Sports Illustrated gives high marks to Spurs TV announcers

[Buddy Holly]

Sports Illustrated gives high marks to Spurs TV announcers
San Antonio Business Journal - April 21, 2006
by W. Scott Bailey


The San Antonio Spurs' television announcing team of Stockton and Sean Elliott has scored an 'A' this season.

That's according to Sports Illustrated.com's Kelly Dwyer, who has graded the TV announcing crews for all 30 NBA teams.

Only six announcer crews, including the Spurs' Stockton and Elliott, scored an 'A' or better. The others include:

* Boston Celtics -- Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn;
* Indiana Pacers -- Al Albert, Clark Kellogg and Quinn Buckner;
* Los Angeles Clippers -- Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith;
* New Jersey Nets -- Marv Albert and Mark Jackson;
* New York Knicks -- Mike Breen, Walt Frazier and Kenny Smith.

Says Dwyer about the Spurs' 'A' team announcing tandem: "Having both Stockton and Elliott call Spurs games is an embarrassment of riches for a local telecast."

Stockton is a network-level veteran broadcaster who has called marquee games in multiple leagues for many years.

Elliott is the popular former Spurs forward whose "Memorial Day Miracle" 3-point shot helped carry the Spurs into the finals in 1999, when the Black & Silver won their first NBA championship against the Knicks.

"Elliott provides solid, steady insight," according to Dwyer. "Seemingly, he's either played with or against half the guys on the court, and he manages to balance a solid sense of humor with keen observations -- all without being too showy."

The lowest grade -- a D-plus -- went to the Charlotte Bobcats' crew of Matt Devlin and Adrian Branch.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantoni...l&surround=lfn

[Kori Ellis]

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