ImageImageImageImageImage

The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto

Moderators: 7 Footer, Morris_Shatford, DG88, niQ, Duffman100, tsherkin, Reeko, lebron stopper, HiJiNX

User avatar
OakleyDokely
RealGM
Posts: 36,015
And1: 68,357
Joined: Aug 02, 2008
Location: 416
 

The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#1 » by OakleyDokely » Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:56 pm

“People ask me, how did you come up with get that garbage outta here? I’m like, that’s easy,” Armstrong said. “You play in a schoolyard in Brooklyn, you get your shot blocked, people tell you to get that **** **** out of here, you know? Now, it’s a family show, I can’t use that, so I came up with ‘garbage.’ So, to me, it all comes together—there’s something about New York City, its soul. People are pretty rough and people are pretty honest and pretty direct. It’s just that soul of New York City basketball.”


whole article here

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/3/14/23618907/jack-armstrong-nba-toronto-raptors
User avatar
Mr Funk
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,279
And1: 5,379
Joined: Jul 18, 2012
Location: Toronto

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#2 » by Mr Funk » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:02 pm

Now if only Jack could get the **** out of here, so we could actually have some analysis.
Image
User avatar
Potential
RealGM
Posts: 21,353
And1: 45,854
Joined: Feb 28, 2015
   

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#3 » by Potential » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:02 pm

Jack is a national treasure. So glad to have him on our side!

User avatar
WaltFrazier
RealGM
Posts: 33,935
And1: 31,468
Joined: Jan 21, 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#4 » by WaltFrazier » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:06 pm

I still like Jack after all the years. He comes across as a real NY/Brooklyn basketball guy. A poor man's Al Maguire. Yes he overdoes the humor a bit but still a comfortable listen. I used to like him when he had a radio show on The Fan590, paired with Swirsky for a time and also Doug the hockey guy whose name escapes me.

Just a good guy to sit and talk with.
There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes.
User avatar
WaltFrazier
RealGM
Posts: 33,935
And1: 31,468
Joined: Jan 21, 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#5 » by WaltFrazier » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:10 pm

Potential wrote:Jack is a national treasure. So glad to have him on our side!


He looks so young there.

Is there a clip of the time last year when he meant to reference Ron Burgundy but said Ron Jermey by mistake? Now that broke up Devlin like nothing else.

Jack always had great chemistry with Chuck Swirsky as well, unlike Leo and Chuck
There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes.
User avatar
SharoneWright
RealGM
Posts: 29,218
And1: 13,525
Joined: Aug 03, 2006
Location: A pig in a cage on antibiotics
     

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#6 » by SharoneWright » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:12 pm

WaltFrazier wrote:I still like Jack after all the years. He comes across as a real NY/Brooklyn basketball guy. A poor man's Al Maguire. Yes he overdoes the humor a bit but still a comfortable listen. I used to like him when he had a radio show on The Fan590, paired with Swirsky for a time and also Doug the hockey guy whose name escapes me.

Just a good guy to sit and talk with.


Ya. He's great.

Doug McLean?

WaltFrazier wrote:Is there a clip of the time last year when he meant to reference Ron Burgundy but said Ron Jermey by mistake? Now that broke up Devlin like nothing else.

It's embedded in the Ringer article.
Is anybody here a marine biologist?
User avatar
Potential
RealGM
Posts: 21,353
And1: 45,854
Joined: Feb 28, 2015
   

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#7 » by Potential » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:13 pm

WaltFrazier wrote:
Potential wrote:Jack is a national treasure. So glad to have him on our side!


He looks so young there.

Is there a clip of the time last year when he meant to reference Ron Burgundy but said Ron Jermey by mistake? Now that broke up Devlin like nothing else.

Jack always had great chemistry with Chuck Swirsky as well, unlike Leo and Chuck


M3tro
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,115
And1: 3,696
Joined: Mar 15, 2018

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#8 » by M3tro » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:16 pm

Jack is the glue on our broadcasting team.

He's always been the most blunt with team criticism and is a true hoops head. The Brooklyn accent also gives it that touch of extra authenticity when talking ball.

Hopefully he retires on his own accord and not the organization looking to go a different direction.
User avatar
WaltFrazier
RealGM
Posts: 33,935
And1: 31,468
Joined: Jan 21, 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#9 » by WaltFrazier » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:18 pm

Potential wrote:
WaltFrazier wrote:
Potential wrote:Jack is a national treasure. So glad to have him on our side!


He looks so young there.

Is there a clip of the time last year when he meant to reference Ron Burgundy but said Ron Jermey by mistake? Now that broke up Devlin like nothing else.

