15 Best Color Commentators of 2014

It's a shame that beIN Sport isn't an easily accessible network or else Ray Hudson might be higher on this list. Known for his outlandish imagery when breaking down a goal, the Englishman has a way with words that no other color man can duplicate. The only knock against Hudson is that his extreme excitement can get in the way of his partner Phil Schoen, an underrated American play-by-play man in the sport of soccer.

For three years ESPN encountered headaches when trying to find a viable replacement for Mark Jackson. But when Jackson was fired by the Golden State Warriors after their first-round playoff loss, the Worldwide Leader inserted the former color man right back into his former role with Van Gundy, his former coach. The two have a balance that is unmatched in broadcasting, and along with Mike Breen, they make up the top three-man booth in sports.

"Inside the Glass" is a brilliant concept — unparalleled by any in sports — and Pierre McGuire is its face. The two-time Stanley Cup winner (assistant coach with the Penguins in the early 90s) eats, breathes and lives the game, and his insight down at ice level is more valuable than that of the actual color man, Eddie Olcyzk.

Snarky comments aside, Daggett sticks the landing when it comes to analyzing his sport of gymnastics. His play-by-play man Al Trautwig is a well-known and respected media member who has been broadcasting since the days when Daggett was winning Olympic gold. But for NBC's gymnastics coverage, Daggett has all the personality. Together since the 2000 Sydney Games, Daggett is the true star of this three-man broadcasting team — which also includes Elfi Schlegel.

Does anyone love broadcasting more than Bill Raftery? It certainly does not seem like it. Whether the former Seton Hall head coach is paired with Gus Johnson on FOX or Verne Lundquist on CBS, Raftery always makes time for his typical trademarks: his tip-off mumbling of the matchup in view, telling defenders to "set your puppies" or blurting out "Onions!"

He might look like he took one too many shots during his amateur boxing career, but Teddy Atlas sure has the same intensity at ringside as he did inside the ring. No broadcaster in sports sounds as passionate as Teddy is about boxing, and any sort of action will have Teddy on the edge or off his seat. Also it's unsurprising if his "Fight Plans", his breakdown of each fighter's style, are more entertaining than the fight itself.

Now here is a sport that is far from the mainstream. Typically matching their outfits, the extravagant Weir and the gold-medalist Lipinski don't take themselves too seriously yet deliver the call with the grace and elegance the sport craves. Both untested in color commentary role before Sochi, Johnny and Tara were media's biggest hit of the Games. And if you haven't seen Weir's hat he wore to the Kentucky Derby, I highly suggest doing so.

2014 is a down year for the sport of swimming on NBC. Not necessarily because we cannot watch American dominance at the Olympics or the World Championships, but because we won't be able to see Rowdy Gaines in action behind the mic. The best thing about Rowdy is however close the race gets, his intensity level rises with it, making for some of the best commentary. At least he gets to call the NCAA Championships on ESPN during the big meet offseason.

Boy are we lucky some NFL team has not come to swoop up Jon Gruden or what? Now entering his sixth season in the Monday Night Football booth, Gruden is arguably the most important figure in broadcasting on ESPN. Virtually everything that comes out of the Super Bowl XXXVII winning coach is entertaining, not to mention his overwhelming fervor for the game. Heck, the guy wakes up at 3:17 a.m. to watch film.