Tom Durkin On The Call

RollerDoc · #1 05-06-2007, 10:14 AM

Yes I am a relative newbie to the sport ever since Smarty's run in 2004, so what do I really know.

I must say that I feel like listening to the race call of Tom Durkin is such a pleasure and complement to watching the Kentucky Derby. He is as much a part of the pageantry as are mint julips, fancy hats, riders up, My Old Kentucky Home, etc. etc. etc.

Last year's "sublime performance" by Barbaro, and Street Sense's "stretch run sensation" were the perfect exclamation points as those horses were about to cross the finish line.

Over the years, I have witnessed so many sports announcers/play by play guys who have diluted watching the excitement of a victory, sensational play, or milestone achievement because of too much grandstanding while showcasing their announcing skills.

Not Tom Durkin. In my opinion, he is the fine tuned soundtrack for watching the Kentucky Derby (and other races) and enhances my enjoyment for following the race.

skippy3481 · #2 05-06-2007, 10:19 AM

Roller you are certainely not alone in you assertation that durkin is a great caller. I think sometimes he gets stuck watching one horse, but overall he has an enjoyable call.

Rileyoriley · #3 05-06-2007, 11:21 AM

Give him back the BC!!!!!!

Danzig · #4 05-06-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rileyoriley

Give him back the BC!!!!!!

hey, it was his choice to give it up, to make calls throughout the year. if he was ok with it, i guess we have to be too.

Rileyoriley · #5 05-06-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

hey, it was his choice to give it up, to make calls throughout the year. if he was ok with it, i guess we have to be too.

I know but I still miss him.

Danzig · #6 05-06-2007, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rileyoriley

I know but I still miss him.

i'd rather it be him than anyone....but at least we get to hear him on a lot of other racing throughout the year.

pmayjr · #7 05-06-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

hey, it was his choice to give it up, to make calls throughout the year. if he was ok with it, i guess we have to be too.

Danzig,
That's not true. It wasn't his choice. Durkin is under contract with NBC, and can't get out of it. The exception is the Belmont, because it's his home track. But he was tied to his NBC contract, so he couldn't call the BC races for ESPN/ABC. I think if you gave Durkin the choice, he'd keep doing the Derby and Preakness over the BC... I'd wanna call what's deemed the biggest race in the U.S. over anything else.

#8 05-06-2007, 12:34 PM

its an art form and he has got what it takes.

Danzig · #9 05-06-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmayjr

Danzig,
That's not true. It wasn't his choice. Durkin is under contract with NBC, and can't get out of it. The exception is the Belmont, because it's his home track. But he was tied to his NBC contract, so he couldn't call the BC races for ESPN/ABC. I think if you gave Durkin the choice, he'd keep doing the Derby and Preakness over the BC... I'd wanna call what's deemed the biggest race in the U.S. over anything else.

durkin said it was his choice to go with nbc, knowing full well he was giving up the bc. that he understood he was giving up a big day, but would have plenty of other racing throughout the year. it was his choice to give up the bc, in order to call a ton of other racing throughout the year, and in order to get that contract-which no doubt was quite lucrative, and made it worth his while to give up the bc.