Jack always had great chemistry with Chuck Swirsky as well, unlike Leo and Chuck




On a side note, look at that score. 92-67 over Indy in the third. Was that the last blowout we ever had?
There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes.
Kingsway_fan
RealGM
Posts: 13,970
And1: 9,772
Joined: May 25, 2016
Location: Paris
 

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#10 » by Kingsway_fan » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:26 pm

Mr Funk wrote:Now if only Jack could get the **** out of here, so we could actually have some analysis.


Raptors broadcasters as as pathetic as the on court product these days ..
User avatar
WaltFrazier
RealGM
Posts: 33,935
And1: 31,468
Joined: Jan 21, 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#11 » by WaltFrazier » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:45 pm

SharoneWright wrote:
WaltFrazier wrote:I still like Jack after all the years. He comes across as a real NY/Brooklyn basketball guy. A poor man's Al Maguire. Yes he overdoes the humor a bit but still a comfortable listen. I used to like him when he had a radio show on The Fan590, paired with Swirsky for a time and also Doug the hockey guy whose name escapes me.

Just a good guy to sit and talk with.


Ya. He's great.

Doug McLean?

WaltFrazier wrote:Is there a clip of the time last year when he meant to reference Ron Burgundy but said Ron Jermey by mistake? Now that broke up Devlin like nothing else.

It's embedded in the Ringer article.


Yes McLean.

Thanks, you made me go read the whole article. What a great piece. I laughed hard at Chuck's Sonny and Cher story which I hadn't heard before. Nothing like a good laugh.

The author made a good point on the side, about Alvin. Rather than the ego of most ex players, Alvin is humble to a fault. He was actually a much better player than he lets on while doing games. A lot of that is Devlin's fault, trying too hard to be funny.
There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes.
User avatar
C Court
RealGM
Posts: 39,768
And1: 26,876
Joined: Nov 07, 2005
Location: Toronto
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#12 » by C Court » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:53 pm

Jack is still the best!!!!
NBA Champion Toronto Raptors
Yallbecrazy
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,809
And1: 5,491
Joined: Nov 25, 2013

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#13 » by Yallbecrazy » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:53 pm

Mr Funk wrote:Now if only Jack could get the **** out of here, so we could actually have some analysis.

Get this gahbage outta this thread.
User avatar
refshateRaps
Head Coach
Posts: 6,100
And1: 8,083
Joined: Feb 08, 2014

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#14 » by refshateRaps » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:01 pm

We haven't always had the best team, but our announcers have often been so much better to listen too then most US team local broadcast crews.

I mean Leos racial and vertical bias aside :lol:
User avatar
C Court
RealGM
Posts: 39,768
And1: 26,876
Joined: Nov 07, 2005
Location: Toronto
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#15 » by C Court » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:07 pm

I didn't know this, but Jack is the 4th longest tenured local NBA analyst.

Armstrong’s longevity on the Raptors broadcast is a miracle; given his résumé heading into the role, his success is truly unprecedented.

There aren’t many active NBA color analysts who have stuck around with the same team for as long—and only the Lakers’ Stu Lantz, the Knicks’ Walt Frazier, and the Pistons’ Greg Kelser have done it for longer.
NBA Champion Toronto Raptors
User avatar
Prestige
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,038
And1: 4,656
Joined: Jan 17, 2011
Location: The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything.
 

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#16 » by Prestige » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:16 pm

Arena entertainment crew, tv announcers, and guys in the truck all need to be sacked and replaced in a house cleaning.
Zeno
RealGM
Posts: 24,755
And1: 23,002
Joined: Jun 06, 2001
   

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#17 » by Zeno » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:19 pm

I like Jack. He’s usually pretty good but the strongest part of his game is not being Alvin.
When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Please advise….

Dan G.
ChaiSudle
Freshman
Posts: 93
And1: 102
Joined: May 13, 2020
   

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#18 » by ChaiSudle » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:31 pm

I loved this article and I love Jack. The article made me realize how lucky we've been to have him with the team for so long, I was literally a child when he started and I can't imagine watching the Raptors without him. Thanks Jack!
Harold_and_Kumar
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,729
And1: 6,662
Joined: Aug 05, 2004
       

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#19 » by Harold_and_Kumar » Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:41 pm

Jack is awesome - I honestly don't know what's not to like. He's exciting, funny, and straightforward. I don't need some nerd up there waxing poetically about VORP or something, I want to be entertained too. I love Blake Murphy, but I don't want him doing colour! I like the balance Jack brings to calling games and his chemistry with Matt is great.
mrdressup
Head Coach
Posts: 6,254
And1: 5,604
Joined: Apr 23, 2007

Re: The Ringer: How Jack Armstrong Became the Life of the Party in Toronto 

Post#20 » by mrdressup » Tue Mar 14, 2023 8:09 pm

He's a good voice to have alongside a corporate guy. He gets to gently criticize and Matty gets to smoothen that over even more.

Return to Toronto Raptors