Eli Gold or Chris Stewart?

[pvilleguru]

i'd much rather have chris stewart doing games than eli. i'd like to give stewart a shot doing the football games.

 

[edwd58]

I grew up listening to Forney call Bama football on the radio. I'll never forget staying over at a friends house with two buddies so we could stay up in our treehouse and listen to the Bama/USC game in 71. If I pause and think about it, I can still hear Forney talking about Stabler, Homan, Perkins, Hunter.... what good memories. I like Forney, but his time had come, and gone, well before he finally stepped aside.

As for today, give me Chris Stewart. Some may call him a homer (but I want the guy I'm listening to to be on my side), but not being enough of one cost Paul Kennedy the job after Forney left. There may have been additional reasons but that seemed to be the most popular complaint, not enough "us" in his descriptions. They need to give Chris someone better to team with on basketball broadcasts, someone that knows the intricacies of the game (something Roberts does not possess).

Eli does alright with football but Kenny makes him more tolerable. Eli has a great and distinctive voice, but too often gets lost during the game. I used to listen to him while I was at the games but stopped several years ago, too frustrating. I hope Chris will get the opportunity to do football when Eli moves on.

 

[Salty Dog @ Work]

Eli does alright with football but Kenny makes him more tolerable. Eli has a great and distinctive voice, but too often gets lost during the game. I used to listen to him while I was at the games but stopped several years ago, too frustrating. I hope Chris will get the opportunity to do football when Eli moves on.

This isn't a personal attack against you, just something that I hear all the time that bothers me:

If you're AT the game, then you shouldn't need anybody doing play-by-play or you. Eli's style should be what you want -- 30% color and commentary with 70% play by play.

Some folks want the PBP to sound like this:

"It's Alabama's ball, First and 10 on their own 20 yard line with 14:45 remaining in the first quarter. Alabama lines up in an I-formation with John Parker Wilson under center going left to right as you listen. Wilson takes the snap and hands off to the tailback Coffee who follows the fullback Huber between the center and the right guard. Coffee lunges forward for a four yard gain. As Alabama heads back to the huddle, it's second and six on the Alabama 24 yard line. The clock shows 14:25 seconds left in the first quarter and counting. Alabama comes to the line with 15 seconds left on the play clock. The game clock reads 14:15 left in the first quarter. Alabama's in the I with Wilson under center and Hall split to the near side. Wilson takes the snap, sticks the ball in Coffee's belly, pulls it out, spots Hall on a slant across the middle. Wilson throws a frozen rope to Hall, who makes the catch and is immediately tackled by the Tennessee defender. Gain of 9. The referee signals first down Alabama at the Alabama 33 yard line. There's 14:00 showing on the game clock as the Tide goes back the huddle."

What a drag! I don't constantly need down and distance on every snap, but I see posts every year about how Eli doesn't give D&D enough. If you're paying attention to the game, you should know where the ball is without being constantly reminded!

Sorry for the rant.

 

[pvilleguru]

What a drag! I don't constantly need down and distance on every snap, but I see posts every year about how Eli doesn't give D&D enough. If you're paying attention to the game, you should know where the ball is without being constantly reminded!

well, if a drive is lasting 5 minutes, and he only mentions where the ball is at the beginning of the drive, it can get quite confusing. especially if you miss a play. some people listen to the radio while at the game because they say things on the radio that you wouldn't know if you're in the stadium. someone could get hurt, and they would occasionally say what happened to him or how long the player will be out, ect.

 

[BamaBackerBill]

Well, I basically grew up with Eli calling both basketball and of course football and I've always enjoyed him with both. Eli Gold is probably the most versatile play by play guy around. I think Chris does an outstanding job with the basketball and I hope one day he can also do the football. That is.......whenever Eli wants to call it quits. I hope Eli will be the voice of the Crimson Tide for many years to come. Roll Tide!!!

 

[CornBiscuit]

I have never understood the Eli hate. I guess when you grow up with someone you don't like change, which is understandable. I like Kenny, too.

I this Chris is being groomed for the job and I will welcome him with open arms. He seems like a good guy as well.

 

[edwd58]

This isn't a personal attack against you, just something that I hear all the time that bothers me:

If you're AT the game, then you shouldn't need anybody doing play-by-play or you. Eli's style should be what you want -- 30% color and commentary with 70% play by play.

What a drag! I don't constantly need down and distance on every snap, but I see posts every year about how Eli doesn't give D&D enough. If you're paying attention to the game, you should know where the ball is without being constantly reminded!

Sorry for the rant.

No offence taken but if you're at the game there are things that go on that you can't find out about unless you can hear the radio broadcast. Things like injury updates, clarifications on penalties, Stabler's comments, scoring updates around the league and country (certainly can't rely on the ribbon boards or Tony Giles).

Perhaps YOU don't need down and distance very often, but what about the fan that joins the game in progress, the parent watching kids or other such scenarios, not everyone (me included) gets to watch/listen to the game without interruptions. The occassional reminder of down and distance is appreciated and shouldn't be asking for too much from the guy hired to provide that information.

 

[BamaMan34]

No offence taken but if you're at the game there are things that go on that you can't find out about unless you can hear the radio broadcast. Things like injury updates, clarifications on penalties, Stabler's comments, scoring updates around the league and country (certainly can't rely on the ribbon boards or Tony Giles).

