Sam Rosen: Voice of the Rangers for 30 YEARS!

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

For those of you old enough, how do the names Ed Westfall and Jiggs McDonald make you feel?

I know Jiggs McDonald, despite not exactly being the oldest fan here. He's pretty annoying, has subbed in for Rose a few times when he wasn't available. Wasn't he, like, intolerable back when the Isles weren't a laughingstock?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

For those of you old enough, how do the names Ed Westfall and Jiggs McDonald make you feel?

Ha, SportsChannel.

Those guys were some serious homers. I didnt mind Jiggs too much, couldnt stand Westfall.

 

[Bluenote13]

I know Jiggs McDonald, despite not exactly being the oldest fan here. He's pretty annoying, has subbed in for Rose a few times when he wasn't available. Wasn't he, like, intolerable back when the Isles weren't a laughingstock?

"Here's Denny...up to Bryan...over to Michael...Score!!!!"

Like every game. Very annoying, especially since they were always winning.

Jiggs voice is what Isles fans hear in their head, like we do with Sam. Growing up in Brooklyn there was no MSG, that only existed in Manhattan, close circuit TV I think. My folks decided to get long island based WHT cable from 1981-1987 which covered the Isles, Mets, and Nets. I was a Ranger, Yanks and Knicks fan. Perfect

 

[Bluenote13]

Ha, SportsChannel.

Those guys were some serious homers. I didnt mind Jiggs too much, couldnt stand Westfall.

Don't get me wrong, Jiggs was an excellent caller, he was the total enemy though

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

"Here's Denny...up to Bryan...over to Michael...Score!!!!"

Like every game. Very annoying, especially since they were always winning.

Jiggs voice is what Isles fans hear in their head, like we do with Sam. Growing up in Brooklyn there was no MSG, that only existed in Manhattan, close circuit TV I think. My folks decided to get long island based WHT cable from 1981-1987 which covered the Isles, Mets, and Nets. I was a Ranger, Yanks and Knicks fan. Perfect

"Heeee's got the bomb sites set"

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

"Heeee's got the bomb sites set"

Wasnt Stan Fischler part of that dream team as well? Bashing the Rangers at every turn back when the Isles were signing his checks?

 

[Bluenote13]

Wasnt Stan Fischler part of that dream team as well? Bashing the Rangers at every turn back when the Isles were signing his checks?

Absolutely.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Wasnt Stan Fischler part of that dream team as well? Bashing the Rangers at every turn back when the Isles were signing his checks?

Yeah, that's just one of the reasons why i have trouble taking anything he says seriously.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

Absolutely.

Remember when "Stan and his gossip" would open all Islander and Devils pregame show? I'll never forget after the the 93 season (when we missed the playoffs) and Stan opens his segment with these two tidbits.

1) Rangers have a deal in place with both expansion teams to trade Messier for the first pick in the expansion draft.

2) Jagr is telling his close friends his dream is to play for the Islanders and would NEVER play for the Rangers.

He was like Ekland but less believable.

I think Stan stopped bashing the Rangers after Messier brought the cup to Fishlers son in the hospital. (I believe it was a heart transplant.)

The one time I met Stan he was very nice but every time I see him on tv I think of Stan and his gossip. Simply the worst segment in televised sports history.

 

[wolfgaze]

Yeah, that's just one of the reasons why i have trouble taking anything he says seriously.

I have trouble listening to him because he tries to be a 'sensationalist' who intentionally says something whacky or off-to-wall to garner attention or notoriety. It's his 'schtick' that he tries to play up any chance he gets. I never respected him for his old age or the time he spent around the game because I can't stand his personality nor his on-air commentary. Never read his books and probably never will.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I have trouble listening to him because he tries to be a 'sensationaist' who intentionally says something whacky or off-to-wall to garner attention or notoriety. It's his 'schtick' that he tries to play up any chance he gets. I never respected him for his old age or the time he spent around the game because I can't stand his personality. Never read his books and probably never will.

He should be used to do historical pieces and the sort. But to treat him like a hockey insider is nuts.

 

[dubidubidu]

I started watching games when I was 7-8 back in the early 90's, so Sam definitely is THE voice of the Rangers to me. While there might be some better hockey announcers out there, (personally I think Gary Thorne is the best there is) I'll always enjoy listening to him call a game, no matter how old he gets. It's kinda like when Bob Murphy got older, he might miss a couple of calls, but there was just something soothing about listening to him call a game. Anyone else leave random NFL games on just because Sam is calling them?

That being said, you think when Sam steps down they would bring Howie Rose back to do Rangers games? He calls a great game, and as he's admitted during many Mets broadcasts, is still a big Rangers fan.

 

[Nikita4]

For those of you old enough, how do the names Ed Westfall and Jiggs McDonald make you feel?

The 2 of them redefined the word "Homer" so badly that even Phil Rizzutto called them homers.

Jiggs and Eddie were awful, awful and awful.

 

[Nikita4]

The old ESPN crews were the best. Thorne and Clement, Strader and Pang. Glad Strader still gets national games. Panger, I believe, is with the Blues.

Clement, Clement, hands of Cement...

He was another homer for the Flygirls

 

[Bluenote13]

Yeah, that's just one of the reasons why i have trouble taking anything he says seriously.

Remember when "Stan and his gossip" would open all Islander and Devils pregame show? I'll never forget after the the 93 season (when we missed the playoffs) and Stan opens his segment with these two tidbits.

1) Rangers have a deal in place with both expansion teams to trade Messier for the first pick in the expansion draft.

2) Jagr is telling his close friends his dream is to play for the Islanders and would NEVER play for the Rangers.

