Catch Phrases vs. Signature Calls

[Centerfield]

I've heard Gary Cohen talk about announcers such as Vin Scully, and praise him for not buying into "catch phrases". And I thought immediately about idiots like John Sterling and some of the ESPN guys.

But Cohen has a signature HR call (It's outta here!) and his good buddy Howie Rose punctuates every win by telling us to put it in the books.

What is the difference between a catch phrase and a signature call?

Why do we hate Kay and Sterling, but love Howie and Gary? What's the difference there?

[TransMonk]

="Centerfield":1bl13pwh]Why do we hate Kay and Sterling, but love Howie and Gary? What's the difference there?[/quote:1bl13pwh] IQ points.

MFS62 Jun 03 2009 01:09 PM

IMO, Cohen, Rose and Scully, et. al. used their phrases to further the description of the game. Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince had one to describe a come-from-behind 9 th inning victory. He would say "We had 'em all the way!". Sterling's phrases don't move the story telling along. They are there for Sterling to produce sound bytes promoting his "ability" as a broadcaster and to show how clever he is. Which is which? I'd say a catch phrase is one any broadcaster an use. A signature call, to me, is one that only that broadcaster would (or does) use. Later

Edgy DC Jun 03 2009 01:10 PM

It's not like a half a dozen other announcers at any given time don't say "It's outa here!" --- or that either ever Cohen or Rose ever went far afield to trademark their phrasings. On the other hand, you can imagine an offseaons where Kay is furiously scribbling potential nonsense. Mark Texiera... "That's a Long Tall Texan!" "That'll leave a Mark!" "That's a Mark for the Yankees!" (Good, but not good enough!) Sabathia... "He gets him with a C.C Rider" Good! Use! "C. C. ya later!" GOLD!!! (Call Hank.)

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 01:21 PM

Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling.

Fman99 Jun 03 2009 01:22 PM

My favorite is Joe Buck's "Slamma-lamma-ding-dong!" I know it was for a beer commercial but it's actually the best catch phrase/signature call ever.

seawolf17 Jun 03 2009 01:25 PM

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1hx5pd0s]Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling.[/quote:1hx5pd0s] Dammit, JCL. I told you not to let Steve borrow your password. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 01:30 PM Re: Catch Phrases vs. Signature Calls ="Centerfield"] What is the difference between a catch phrase and a signature call? Contrivance-- or maybe more to the point, apparent contrivance-- plays into it to an extent, I think. It's like the difference between showy, "good" writing and great writing-- catchphrases call attention to themselves (and the user), where a well-delivered-- and, ironically, well-crafted-- signature call just kinda is. Think pop music. A good pop hook is sugary, and sticks in your head... and maybe eventually makes you want to suck on a gun (think Britney Spears). A great pop hook seems so natural, it almost sounds like something you thought of once, long ago; you may tire of it for a while, but you come back to it eventually (think "Wild Thing"). It's eternal. To me, a catchphrase is a pop song-- alternately enjoyable and execrable-- and Scully, Marv Albert, et. al. are almost like Dylan. holychicken Jun 03 2009 01:32 PM Saying Matsui hit an A-bomb = pure gold. metirish Jun 03 2009 01:33 PM I do like when Cohen gives the double "outta here" for "big" home runs or walk off home runs....then finishes it with " the ballgame is over". SteveJRogers Jun 03 2009 01:36 PM Listen to Cohen do a non Met homer call, he will still say "Its outta here." Maybe less enthusiam, and if it is a 4th inning homer to increase an already huge lead in the middle of July, Cohen will also not put the same emphasis on the call as if it was a walk off, World Series clinching one. John Sterling on the other hand, does act as if the Yankees just clinched their 27th title with every MFY homer. And "Put it in the books" is not much different than "Stay tuned for the happy recap" no? And again Rose will not have the same gusto with an win in July as compared with a dramatic October game. Thats the difference between having signature calls and schtick catch phrases. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 01:47 PM ="seawolf17"] ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling. Dammit, JCL. I told you not to let Steve borrow your password. No, I'm kind of serious. He couldn't be any more of a pompous cheeseball, and as such is a perfect match for the team that employs him. But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym. MFS62 Jun 03 2009 02:04 PM I used to like Sterling when he broadcast the Nets games. (because I rooted for them) But then I got tired of him when he started giving every player a nickname. Dr. J had already been in use for Julius Erving. But when he came up with names like Mr. K for Larry Kenon, it got to be a bit too much. But there is one call that he was the first to use - "downtown" for a three point shot. Marv Albert adopted it, and it has become known as one of Marv's signature calls. Too bad. John deserves his props for that one. Later seawolf17 Jun 03 2009 02:17 PM I spent a year ... 1996 ... simulcasting the Yankee games for WHTK in Rochester. All I had to do was sit in a modified closet, plugging in local commercials every two innings or so, every night, all summer long. DREADFUL. (Maybe that's why his voice sends me into paroxysms of pain.) G-Fafif Jun 03 2009 02:27 PM Cohen lets the calls come to him. Sterling lunges for them and chokes to them to within an inch of their life. Howie veered that way at first when he came to TV. Way too much "Put a circle around it!" and "That's a goner!" He toned it down and was better off for it. "Put it in the books!" is a nice bow on a Mets win. Sterling was irritating doing the Braves long before the Braves were irritating. metirish Jun 03 2009 02:30 PM I think Sterling from the little I hear of him is good because he's so bad , good for me because I get to laugh at his team. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 02:32 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym. And except for the missed free throws, I think Shaq's a fantastic free throw shooter. Seriously, almost everything is overwrought-- you can smell the strain through the radio. Except when I'm in the mood for so-bad-it's-good, or REALLY craving baseball when on the road, I am hurling on Sterling. TheOldMole Jun 03 2009 03:52 PM Vin Scully is a great announcer, but that doesn't mean all catch phrases are bad. "Put it in the books" and "happy recap" mean "Mets" to me. Perhaps the worst catch phrase ever, except it was endearing because it was a signature of one of the greatest announcers ever, was Marty Glickman's, for the Knicks -- "It's good...like Nedicks!"

