Rick Jeanneret is the John Sterling of hockey, which is to say that he believes he is more important then the game. He's so terrible he's funny.

Fa-la-la-la-la LaFontaine!

Shut it

chef dave said...

Whenever I watch a Rangers game & Sam isn't there, it's like watching boxing without Michael Buffer: How do I know when I'm ready to rumble? You really notice how good it is when it's not there.

Anonymous said...

Sam Rosen seems like a nice guy, but it is horrid to listen to him. His voice irritates me deeply. Joe Micheletti is even worse. Howie Rose is awful as well. The only NY commentator I like is Billy Jaffe, who is always knowledgeable and is an awesome guy, met him at a practice last yr. Of course he is no longer a NY commentator.

theking said...

I have to strongly disagree with everyone. You people must be on drugs. I can't stand Rosen and all my close Ranger friends hate him too. He has no flare at all when he commentates. He isn't funny, there just is not anything that stands out. He has this annoying nasally Jewish voice that irritates the hell out of us. In such a field the commentators voice is so vital. His voice is painful to hear. Whichever one of my friends has the remote the TV always gets muted when the Rangers score a powerplay goal just so we don't hear him say "ITS A POWERPLAY GOAL"

chris said...

sam and jd is the best combination in sports history:

Sam :" It's a power play goal"

JD:"OH BABY"

LI Joe said...

the king - where do you get from my post that i was praising rosen

AnnoyingJoe said...

theking - You must be young. I understand your comments. I don't think Sam Rosen is the greatest announcer of all time, but alot of us grew up listening to him call games. Its nostalgia for us. And he will always be a big part of the teams greatest moment, the '94 cup. His voice is intertwined with all of those great moments and imprinted in the memory of all of us who witnessed it.

Cut him some slack.

theking said...

@Joe

I will be turning 24 so I was just a kid when the Rangers won the cup in 94`. I just do not think he is entertaining at all and I can understand why you older fans like him. Rosen has a long history with the Rangers but it is time for things to change. Get someone young and exciting in there with a charismatic voice. Maybe its time for a different commentator to be there when the Rangers win the cup again.