Your favorite ESPN personality

[Joe F- Cincinnati]

Typically I see quite a bit of bashing of various ESPN personalities here on the boards, but we know they're not all bad. Personally, my favorite ESPN personality is Michael Smith.
http://espn.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/43x63/0000.jpg (http://search.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=Michael_Smith)
Smith used to cover the Patriots for the Boston Globe but has been with ESPN since 2004. For my taste he is one of the most rational voices on a network filled with irrational pin heads. His points are always clearly expressed and well thought out, and he's not afraid to go against the grain if he truly believes something that defies the status quo.

[Joe from Florence]

I'd have to go with Tom Jackson, hands down one of the fairest and most impartial analysts on the network

[The Bat]

I'd have to go with Tom Jackson, hands down one of the fairest and most impartial analysts on the network
And an alumnus of the University of.... LOUISVILLE!

Yes, I am in agreement with Joe on this one...

Shawn Salsbury is CR#P!

[jmccracky]

Michael Smith and Tom Jackson are the only ones worth a dang, lol! Ok, there might be a couple of others that are good, but definitely those two are my favorites right now.

[Jom112]

Football wise definitely Michael Smith. Overall though I'd have to go with Peter Gammons.
Suzy Kolber and Rachael Nichols ain't bad either...

[34inXXIII]

I'm going to stick by fellow Bengals fan, Dan Patrick. I like his sense of humor, which often helps bring the best out of his guests. He's also quite intelligent, though, and has parlayed his experience into a position enabling him to ask some very pointed questions of those in positions of power in sports (i.e. his recent interview with David Stern).

I'd like to give an honorable mention to John Clayton, though. To have a little, scrawny guy who looks like a complete geek not only be so knowledgable about football but clearly very passionate about it as well is intriguing. Because of his appearance, however, he gets unfairly judged. This often leads to fans bashing him when he reports negative information about their team (yet the same people are the first to break out 'John Clayton said....' whenever he says something positive).

Tom Jackson, Peter Gammons & Michael Smith are excellent choices as well, not to mention Mike Golic.

[Jom112]

I'm going to stick by fellow Bengals fan, Dan Patrick. I like his sense of humor, which often helps bring the best out of his guests. He's also quite intelligent, though, and has parlayed his experience into a position enabling him to ask some very pointed questions of those in positions of power in sports (i.e. his recent interview with David Stern).

I'd like to give an honorable mention to John Clayton, though. To have a little, scrawny guy who looks like a complete geek not only be so knowledgable about football but clearly very passionate about it as well is intriguing. Because of his appearance, however, he gets unfairly judged. This often leads to fans bashing him when he reports negative information about their team (yet the same people are the first to break out 'John Clayton said....' whenever he says something positive).

Tom Jackson, Peter Gammons & Michael Smith are excellent choices as well, not to mention Mike Golic.

I'm surprised your a fan of Dan Patrick. He's probably the only person at ESPN with a bigger ego than Sean Salisbury.
I remember when he did an interview with Boomer (Esiason), Patrick started off the interview by saying Boomer is the second best left-handed QB who wore the #7 in the NFL (Stating that Vick was #1). There really wasn't any reason to make such a comment but Patrick's ego has grown to a level where he has to put down everyone else around him.
Michael Wilbon is also a good ESPN personality that hasn't been mentioned yet...

[ThePekoSquad]

Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic a.k.a. Mike and Mike. Those guys are just hands down the best overall, they are comical and they know exactly what they are talking about.
Rachel Nichols... yum.

Trey Wingo is a great one as well, and who can forget Stuart Scott?

[Buckeyehitman]

I like Rachel Nichols (I agree, yummy) and I like TK, good ole Tony Kornheiser, he's just flat out funny. PTI isn't great if Wilbon is gone, but it is almost unwatchable if TK is gone. Oh and if they're both gone..........it's pointless.

[toyota24]

I like Tom Jackson b/c he was the first to really give us props during the 05 season. Berman just sat there and acted like Jackson was nuts to think the Bengals were for real early on. Also liked Max Kellerman a lot. I like all of the NFL Countdown guys b/c when they come on, it indicates that it's the start of the best day of the week during the best time of the year (sorry, I get all excited when I think about the nearing of the season.). It's one of few things that can get me out of bed early on my day off. Also, I can't stand Stuart Scott. He's just annoying. Don't know why.

