Golden Nuggets: Ranking the Bay Area's Best Sports Broadcasters

Golden Gate Sports ranks the Bay Area's most energizing broadcasters.  Longtime Cal announcer Joe Starkey places 5th on the list.

5. Joe Starkey, Cal Bears

At age 72, Starkey is the oldest announcer in the Bay Area. After calling 49ers games from 1989-2008, Starkey now focuses on broadcasting games for the Cal Bears, a job that he has held since 1975.

His career is legendary, to say the least. His most memorable call is undoubtedly “The Play” in 1982, when Cal beat Stanford on an improbable kickoff return that included several laterals and ended with the Stanford band running onto the field, causing havoc everywhere.

Starkey’s call of that moment will live in time forever:

He was also behind the mike during the Steve Young-era for the 49ers, calling “The Catch 2.0,” which was Terrell Owens’ game-winning reception to defeat the Packers in the playoffs. Please click on the link, because it will give you chills.

Crew

• Kara Kohler and Paparangi Hipango were named to the All-America first team and Agatha Nowinski earned a spot on the second team.

Football

• The Pac-12 has added an 11am window for games this season.  This extra time slot may reduce the number of 7pm and 8pm games next season.
• Cal is third in Uncle Ted's rankings of Pac-12 North teams with the largest number of returning offensive line starts.
• The Jaguars open the season against Chip Kelly's offense.  Fortunately for the Jags, DeAndre Coleman is familiar with Kelly's strategy of attacking defenses.