Skip Caray gets skipped
September 27, 2007 at 10:05 am by Scott Freeman in News, SportsIt’s obvious that the suits over at TBS don’t like Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren.
In 2003, TBS banished the two longtime Braves announcers from TBS’ dwindling broadcasts of Braves games before fan anger drove it to rescind the decision. This year, TBS takes over the broadcasts of baseball play-offs from ESPN, and when the network announced its lineup of announcers, Caray and Van Wieren were nowhere to be found.
As the AJC’s Tim Tucker writes today, Caray is, understandably, peeved.
A TBS flack issued a fairly terse statement: “TBS has put together four telecast teams that we feel will best serve our national baseball audience. … We appreciate Skip’s abilities as a play-by-play announcer and look forward to his [Braves] calls for us next year on Peachtree TV, but we decided to go in another direction as we look to brand our new MLB-on-TBS playoff package.”
Skip Caray has called baseball on TBS since 1976. He is destined for the Hall of Fame. He is one of the best baseball announcers still working.
But he’s not good enough for the network he helped build into a national presence?
I have one word for the TBS suit who made this decision: stupid.
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September 27th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I think Skip Carey is terrible. Perhaps my least favorite announcer in baseball. He’s an unabashed homer, which as a fan of another team is depressing. If you ever listen to broadcasters from New York, Boston or Chicago, they will challenge their teams right there and then.
And his voice makes him sound like a combination of the Great Gazoo and the Martian from Bugs Bunny.
Thank God I won’t have to listen to him in the playoffs.
September 27th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Hey Sellout - you’re right, Susyn Waldman is totally objective. Just like all of those ESPN broadcasters in Connecticut from Boston and New York. They way they “report” on baseball, you would think that the only teams in the playoffs are the Yankees and Red Sox. I’m hoping that along with the free-falling Mets, all three teams (and they’re obnoxious fans) are swept during the first round.
September 27th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
To paraphrase Larry Munson - Of course I’m a homer. I’m a fan AND they started sign my paycheck.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:53 am
Skip Carey is the last of a dying breed. It is a shame the way he has been treated after decades of service to TBS. It is a shame that there is no loyalty of any kind any more. Skip, you have been and always will be my favorite announcer because of the many years of great memories that you have brought me. I used to be the bat boy for the Braves in Spring training and will always remember your kindness and time that you took out of your schedule to talk to me. I remember thinking…wow, I am sitting here talking with Skip Carey. I grew up on Braves baseball and will die loving my Atlanta Braves. I will also always consider you one the best things to happen to the Atlanta Braves and will miss your voice and personality. God Bless you and your family and thank you for the countless memorable evenings. Win or lose you MADE Braves baseball enjoyable. We will always love Pete, Ernie, Don, Chip and especially you Skip…Thank you…Vance
May 9th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Sellout is wrong. Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan are way worse than Skip. As for being a homer, when I watch games with my Mother-in-Law (a great American Lady), I need someone to balance her criticism of Chipper, the bull pen and Kelly (iron hands) Johnson.
Keep it going, Skip!
August 4th, 2008 at 2:25 am
I agree. The only players joe morgan every praises or makes excuses for are the black one. I put that racist idiot on mute long ago
August 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Skip Caray is why I love the braves, why I love baseball on the radio, why I love baseball on TV.
He was a great announcer for thinking people.