BOB hillgrove is absolutely terrible
- Thread starter fivetoolprospect
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My guess would be the people listening on the radio, no?
Like I said, I go to the games so I rarely have to listen to him. But on those rare occasions trying to figure out what is actually going on is almost impossible. Pat Bostick has to spend half his time explaining what actually happened on a play as opposed to what Billy said happened.
Billy is a great ambassador for Pitt, but at this point he is well below the line for a play by play guy.
I love Bill but it's really hard to follow the action with him. Bostick does a fantastic job breaking things down from an X & O's standpoint
I agree about Larry Ritchert but I'm holding out hope when/if Bill is ready to step down the Steeler's/Pitt job goes to Rob King.
Bill is an icon and a great Pitt guy, even if he isn't really a Pitt guy. He is more Pitt than most of us.
That said, it's time for Rob King. Bill just doesn't have it and listening to the games is the most frustrating thing. If he calls a play that I don't like, like a Pitt turnover for example, I just wait it out a few seconds because he probably saw it wrong. And of course he usually does.
I don't think anyone is being disrespectful. We all acknowledge that Billy is a great guy and a local institution. Nothing wrong with saying a 75 year old guy can't do his job well any more. You all sound like Joebots.
That said, it's time for Rob King. Bill just doesn't have it and listening to the games is the most frustrating thing. If he calls a play that I don't like, like a Pitt turnover for example, I just wait it out a few seconds because he probably saw it wrong. And of course he usually does.
I don't think anyone is being disrespectful. We all acknowledge that Billy is a great guy and a local institution. Nothing wrong with saying a 75 year old guy can't do his job well any more. You all sound like Joebots.
Great comparison. I remember when the Gunner was getting older and it became a little difficult to listen to him. But it really sucked when they gave him the shaft. His voice and delivery had become the essence of the Buccos.
He's really not fine...unless you mean you like his voice..because in ANY broadcast he does...you have no chance of knowing what is actually happening in any sport he's broadcasting.
His best days are WELL behind him.
Dude, it's Pittsburgh! We keep the same announcers forever until they fall out of their chairs and die calling a game.
Agree here. Bill is an institution, but holy sh!t is he hard to follow sometimes. His best days passed him awhile ago. I almost want him to be the 3rd guy in the booth and get another announcer in there to assist him. Bostick really gives a nice technical side to commentating, but he could use a little more emphasis in his voice occasionally.
I think it's fun to hear Pat constantly correct Bill.
"First and 10 for the Panthers"
"It's Third and 15, Bill"
"Pick off by the Panthers"
"It was an incomplete pass, Bill"
"Illegal procedure on the Panthers"
"It's actually pass interference on the Penguins, Bill"
Etc.
"First and 10 for the Panthers"
"It's Third and 15, Bill"
"Pick off by the Panthers"
"It was an incomplete pass, Bill"
"Illegal procedure on the Panthers"
"It's actually pass interference on the Penguins, Bill"
Etc.
Billy calls a great game. It just isn't always the game you are watching or listening to.
During basketball season, if I am out of town and in my car during a game, I actually hope for the other teams announce crew when I listen on XM Radio. I just want to jump out of my skin and out the car window listening to Billy. I am better off not listening at all. I love the guy, but let Rob King do the play by play. Let Bill do the pre and post game, or be the 3rd guy in the broadcast. Which then brings the question of who goes? Gotta be Curtis. Move him back to the on deck circle.
This is why us older fans love Billy. In the TD era when Pitt football got ultra exciting, only a handful of games were televised each year. So when Pitt was on the road it was Hillgrove and Sauer. Back then Bill was truly fantastic. The way he would shout when TD broke into the clear then lower his voice as he called out "he's to the 50, the 45, the 40, the 35" then start shouting again as TD took it to the house. The way he always mentioned the player's hometown like "Al Romano from Solvay New York". Sayings like "that's a beer can kick, folks. It's non returnable". Billy may be over the hill now but at one time he had no equal.
down and distance....shmown and shmistance is what I always say.....Its a game broadcast on a medium that very few listen to by a guy that can be considered a Pitt legend and a guy that loves the university....stay forever if you wish Bill you deserve it...me thinks some of the whiners are youngsters who have access to every Pitt game via tv or internet and don't even listen to much of the radio broadcasts anyways and just want to hear themselves complain....
Or...you know....we are travelling so the radio broadcast is what we have available to listen to.
then you would be part of that very few stuck in a car for Pitt games every fall Saturday that we should dump Hillgrove for....sorry its like kicking Arnie out of the US Open in his sixties when he is shooting in the 90's...ya just let it go for tradition sake...
Please retire before he says something really dumb. His act is finished, let the young guys take over.
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So, let's clear... You don't listen.
You wondered who did.
And you think your opinion as to the quality of the broadcast is more valid than consumers of it?
When hillgrove leaves , the good news is you won't mind...and neither will I.
Sorry he is bad so tired of him saying they line up with sidecar to his left give me a break he sucks surely there has to be someone out there looking to get a start.
Bill has tradition and integrity with Pitt FB as does Dick with Pitt BB. Is there really a roaring spring?
I too find Bill's voice comforting. He is the voice of the Panthers. I think he has earned the right to remain as part of the game day broadcasting team for as long as he wants, but I can see where it would makes sense for Pitt to add someone else to the team who is younger and fun- someone with a great voice and who has a connection to Pitt and who knows about the history of the program. Someone Bill can hand the play by play part of his duties off to (on the air possibly) at end if the season. That way Bill can remain the voice of Pitt (do commentary and interviews and pre and post game) and those of us who like hearing his voice will still be able to hear him, while those who have grown a bit frustrated with some of his play by play mishaps can look forward to someone new doing it in the near future.
