You Made the Call

KABC’s Todd Donoho is either the worst sportscaster in town or one of the best. At least, that’s what TV Times readers say.

After The Times’ Steve Harvey rated the local sportscasters, we asked you to name your most- and least-favorite. The anti-Donoho letters led the pack. AT the same time, Donoho came in a close second, behind KCBS’s Jim Hill, as our reader’s favorite sportscaster. Next in line were KNBC’s Bret Lewis, KTLA’s Ed Arnold and KNBC’s Fred Roggin.

Though no one came near Donoho in “least favorite” letters, other contenders were Roggin and Hill. The sports fans speak:

Jim Hill gives you the news straight and because he comes across as the buddy of the sports figure--and we assume he really knows the athlete personally--he gives credence to the story he is covering.

Cassie Gold, Los Angeles

We say “Take a Hike” to the Steve Harvey ranks. Come on, lighten up. These sports journalists all have one thing in common: The events of the day are all the same. Therefore the diversity must come from the individual sportscasters’ personality and his interpretation of the day. Let’s face it, some sports days are anything but exciting.

Cast two votes for Todd Donoho, who seems to be one of the least affected by the glamour of the spotlight.

Bob Lipke and Dave Guenther, Santa Clarita

I agree wholeheartedly that Fred Roggin is the class among the bunch. He lets the viewer have fun without feeling like an idiot or him acting like one. Additionally, Fred actually knows sports! What a refreshing change from some of the other goons.

Todd Donoho has definitely got to go! His wing-tipped personal just doesn’t say “sports” at all.

John V. Flores, Commerce

The Los Angeles sportscaster scene is a sad situation. Todd Donoho has actually made sports boring. Stu Nahan and Jim Hill are the closest things L.A. has to being sports journalists (journalism is the object, isn’ it? KCBS has the best in reserve ... Gil Stratton. He is aknowledgeable sports commentator with a sense of humor. Someone please give him a full-time job.

Arthur Lacher, North Hollywood

For sports knowledge, presentation and appearance, I believe Bret Lewis will someday be No. 1. I could like Fred Roggin if he didn’t try to be funny and spread himself too thin. Jim Hill is overpaid even if they cut his salary by 100%.

Louis E. Moore, Los Angeles

Fred Roggin No. !? What a joke. If you enjoy pig races nd turkey-calling contests, then yes, Fred will show it to you. Sadly, for a hockey fan in L.A., the coverage is nearly zero except when they show the occasional fight. The majority of L.A. sportscasters are highly overpaid for the superficial job they do. Thank you, but I’ll stick to ESPN and Prime Ticket for my sports reports.

Andy Mobers, Torrance

Choosing the finest sportscaster in Los Angeles would have been simple a few months ago. Keith Olbermann was clearly the best. Bret Lewis is able, like Olbermann, to convey the ludicrous aspects of sports without diminishing the inherent dignity and drama.

Alan O’Brien, Alta Loma

I actually looked forward to KNBC shipping Fred Rogin to Barcelona so that Bret Lewis could anchor the sportscasts.

Angel Zobel Rodriguez, San Fernando

Missing from your article was any mention of Mark Steines from KCAL. His low-key approach is a refreshing change from the usual bellowing heard from most sports reporters.

John Todd, Los Angeles

In spite of his “out on a limb” antics, I find Tom Murray of KCAL to be refreshing, engaging, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Gary F. Traxler, Port Hueneme

I would like to offer some advice to Stu Nahan: Cheer up and enjoy your job--with all your mispronounciations of players’ names and inverting teams when announcing scores, you’re lucky to have a job.

Mike Hallam, Lake Forest

Steve Harvey’s commentary was directed at the sports anchors on the Los Angeles news programs. One sportscaster who doesn’t exacatly fit into that category offered her own comment:

Being the only woman sportscaster in Los Angeles--and a member of Prime Tickets’ “Press Box”--I was eager to see your sportscaster rankings in the “Good Sports, Bad Gimmicks” story.

However, I was surprised and disappointed that neither “Press Box” nor I were to be found in the article. Was it a gimmick when Steve Harvey omitted our show and concluded his piece by asking why L.A. stations refuse to give a woman an on-camera job? Or maybe Harvey is in the minority of Agnelenos who don’t have cable.

Surely Harvey should have at least heard that I broke the story of Mike Dunleavy’s departure to Milwaukee, a scoop which caused quite a buzz in the sports community.

My colleagues have also broken big sports stories, like Alan Massengale, who reported on Terry Teagle leaving for Italy, and Glen Walker, who was the first with the news of Orlando’s Brian Williams’ collapse in an NBA summer league game. And of course, Larry Burnett’s and Bill Macdonald’s unique sense of humor and knowledge are certainly worth noting.

Heck, even Harvey has to admit that if you are going to compile a list of sportscasters, you have to include all of them.

Instead of a scorecard, here’s to Harvey getting a cable box and getting into the game. You can bet that Prime Ticket’s “Press Box” has in a big way.

Randi Hall Prime Ticket sportscaster