Wizards announcer calls game ending airball as game winner (UPDATE: Pistons too!)
At the end of Wednesday night's Wizards-Pistons game, Washington Wizards play by play man Steve Buckhantz gave us one of the funniest announcing bloopers in the history of the microphone. Buckhantz called Trevor Ariza's corner three pointer at the buzzer as a game winner and even gave his signature "DAGGER!" call. Only one slight problem...
Ariza's shot was actually an airball.
From the booth it must have looked like the ball went through the net, but in actuality it just brushed the cords. The result was an excited announcer going nuts while his team walked somberly off the floor.
That's so Wizards!
UPDATE: And via DC Sports Bog, the Pistons announce crew unbelievably called Ariza's airball a field goal as well! George Blaha mistakenly says Ariza's shot is good, but that it came after the buzzer. I think I prefer the erroneous "DAGGER!" over the erroneous dejected loss call though...
How did both home and road announcers miss this game ending call? Memphis Grizzlies play by play man Pete Pranica tells us on Twitter that Washington is only 1 of 2 NBA arenas to put the television broadcast booths at the back of the lower bowl. The distance from the court combined with Ariza's high arcing shot that moved the net combined to produce an event where both television crews mistook a game ending airball for a game winner.
The problem among a dozen more when multi-million $ Rights Fees don't get u courtside:“@awfulannouncing: miscall http://t.co/WmE5kkE1Vg”
@krseberg @Sewellosophy would've kept our games more competitive if we had this guy keeping score! Sewell would've been the MVP #highscorer
@DaveLenoTV I noticed OSU's radio announcers were at back of the lower bowl as well. Probably miss ref, coach communications too.
@AirJordan given all the money that goes into tv and radio, why sacrifice the on air product for fans at home? Announcers should b courtside
@DaveLenoTV Yep, and a school like OSU is definitely geared towards maximizing the revenue
@AirJordan teams want to offer more courtside seating for fans=more revenue. Fans even sit on press row now. Times r a changin
“@awfulannouncing: Not exaggerating, this buzzer beating call from last night http://t.co/ko4DkLmtpf” dick Stockton excellence award!
Looking at the crowed behind the net it appears the announcers were not the only folks fooled by that shot.
@GlennDOrdway @awfulannouncing Not their fault at all. On the replays it looks like he drains it. Also, Airballs don't hit net.
@FlemmingDave Didn't realize Leonsis sold their seats and moved em up top! Changes whole deal.
@FlemmingDave Agreed. From that monitor angle tricky. That said, watch Ariza and other players.
@GlennDOrdway @awfulannouncing Not sure if you saw the update, but apparently BOTH the Wizards AND Pistons announcers called the shot good!
@awfulannouncing I've watched that Wizards link 20x. Fooled every time. Blaha is one of the best, if it fooled him, no one's immune.
@GlennDOrdway come on. From the angle from where they call I can see why he made the mistake
I SAW this lol RT @awfulannouncing: Video: Wizards play by play man calls game ending airball as game winner! http://t.co/B0GT84VFH4 #doh
@awfulannouncing That whole sequence of events is just so Wizards. Describes the organization perfectly. Failure on the court & on the mic.
@awfulannouncing Pistons side isn't as dramatic, but missed it, too. http://t.co/cm7T6yKYLX
@awfulannouncing Bob Lamey (Colts radio) has had more than one incorrect call on game ending field goals.
Premature exclamation. MT @awfulannouncing Not exaggerating, might be best blooper in AA history. http://t.co/ZsTMw9Zm7H
@awfulannouncing Buckhantz is a terrible play by play man. Makes a viewer long for the likes of Dave Johnson.
@DBrownMidcoSN @ElsenMidcoSN @Naamodt21 NO contest. @BruceAndera cleared up his call way before the other 1, both epic in their own way.
@Schopptalk sounds like something I would do if the game was close in NBA 12 against my son, bit never that close..LOL #shameful
@Schopptalk @awfulannouncing I would like to see his call of the end of Super Bowl XXV.
#embarrassing “@awfulannouncing: Video: Wizards play by play man calls game ending airball as game winner! http://t.co/daaY58ZNs3 #doh”
“@awfulannouncing: Video: Wizards play by play man calls game ending airball as game winner! http://t.co/pK4Sst3feW #doh” @wallyshoots
Nothing but net, literally RT @awfulannouncing Video: Wizards Announcer calls game ending airball as game winner http://t.co/5OvT07WUpn
I once called a game over because of the roar of the crowd after a made last-second basket was so loud that, for whatever reason, I thought I had heard the buzzer sound. Turns out there was, like, 0.6 still left on the clock. We still won, but it's still my worst call ever. It happens.
@russillo “@awfulannouncing: Video: Wizards play by play man calls game ending airball as game winner! http://t.co/B3BlTXwVj5 #doh”
@awfulannouncing The Pistons announcers were confused too. (I think) they thought it went in but the shot was after the buzzer. As did I.
.@PolakWolak RT @awfulannouncing Video: Wizards play by play man calls game ending airball as game winner! http://t.co/WRex1Rgotx #doh
