Chris Berman, the ESPN announcer, meant nothing personal when, alluding to 50,000 cheering Seattle fans, he said: "They love their Mariners here."

From behind him, the ESPN announcer was talking excitedly about ambulances, yellow caution flags, and totaled cars.

Adrian Karsten, 45, ESPN announcer, suicide.

"Listen to Mike Patrick," he said of the ESPN announcer.

But unlike Stuart Scott, another well-known black ESPN announcer, Mr. Smith rarely uses hip-hop terminology.

"The San Francisco Giants," an ESPN announcer bellowed, "are they starting to feel it slip away right now?"

Throughout the race the ESPN announcers gave their opinion on how unnecessary the no bump drafting rule was.

Flemming became a regular College Basketball on ESPN announcer in 2010, after having called a couple of games for the network the previous season.

How about a film bio of a Jersey guy who coaches on every level until he's fired, then rises to become an ESPN announcer with his own language?

"His lips tightened, there was a steely stare, and a long silence," said Steiner, an ESPN announcer since 1988.