[MFS62]

IMO, Cohen, Rose and Scully, et. al. used their phrases to further the description of the game. Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince had one to describe a come-from-behind 9 th inning victory. He would say "We had 'em all the way!".

Sterling's phrases don't move the story telling along. They are there for Sterling to produce sound bytes promoting his "ability" as a broadcaster and to show how clever he is.

Which is which? I'd say a catch phrase is one any broadcaster an use. A signature call, to me, is one that only that broadcaster would (or does) use.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's not like a half a dozen other announcers at any given time don't say "It's outa here!" --- or that either ever Cohen or Rose ever went far afield to trademark their phrasings.

On the other hand, you can imagine an offseaons where Kay is furiously scribbling potential nonsense.

Mark Texiera...

"That's a Long Tall Texan!"
"That'll leave a Mark!"
"That's a Mark for the Yankees!"
(Good, but not good enough!)

Sabathia...

"He gets him with a C.C Rider"
Good! Use!

"C. C. ya later!"
GOLD!!! (Call Hank.)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling.

[Fman99]

My favorite is Joe Buck's "Slamma-lamma-ding-dong!"

I know it was for a beer commercial but it's actually the best catch phrase/signature call ever.

[seawolf17]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1hx5pd0s]Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling.[/quote:1hx5pd0s] Dammit, JCL. I told you not to let Steve borrow your password.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 01:30 PM Re: Catch Phrases vs. Signature Calls

="Centerfield"] What is the difference between a catch phrase and a signature call? Contrivance-- or maybe more to the point, apparent contrivance-- plays into it to an extent, I think. It's like the difference between showy, "good" writing and great writing-- catchphrases call attention to themselves (and the user), where a well-delivered-- and, ironically, well-crafted-- signature call just kinda is. Think pop music. A good pop hook is sugary, and sticks in your head... and maybe eventually makes you want to suck on a gun (think Britney Spears). A great pop hook seems so natural, it almost sounds like something you thought of once, long ago; you may tire of it for a while, but you come back to it eventually (think "Wild Thing"). It's eternal. To me, a catchphrase is a pop song-- alternately enjoyable and execrable-- and Scully, Marv Albert, et. al. are almost like Dylan.

holychicken Jun 03 2009 01:32 PM

Saying Matsui hit an A-bomb = pure gold.

metirish Jun 03 2009 01:33 PM

I do like when Cohen gives the double "outta here" for "big" home runs or walk off home runs....then finishes it with " the ballgame is over".

SteveJRogers Jun 03 2009 01:36 PM

Listen to Cohen do a non Met homer call, he will still say "Its outta here." Maybe less enthusiam, and if it is a 4th inning homer to increase an already huge lead in the middle of July, Cohen will also not put the same emphasis on the call as if it was a walk off, World Series clinching one. John Sterling on the other hand, does act as if the Yankees just clinched their 27th title with every MFY homer. And "Put it in the books" is not much different than "Stay tuned for the happy recap" no? And again Rose will not have the same gusto with an win in July as compared with a dramatic October game. Thats the difference between having signature calls and schtick catch phrases.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 03 2009 01:47 PM

="seawolf17"] ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling. Dammit, JCL. I told you not to let Steve borrow your password. No, I'm kind of serious. He couldn't be any more of a pompous cheeseball, and as such is a perfect match for the team that employs him. But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym.

MFS62 Jun 03 2009 02:04 PM

I used to like Sterling when he broadcast the Nets games. (because I rooted for them) But then I got tired of him when he started giving every player a nickname. Dr. J had already been in use for Julius Erving. But when he came up with names like Mr. K for Larry Kenon, it got to be a bit too much. But there is one call that he was the first to use - "downtown" for a three point shot. Marv Albert adopted it, and it has become known as one of Marv's signature calls. Too bad. John deserves his props for that one. Later

seawolf17 Jun 03 2009 02:17 PM

I spent a year ... 1996 ... simulcasting the Yankee games for WHTK in Rochester. All I had to do was sit in a modified closet, plugging in local commercials every two innings or so, every night, all summer long. DREADFUL. (Maybe that's why his voice sends me into paroxysms of pain.)

