Do you like Bears radio play by play man Jeff Joniak?

I expect to hear homers on the local radio and I love that. I think local guys are entitled to be homers. Joniak is good, very informative and gets excited when it’s appropriate. Over the last 4 years living in Colts country, when the Bears aren’t on TV I usually tune in via the internet to WBBM and I love it. He’s fun and I love watching YouTube highlight videos with Joniak’s calls over them, especially Hester highlights. “Hester, with the punter to beat! And he did! Touchdown, touchdown Bears!” And that’s the other thing he puts his own little phrases into there, like “Touchdown, touchdown Bears” and for every sack “Annnnd down he goes!!” it’s great.

Love the way he growls that out. Thayer, who is equal in his awesomeness makes it a great team.

Whee! I just gave myself goosebumps!

I dont always hear them during games, but I always check out their breakdowns on the main webpage. And dont forget Joniak gave Mike Greenberg of “Mike and Mike” his first gig and look what that turned into. But I am a little biast me and Joniak are boys, haha.

Devin Hester You Are Ridiculous!!!!!!!!

On third down it always sounds like a deep pass but then it not even good for a first. Other than that, I like him a lot. Thayer is mos def better though.

Your’re right, it did take time getting used to him after Laravee. In my opinion, Tom Thayer really makes the radio broadcast for WBBM. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any analyst who is more insightful on the entire game, not just the Bears.

I remember back to the Jack Brickhouse/Irv Kupcinet days when Sayers and Butkus first came up. The fact that home games weren’t televised made listening to the radio a must so they were really “the voice” of the Bears to most of us who grew up during that time.

My Dad always talks about it and said he was like Ron Santo where he’d live and die with EVERY play. I was just wondering if any one remembers that and if they liked it or not.

is/was the consummate professional and I always like his play-by-play. Joniak is solid and coming in to his own. He has been a beat reporter for the old WMAQ, so he has actual journalism credentials and his “homerism” is not overbearing by any stretch. You simply get the feeling that he roots for the Bears, but still calls the game objectively. He has the voice and the enthusiasm to do well and he has improved year on year. I vote a resounding yes!

wikified.

Your made up words made me have to re-read things a few times, but of course I forgive you… after I realized that it wasn’t me that was not recognizing some of the words! :P I like the color and pizazz they brought to the article. Haha.

i live in so cali and sometimes I listen to him online while watching on TV!! love his style and his excitement!!

I regularly listen to broadcasts from teams across the country, and I pretty much identify Joniak as both my team and as one of the best. He brings a sense of energy and excitement that I really enjoy listening to, and you can tell he’s a true fan. He has so many memorable broadcasts that are always featured because of the enthusiasm he brings, and I’m really glad we as Bears fans have him.

but his passion is genuine and you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement.

“Cutler throws! To the end zone! Touchdown! Touchdown BEARS!!”

Thayer’s great at explaining in English whatever the heck Joniak said. They both make a great team.

I love listening to them on WBBM, and they’re also great on Steve Dahl’s podcast. They’re both on weekly during the season, and Tom has been a guest pretty much weekly during the off-season. The Dahlcast is highly recommended for any Joniak/Thayer fans, and really, and Bears fans.

put the TV on mute because i can’t stand the “talking heads” on the TV (unless it’s Gruden of course he’s the best one out there imo)
I’ll turn the tv on mute and crank the radio up, because i htink Joniak is better than any announcer on TV (except for Gruden a si have mentioned already)

The only Radio guy I can think of that I can’t stand is the Colts guy.

I lived in Indiana for a couple of years and their announcers SUCK. I always enjoyed turning on the radio to listen to a game when I couldn’t watch it. I have toyed with the idea of muting the TV and syncing the radio with the TV so I don’t have to listen to those idiots on TV

until Paul Allen spoke these words:
 “But why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a KNEE and try a 56 YARD FIELD GOAL! THIS IS NOT DETROIT, MAN! This is the SUPER BOWL!!!”

I live in Brazil, and we have a delay on transmission, so i can’t really watch the game on TV with radio calls. (i can tune in online but that’s as good as it gets)

Wish he’d be the one to call bears games on TV.
Specially because no matter how well intentioned brazilian announcers are, they don’t know half the football american announcers/experts do. So from time to time they’ll go and say some really stupid crap.

And Joniak is one of the MOST exciting announcers i’ve seen.
And i’ve grown up listening to (regular soccer) football radio callers here in Brazil.
And some of those guys can give people heart attacks.