Michael
Barkann: Comcast SportsNet's Barkann
is the TV personality in town who fans best relate
to and one guy who isn't afraid to ask a tough
question or address a tough issue -- even when
it involves a fellow Comcast employee. When he's
absent as host of Daily News Live, the show takes
a noticeable dip downward.
Ray Didinger: Besides an encyclopedic knowledge
of the Eagles (he wrote the book) and the NFL,
Didinger brings an air of objectivity to any
conversation about Philly's favorite football
team when appearing on TV or radio.
Harry Kalas: The longtime Phillies broadcaster
is a baseball treasure. The world is perfect
on warm, summer nights with Kalas' booming home
run calls coming over the radio in the fourth
inning, the only frame he broadcasts over the
medium for which he's best suited.
Jody McDonald: The WPEN (950-AM) talker is a
breath of fresh air to the Philly sports radio
scene. He is knowledgeable and credible and his
show hits on all the Philly sports teams, college
and pro.
Marc Zumoff: Easily the best TV broadcaster
in town, the Sixers' play-by-play man brings
enthusiasm to every broadcast. His love of the
game and his job is obvious and while it's clear
he's rooting for the Sixers, it never comes across
as obnoxious.
Second, five sports media outlets/publication:
Comcast SportsNet: The network is devoted to
Philly's sports teams, and it's hard to remember
what it was like before nightly sports news wraps
of the local teams. The network also televises
the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies, making CSN something
no local sports fan can do without.
ESPN: No matter the time of year, sports fans
can turn to ESPN or its family of channels every
night for some type of game. Let's hope ESPN
doesn't forget that the games -- and not opinionated
talking heads -- are the reason we tune in. ESPN
cut out hockey and is cutting back on baseball
coverage next year. Hopefully, it's not a trend.
HBO: Real Sports, which examines important sports
issues and often causes positive change, is hands-down
the best sports show on television. And the network
feeds the craving of boxing fans with some of
the best fights and fighters year in and year
out.
"
Sports
Illustrated': While its quality
has declined some as it moves away from long-form
features, Sports Illustrated still is a must-read
every week -- the only publication of its ilk
that can be said about. Please though, leave
high school sports for the local newspapers and
fantasy sports for the Internet.
WIP (610-AM): The station is full of entertaining
and thought-provoking hosts -- all local. WIP
provides a place for fans to share their passion,
to revel when their teams are doing great and
vent when they're doing bad. The station gets
and deserves its share of criticism, but the
Philly sports scene is better off with it.
And, third, some national media personalities:
Marv Albert: The best broadcaster in the business.
No announcer has more of an impact on a broadcast,
as Albert makes any NBA game he calls more exciting.
Bryant Gumbel: The Real Sports host takes on
all comers, and isn't afraid of bucking the system.
Let's hope his job with NFL Network doesn't change
that.
Bob Ley: The host of Outside the Lines, Ley
is a serious voice in a sea of entertainers on
ESPN. His show explores important issues in sports.
John Madden: Still the best NFL analyst. Madden
relates to viewers, explains what's happening
without getting bogged down with complicated
jargon and is entertaining. What more could a
viewer want?
Gary Smith: If Smith's name appears on a Sports
Illustrated story, it's one you know you have
to read -- even if it takes some time. His most
recent article, on Pat Tillman's death, was one
in many memorable pieces. They all usually are.
Reach
Aaron Bracy at
abracy@courierpostonline.com 