He was like Ekland but less believable.

I think Stan stopped bashing the Rangers after Messier brought the cup to Fishlers son in the hospital. (I believe it was a heart transplant.)

The one time I met Stan he was very nice but every time I see him on tv I think of Stan and his gossip. Simply the worst segment in televised sports history.

He should be used to do historical pieces and the sort. But to treat him like a hockey insider is nuts.

Yeah, he's a hockey personality, not an insider since 1966

 

[Nikita4]

Yeah, he's a hockey personality, not an insider since 1966

That's because it costs too much and takes too much time to defrost him before every telecast He's what? 80 now? No offense to people who are 80, but go enjoy your retirement.

 

[Jersey Girl]

There are 30 teams in the league, who do you think are the 5-10 PbP guys better than Sam? Just curious... (I'm not saying he's the best, but you're saying he's not in the top 33% of NHL PbP guys. Having not lived in the NY/NJ/LI area over the years (on and off) I've watched my fair share of other teams on TV with their feed/PbP guys, and most of them stink, badly.

Well, this is a very subjective subject, so I can mention a play by play guy I like, you can say he 'stinks badly', and neither one of us are right or wrong.

That said, for me there are some that are far and away better than most. Those would be Jim Hughson (CBC), Chris Cuthbert (TSN), John Shorthouse (Canucks), Pat Foley (Blackhawks), Randy Hahn, (Sharks), Dean Brown (Senators), Bob Miller (Kings) and John Kelly (Blues). That's eight right there.

On the next level I would put Sam, Doc Emrick (NBC), Ralph Strangis (Stars), John Ahlers (Ducks), Howie Rose (Long Island Circus Clowns), Dave Strader (NBC), Joe Bowen (Leafs), Bob Cole (CBC) Rick Jeanneret (Sabres) and Mark Lee (CBC).

Guys who I'm not a big fan of...Rick Peckham (Lightning), Steve Cangialosi (Devils), Steve Goldstein (Panthers), John Forslund (Canes), Joe Beninati (Caps), Paul Steigerwald (Pens), Rob Kerr (Flames), Jack Edwards (Bruins), Jeff Rimer (Blue Jackets) and Ken Daniels (Wings).

The rest I have no opinion.

As I've said this is highely subjective...Forslund and Beninati are sometimes on top-10 lists of best announcers (and they're also used by networks), but I don't agree.

This also depends on actually wathching A LOT of games with different announcers....not just a youtube clip on occasion.

 

[Heia Norge]

Rosen is a very god play-by-play announcer, great listening to.
I also like Rick Jeanneret, Buffalos play-by-play announcer (He is crazy ). Only voice I don’t like is the voice of Hockey night in Canada’s Jim Hughson. My ears are bleeding every time I hear his voice. Hockey night in Canada is a great television program, no prob. With that, it’s just Jim Hughson.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Ros Only voice I don’t like is the voice of Hockey night in Canada’s Jim Hughson.

Just goes to show how subjective this is...for me, Jim Hughson is hands down clearly the best play by play announcer in the sport. Not even close.

That's why he gets the biggest gig in the sport, the early game of Hockey Night in Canada telecasts.

 

[surf]

I never understood the hate Gary Thorne got..I thought he was an awesome PBP man,so what if he mis pronounced some name? I thought he was electric...I loved him calling Mets games too back in the day.

 

[Mr Atoz*]

Marv doesn't do radio for the Rangers, it's Kenny, and they sound somewhat alike but Kenny is no Marv. You're right though, Marv is THE radio voice of the Rangers....

I feel old now....

Tell me you really thought that I didn't know that Marv and Kenny are two different people.

 

[The Mouth]

I think most of the criticism Thorne got was mostly because of his screaming on every goal call. Was it warranted prolly not, He is also infamous for calling Dale Purinton , Dale Purrrinton. Which reminds me Sam has called Kovalev, Kovalov for 20 years which also annoyed me.

Also, Sam also feels the need to remind the TV audience every time the home crowd starts making noise "and the chants of Henrik, Henrik goes up from the crowd", "or a Let's go rangers chant goes up from the crowd."

I have nice audio system for that Sam, just call the play on the ice and stop with the crack reporting about what we all can obviously hear.

 

[dstoffa]

To me it's Marv. Turn off the sound and turn on the radio. They now deliberately delay one or the other to discourage this.

The off-set in time is a reality of technology. Every bit of processing done to a signal (for adding sub-channels in HD Radio, to processing and mixing a HD video signal) causes a delay.

This is why radio doesn't match up with TV.
This is why you cannot bring a Walkman to a game and listen to play-by-play anymore -- the calls are behind the action.

Give up all your digital HD TV/Radio for old analog and this problem goes away...


Cheers!
-Doug

 

[The Gloaming]

I think most of the criticism Thorne got was mostly because of his screaming on every goal call. Was it warranted prolly not, He is also infamous for calling Dale Purinton , Dale Purrrinton. Which reminds me Sam has called Kovalev, Kovalov for 20 years which also annoyed me.

Also, Sam also feels the need to remind the TV audience every time the home crowd starts making noise "and the chants of Henrik, Henrik goes up from the crowd", "or a Let's go rangers chant goes up from the crowd."

I have nice audio system for that Sam, just call the play on the ice and stop with the crack reporting about what we all can obviously hear.

Well we can obviously see that Callahan has the puck. Should he stop calling that too?

I feel like you have an agenda versus Sam. All of your posts in this thread have either criticized him or made fun of how he looks.

 

[khalpin]

"Those aren't boos. They're saying Buek, Buek!"