by Fairway Jay, team handicapper at www.sportsmemo.com

If you’ve read my Bio at Sports Memo, you know I listed my favorite sports announcer as Kevin Harlan. Tonight’s college basketball national title game between Florida and Ohio State will be broadcast on WestwoodOne radio nationwide with Kevin Harlan providing the play-by-play coverage. In my opinion, Harlan’s coverage of the game is the best in the business, as he’s colorful, entertaining, but most importantly descriptive. He’s known for his witty dialogue and vast assortment of creative banter. Yet, he provides a visualization that few others approach when announcing a game. If you’re at home and watching the game on TV, I recommend turning down the television volume and voices of Jim Nance and Billy Packer and listening to Harlan’s play-by-play radio coverage. The color commentators are Bill Raftery and John Thompson, the former Georgetown coach.

I caught portions of the semi-final games Saturday night, and was able to listen to Harlan describe the action. I like that he gives a regular score update and even shot-clock updates, as there is nothing more frustrating to a bettor than to tune into a game and wait many minutes to hear the score. While I didn’t hear any of his widely known ‘Right between the Eyes’, or ‘Oh baby, what a play’ screaming of basketball brilliance, I did hear precise, colorful description of the game. Harlan doesn’t just tell you that the player ‘dribbles past’ the defender, it’s a ‘crossover’ dribble. No ‘shot missed’ from the outside, it’s ‘an 18-foot jumper off the back rim’. Everything is visually descriptive, and I tried to take some notes while both driving and ultimately at my home office desk while listening and watching coverage of the Ohio State/Georgetown game and UCLA versus Florida. Here are some lines. Ohio State is moving from right-to-left, bounce pass by Conley, picked up between the circles, Oden spins inside for a two-handed dunk. Double-team with back to the basket, lob pass inside to Horford who leans on Mbah a Moute. Collison left-handed dribble and bounce pass to Afflalo on the right wing. Man-to-man defense by the Gators with Brewer on him. Afflalo goes galloping down the lane. UCLA is clad in blue with gold trim. Ben Howland is half-way on the floor begging the official…! Again, everything is visual, as listening on the radio I even know what color the team is wearing.

Here is a bio and description of Kevin Harlan, who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is the son of Green Bay Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan. He has been broadcasting NBA games on television through TNT for ten years. I always enjoyed his coverage with Doug Collins as color man. Previously, Harlan worked with Danny Ainge and John Thompson on TNT. His expertise and interest has grown over the years, as he has provided coverage for NFL and college basketball games on FOX, CBS and ESPN. My interest in Kevin Harlan calling games goes back to my days living in Minneapolis, as Harlan was the original play-by-play man for the Minnesota Timberwolves for nine seasons. While the T’Wolves were the laughingstock of the NBA in their early years, Harlan was providing tremendous coverage that was keeping fan interest, despite the teams horrific performance. Obviously, the broadcast stations took notice, as Harlan has become one of the top professionals in radio and television coverage for the NFL, NBA and college basketball.

Tune in tonight on ESPN 920 in Las Vegas and WestwoodOne radio nationwide, as Harlan provides coverage of tonight’s national title game between Ohio State and Florida. Plenty of great action and coverage tonight, and maybe even an ‘Oh baby, what a play’!