Joe Tait book

[74WIXYGrad]

I know it's been out for several months now, but I thought with the anniversary of Len Barker's perfect game a couple of days away, it would be timely to post a review of a book about one of the people in the television booth  for that game. An easy read, it was a book I completed within 24 hours. Here is a link to my blog post, reviewing the Joe Tait book: http://wixygrad.blogspot.com/2012/05/its-been-real-ball-book-review.html

[vjm]

Great book Joe, and great review Cliff.

[74WIXYGrad]

Glad you liked it vjm. Just too bad I never took Joe's advice to heart the evening I talked to him at the Coliseum in 1975.

[CleveRadioInsider]

Cavs games have not been the same since Joe Tait stopped announcing them.  I was really hoping that Mike Snyder was going to get the play by play job after Joe Tait retired.  The announcers that replaced Joe are awful.  John Michael and Jim Chones are just not a good radio team.   I read the book as well and loved it.  Joe is very honest about his feelings about sports now.  I don't believe he watches any pro sports anymore.

[vjm]

Cavs games have not been the same since Joe Tait stopped announcing them.  I was really hoping that Mike Snyder was going to get the play by play job after Joe Tait retired.  The announcers that replaced Joe are awful.  John Michael and Jim Chones are just not a good radio team.   I read the book as well and loved it.  Joe is very honest about his feelings about sports now.  I don't believe he watches any pro sports anymore.

Joe is a different breed from a different era, and he's made no bones about how the self grandizing flash and sizzle of today's sports drives turning his stomach.

As far as the current team, I'd put credits on the theory that Mike Snyder didn't want the gig.  One, because he lived through the NBA meat grinder for a year and said "Pass!", and two, because he didn't want to be the guy who replaced the legend.

John Michael is a hockey guy by trade, so a rough time wasn't unexpected.  Chones is better as a TV analyst.

[almaniac27]

Cavs games have not been the same since Joe Tait stopped announcing them.  I was really hoping that Mike Snyder was going to get the play by play job after Joe Tait retired.  The announcers that replaced Joe are awful.  John Michael and Jim Chones are just not a good radio team.   I read the book as well and loved it.  Joe is very honest about his feelings about sports now.  I don't believe he watches any pro sports anymore.

Joe is a different breed from a different era, and he's made no bones about how the self grandizing flash and sizzle of today's sports drives turning his stomach.

As far as the current team, I'd put credits on the theory that Mike Snyder didn't want the gig.  One, because he lived through the NBA meat grinder for a year and said "Pass!", and two, because he didn't want to be the guy who replaced the legend.

John Michael is a hockey guy by trade, so a rough time wasn't unexpected.  Chones is better as a TV analyst.

I imagine this situation will play out like it did in Cincinnati. When Joe Nuxhall retired in 2004, he was replaced behind the mic for the Reds by Steve Stewart, who proved to be not very popular, and when Jeff Brantley replaced him in 2007, he was received much more warmly, as his easy-going, laid back style complemented Marty Brennaman and fit well with the Cincinnati baseball attitude. The current Cavs broadcaster might be in a similar "stuck in the middle" situation.