[Krawczynski] Dave Benz will not return as Timberwolves Play-by-Play Announcer

packforfreedom · Post #1 » by **packforfreedom** » Thu May 5, 2022 1:20 pm

Bally and Wolves just let him go.

minimus · Post #2 » by **minimus** » Thu May 5, 2022 1:26 pm

Why? I always thought that Jim and Dave are the one of the best announcers duos in NBA.

packforfreedom · Post #3 » by **packforfreedom** » Thu May 5, 2022 1:29 pm

Bally’s Sports North has decided not to pick up the option for television play-by-play announcer Dave Benz, ending a 10-year relationship in which Benz and color analyst Jim Petersen formed a television tandem that was widely respected among fans, media and league observers. The decision by Bally’s, which came with the support of the Timberwolves, came as a stunner to Benz, who told The Athletic that he was “heartbroken” when informed of the news on Wednesday morning.

“It’s very disheartening and very sad because I’ve grown to love my time with the team and the players and the coaches, the people in the front office, the people on the Bally’s side,” Benz said in a telephone conversation. “Everybody’s been fantastic. Today has really been a gut-wrenching day for me to say the least. It definitely was not something I saw coming.”
[..]

Bally Sports North declined to comment.

“We would like to thank Dave Benz for his 10 years of service as the Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play voice,” the Timberwolves said in a statement while declining further comment. “We appreciate all the memories he has provided our players and fans from his calls throughout the years. We wish him the best of luck in the next chapter of his broadcasting career.”
[..]

Post #4 » by **Worm Guts** » Thu May 5, 2022 1:32 pm

Didn't like him at first, but he grew on me. I'm sad to see him go.

NebWolvesFan · Post #5 » by **NebWolvesFan** » Thu May 5, 2022 2:15 pm

I wonder if this is a new owners decision. I wonder if ARod has someone in mind for play-by-play. I can't imagine they are letting him go without a new voice ready to go. Could they go with Marley?

jscott · Post #6 » by **jscott** » Thu May 5, 2022 2:31 pm

I hope it’s not Marney replacing him. She is fine for courtside but her voice is hard to listen to over a full game.

packforfreedom · Post #7 » by **packforfreedom** » Thu May 5, 2022 3:05 pm

In the games Marney called at the end of the season she was absolutely great. I'd love her to be the next announcer, but I hate how they got rid of Benz. I hope JimPete stays after what they did to his best friend.

Post #8 » by **Calinks** » Thu May 5, 2022 4:06 pm

I'm really disappointed to hear this. People gave Dave lots of crap and I know Pete poked fun at him a lot but it all felt like friendly ribbing from Pete. Dave was funny and goofy with his Ant facts and sometimes stupid stats. I appreciated how he would ask coaches and players stuff and share it with us on the broadcast like what they would do in a situation where they are up in regard to fouling the other team or not at the end of a game.

Jim and Dave were a good duo, one of the better ones in the NBA. Maybe they do find someone better but I still don't like how this went down. Just another situation where wolves fans and a person seem to get the rug pulled out from under them. Maybe like Rosas they had reasons to let him go but right now I'm salty about this.

D1SGRUNTL3D · Post #9 » by **D1SGRUNTL3D** » Thu May 5, 2022 4:12 pm

Dirty dirty move by ballys and the wolves. Although it’d be an absolutely awesome job with the travel and the experience of being a courtside play by play guy of an nba team….he saw some really bad teams this last decade. The after I guess the second good team in his career they let him go for a fresh start?

Not cool

Note30 · Post #10 » by **Note30** » Thu May 5, 2022 5:25 pm

If I had to let one of the two go it definitely wouldn't have been him. Jim Pete has been insufferable, Benz was the only one keeping the broadcast from being total doom and gloom

Post #11 » by **Klomp** » Thu May 5, 2022 6:49 pm

I feel like the only thing that could make this okay is to get a national voice in the chair. Like how Brooklyn has Ian Eagle, Knicks have Mike Breen, Kings have Mark Jones. Can we bring Kevin Harlan home?

Post #12 » by **Domejandro** » Thu May 5, 2022 8:36 pm

Klomp wrote:I feel like the only thing that could make this okay is to get a national voice in the chair. Like how Brooklyn has Ian Eagle, Knicks have Mike Breen, Kings have Mark Jones. Can we bring Kevin Harlan home?

Unfortunately, this seems like a cost-cutting move, not one to bring in more talent.

For Kevin Harlan, I don't see any world where Turner Sports lets him go. I wish, but not happening.

Post #13 » by **Domejandro** » Thu May 5, 2022 8:46 pm

I feel pretty bad for Dave Benz. He's really improved over the decade and he was clearly incredibly passionate and hardworking.

Very unimpressed with Bally Sports for cost-cutting, given the team's trajectory and their increasing fees.

Post #14 » by **Calinks** » Thu May 5, 2022 8:47 pm

They will get someone cheaper, maybe someone who will eventually be better, but it still hurts to see Benz go like this. It's like a friend that wont be there. The new person might have a rough go for a while as fans will be upset with them though it's not their fault.

Post #15 » by **Klomp** » Thu May 5, 2022 9:10 pm

Calinks wrote:They will get someone cheaper, maybe someone who will eventually be better, but it still hurts to see Benz go like this. It's like a friend that wont be there. The new person might have a rough go for a while as fans will be upset with them though it's not their fault.

That's how it was for the first 5 or so years with Benz too.

wolves_89 · Post #16 » by **wolves_89** » Thu May 5, 2022 10:55 pm

A weird and disappointing development. It seems very strange to me to drop a guy when the Wolves broadcast group is pretty much universally regarded as being one of the best in the NBA.

Post #17 » by **Klomp** » Thu May 5, 2022 11:31 pm

wolves_89 wrote:A weird and disappointing development. It seems very strange to me to drop a guy when the Wolves broadcast group is pretty much universally regarded as being part of on of the best in the NBA.

The optimistic side of me would say that hopefully this means they have a clear upgrade in mind who has expressed interest. This is why I speculated with Harlan's name. Marney can cover when he's doing national games.

King Malta · Post #18 » by **King Malta** » Thu May 5, 2022 11:51 pm

Was absolutely gutted when I saw this break last night (Australian time).

Dave is one of the best play-by-play guys in the league and forms what it is in my opinion the best local broadcast team in the league alongside Jim Pete. Dave and Jim have made some of the terrible seasons we've sat through just that much more bearable because of their coverage and it really sucks to see Dave get jettisoned just when things are starting to look good; I was looking forward to associating their calls with some better times on the court.

Not only are Dave and Jim both knowledgeable, honest and level-headed, but you could really feel how strong the chemistry was between them, their banter was great and they were never afraid to disagree about a call or a take on a particular player.

Read on Twitter

Dewey · Post #19 » by **Dewey** » Fri May 6, 2022 12:30 am

jscott wrote:I hope it’s not Marney replacing him. She is fine for courtside but her voice is hard to listen to over a full game.

Agreed… although I don’t see it happening. I could get too much of her real fast.

brutalitops · Post #20 » by **brutalitops** » Fri May 6, 2022 12:55 am

That sucks. big fan of our commentators and think they are probably the best duo,

Will wait a little while to see who the new replacement is, it's big shoes to fill