Every year I post these, and every year it seems like those in the business have no idea what they're doing. The same terrible personalities are nominated (Berman, Buck, McCarver), and the same shows win every year. The only difference this year, is that the Academy actually threw a couple of curveballs at us. They've added some new people to the list, and while some are spot on like Tom Jackson, there are those that just boggle the mind....like John Kruk.

Anyway, here's the list, feel free to complain or choose your winners in the comments. The event is April 27th, and I'll be sure to share the winners with you when they are released.

Outstanding Live Sports Special

108th U.S. Open Championship (NBC)
NASCAR on FOX: Daytona 500 (FOX)
Super Bowl XLII (FOX)
The Championships, Wimbledon- Gentlemen's Final (NBC)
X Games 14 (ESPN)

Outstanding Live Sports Series

ESPN College Football (ABC)
ESPN Monday Night Football (ESPN)
NASCAR on TNT (TNT)
NASCAR on FOX (FOX)
NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC)

Outstanding Studio Show (WEEKLY)

College Gameday (ESPN)
Football Night in America (NBC)
FOX NFL Sunday (FOX)
Inside the NFL (CBS / Showtime)
Monday Night Countdown (ESPN)
Sunday NFL Countdown (ESPN)

Outstanding Studio Show (DAILY)

Baseball Tonight (ESPN)
Inside the NBA – Playoffs (TNT)
MLB Postseason Studio (TBS)
Outside the Lines First Report (ESPN)
Pardon the Interruption (ESPN)

Outstanding Sports Personality (STUDIO HOST)

Bob Costas (NBC / HBO)
Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Chris Berman (ESPN)
Ernie Johnson (TNT / TBS)
James Brown (CBS / Showtime)

Outstanding Sports Personality (PLAY BY PLAY)

Al Michaels (NBC)
Dan Hicks (NBC)
Jim Nantz (CBS)
Joe Buck (FOX)
Mike Emrick (NBC)

Outstanding Sports Personality (STUDIO ANALYST)

Cris Collinsworth (NBC/Showtime/CBS/HBO)
John Kruk (ESPN)
Steve Mariucci (NFL Network)
Terry Bradshaw (FOX)
Tom Jackson (ESPN)

Outstanding Sports Personality (SPORTS EVENT ANALYST)

Cris Collinsworth (NFL Network/NBC)
Doug Collins (TNT)
John Madden (NBC)
Johnny Miller (NBC)
Ron Jaworski (ESPN)
Tim McCarver (FOX)

Lists are just about the most played out things on the planet these days, but when you put together a ranking of the "Top 50 Broadcasters", I'm going to post on it. The ASA has released such an article, and the interesting thing isn't the Top Ten, but rather some of the other names on the list. Most notably Joe Buck at #31 and Chris Berman at #35. Here's the list via Farther Off The Wall....

1. Vin Scully
2. Mel Allen
3. Red Barber
4. Curt Gowdy
5. Howard Cosell
6. Bob Costas
7. Jim McKay
8. Keith Jackson
9. Al Michaels
10. Dick Enberg
11. Jack Buck
12. Ted Husing
13. Jack Brickhouse
14. Don Dunphy
15. Graham McNamee
16. Ernie Harwell
17. Marv Albert
18. Harry Caray
19. Jon Miller
20. Bill Stern
21. Chick Hearn
22. Marty Glickman
23. Jack Whitaker
24. Jim Nantz
25. Chris Schenkel
26. Lindsey Nelson
27. Russ Hodges
28. Ray Scott
29. John Madden
30. Bob Prince
31. Joe Buck
32. Milo Hamilton
33. Bob Wolff
34. Chuck Thompson
35. Chris Berman
36. Phil Rizzuto
37. Marty Brennaman
38. Clem McCarthy
39. Bill Walton
40. Foster Hewitt
41. Harry Kalas
42. Johnny Most
43. Bob Elson
44. Brent Musberger
45. Pat Summerall
46. Merle Harmon
47. Dick Vitale
48. Dick Stockton
49. Tony Kubek
50. Bud Collins

While you can't argue with most of the names on that list, as I said above, there are a few questionable ones included. The best part is that Bill Walton is the chairman for ASA, and somehow he magically appears in the top forty. Stop voting for yourself, Bill!

The whole Top 50 ASA list, from Scully to Collins and beyond (Farther Off The Wall)

I really think contests and lists like this are annoying, but I posted on it last year, so I almost feel obligated to do so again. Playboy's Sexiest Sportscaster list for 2008 came out on Friday, and you have almost thirty different ladies of Sports Media to choose from. Here's this year's list....

Erin Andrews (ESPN), Erin Bates (Speed/OLN), Michelle Beisner (NFL Network), Bonnie Bernstein (CBS ESPN), Tina Cervasio (MSG), Melanie Collins (Big Ten Network), Stacey Dales (ESPN), Colleen Dominguez (ESPN), Alex Flanagan (NBC), Lisa Guerrero (LA Times column), Jamie Little (ESPN/NBC), Hazel Mae (NESN), Adriana Monsalve (ESPN Deportes), Rachel Nichols (ESPN), Pam Oliver (Fox), Ashley Russell (Rivals.com), Lisa Salters (ESPN), Lauren Shehadi (CBS), Tiffany Simons (NBC), Lindsay Soto (NFL Network), Melissa Stark (ABC), Sage Steele (ESPN), Hannah Storm (ESPN), Mary Strong (NFL Network), Molly Sullivan (MTN), Charissa Thompson, (Big Ten Network/Fox) Krista Voda (Fox), Amber Wilson (OpenSports.com), Tracy Wolfson (CBS)

I know everyone does these things and creates Best of and Worst of lists, Top 10s, and etc.....but I think we can do it better. It's going to be along the lines of the SI piece done by Richard Deitsch, but with a lot more categories I'm sure he couldn't include (and no Verne Lundquist will not be the Best Announcer).

That's where I need your help. I'm obviously going to have the Best/Worst Lead, Best/Worst Newcomer, etc. and need your suggestions for those categories. But we need more than that don't we? How about Best Sexual Innuendo Quote of the Year? Or maybe Worst Technical Glitch of the Year??? If you have nominees for anything....categories, worst announcers, or even people you thought were great.....leave them in the comments, or email me at AwfulAnnouncing@Gmail.com. Be sure to include your website as everyone who contributes will get a nice quote and a shiny maroon link.

Thanks for your help and hopefully we'll have this up by the New Year.

Cheers,
BP- Awful Announcing

P.S.- The title and logo probably needs a little help too.

The Top Ten World Series of Poker All-ins, The Best Damn Sports Show Period Top 50 Jock Bulges, The ESPN SportsCenter Top 100 Moments in North Dakota Sports History, The Top 500 Best......well you get the idea.

Here's one I thought you'd enjoy though. The Top Rated Sports Broadcasts of 2006 from Sports Business Daily:

If you were keeping count that's 24 Games for the ABC/Leader Combo, Fox had 7, and CBS came in with 5. ESPN proves that while everyone still hates them....they can't turn away. Something I like to call the "Howard Stern Effect".