Let me make an admittedly poor analogy...
Would you want a surgeon who you found comforting, even though he's no good at cutting anymore...and suggest he stay as long as he wants...
Or..do you want the best cutter operating on you?
I'll take the later. Nostalgia is for suckers.
Would you want a surgeon who you found comforting, even though he's no good at cutting anymore...and suggest he stay as long as he wants...
Or..do you want the best cutter operating on you?
I'll take the later. Nostalgia is for suckers.
Hillgrove is alright, doesn't ruin it for me and I do like the voice.. Bostick would be alright if he didn't take a bottle of "downers" before each broadcast. Dude needs a little life to him, it's football for Christ's sake Pat, liven up a bit, this is supposed to be fun. Nothing was worse than Fralic though, I compare Fralic on the radio to Kurt Engle doing news..
Funny story, we were listening to a steeler game on the radio when I was at school and my buddy was from Maryland so he had no idea who Myron Cope was. He listened to him for a few minutes and thought it was a skit, a joke. He honestly didn't believe someone that bad could be a serious broadcaster.
Funny story, we were listening to a steeler game on the radio when I was at school and my buddy was from Maryland so he had no idea who Myron Cope was. He listened to him for a few minutes and thought it was a skit, a joke. He honestly didn't believe someone that bad could be a serious broadcaster.
He's fine...so long as you don't mind having no idea what is actually happening in the game.
Me..that's why I'm tuned in to the radio... and why when the away game broadcast is available on sirius..it's what I listen to.
While most people might opt for a younger surgeon for the actual operation, I'd imagine those same people would very much like to have that surgeon who is a proven institution (but whose hands now twitch a bit) be involved in the surgery process so they could have access to the vast knowledge and expertise he brings to the table -through his many years of experience. That's what I'd want.
I don't listen to games on the radio very often, but I like listening to Bill when I do. It's not life and death! When he screws stuff up, it's always corrected shortly after. It just doesn't really matter that much.
Here's when it matters. Bill says ....... It's fourth and less than a yard ..... , the Panthers are going for it..... he MADE it, he MADE it. The play of the game!!!! WHAT?? They're saying he is short!!! And on it goes.
A little slow on the draw, but hey, he did get me shitfaced drunk at a dive bar in Johnstown during Pitt football camp in '93. Ah, memories....
Oh God, do I remember the 1st time I ever heard that from Billy.
Little story - I was at the Larry Holmes vs. Renaldo Snipes heavyweight title fight - think it was 1980 or 81. Ringside seats actually.
So, I see Billy Hillgrove - we make eye contact - he winks at me - we start talking.
I said "Billy, I just about died last week listening to you at the Pitt - Boston College game - we were dead until I heard..."Loose Football!!!" .
He just said..."Oh my God...Oh my God..."
For those that remember that game, a freshman QB by the name of Doug Flutie was giving us fits - this when Pitt was Dominant - I was like - who TF is Doug f'n Flutie?
Well, he just about beat us until someone on BC fumbled near the sidelines and I heard..."Loose Football".... and of course we recovered and pulled out the game.
Love Billy Hillgrove!
lol I've heard that from other guys too. Same w/ loose football.
You people sound like miserable babies.
Fralic was dry and boring. But when you listened to Fralic you heard it like it was. And Cope was not bad. Cope was great because he was our guy. Don't forget he was a color man and boy did he add color.
Of course, listening to a football game is hardly a life and death matter, now is it?
For me, it just sounds more fun listening to Billy. That's what this is supposed to be about, isn't it?
Yes it's supposed to be fun. But honest question for you guys - do you think the people in this thread are even capable of having fun? It's a pretty miserable lot. Someone upthread just compared listening to football broadcasts w/ going under the knife lol.
I picture them in some mini van hybrid surrounded by screaming kids and a sexually frustrated wife who just cut her hair off b/c she gives zero fks anymore, sitting there in the driver's seat gnashing teeth and turning bright red as the rein of misery that is their life just beats on them from all directions before eventually screaming "SAY THE FKG SCORE, HILLGROVE!"
Bostick is perfect for them: monotone, humorless, and not only filled with tons of useless information but more than willing to communicate it.
Hillgrove and Billy Osborn were the best. You knew something great happened b/c H would try to get it out but you'd never hear it b/c O was screaming at 180 dB like a fan. Eventually you'd find out what happened a few seconds later. Listening to them was always fun, but they were way to happy and visceral for the Pantherlair Prozac Nation.
I picture them in some mini van hybrid surrounded by screaming kids and a sexually frustrated wife who just cut her hair off b/c she gives zero fks anymore, sitting there in the driver's seat gnashing teeth and turning bright red as the rein of misery that is their life just beats on them from all directions before eventually screaming "SAY THE FKG SCORE, HILLGROVE!"
Bostick is perfect for them: monotone, humorless, and not only filled with tons of useless information but more than willing to communicate it.
Hillgrove and Billy Osborn were the best. You knew something great happened b/c H would try to get it out but you'd never hear it b/c O was screaming at 180 dB like a fan. Eventually you'd find out what happened a few seconds later. Listening to them was always fun, but they were way to happy and visceral for the Pantherlair Prozac Nation.
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