G-Fafif Jun 03 2009 02:27 PM

Cohen lets the calls come to him. Sterling lunges for them and chokes to them to within an inch of their life. Howie veered that way at first when he came to TV. Way too much "Put a circle around it!" and "That's a goner!" He toned it down and was better off for it. "Put it in the books!" is a nice bow on a Mets win. Sterling was irritating doing the Braves long before the Braves were irritating.

metirish Jun 03 2009 02:30 PM

I think Sterling from the little I hear of him is good because he's so bad , good for me because I get to laugh at his team.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 03 2009 02:32 PM

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym. And except for the missed free throws, I think Shaq's a fantastic free throw shooter. Seriously, almost everything is overwrought-- you can smell the strain through the radio. Except when I'm in the mood for so-bad-it's-good, or REALLY craving baseball when on the road, I am hurling on Sterling.

TheOldMole Jun 03 2009 03:52 PM

Vin Scully is a great announcer, but that doesn't mean all catch phrases are bad. "Put it in the books" and "happy recap" mean "Mets" to me. Perhaps the worst catch phrase ever, except it was endearing because it was a signature of one of the greatest announcers ever, was Marty Glickman's, for the Knicks -- "It's good...like Nedicks!"

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="Centerfield"] What is the difference between a catch phrase and a signature call?

Contrivance-- or maybe more to the point, apparent contrivance-- plays into it to an extent, I think. It's like the difference between showy, "good" writing and great writing-- catchphrases call attention to themselves (and the user), where a well-delivered-- and, ironically, well-crafted-- signature call just kinda is.

Think pop music. A good pop hook is sugary, and sticks in your head... and maybe eventually makes you want to suck on a gun (think Britney Spears). A great pop hook seems so natural, it almost sounds like something you thought of once, long ago; you may tire of it for a while, but you come back to it eventually (think "Wild Thing"). It's eternal.

To me, a catchphrase is a pop song-- alternately enjoyable and execrable-- and Scully, Marv Albert, et. al. are almost like Dylan.

[Guest holychicken]

Saying Matsui hit an A-bomb = pure gold.

[metirish]

I do like when Cohen gives the double "outta here" for "big" home runs or walk off home runs....then finishes it with " the ballgame is over".

[stevejrogers]

Listen to Cohen do a non Met homer call, he will still say "Its outta here." Maybe less enthusiam, and if it is a 4th inning homer to increase an already huge lead in the middle of July, Cohen will also not put the same emphasis on the call as if it was a walk off, World Series clinching one.

John Sterling on the other hand, does act as if the Yankees just clinched their 27th title with every MFY homer.

And "Put it in the books" is not much different than "Stay tuned for the happy recap" no? And again Rose will not have the same gusto with an win in July as compared with a dramatic October game.

Thats the difference between having signature calls and schtick catch phrases.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

="seawolf17"] ="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Hey, wait a second. I love John Sterling. Dammit, JCL. I told you not to let Steve borrow your password.

No, I'm kind of serious. He couldn't be any more of a pompous cheeseball, and as such is a perfect match for the team that employs him.

But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym.

[MFS62]

I used to like Sterling when he broadcast the Nets games. (because I rooted for them) But then I got tired of him when he started giving every player a nickname. Dr. J had already been in use for Julius Erving. But when he came up with names like Mr. K for Larry Kenon, it got to be a bit too much.

But there is one call that he was the first to use - "downtown" for a three point shot. Marv Albert adopted it, and it has become known as one of Marv's signature calls. Too bad. John deserves his props for that one.

Later

[seawolf17]

I spent a year ... 1996 ... simulcasting the Yankee games for WHTK in Rochester. All I had to do was sit in a modified closet, plugging in local commercials every two innings or so, every night, all summer long. DREADFUL. (Maybe that's why his voice sends me into paroxysms of pain.)

[G-Fafif]

Cohen lets the calls come to him. Sterling lunges for them and chokes to them to within an inch of their life. Howie veered that way at first when he came to TV. Way too much "Put a circle around it!" and "That's a goner!" He toned it down and was better off for it. "Put it in the books!" is a nice bow on a Mets win.

Sterling was irritating doing the Braves long before the Braves were irritating.

[metirish]

I think Sterling from the little I hear of him is good because he's so bad , good for me because I get to laugh at his team.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] But beyond his overwrought catch phrases and mangled calls -- a few turn up on the internet now and then but he screws up a play or three every night -- I actually do enjoy his calls. He's got a good radio voice, and his routine has a nice slow rythym.

And except for the missed free throws, I think Shaq's a fantastic free throw shooter.

Seriously, almost everything is overwrought-- you can smell the strain through the radio. Except when I'm in the mood for so-bad-it's-good, or REALLY craving baseball when on the road, I am hurling on Sterling.

[Theoldmole]

Vin Scully is a great announcer, but that doesn't mean all catch phrases are bad. "Put it in the books" and "happy recap" mean "Mets" to me.

Perhaps the worst catch phrase ever, except it was endearing because it was a signature of one of the greatest announcers ever, was Marty Glickman's, for the Knicks -- "It's good...like Nedicks!"