I know that he was born in 1941 but when? Is he 70 yet?

I was thinkin about Starkey the other day..I'm glad Cal still has him around calling games. He's frustrating at times..but its kind of cool still. I hope we're never in a hurry to push him out. His voice is so distinctive now like Chic Hearn, or the late cubs announcer Harry Caray.

During post game, I did a doubletake when Zach said bullshit.

MinotStateBeav;559562 said:

---

I was thinkin about Starkey the other day..I'm glad Cal still has him around calling games. He's frustrating at times..but its kind of cool still. I hope we're never in a hurry to push him out. His voice is so distinctive now like Chic Hearn, or the late cubs announcer Harry Caray.

---

I get that he is an institution, but as a football pXp guy, he truly is pretty terrible.

MinotStateBeav;559562 said:

---

I was thinkin about Starkey the other day..I'm glad Cal still has him around calling games. He's frustrating at times..but its kind of cool still. I hope we're never in a hurry to push him out. His voice is so distinctive now like Chic Hearn, or the late cubs announcer Harry Caray.

---

Yes, definitely if you want to follow what's going on and who is involved on the field....:headbang

Time to get Roxy into the booth. Jeez, even ESPN understands how good he is.

Starkey is a true blue and Cal's lucky to have someone who truly loves the institution and will take his passion for all things Cal to the maker. He's part of the Cal tradition and we would be worse off without his presence.

I guess now that I'm older I appreciate Starkey more than I did when I was in my 20s. I can't really explain it other than he IS the voice of Cal football and I get excited when I hear him, I love Roxy too don't get me wrong.

UC Berkeley researchers need to figure out a way to perfectly replicate his voice, so that when future announcers speak into the microphone, Starkey's voice comes out of the speakers.

bbign;559677 said:

---

yes, definitely if you want to follow what's going on and who is involved on the field....:headbang

time to get roxy into the booth. Jeez, even espn understands how good he is.

---

* 600000000000000000000000

Honestly, its time for Joe to take the JT retirement package and head on over to Retirement Acres... he has never been a great play by play announcer and his "signature call" of The Play really epitomizes his lack of ability ... while he's been a great Cal supporter and has done what he's done over time, it really is time to get someone new on the air. I'd really like to see Roxy take over ... the time has long come for a change.

FremontBear;559679 said:

---

Starkey is a true blue and Cal's lucky to have someone who truly loves the institution and will take his passion for all things Cal to the maker. He's part of the Cal tradition and we would be worse off without his presence.

---

He made the right decision. ..in dumping the lowly Niners for the Bears. Go Starkey! Go Bears!

I have enjoyed listening to him cover the Cal games for more than 30 years, even when I am at the game myself. When Cal is on the road and I am not there, all I have to do is listen to Joe Starkey and it is as if I am there seeing every play in person.

Joe, how about another 30 years please?

:cheer:cheer:cheer

fremontbear;559679 said:

---

starkey is a true blue and cal's lucky to have someone who truly loves the institution and will take his passion for all things cal to the maker. He's part of the cal tradition and we would be worse off without his presence.

---

calbear80;559721 said:

---

i have enjoyed listening to him cover the cal games for more than 30 years, even when i am at the game myself. When cal is on the road and i am not there, all i have to do is listen to joe starkey and it is as if i am there seeing every play in person.

Joe, how about another 30 years please?

:cheer:cheer:cheer

---

+1,000,000

I like Roxy, but Starkey isn't going anywhere. I don't know how Roxy would feel about sharing booth duties. In a perfect world, I'd like to see Roxy, Joe, and Troy do a three man booth. When Joe is ready to stop traveling, I'd like to see him transition into post-game duties a la Lee Grosscup.

While I'm on the topic -- we need longer pre-game and post game shows. Just sayin'.

petalumabear;559691 said:

---

Honestly, its time for Joe to take the JT retirement package and head on over to Retirement Acres... he has never been a great play by play announcer and his "signature call" of The Play really epitomizes his lack of ability ... while he's been a great Cal supporter and has done what he's done over time, it really is time to get someone new on the air. I'd really like to see Roxy take over ... the time has long come for a change.

---

The Raiders have stuck Jim Plunkett in the booth with Tom Flores and Greg Papa to gently send the signal (to Tom Flores) that holding a broadcasting position is not supposed to be like the Papacy, where the only way you exit is feet first. Put Roxy in the booth with Starkey now. As George Harrison said, All Things Must Pass.

drunkoski;559731 said:

---

In person I know the score, down and distance, what happened during the play, the players involved. . .

---

+6.7

Starkey is the voice of Cal. He should be able to broadcast as long as he still feels up to it. Wouldn't be the same without him. Plus honestly, him sticking with Cal over the Niners says everything you need to know about how he feels about all of us.

Too bad too because I believe Starkey will become less and less relevent because Cal is televised now....however I don't know about the Presbyterian game????

