Announcer Alterations #10: Dave Pasch-Arizona Cardinals

Part of becoming a great broadcaster is having a great vocabulary and finding ways to vary your verbiage. That is why a regular feature on this site will be “Announcer Alterations” where we take short clips of pre-existing play-by-play synced to video and come up with five different ways to call the same sequence of events.

On a recent self critique I realized that I don’t vary my vocab enough on short high velocity passes. I in fact used the word dart 3 times in a 10 minute stretch. That is why I’m using the famous call by Dave Pasch of a short dart to Larry Fitzgerald in the 2009 Super Bowl that turned into a memorable 65 yard score.

Original Verbiage:

Warner to pass…With time. Fires over the middle to FITZ!  CAUGHT AT THE 45, 50! 50 TO THE 40! 30…GOODBYE!  10, 5, CARDINALS LEAD! LARRY FITZGERALD!

And five ways to alter the call:

Warner in the gun hands outstretched. Short drop…zips it over the middle. Complete to Fitzgerald at the 45! BREAKS FREE BETWEEN THE HASHES! TO THE 50, 40, 30! PUSHES THE NOS BUTTON! 10, 5, TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS! FITZGERALD SCORES FOR THE LEAD!

Warner take the snap from the gun. Throws a dart over the middle. STICKS TO FITZGERALD AT THE 45. TURNS UP BETWEEN THE HASHES TO THE 50. THE 40, 30, DON’T LOOK AWAY FROM THE LIGHT! 10, 5, LARRY FITZGERALD TO THE PROMISED LAND! CARDINALS LEAD!

Warner in the gun looking over a five man front. Looking to throw. Whisks it to Fitzgerald down the center AT THE 45. 50, 40, RUNNING AWAY LIKE HE STOLE SOMETHING! 30, 20, AND THE STEELERS EAT HIS DUST. TOUCHDOWN FITZGERALD, CARDINALS LEAD!

Warner to trigger out of the shotgun. Searching downfield, pegs it into Fitzgerald at the 45. TO THE 50. IN A DRAG RACE DOWN MAIN STREET! 30, 20, 10, GIVE HIM THE PINK SLIP! FITZGERALD PUTS SIX ON THE BOARD, CARDIANLS REGAIN THE LEAD!

Warner waiting to load the chamber from the shotgun. The snap and a three step drop. Cocks and bullets it to Fitzgerald at the 45. 50, 40 RACING DOWN THE CHUTE. 20, 10 LEAVING CONTRAILS BEHIND HIM AS HE GLIDES IN FOR SIX. CARDINALS BACK ON TOP.