[ThePekoSquad]

another good one to go on that list
Kenny Mayne
possibly the best one of all time

[BFan71]

Kenny Mayne is hilarious.
My vote is for Jay Crawford and Kirk Herbstreit.
And honorable mention to Stephen A. Smith and Jeremy Schaap

[34inXXIII]

I'm surprised your a fan of Dan Patrick. He's probably the only person at ESPN with a bigger ego than Sean Salisbury.
I remember when he did an interview with Boomer (Esiason), Patrick started off the interview by saying Boomer is the second best left-handed QB who wore the #7 in the NFL (Stating that Vick was #1). There really wasn't any reason to make such a comment but Patrick's ego has grown to a level where he has to put down everyone else around him.
Michael Wilbon is also a good ESPN personality that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Maybe I just read Patrick differently than most because it seems to me he has something of an irreverant yet self-depricating sense of humor (much like myself). I cannot say for sure because I didn't hear the interview, but I have a hard time imagining that starting off the interview that way was meant as anything more than poking a little fun at Boomer moreso than putting him down (especially considering Boomer's sense of humor as well).

I also believe there are plenty of times he's poking fun at himself with mock-arrogance that some people will treat as being sincere. He doesn't seem to me to have quite the ego some make him out to have.

[Jom112]

I'm surprised your a fan of Dan Patrick. He's probably the only person at ESPN with a bigger ego than Sean Salisbury.
I remember when he did an interview with Boomer (Esiason), Patrick started off the interview by saying Boomer is the second best left-handed QB who wore the #7 in the NFL (Stating that Vick was #1). There really wasn't any reason to make such a comment but Patrick's ego has grown to a level where he has to put down everyone else around him.
Michael Wilbon is also a good ESPN personality that hasn't been mentioned yet...

Maybe I just read Patrick differently than most because it seems to me he has something of an irreverant yet self-depricating sense of humor (much like myself). I cannot say for sure because I didn't hear the interview, but I have a hard time imagining that starting off the interview that way was meant as anything more than poking a little fun at Boomer moreso than putting him down (especially considering Boomer's sense of humor as well).

I also believe there are plenty of times he's poking fun at himself with mock-arrogance that some people will treat as being sincere. He doesn't seem to me to have quite the ego some make him out to have.

Patrick does have some good qualities. He is always up for debate and gives his opponent time to share their views. He has some great interviewing skills as seen by his interviews with Stern, Michael Irvin and others.
As for the one with Boomer. Boomer just responded "How does it feel to be the second best anchor at ESPN?" Then indicating the top one being someone who shares the same name as him. The interview was more uncomfortable than it was humorous after that exchange. Both people seemed to be in "1 up mode" after those comments.
The issue I have with Dan Patrick, is that when him, Keith Olbermann and Craig Kilborn all first started they were great, IMO. All of them had similar humor to yourself 34. But after a while all three seemed to get bigger ego's and they all now have an air of snobbishness about them. They are probably three of the most talented sportscasters ESPN has ever had but I would rather watch someone like Trey Wingo or Scott Van Pelt who seem to still have their feet on the ground...

[34inXXIII]

The issue I have with Dan Patrick, is that when him, Keith Olbermann and Craig Kilborn all first started they were great, IMO. All of them had similar humor to yourself 34. But after a while all three seemed to get bigger ego's and they all now have an air of snobbishness about them.

And, like Patrick, Olbermann & Kilborn, I've been accused of similarly have that "air of snobishness" around here. To some degree, I'm sure it's true of each of us in our own specific forum, so to speak. Maybe that's why I like them so much (though Kilborn, not as much). I know I'm not terribly arrogant and I see alot of the similar qualities in them, so I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt, I guess.

[Joe from Florence]

Kenny Mayne is hilarious.
My vote is for Jay Crawford and Kirk Herbstreit.
And honorable mention to Stephen A. Smith and Jeremy Schaap

Stephen A smith....now there is a guy who just oozes arrogance, can't stand him, he's loud obnoxious and thinks he's the know it all of everything....can't stand listening to him talk

[BFan71]

Kenny Mayne is hilarious.
My vote is for Jay Crawford and Kirk Herbstreit.
And honorable mention to Stephen A. Smith and Jeremy Schaap

Stephen A smith....now there is a guy who just oozes arrogance, can't stand him, he's loud obnoxious and thinks he's the know it all of everything....can't stand listening to him talk

I didn't like him at first, but he definitely grew on me. If you get past the intonations and listen to what he has to say, you would understand a little more of the arrogance.