Note: Italics represents a different voice.

“James chases. Lebron comes away with it HOMERUN!” “Oh boy!!” “He turned Leandro Barbosa into a screensaver.” “The eyes almost jumped out of his head!” ~ Source

“He throws it across the field!” “He’s got something!” “Thirty!” “He’s got something!” “Forty! Fifty!” “He’s got it!” “Forty!” “He’s got it!” “Twenty! Ten!” “He’s got it!” “Five! Endzone! TOUCHDOWN! THERE ARE NO FLAGS ON THE FIELD! IT’S A MIRACLE!” ~ Source

If someone were to ask you about who you thought were the greatest voices ever heard, most likely you would go in the direction of music, choosing a whole array of singers from Usher to Andrea Bocelli to Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. However, some of you would look at the meaning of “voices” and may go in the direction of politics and history, choosing people such as Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama. Yet, would any of you consider the likes of Marv Albert, Chris Berman, Bob Fitzgerald (Golden State Warriors broadcaster), or Mike Breen (Knicks and ABC/ESPN NBA commentator) as one of the greatest voices ever heard? Why not? Their voices are just as memorable to sport fans as musicians and politicians voices are to their followers.

You may not think so, but sport commentators are very valuable to a game, at least to those at home watching a game on TV. Sports commentators help viewers at home keep up with the game while simultaneously providing their personal opinions. Their ability to show their feelings and emotions help people feel closer to the game. When commentators and analysts are happy, you’re most likely happy along side with them; when they’re sad, you’re most likely depressed too. When commentators get very exuberant and excited, you become nuts and pumped up, and you later wonder, “why?”. When they’re furious and upset over a call, you wish you could enter the TV in order to be physically part of the game to give your opinion (whether vocal or violent) to the referee. Besides this, memorable calls to plays excite fans greatly, even helping them remember how such a play occurred. Who can ever forget Marv Albert’s voice when Lebron James hit the game winning three against the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Playoffs, or Michael Kay’s (Yankee’s commentator) call when Derek Jeter hit a walk-off home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in game four of the 2001 World Series, going as far as naming Jeter, “Mr. November”?

Now, why do I even bring up commentators and play-by-play pundits? Well, because maybe Grifball should think of having commentators for SNGB games whenever possible. Moreover, the kind of commentators that are needed are ones who will give their hearts and souls into delivering every detail to the audience watching the streamed game. Such commentators could only help live games, as watching games without sound or play-by-play action could be boring. Wouldn’t it be great to see and hear a great play unfold during the playoffs, such as a ridiculous bomb stop accompanied with an enthusiastic voice? How about an unbelievable launch with a voice who is just as amazed as you are, trying to find the words to describe such a play? Wouldn’t it be great to hear the voice of a commentator who is going nuts over a play, matching your excitement and feelings? I mean, think for a second (don’t be mad if you see yourself here, especially if you’re on the losing end =D)

“Collateral Damage with the ball. They are tied with Who Crashed the Banshee, 4-4. Neomalkin is running, going right to Ivy into the right corner. Ivy kills one in front of him but dies. Neo is on his own, trapped all around. He…wall jumps way up high!! All of Banshee keep hammering but can’t get him! He’s coming down…AND SCORES! NEOMALKIN WITH THE PRAYER AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE WIN 5-4! YOU GOTTA BELIEVE IN MIRACLES LIKE THIS ONE!”

“Harmful If Swallowed on defense, down 3-2. They really can’t afford another score or face having to score every single round after. Here’s Kal of Ways and Means Committee with the bomb. Running to the right side, mid-court by Sp0ny and gets launched up into the air! This looks dangero…BUT ONEHAWK SWORDS KAL IN THE AIR FOR THE STOP AND THE BALL! NOT IN MY HOUSE, SAYS HAWK!”

“Bleep Bloop 1, Red Ray 0 as Blade of Bleep Bloop has the ball. BB pushes up the court, with Pup of BB leading the charge. Look at Pup go!! Double Kill, Triple, Over, Killtacular, Trocity. Here comes Blade in from the left side, Pup is at the killpocalypse, GETS THE KILLIONAIRE! BLADE COMES IN AND SCORES! Bleep Bloop 2-0 with Pup making Red Ray his property! Get owned by Pup, Red Ray!”

Okay, so hopefully commentating would be better than what I have out there, but you get my point. Excitement is needed in Grifball, and one area to look at for excitement is in full-time commentating during SNGB games whenever possible. However, there are also flaws to commentating, such as finding genuine people to give their input, having actual exciting plays during a game, and being available for SNGB games, not just commentators but cameramen and teams too. Besides this, not all teams will welcome SNGB for the sake of an audience, especially if it results in lag for the game. However, maybe play-by-play commentating should be looked into in order to help stimulate and bring together the Grifball community. Enthusiasm is a major positive in the game of Grifball for fans, viewers, and players and may be assisted by SNGB games featuring play-by-play commentators.