Written By Chris C-Ford ---- Sunday, October 11, 2015
The Washington Redskins kicked a 53 yard game tying field goal to send their game against the Falcons into overtime on Sunday afternoon and Washington Wizards play by play man Steve Buckhantz was excited. Buck was so excited that he threw out his famous catch phrase, used exclusively (well supposed to) for game winning, not tying, plays.
Unfortunately for the Skins, this was not a Dagger, and the Falcons delivered a real dagger as they picked off Kirk Cousins and scored a touchdown to defeat the Redskins. Radio man Andy Pollin was on top of this.
Buckhantz is the greatest announcer in the history of the universe, and even when he is dropping premature daggers (or retracting daggers) he is still keeping us entertained!
Written By Chris C-Ford ---- Wednesday, February 27, 2013
I jumped out of my bed screaming like a maniac. I fell to the floor, arms raised in victory. As Steve Buckhantz' "Dagger" rang out from my TV I smiled. I rolled around on the ground doing mini-fist pumps on the floor with my eyes closed, as if I was the NBA champion.
Then, all of a sudden, from out of nowhere, Buckhantz stopped talking. I looked up at my TV and saw the Pistons celebrating. What happened!?
I watched as Comcast showed the instant replay of the Wizards game winner. It didn't go in. It didn't even hit the rim. It was an AIRBALL?!
Listen to the call below from the Dagger, to the 20 seconds of Buck celebrating before someone mentioned to him that the ball didn't go into the net to the 2 announcers trying to explain that it looked like it went in: (and watch what was shown live on TV here) Or watch below before it is deleted.
Listen here:
Steve Buckhantz: "They're saying it did not go!"
Phil Chenier (laughing): "We saw the nets move"
Steve Buckhantz: "We saw what appeared to be the ball going in the net, but evidently it came up short!"
============
Steve Buckhantz: "So the Dagger has been retracted"
Phil Chenier: "First time ever, I believe"
This season Steve Buckhantz, my favorite sports announcer of all time, has been making some mistakes. Two different times in the past few weeks he has gotten excited about Wizards rebounds where the players were clearly way out of bounds. But on this particular play, I can't blame Steve. I thought the ball went in.
Wizards lose to the Detroit Pistons for the 3rd time this season...
Written By Chris C-Ford ---- Monday, January 7, 2013
Dagger!
No, seriously, Dagger! You did not misread that.
With under 13 seconds left of a tie game, the Washington Wizards looked to do something that they haven't done in several years. They tried to get the ball to a player and put the game in his hands. And would you believe it, his name wasn't Gilbert. Dagger!
Bradley Beal drove to the foul line, pump faked sending two Thunder players soaring past him, and jumped around them to hit the one handed floater with 0.3 seconds to give the Wizards their 5th win of the season, a 101-99 victory over the Thunder. (He finished with 22 points, tied for the team high)
Dagger!
Beal started his career rather slowly, but as the season continues Beal has been the one to take and hit the few clutch shots the Wizards have had this season. A week ago fans wondered how a Washington Wizards player could have possibly been the rookie of the month in the Eastern Conference (for December), but after tonight they may have begun to believe.
Dagger!
Just three days prior, Beal hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer of the first overtime against Brooklyn to give the Wizards a second chance in another extra frame. (Watch the fan reaction here) And on Monday night the rookie from Florida hit the first game winner of his young NBA career. The signs of Beal's improvement are evident on the court and are making it look like a pretty decent draft pick.
Dagger!
The Wizards only had 9 players available with AJ Price and Trevor Ariza returning to the lineup, but Shelvin Mack (cut), Jordan Crawford, Nene, and Cartier Martin out with injury. Chris Singleton played just 6 seconds.
The Wiz had a lead for much of the second half, and the Thunder kept the Verizon faithful (consisting of a lot of Kevin Durant fans) holding their breaths as KD tied the game on a 3 pointer with under 40 seconds left. Same old Wizards? Not tonight.
Jan Vesely had a very active game scoring 10 points and getting 7 points in 20 minutes of hustle time. (That earned $30 for charity...click here to find out more about JANuary)
Beating the Thunder one game doesn't change where this team is going, or where it has been. But hearing Steve Buckhantz scream his trademark line helps Wizards fans forget the record, forget the woes, and forget the awfulness, at least for one night.
Written By Chris C-Ford ---- Friday, March 30, 2012
Buckhantz dropped a DAGGER! and streamers fell from the sky! Wizards still 2nd worst team in the league...
With 1:18 left in the game Cartier Martin hit a jumper to put the Wizards up 19 points. That was apparently the shot that put the Wizards up for good because Steve Buckhantz dropped a emphatic yet quiet "Dagger!"
Now I know Buck gets a little antsy sometimes. He does daggers in games where the Wizards end up losing. But tonight he was really itchy. He was going to say Dagger and nobody was going to stop him.
The Wizards ended up picking up a win and NOT blowing a huge lead...finally. As the game ended, streamers fell from the sky, which is the most awful celebration in sports. Streamers for a regular season win that keep the team as the 2nd worst in the NBA.
Both Booker and Nene left the game with foot injuries...
Player Notes:
Kevin Seraphin & Nene: These guys are giving the Wizards a post game. Kevin is getting better each game. He only misses a few shots because he only takes good shots. I'm impressed. (14 pts, 7 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocks). Both Kev and Nene shot 64% from the field. A combined 30 points, 14 rebounds. That is like 1 Kevin Love.
Jan Vesely: I will always hate this draft pick. He did well swatting at balls, fouling, and hustling for loose balls. This type of play does not work every game and does not work against good teams for an extended period of time.
Cartier Martin: Why was this guy not on the team in the first place? He is a scorer. He scored last year. He hit big shots last year.
John Wall: Mediocre stats again, poor shooting, but I don't feel comfortable when he is on the bench.
Buckhantz saying Ernie Grunfield is so smart, a "genius" for picking up Cartier Martin. So is he a moron for cutting him 2 times?
