Best MVC Radio Crew?

[GametimeGerry59]

I have been going to and listening to Valley radio personalities for a long time. Every year familiar voices fill my head as I surf around the internet for different games. I had the honor to sit behind two of the best this past Tuesday. The site was the Hammons Center as Missouri State battled Illinois State. I am of course talking about Mike Matthews and Dick Luedke, that's L-U-E-D-K-E, and I was very impressed by their knowledge and well placed bits of humor even though things were not always going good for the 'Birds. They are two great ones in a league full of great personalities. So I ask you Valley fans, who do you think are the best radio voices out there?:valley:

[tennis08tarheels]

I haven't heard all of them, but SIU's is the best commentary that I have heard. Very unhomer-ish.

[Phantom]

I'm biased of course, but I gotta go with our radio crew of Dick Leudke and Mike Matthews as the best in the MVC, and I've heard the same from several other team's fans. Both these guys are very well-spoken, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. Both are super nice guys too. I've enjoyed listening to their broadcasts for many years, as have all Redbird fans. We are fortunate to have such people doing our games.

Other than that, I've tuned into a few Sycamore games this year and enjoyed listening to their crew. I think they do a good job.

[DJShocker10]

I'm biased of course, but I gotta go with our radio crew of Dick Leudke and Mike Matthews as the best in the MVC, and I've heard the same from several other team's fans. Both these guys are very well-spoken, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. Both are super nice guys too. I've enjoyed listening to their broadcasts for many years, as have all Redbird fans. We are fortunate to have such people doing our games.

Other than that, I've tuned into a few Sycamore games this year and enjoyed listening to their crew. I think they do a good job.

I, too, am biased. So I'll go with Mike Kennedy and Dave Dahl. Okay. Dave Dahl sucks. Our road color guy, Terrell Benton, is clearly better. I don't listen to the other commentators. I always find them to be the biggest homers ever. Of course, who am I to talk about homerism with Kennedy as my favorite commentator?

[Aceman96]

Reis baby, Reis. Sterrick (sp) leaves much to be desired... but, I can't see a better play by play than Reis... SIU. I have heard Bradley's Dave Snell, uncle Dave as I call him, but he's not near as good as Reis.

[MissouriState]

Art Hains of Missouri State is great, but the color guys always are terrible.

[BearChief]

Art Hains of Missouri State is great, but the color guys always are terrible.

To me, Art has lost a little bit in the last few years. Too excitable, not enough information (score, time, who's on the floor, etc...)

And yes, put MSU right up there for worst color commentary. Jeff Ford (former Bear) typically makes educated comments, but has a hillbilly accent that makes everything he says sound dumb.

[ValleyGuy]

There are a lot of good ones in the league...depends on what you like.

If you like big-time homers - UNI, Creighton

If you like fair, with a home spin - BU, WSU, SIU, ILS

If you like solid pbp, only slight home spin - INS, UE

If you like guys that never tell you the time and score - MSU

If you like guys where you can't tell what's going on - DU

[iSASO]

Who else has a play-by-play announcer who is in the Hall of Fame? That's gotta be worth something.

[Nyghtewynd]

I think Art Haines is very good at calling the action on the floor and sticking to what's going on rather than reading ads or self-gratifying nonsense. But he has *never* had a good color guy.

[blueness]

How about the lost art of just listening to a game on the radio?

Now it seems, you HAVE to find it on TV or Webcast or updates on a message board, etc...

There's something about listening to your team on the radio.

[doinit salukistyle]

Who else has a play-by-play announcer who is in the Hall of Fame? That's gotta be worth something.

go to the off topic..."hawk" harrelson will be in the hall of fame soon, and according to the haters...well one in particular, that must not mean squat

[Scalare76]

I really have to toss this one to SIU. For a town of 20K people in the middle of the Shawnee National Forest you would never expect this type of play calling. They are really good about calling out when SIU gets away with a foul too. After them I think the WSU guys are fun to listen too. I think Creighton has the worst of the bunch and Evansville is pretty good.

[NoPlaceLikeDome]

I love Gary Rima. I think that for the UNI Sports Network and UNI broadcasts, you should have someone who has a deep passion for UNI sports, which is what we have. If you aren't a UNI fan, you probably find him annoying. But he reports the game for UNI fans, and thats why we like him!

If you don't want a homer, go listen to your own damn station.

[kelbystuckeyisgod]

Mike Kennedy is horrible, in my opinion. In his eyes, the Shockers have never fouled.

Isn't Mike Matthews the brother of Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews?

[DannyCooksey]

I remember having a conversation with Rich Herrin, Tom Abatemarco, JD Barnett and Tates Locke years ago and they all agreed that Dick Luedke was the best along with Reis and Kennedy. They really liked Luedke and his 'folksy' style.

The conversation took place at RA during the '90 tournament. I'll never forget it.

I have always enjoyed Luedke's broadcasting style, but there are others mentioned here that are strong as well.

Luedke had to carry and sometimes wake up Bob Morris years ago and that alone should merit him bonus points. Mike Matthews is a major upgrade over Bob Morris.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

Mike Kennedy/Dave Dahl/Terell Benton...hands down, and it's not even close.

