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re: Legendary Vols Announcer John Ward has passed away
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:02 pm to I-59 Tiger
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:02 pm to I-59 Tiger
quote:
his basketball calls were great, with signature expressions,too. "Woods at the top of the key,to Jackson over to Grunfeld..BOTTOM!"
I've heard a lot of fans say that as good as he was at football he was even better at basketball calls. He was crazy talented.
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Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:09 pm to BranchDawg
quote:
I know many Georgia fans who used to do the same with Munson.
Don't know of a single play-by-play man today who warrants that. Not that they're bad by any stretch, just not as memorable.
They both came from a different era and understood the power that radio can have. It's probably because they grew up before tv was the dominant platform and in an era sports radio and radio dramas ruled. They grew up listening to great stories and storytellers and it was our good fortune that when they became broadcasters they brought that style with them.
I'd give anything for sports announcers today to go back and listen, really listen to the way things were called back then. But I also wonder if maybe you had to be raised on it to truly tap into that style.
One thing that drove me crazy about Ward when I was a kid is that even though he was a Vol homer and alum, he'd announce the other team scoring with similar excitement. But again that just shows he had the knack for drama and theater. Like Munson and other legendary announcers, John Ward painted a big picture in our heads and made it come alive. You hated the fact that the opponent was on the march but calling it so dramatically made the wins all the sweeter.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:11 pm to Vols&Shaft83
“He’s at the 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5…Give Him Six! Touchdown, Big Orange!”
“No, sir, ree! No, sir, ree! Final score: Tennessee 20, Florida 17. Pandemonium, reigns!”
“No, sir, ree! No, sir, ree! Final score: Tennessee 20, Florida 17. Pandemonium, reigns!”
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:44 pm to Muthsera
quote:
Safe. Effective. Natural Gas.
this action is brought to you by The INSURors of TENNessee.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 1:33 pm to Prof
quote:
Like Munson and other legendary announcers, John Ward painted a big picture in our heads and made it come alive.
"And we heard 20, 15, 10 and 5, your voice was our eyes and we could see, Touchdown Tennessee "
Posted on 6/21/18 at 2:11 pm to Vols&Shaft83
"With a voice, you could hear all the way to the rocky top. Play by play for thirty-one years it never stopped"
Posted on 6/21/18 at 2:45 pm to SSpaniel
It's getting dusty in here 
Posted on 6/21/18 at 4:34 pm to Prof
quote:
Like Munson and other legendary announcers, John Ward painted a big picture in our heads and made it come alive.
Thats the big rub on radio guys today. They sound like you can see what they are seeing. " Now he's got it and OHH, what a hit !"
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