Perhaps YOU don't need down and distance very often, but what about the fan that joins the game in progress, the parent watching kids or other such scenarios, not everyone (me included) gets to watch/listen to the game without interruptions. The occassional reminder of down and distance is appreciated and shouldn't be asking for too much from the guy hired to provide that information.

Get a cell phone.

 

[edwd58]

Get a cell phone.

LOL, some people have all the answers, but to each his own. Instead of Eli doing his job, I'm supposed to call people til I get the info I seek. But, wait, you could be onto something, maybe that's why Eli seems lost so often, he's answering calls on his cell phone from listeners! Anyway, I've got a cell phone, send me your number and I'll pass it around and we'll all call you when we have a question or need an update.

 

[LCN]

Eli Gold is not the voice of the Crimson Tide....John Forney is and always will be. :wink:

Chris does a better job than Eli. I wish he did football too. JMO

I was a youngster when Forney was in his decline but , I still have some good memories of him . Probably the most vivid one would be the '79 night game at lsu . We won 3-0 in a driving rain storm .



As far as whoever it was that said EG has a good voice , he has an obviously northern voice so he's doomed for me from about the time he starts . Doesn't fit here . Never has . JOMO .

 

[MM4TIDE]

I prefer Eli but Chris does a good job.

:BigA:RTR:BigA:

 

[BOOOUT]

chris stewart.... this guy fires me up. i hope he takes over football.

btw-- does anybody know where i can get a sound bit of stewart when hillman made that awesome dunk against the barn (i bet he went crazy). i was at the game so i wasn't listening.

 

[BOOOUT]

about that dunk. i was glad to see they added it to the pre-game highlights. if hillman keeps it up.. the highlights will be a little one sided.

 

[UANAA]

Stewart is a homer. He practically cheerleads throughout his broadcasts. Eli has a much better radio voice, IMO, and he is far less one-sided. I know some folks like to have a homer on the mic, but I'd rather have someone who'll call a spade a spade rather than being tight-lipped after losses and rah-rah-ing after wins. Again, JMO.

He works for the Crimson Tide Sports Network, not ESPN. What the heck do you want to hear?

 

[beardensdaman44]

chris stewart.... this guy fires me up. i hope he takes over football.

btw-- does anybody know where i can get a sound bit of stewart when hillman made that awesome dunk against the barn (i bet he went crazy). i was at the game so i wasn't listening.

There ya go! This will easily become your new favorite website!

http://www.learfield.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=852DCF10-5ACF-4836-A5CF2092EAAA6531


Go down til the 07-08 basketball section.. right click save as

 

[bamadoc94]

The "color man" was added to the booth sometime in the 70's to add some commentary and flavor and break up the monotonous tone of the play-by play man. The problem is that these guys soon became the stars of the broadcast, since they got lots of air time between plays and whatnot, and since they could provide a commentary to the audience that people could relate to. Now everybody wants to add "color" to the broadcast. I would however prefer the example of PbP I heard earlier in this post if it meant having an informed broadcast. YES, I do need down and distance after every play because it is an integral part of the game of football. The problem with Eli and many other PbP guys is that they are trying to do color and PbP at the same time, often forgetting their primary responsibility which is to provide pertinant information.

 

[trample-em]

Eli was pathetic on basketball. Replacing him with Chris Stewart was a great move. I'd like to see tom Roberts relegated to "Hey Coach" and maybe halftime duty and postgame interviews as well. Bring in a former player, someone who knows some basketball.

Chris is doing okay. Being young, he hopefully will grow in his knowledge of the game. Having a former player like Bryan Passink alongside is helpful, and I hope the two as a team will get better with the years. And by better, I mean becoming more analytical and, when appropriate, critical. Tom Roberts has longstanding UA connections that make him part of the broadcast team but Tom has a predictable, numbers-oriented approach to summarizing what is going on, and I think we could do better there.
We may never have a voice like Kentucky's Cawood Ledford, but it was great to hear his trademark broadcasts which would include criticisms of his beloved Big Blue ("Ohh, Kentucky very sloppy on the boards") when he felt criticism was called for.

 

[BamaMan34]

Chris is doing okay. Being young, he hopefully will grow in his knowledge of the game. Having a former player like Bryan Passink alongside is helpful, and I hope the two as a team will get better with the years. And by better, I mean becoming more analytical and, when appropriate, critical. Tom Roberts has longstanding UA connections that make him part of the broadcast team but Tom has a predictable, numbers-oriented approach to summarizing what is going on, and I think we could do better there.
We may never have a voice like Kentucky's Cawood Ledford, but it was great to hear his trademark broadcasts which would include criticisms of his beloved Big Blue ("Ohh, Kentucky very sloppy on the boards") when he felt criticism was called for.

Chris' knowledge of bball already far exceeds Eli's.

As for Tom, I sure do miss him answering his on question during his question.

 

[Bama 3:16]

Chris Stewart is a great play by play man and his calls during crucial moments of the game are excellent. Its easy to follow the action and have a clue where the ball is, etc. during his broadcast. Eli Gold is the worst announcer I have ever heard for radio basketball and near the bottom for football. You have no clue what is going on when Eli calls a game.

Do yourself a favor on the next tv broadcast (especially Raycom), turn down the sound and turn on your radio and listen to Stewart call the game while watching it. It will be a much better broadcast then that junk that Raycom has to offer.

 

[rolltideas]

My favorite are the games where Chris Stewart absolutely freaks out win Bama wins. I bet he leaves moisture in his seat.