[DawgieStyle]

Mike Kennedy/Dave Dahl/Terell Benton...hands down, and it's not even close.

homer.

[MikeKennedyRulz]

homer.

Loser

[DawgieStyle]

Loser

thought you were ignoring me. :yes:

seriously, i have no comment on this thread, i've only ever listened to Reis and Starrick. I have no desire to listen to other teams games. Maybe they're the best, maybe they're not, but as long as they broadcast SIU games that's good enough for me.

[doinit salukistyle]

Mike Kennedy/Dave Dahl/Terell Benton...hands down, and it's not even close.

I would think with your sn that would be implied, thus making this post redundant.

With my sn if there was an off-topic thread titled "favorite position" my posting would be redundant.

[barkeep1967]

From who I remember listening to.

Illinois State- They are funny they have been more down on that team than the fans have. They are not bad though.

Bradley- Excellant I have listend to them quite a few times

WSU- The main guy is pretty good. The color guy not so much

SIU- They are very good. Reis has been there 26 years and is professional as it gets. ( when he is not drunk).

UNI- Homer is one thing. These guys make the White sox announcers seem impartial. I just have not really heard any redeeming quality from them. I understand how a UNI fan would like them. From the outside though they have to be the worst in the valley by a large margin.

[troutangler]

SIU - I've listened to them a couple of times this year and really liked them. Aside from the insane amount of ads they do during the game, it was pretty good.

CU - Can you say homers? We sat right behind them during the CU game here and according to them CU never committed a foul. Not even Tolliver's second foul with about two minutes to go in the game.

WSU - Not bad. Only listened to them once, so I don't remember it that well.

MSU's is good, except for the stuff that people pointed out. I wish Art would give the score/time and players on the court more. Otherwise, he is very good. His color guys are pretty good, but Jeff Ford does have a twang. Mike Keltner, who is a former Bear and high school coach in Springfield, does some of the home games. I wouldn't mind hearing more of him.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I've listened to almost all of them and I think SIU's announcers are the best. In fact, nobody else even comes close.

[cpacmel]

I've listening to most of them. Here are just a few thoughts on them:

Drake, IMO, is the worst. Their play by play guy is good, but the guy who does the color commentary--terrible. Probably belong in the homer list, but since they are soo bad, they are the only occupant of the Bad Pile.

Mo State is good. I didn't know they employed 2 guys. Art does it all.

Creighton / Bradley / UNI / Evansville are the biggest homers. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Bradley / UNI get points for Enthusiasm

Illinois State is very good. Though sometimes their "keys" to the games are very high schoolish. Also Dick Luedtke refuses to ask Porter any mildly tough questions pre / post game. :noexpression:

SIU is also very good too.

Don't remember to much about Indiana State.

[douglasdmb]

Mo State is good. I didn't know they employed 2 guys. Art does it all.


This pretty much says it all. I don't exactly think that Art is the best as a play-by-play guy, but he's good enough. He's VERY knowledgeable, though. Art could pretty much do the whole broadcast by himself, and it might be better than it is now.

[JCPanthers]

UNI- Homer is one thing. These guys make the White sox announcers seem impartial. I just have not really heard any redeeming quality from them. I understand how a UNI fan would like them. From the outside though they have to be the worst in the valley by a large margin.
Nobody puts you in the arena like Gary Rima!!

[ShockerEngr]

Mike Kennedy can spend too much time raggin on the refs, but when he's not, he does a good job of calling the action and keeping you up to date on the game stats.

and there's no kaboom kabullzeye :)

[Ictjay]

Mike Kennedy/Dave Dahl/Terell Benton...hands down, and it's not even close.

Benton- "very good" promising future
Dahl - spends most of his time correcting Kennedy's frequent "bad call" mistakes. Knows the game.
Kennedy- King of the Valley ref's vs Shox conspiracy. Usually wrong 90% of the time regarding calls. No one likes a crybaby, and he is the biggest.

[BUBraves55]

first off- dave snell and stowell are NOT homers- some games they're completely neutral
but even being a bu fan i tune in all the time to gary rima
whats the point of having your own radio station and not being a homer?

[Log]

Mike Reis and Greg Starrick for SIU radio.

[MSNSaluki]

I don't know if SIU's announcers are the best, but they will call it like they see it ... and they aren't afraid to rip the Salukis.

[DJShocker10]

Benton- "very good" promising future
Dahl - spends most of his time correcting Kennedy's frequent "bad call" mistakes. Knows the game.
Kennedy- King of the Valley ref's vs Shox conspiracy. Usually wrong 90% of the time regarding calls. No one likes a crybaby, and he is the biggest.

Listen to Shocker Radio a little more often. Usually Dave and Terrell agree with Kennedy on calls. Mike Kennedy is good because he can keep up with the action, and he's fair with a bit of a homer twist. I can't/don't (won't) listen to other broadcasters. Kennedy isn't afraid to get into it with the refs either. Didn't he call one a nimrod one time?:grin: