I don't know how often this happens in broadcasting, but Dick Enberg just stole someone's job. The Padres organization has decided to replace current play by play announcer Mark Neely with the legendary Dick Enberg. Via the SD Tribune....

“I’ve made this decision, basically, because I love the game,” he said yesterday at a Petco Park news conference. “And here’s an opportunity at this stage of my career that I didn’t think was possible. … What better opportunity for any announcer, or anyone who loves the game, than to be able to work in his own hometown.”

Enberg, who called games for the California Angels from 1969-78 and again in 1985, has lived in San Diego “half my adult life” and said he’s been a Padres fan all that time. Even though he hasn’t been working games, he said he’s been watching and following the sport, and while it’s easy to wonder (as I have) whether his absence will hurt, he doesn’t see it that way.

“I think that’s going to be the fun of it all,” he said. “The joy here is going to be I’ve got all this time to be able to prepare. … That’s going to be actually not a negative, but a positive, that I do have to come back up to speed.”

Enberg also addressed the thought that his mistake count has increased in recent years.

“Some people are saying, ’Well, wait a minute, Enberg’s gotten old, he’s got some age on him.’ I still think that I’ve got my fastball,” he said. “I may not locate it as well as I used to, but I think the experiences that I’ve had as a broadcaster will more than compensate for that. … I’m not going to embarrass anyone.”

I guess all you have to do is ask. I feel bad for Mark Neely, but whatever gets people to watch Padres games....absolutely has to be done.

Enberg is ready to talk baseball (SD Tribune)

I apologize for the lack of an open thread last night (for some reason Blogger was down), and for the whole Tourney, but feel free to choose whichever post looks good to put comments in (like you've been doing). CBS released the tip times, and announcers for this Saturday, and I wanted to make sure you knew when to block of some time to check out the games. Here's your schedule....

Saturday, March 28th

Connecticut vs. Missouri (4:40pm)- Dick Enberg, Jay Bilas
Pittsburgh vs. Villanova (7:05pm)- Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery

While I'm not necessarily stoked to see a Big East rematch in Pitt-Nova, I think UConn-Missouri could turn out to be a heck of a game. I'll be sure to have open threads up this weekend, and I might be around to post some comments and quotes.

What a wild game between the Chargers and Broncos yesterday. It had it all. Lots of TDs, potential overtime, a terrible call by the ref (shame on you Eddie Gunz) and a gutsy call to win it by Mike Shanahan. Of course all of this confuses one Dick Enberg. In the excitement, Dick forgets that there's still time left on the clock after the Broncos go for two and get the lead with :24 seconds left....

Yeah, I'm sure you don't have multiple views of the game clock throughout the stadium or on the monitor right in front of you. The funny thing though is that it would have been a great call to end a game if that's actually what had happened. Instead Enberg sounds like he has no idea what's going on, which is probably a pretty accurate statement.

I swear we can't go even a week without some announcer saying something stupid that upsets a racial, religious, or gender based group. Most recently it was Johnny Miller and Italians, but over the past two years I've been writing this site I think we're up in the teens now.

Well I think we're likely to add yet another controversy brewing after Dick Enberg decided to use the term "Nubian Slaves" while calling an opening round match. He was talking about Roger Federer talking with the Studio Team and how regal the number one player in the World is. Some much so that he would have to be transported like a Sultan being carried by "Four Nubian Slaves"....

"Roger Federer on his way. I wonder how they transport him? One of those Sultan chairs with four Nubian Slaves take him into our studio."- Dick Enberg

I know Enberg wasn't trying to intentionally bring race into his commentary, but he did. Just using the term "slave" alone in an arguably elitist Sport dominated by white individuals alone is going to perk some ears but using the term "Nubian"?! Come on Dick. You're better than that.

Busted Coverage sent me this hilarious photo which should probably be the caption for the day, but I wanted to give it its own post as well......


Hey, he's only human right?

Dick Enberg Enjoying UCLA Cheerleader Show

10. “I misread the memo, they played in England today and I came with you to NEW England.”- Kenny Albert (Not funny AT all)

9. “He has the opportunity to tune up for next week’s game with the Redskins.”- Keyshawn on Tom Brady (Kinda nitpicky, but he was so adamant when he said it)

8. “It was in the front, first row.”- Randy Cross (This was after saying a pass landed in the third row)

7. “Roethlisberger comes on the field again.”- Dick Enberg (Coming from a guy named Dick...that's pretty nasty)

6. “He wasn't untouched, but he wasn't touched enough."- Dick Stockton (Via Tim....Too funny)

5. “And that was over in an eyelash.”- Dick Stockton

4. "Feels like a playoff game, a Super Bowl!"- Thom Brennamen (A Playoff game with the Dolphins?)

3. "He's got pictures of somebody there."- Boomer Esiason on Rex Grossman being the Bears’ QB next year (I hope it's more drunken shots of Orton)

2. “Nobody was sure if they’d be playing Football in San Diego today with good reason. Fires continue to burn throughout Southern California.”- Chris Berman (See Chris....that's NOT a good reason)

1. “The shot clock was running down and managed to call a timeout before it ran out.”- Dick Stockton (I give up on you Stockton lovers....I just can't take him anymore)

I have video on the Dick Stockton debacle, but I'm having trouble getting it edited. Dick was basically on fire yesterday. The Shot Clock comment came within the first two minutes of the game, and it was just down hill from there. The funniest part is that Brian Balldinger immediately felt the need to call it a Play Clock and went into a diatribe on how hard it is to see it in Metrodome. It was downright hilarious.

Hopefully I'll get another 10 from the Monday Night Live-Blog, and feel free to add any I missed.