Je l’aime beaucoup personnellement. Un énorme progrès par rapport à Vosters. Il a une bonne voix et sait comment annoncer un bon match. Mon seul problème avec lui, c’est qu’il a l’air un peu trop stérile, comme s’il appelait le jeu à un public national. Cela me rappelle un peu comment Boog Sciambi a vécu ses premières années avec les Cubs.
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Longjumping-Tip4938
42 Comments
I honestly really like him. Rarely has any hiccups. Bounces well off everyone they use. He’s entertaining and absolutely not dry.
I never really had an issue with Vosters though. lol
Excellent
Could not be happier!!! He and Pang make a great team and when others fill in for Pang he doesn’t miss a step. 100000% upgrade 🙂
He’s not Pat but he’s really good and I enjoy him a hell of lot more than Vosters.
Like him a lot. Knows the game, loves the game. He’s funny which really helps and I don’t know why but every S sound that comes out as an sch sound is kinda charming?
I like Rick but something is off with him and Pang. Pang is kinda a homer who’s humor and commentary doesn’t work for me.
He’s great, very happy they were able to get him even though we all should have gotten to listen to Foley a bit longer.
Just wish he went by Dick
He’s fine. Pretty vanilla but not bad.
I love hearing « hawks buzzing »
He’s a’ight
I like him a lot tbh. He seems like a funny dude that slips some humor in here and there and also gets the “right” level of excitement for me.
He’s obviously not Foley, but I also think some of that loosening up comes with just being in a spot for a long time and growing in that location. Every year he’s there and with the team, and with the fans he gets to know everything and everyone better.
I really like him and what they’ve done with the entire TV crew (minus one exception, that I don’t care how irrational it is or how nice of a guy he is, I never want to see or hear him again).
Honestly anything was going to be better than Chris Vosters and Colby Cohen, but I think they’re back to being in the top tier with what they have now.
He’s good. Miles better than that dope Vosters
He’s very good, they should lock him up long-term.
Solid
Solid. Great chemistry with Panger, Tony and Caley.
I’m a fan. Obviously no one can ever truly replace Foley but Ball is fantastic and I’m glad the hawks hired him.
He’s a good pbp guy. I’m in the minority of not enjoying Pang… I don’t even like him on nationals. Something about him annoys me and I just can’t place it.
But Ball is a fine pbp. Not Forslund, but leagues above Florida guy…who I haven’t even bothered learning the name of.
I don’t mind him. It’s pang I hate.
He’s no Pat, but he’s really good.
They’ll never be Eddie O and Foley but the duo for TV is an excellent 2nd. They’re funny, super knowledgeable, and it does seem like they enjoy calling the games together.
I’m all in for Ball, he’s working well with Panger & I’ll always love; Foley, Wideman & number 19 Troy Murray RIP, but he’s fit in really nicely & makes me look forward to his calls in the playoffs when they lay it on “THICC” with the calls lol.
I think he’s great! I can even stand Pang with Ball doing the games.
Him and Panger both are fantastic.
I absolutely love that in the comments that there are vast majority that do agree he’s good and well liked. Myself included
Ball is the best.
He’s excellent even though he works with someone that’s not on his level. If they brought in a better colour analyst he’d be even better.
I’m out of market so have espn+ and watch a lot of other rsn broadcasts, and I truly believe, accounting for any measure of bias, we have the best booth in the league.
The Panger and Ball duo is elite. Very hockey smart, entertaining, and fun guys. Thoroughly enjoy the broadcast
I think yall hated on Vosters way too much, but he is definitely better than Vosters. So i appreciate that this switch was made.
Him and Pang are great together. Hard to follow what we once had during the golden years, but they’ve grown on me.
He’s becoming very easily recognizable to my ears. Never really happened with Vosters tbh
Rick Ball is great…Darren Pang on the other hand sucks. He talks way too much and just annoys the hell out of me. I know he’s a great guy… Loved him when he was a goalie for the Hawks, but as a color commentator, he needs to go
Im a fan. He is the best possible option after Pat retired.
Is there a best-of (or worst-of) Vosters compilation anyone would recommend? I don’t recall anything about him so I can’t compare. I will say I think Ball has the PERFECT voice for commentary. There are some announcers who just don’t have the sound, some who still haven’t developed their patter, some who try too hard. Ball just has it.
I think Pang has the right mix of nostalgia and love for the game with knowledge and enthusiasm for whatever game is happening in front of him. And players seem to respect him, so he’s got an easy rapport which makes his interviews feel natural and meaningful. I’m not sure what specifically turns people off of him, unless they just aren’t ever in the mood for stories, because he certainly has a lot.
He’s great. Pang has lost his damn mind and become insufferable.
I like him. I also really like Panger and I think that helps. They seem to actually like each other and have good chemistry.
Love Ball, not a Panger guy though.
My only complaint is that both Rick Ball and Panger constantly butcher Ilya Mikheyev. Fucking drives me insane, its not even a difficult Russian name to say
He seems like a good guy, father, walker and takes care of his health. Love it when him and Panger pine over some Yenglings or make jokes about themselves.
Seems like a good fit all rounder.