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.
As we are in the midst of surprising events in the NBA playoffs, let’s go back in time to a place where there was no argument of who the best player and best team of all time were. Today we alter the call of the late Jim Durham calling Michael Jordan’s push off and buzzer beater vs. the Utah Jazz.
Original Verbiage:
Alright, it’s win or lose game six for the Bulls. Ten seconds, and with it of course the championship. Jordan 20 footer head of the key…GOOD! Chicago by one and the Utah Jazz take time.
And Five Ways To Alter The Call
Bull’s with the leather and a chance to win game six and the title. Jordan handles it high left. Drives middle, extends the arm, step back from twenty…LARRY O’BRIEN GET YOUR TROPHY READY! Jazz time out with 5.1 seconds to go!
Bulls have the rock, a chance to win it all, and 10 seconds. Jordan smothered by Russell. Forces his way to the keyhole. Little push, fall away from the top…BUTTER! Time Utah, we are 5.1 seconds away from bringing a trophy home to Chicago!
Jordan pounds the pill between the circles left side. Ten seconds in a tied game six. Attacks right, hounded by Russell. Top of the key J… LEATHER THROUGH THE LACE! Time called 5.1 seconds between the Chicago Bulls and title number six!
Bulls a chance to mute the Jazz for good in game six. Ten ticks left. Jordan in no mans land left side. Going at Russell, gets middle, shoves off, rises from twenty…WET! It’s 5.1 seconds from being the day the music dies in Salt Lake City.
Game six. Jordan with the ball with ten on the timer. Tie game. Title on the line. Jordan tracks right to the key. Pushes off, gathers and launches from 20…FISH IN A BARRELL! 5.1 remaining, Bulls seeing red on the verge of a title.
