OT - Madison Square Garden will not be the same.

[GG121AND2]

Longtime (34 years) Division I Championships announcer, Sandy Stevens, was notified that the NCAA and the NYC local organizing committee has decided to go in a different direction with this season's announcing crew.

I must admit - Sandy and I have become good friends over the years, but I question the motives of this decision. I am aware that the committee is out to prove that urbanization is the best path to the growth of wrestling in America and I agree - somewhat, but to summarily drop "the girl from Cedar Rapids", the most recognized voice in wrestling seems a misguided decision.

 

[sloehawk]

Longtime (34 years) Division I Championships announcer, Sandy Stevens, was notified that the NCAA and the NYC local organizing committee has decided to go in a different direction with this season's announcing crew.

I must admit - Sandy and I have become good friends over the years, but I question the motives of this decision. I am aware that the committee is out to prove that urbanization is the best path to the growth of wrestling in America and I agree - somewhat, but to summarily drop "the girl from Cedar Rapids", the most recognized voice in wrestling seems a misguided decision.

That is a bummer indeed. Hell of a run for the young lady.

 

[GG121AND2]

Fear not - you can hear Sandy at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships.

 

[artradley]

Longtime (34 years) Division I Championships announcer, Sandy Stevens, was notified that the NCAA and the NYC local organizing committee has decided to go in a different direction with this season's announcing crew.

I must admit - Sandy and I have become good friends over the years, but I question the motives of this decision. I am aware that the committee is out to prove that urbanization is the best path to the growth of wrestling in America and I agree - somewhat, but to summarily drop "the girl from Cedar Rapids", the most recognized voice in wrestling seems a misguided decision.

imo that is an astonishingly bad decision. I can't imagine the reasoning behind that.

 

[Squarehat]

I can't think of our years at Fargo without hearing her voice...

 

[Herkuleez5]

Who are the numbnuts that made that decision? That is absolutely stupid and I think they should hear about it from the fans but I for one am not smart enough to figure out how to get that voice across.

 

[PapaBearSLIM]

Her voice is how you knew the tournament (any tournament) was legit.

 

[texas twister]

Since Ed retired (later died), the PA work at Nationals has been a snooze-fest. Sandy was the steady voice. They just needed the "adrenal man" there too. Sometimes, there was simply way, way too much down time.

 

[lookleft goright]

Is it possible that she requested it? She is no spring chicken.

 

[PapaBearSLIM]

Is it possible that she requested it? She is no spring chicken.

 

[TS568]

I remember when Ed "Possible Pin on 5!" Aliverti retired from doing the NCAA's I was unsure whether I would even want to go anymore. Sandy's voice on the PA at the Junior Nationals at the UNI-dome would get a Pavlovian response from you, much like Ed Winger at Vets Auditorium.

 

[lookleft goright]

Thanks for the clarification Papa Bear.

 

[GG121AND2]

I've posted this before, but my favorite Sandy Stevens line came in '95 when McGinness pinned his opponent in the first period of a pigtail match. It was the first match of the tournament completed and Sandy said, "With that fall by Jeff McGinness, IOWA takes the lead!"

 

[sloehawk]

I remember when Ed "Possible Pin on 5!" Aliverti retired from doing the NCAA's I was unsure whether I would even want to go anymore. Sandy's voice on the PA at the Junior Nationals at the UNI-dome would get a Pavlovian response from you, much like Ed Winger at Vets Auditorium.

My buddies back home and I do a little impersonation of Ed Winger from time to time when we get to discussing wrestling over a few cocktails. The favorite for all us was how he announced anyone or anything relative to "Gilbertville Don Bosco", just loved the way it rolled off his tongue (and of course with them you heard it a lot!). Beautiful.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Very sad. Hopefully the powers that be put a little bit of thought into this, come to their senses, and do the right thing by asking Sandy to announce again. Some traditions are worth upholding, and she's done nothing but do a great job and give to the sport -- for decades. I see no reason to put an end to her run as announcer. Just based on her Facebook post alone, it's clear that she's devastated. How can there possibly be any legitimate basis for doing such a thing to this wonderful woman who has given so much of her life to wrestling? I'd like to hear their justification. I can't imagine I'd find it acceptable.

 

[Huck]

Who do we contact guys? Lets make our voices heard.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

In mildly related news, the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing has decided to replace George Washington from the one dollar bill.

Seriously, the shock value is similar.