Comments on: Football: On-field ceremony for Starkey

By: Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Wow — Joe Starky and Troy Taylor – I could not imagine better announcers.
I was shocked that not everyone feels the same.
Maybe Joe’s contract is up for renewal with KGO and the negative comments are plants from the station to impair his negotiating position (what Cal grad doesn’t like a good conspiracy theory).
Joe Starky is PRICELESS.

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:33:13 +0000

Seems like Joe Starkey has been the Cal announcer forever, so it is difficult to imagine anyone else playing the role. Joe has his shortcomings and personality quirks, but he definitely brings a lot of passion to the job and has a depth of historical knowledge about Cal and its football program. The linked article about this ceremony seems to be saying it is to commemorate him winning the award, but I wonder whether it might have something to do with his future plans as well. Anyone know anything about that?

By: Esquire Joe

Esquire Joe — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:33:56 +0000

I absolutely love Joe Starkey and appreciate his offbeat style in calling games. However, I do understand how that might rub some people the wrong way.

I think it’s because he really is a Cal fan at heart. If you’ve listened to Bay Area football on the radio for the last couple of decades, you would have heard a distinct difference in how he called 49ers games and how he calls Cal games. He is much more familiar and conversational, and much less concerned with technicalities on Bears broadcasts. Again, though, that’s what I love about him.

As for his pessimism, I think that’s part of his approach to the game as a fan. I think he’s truly disappointed when the Bears aren’t playing well. But I also think he’s at his best when calling an exciting play because he’s a fan, and his enthusiasm is genuine, which comes through.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:29:13 +0000

I really like Mike Palawski personally- very likable, great insights- except somebody needs to tell him that Jeff Tedford is no longer a QB guru. He mentions that once every game. That’s old news. Tedford is now the QB anti-guru.

By: ET

ET — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:03:59 +0000

Robert Towne,

You said it exactly. I am embarassed when non Cal friends ask me how I can possibly listen to Starkey. I don’t really, but they don’t get how the program puts up with him. I wish he had retired from Cal broadcasts and was still doing Niners games. He is just about the worst announcer ever.

By: covinared

covinared — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:10:05 +0000

I will miss Starkey’s voice, but have to agree that he is not a good announcer. He can go on and on about every detail of a just completed play without mentioning how much if any yardage was gained and how much more for a first, or whether or not a pass was completed. I do, however, get a good feeling each early September the first time I hear his voice.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:54:04 +0000

I never liked Keith Jackson as an announcer. He always screwed up players names especially Cal players. It was like nails down a chalkboard, I’m glad he’s gone.
Pawlawski is good too.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:49:18 +0000

Steve W

I agree with you above. Even though Petros is a former Trojan, he does take the time to get informed about the players and teams that are playing which is way more than the ESPN generic, unpassionate ESPN/other/misc. announcers. out there.

By: Steve W

Steve W — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:07:40 +0000

Starkey is great. He is the main reason I became a Cal football fan while listening to his broadcasts during my college days in Sacramento. Sure, he flubs some calls and misses some of the action while it’s happening on the field. But he also has insights that other announcers wouldn’t see. His voice inflection and excitement for the game are fantastic.

He’s the best guy on radio for Cal, period. And I will take Barry Tompkins and Petro Papadakis for the TV broadcast. They are better than anything that ESPN throws out there with the possible exception of Mike Patrick.

By: rollonyoubears111

rollonyoubears111 — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:36:18 +0000

Aw, I like Starkey. Although I have no idea what’s going on when he calls out the play by play, I am so used to hearing him as Cal’s voice. I feel sorry for the guy when he loses his composure, I rejoice with him when he’s excited. I just hope, and for all Cal fans, that we get to the Rose Bowl before he retires! GO BEARS!