AFPatsFan12

Gil certainly has lost a lot off of his play-by-play fastball, and it's nearly impossible to actually follow the game based solely on his call... but he's still got great pipes, and is still one of the best radio play-by-play guys in the game. If anyone feels compelled to complain about Gil, try sitting through a Bob Lamey (Colts) broadcast, or a Gene Deckerhoff (Bucs) broadcast, or a Steve Raible (Seahawks) broadcast, or a Dave Lapham (Bengals color analyst) broadcast.

Gil, warts and all, is still in the upper tier of radio guys. I'd put him up there with Bob Papa (Giants), Bob Wischusen (Jets), and a couple of others whose names escape me (the Broncos play by play guy, for example).

Patriot Power

Great pipes, great TD calls... but his time has passed, has for about 4 years now.

The man cannot follow the play anymore. This year I did a lot of driving from point A to point B during halftimes, and I would usually have to catch the first part of 3rd quarter in my car before I arrived at point B.

You can learn what happens in a play (whether its a positive or negative play) by listening to the roar of the crowd... Gil's call of the play will come 2-3 seconds after that.

Anyone who heard his "call" of the Brady to Gaffney game winning TD in the Ravens game in 07 knows exactly what I'm talking about... the guy missed the entire play.

Great career Gil, thanks for the memories... but its time to hang it up and let someone who can actually see call the game... in real time... not in geriatric delay.

Patriot Power

+1. Nostalgia has no place in play by play. If you can't do the job anymore, you can't do the job... hang it up Gil, you suck these days.

groundgame

Scully right up there with Curt Gowdy as two of the top 5 play-by-play announcers in the 20th century. My picks: 1. Harry Carey. 2. Curt Gowdy 3. Mel Allen 4. Vin Scully 5. Al Michaels

pats60

He was the Ted Williams of the radio.

AFPatsFan12

His Brady to Moss to Brady to Gaffney call against Pittsburgh in 2007 was extremely painful. Poor Gil spent about 2 full minutes trying to convince himself that it was Brady to Moss to Brady to Stallworth... ugh...

What's stunning is how many PBP guys are just as bad, if not worse. Bill Hillgrove in Pittsburgh is another one, and is probably the Steelers "Gil"; a great voice with great TD calls to this day... but he can't follow a basic play.

As I said earlier, though, I'll still take Gil and Gino over most other broadcast teams today. Call me nuts, but I'd rather have Gil and Gino over the Miami guys any day of the week. I'll cringe along with every Gil mistake, but it's still better than this:

Dolphins score on a 1 yard rushing TD in the first quarter:

PBP: Brown, with the car...
Random Color Guy #1: YEEESSSSSSSSSS
RGC #2: THERE YA GO!!!!!!!
RGC #1: ALLLLLLRIIIIIGGGHHHHHTTT MIAAAAAAAMMMMMIIIIIIII!!!!!!
RGC #2 NICE PLAY!!! WAY TO GO RONNIE!!!!
RGC #1: I'LL TELL YA, HE JUST HIT THAT HOLE AND GOT THE DOLPHINS 6!! YES!!!
PBP: Carpenter hits the Extra P...
RGC #2 GREAT PLAY!!!!

Ugh... it's embarrassing. Gil's homerism is scattered and very subtle, which is exactly what you want from the hometown radio guys. The Dolphins guys are clowns, and I'm afraid that after Gil and Gino ride off into the sunset, we'll get stuck with two knuckleheads like that.

captadamnj

Love his calls, even if they aren't always accurate. He eventually gets it right...usually! Love the Pats radio broadcasts! Even when watching on TV, many times will listen to it on the radio for the call over the announcers on TV. Also nice to listen to at the game itself.

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