By Adam Roberts – 5/5/2021
Sports fans know the intimate link between the fan and the play-by-play commentator. Having done high school and some college commentary since 2014, I always try to present games as a hybrid of proper analysis of the game while also speaking as if the listener were sitting next to me watching the contest live. Icons like Al Michaels, Bob Uecker, Hawk Harrelson with the White Sox, and legendary Bucks play-by-play announcer Jim Paschke have that knack for finding a way to describe a game from the perspective of both an expert and a casual.
Paschke’s time behind the mic will be coming to an end soon after nearly four decades. Paschke announced yesterday he will be retiring after the end of this season while interviewing Giannis before the Bucks’ win over Brooklyn. He’s called Bucks games for the last 35 years, and a few years ago became the second-ever recipient of the NBA’s Todd Harris Award, which recognizes an NBA broadcaster or executive for showing teamwork and providing inspiration.
Not confined to just the 2,000-plus games he observed behind the mic at the Bradley Center/Fiserv Forum, Paschke also called Badger football and basketball games as well as Brewer and Marquette basketball contest.
The 70-year-old’s final games will be the Bucks’ first round playoff series.