I gave up listening to Joe many years ago - roughly since he began advocating the Bears go to the "prevent defense" whenever the Bears got a lead. Never felt Joe delivered much value added, insight or humor to offset his frequent mistakes. There are many good announcers out there, several in the Bay Area, and its time for Cal to make a change.

drunkoski;559731 said:

---

In person I know the score, down and distance, what happened during the play, the players involved. . .

---

Also true if you watch on tv. He's actually a *very* good tv announcer - he says what you're probably thinking and says it memorably and emphatically (the band is out on the field!! He's going to go into the endzone!!) I love watching the highlight videos synched to his calls. The sound of his voice is a thousand happy teenaged memories of Cal football passed. I wish he'd been able to move on to tv long ago, and give folks like Roxy the chance to build memories of their own, but as it is he's a legend- and legends can pretty much write their own ticket as far as sticking around goes.

I love Starkey even if you never know until way after the play who was involved....after all, he is an institution............

ok, does anyone know if he has turned 70 yet?

drunkoski;559874 said:

---

i thought the 49ers fired him.

---

No. They insisted he choose between us and them.

drunkoski;559699 said:

---

Yes. He's passionate about cal, but if you actually care about the game it's ridiculously difficult to follow the game.

---

We actually agree on something! Starkey has been unlistenable for over 20 years.

The rationalization of the Starkey Fan Club was always that he had to split his prep time between the Niners and Bears, and the pro team got the most attention. But now that he is just doing Cal games he would become the pXp man that Cal deserves.

I don't see any change.

And you don't get rid of family even if there are some things you don't like.

Yeah - but you don't let your legally blind 85 year old uncle drive the family minivan, do you? No! You put him in the back like the rest of the passengers.

Time for Crazy Uncle Joe to move to the back and let someone else drive the bus.

Seems like nostalgia can play a big part in determining whether or not you like an announcer. Dodgers fans love Vin Scully but I don't get it. I'd much rather listen to Starkey than Scully.

[Caution: This could turn into another North vs. South (Bay Area vs. LA) shouting match.]

santacruzbear;560119 said:

---

And you don't get rid of family even if there are some things you don't like.

---

Tell that to that grizzly old polecat of a basketball public announcer that held the position since the invention of the jump shot. They had to pry him kicking and screaming out of the chair when they replaced him with Eddie K several years ago. Speaking of which, they can put Dick Callahan on the same bus with Starkey, after thanking them for their service, naturally.

FremontBear;559679 said:

---

Starkey is a true blue and Cal's lucky to have someone who truly loves the institution and will take his passion for all things Cal to the maker. He's part of the Cal tradition and we would be worse off without his presence.

---

I totally agree. Joe Starkey is far better than most of the self-important second-guessers who are today's broadcasters. Joe calls the game, rather than incessantly predicting what the next play will be. He bleeds blue and gold, which he demonstrated when he went with calling the Cal games instead of the 49er games. When Cal is on the road, I watch the game on TV with Joe's audio, despite the delay. He may miss a call now and then, but nobody's perfect.

blungld;559568 said:

---

During post game, I did a doubletake when Zach said bullshit.

---

I just barely caught Zach saying BS, but I didn't understand the context. Anyone catch that?

It's interesting that people on either really love or really hate this guy. Anyone know how to set up a poll to see what percentage of fan on this board support him. Not that it's going to make a difference. But just curious.

I'm one who thinks it's not Cal football without Starkey's voice. Was out of the country for a number of years feeling homesick. I'd listened to KGO online when a game is on, and hearing his voice I felt at home with the crowd!

Does anyone know if he is 70 yet? That was the original purpose of the thread lol.

I don't see the relevance in knowing his age.

Starkey will keep announcing until Cal goes to a Rose Bowl. Then, he might retire.

I keep praying for Cal to get a Rose Bowl berth.

When he did both the 9ers and Cal his homework on Cal games was lacking. I think he is better now that he can spend his time preparing for the Cal games and doesn't have to prepare for two games a week. He seems to know more about Cal opponents, and he doesn't have to abandon locker room interviews early to go jump on a plane to Green Bay.

alarsuel;559668 said:

---

I get that he is an institution, but as a football pXp guy, he truly is pretty terrible.

---

There has always been a criticism that he sometimes forgets to give down & distance and neglects time on the clock. I think he has actually gotten better at that over the years, but it is still a valid criticism.

bearister;560200 said:

---

Tell that to that grizzly old polecat of a basketball public announcer that held the position since the invention of the jump shot. They had to pry him kicking and screaming out of the chair when they replaced him with Eddie K several years ago. Speaking of which, they can put Dick Callahan on the same bus with Starkey, after thanking them for their service, naturally.

---

Think the axe has already fallen on Callahan. I came in late on a radio interview with him today on the A's station and he mentioned that he was no longer the Cal stadium announcer.