Opinions matter.

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by SteveB2977

As a new Game Announcer, I would love to know why people love certain GA's.

First, you'll notice that many of the people mentioned here have a long history in FIRST. I'm from New Hampshire, so I'm partial to Andy Grady - he was a student on a team way back in the day, has mentored a team for a bunch of years, and frequents Chief Delphi. He and the others mentioned understand and are thoroughly invested in our sport, and it shows. They know the history and background of teams and games and FIRST as a whole.

Second, they know the teams well. They're able to call robots by their school or team name in the moment, which with 40+ teams is no small task. They're able to comment on particular teams strengths as the matches play out.

Finally, they help focus attention during the match on the things that matter. My eyes can't take in all the action, so hearing a play-by-play can help me follow the flow of the match. They're able to follow the match, watch the score, and cheer on the teams as they succeed. By contrast, one announcer at a recent event had a tendency to get most excited when something broke: "WHOA!! DEBRIS ON THE FIELD!! DEBREEE ON THE FEEELD!" It was a little like a basketball announcer calling out the fact that someone fell on the floor when the ball is suddenly at the other end of the court.

Think about a good sports announcer. They provide additional insight into the game, get you excited about what's happening, and celebrate the accomplishments of the teams. Same with game announcers for FRC.