I honestly can't believe I haven't written this post in the 9+ years I've had this blog. Sports TV Theme Music has always been a strong connective factor for me. The older ones can immediately spring me back to an earlier time. The current ones are all good in some ways. Here I put my eight favorite current and then old sports TV themes.
Current
8.) The Masters (CBS)
So this one is made by the same group that penned the NFL on CBS theme that has been ringing in our heads for 15 years now. Anyway, it's a lot better than the piano key bullshit the Masters used to have. I hate a lot about the Masters - particularly Jim Nantz - but at least the theme is now good.
7.) NFL/MLB on FOX
Other than the one ranked #1 on my 'old' list, this is probably the most famous, influential theme of all time. And guess what? It still is quite good. Favorite aspect is the mellow version they play when a player gets injured and they have to cut to commercial. Anyway, at some point it may be time for a change, but it still works in a most workman-like way.
6.) NHL on NBC
NBC hasn't changed the theme one iota since 2006 when they took voer the NHL contract after the lockout, and kudos for sticking with something that worked then and now. At some point they probably will change it... you know, if NBC put any money into the NHL outside of what they are contractually obligated to do.
5.) NCAA Basketball / March Madness
This one is a slight variation on the old, louder, more rasporous theme, but it still kicks ass if in a softer way. I like that they didn't change it when CBS entered this weird share broadcast deal with Turner a few years back. I actually like it best in its quick-hit form (10 seconds or so) that is used so often.
4.) NFL on CBS
Overtime, this one has really grown on me - specifically the 'First on the Field' variation (below). When it was released in 2003, it was a clear attempt by CBS to metal-up their older theme to match what FOX was putting out, and while that blatant copycat-ism annoyed me at first, I've overtime accepted that they did a really good job.
3.) UEFA Champions League Anthem
OK, technically this isn't a theme in teh same way the others are, but God Damn does the Champions League Anthem always hit the fucking spot. It does as the quick intro, as backing those endless Heineken ads, and of course when they play it on the field when they intro the players. It's especially great as they change the images slightly each year to update it with it ending with the previous years winner lifting the trophy - something that is so often Sergio Ramos.
2.) Sunday Night Football (NBC)
Who knew, getting John Williams to score your theme song would turn out well! It's actually changed slightly to a more rock-forward version of Williams' very orchestral original theme, but overall the change has been for the better. It should also be noted how great some of the variations on the theme song area - go to 2:20 of the clip. These ones are often played during commercial breaks, and they are all great. NBC has done a great job since Day 1 becoming the premier football telecast and that starts with their music ('Waiting All Day for Sunday Night' excluded, in all its forms)
1.) NBA on TNT
Old
8.) Thursday Night Football (NFL Network)
I don't know why I liked this one so much - it changed when CBS, and then FOX, took over part of the TNF package. It was just a bit off kilter, with an almost Christmas Bells like chorus that envoked that they only started carrying games close to Christmas. It's hard to remember now that Thursday Night Football started in 2006!
7.) NHL on ESPN
6.) ESPN World Cup Theme
Again, in reality this is still 'current' for ESPN for the EUROs, but in all reality, this was a short lived classic. ESPN released a slightly altered version for the 2014 tournament in Brazil that was a bit more samba-ish, but the underlying beautiful music remained. I still remember when they released this in 2010, with all the Africa imagery. It was perfect, a clear sign that ESPN was finally fully in on broadcasting soccer.
5.) NHL on ABC
Yes, it probably isn't as well known or remembered as the ESPN one - a theme that shares some similarities, but I always prefered the ABC variant. ABC only really broadcasted hockey in the Finals and maybe select games before that, so this wasn't mass broadcasated, but good God was it great every time. Of course, it helped that during ABCs short run hosting the Stanley Cup Final, my Devils made a habit of making it there.
4.) ESPN Grand Slam Tennis (old)
ESPN of course still broadcasts a lot of Grand Slam tennis, but they changed the theme from these two classics. The first was there from 2003-2008 (when ESPN first dipped their toes into the Grand Slam well outside of Australia), and the bottom was there from 2009-2015 (when ESPN slowly took over nearly every slam). Both are equally good in my mind and evoke such great memories of a world before Djokovic becoming a behemoth, a world of a much more fun Federer-Nadal duopoly.
3.) NFL on CBS (old)
Ah yes, back when CBS was so different. This theme was last used in 2002. How long ago was that (aside from it being, in a literal sense, 17 years ago...)? Well, the Raiders winning the AFC Championship was the last game played with this theme. At that pointt, Jim Nantz was the studio host, with Greg Gumbel as lead announcer. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were nothing more than one-time flukes. God, I long for these days.
2.) MLB on FOX
Some random outposts still use this theme for local games, and God bless them. It is perfect. The main theme, the later themes that were used for quick shots at the end of innings. This is baseball. I don't know a single baseball fan that wasn't totally dismayed when FOX gave this up to go with the same beaten-to-death football theme that had been used for so many years. I so wish FOX would bring this back. I still play it from time to time, and will venture back in my mind to 2005, when the Astros made the World Series as an NL team.
1.) NBA on NBC
I don't really need to explain this one, do I? This is the Gold Standard of sports theme music, the only one with a fairly well known name ('Roundball Rock'). The only one older fans can still hum easily. It's basically perfect.
Current
8.) The Masters (CBS)
So this one is made by the same group that penned the NFL on CBS theme that has been ringing in our heads for 15 years now. Anyway, it's a lot better than the piano key bullshit the Masters used to have. I hate a lot about the Masters - particularly Jim Nantz - but at least the theme is now good.
7.) NFL/MLB on FOX
Other than the one ranked #1 on my 'old' list, this is probably the most famous, influential theme of all time. And guess what? It still is quite good. Favorite aspect is the mellow version they play when a player gets injured and they have to cut to commercial. Anyway, at some point it may be time for a change, but it still works in a most workman-like way.
6.) NHL on NBC
NBC hasn't changed the theme one iota since 2006 when they took voer the NHL contract after the lockout, and kudos for sticking with something that worked then and now. At some point they probably will change it... you know, if NBC put any money into the NHL outside of what they are contractually obligated to do.
5.) NCAA Basketball / March Madness
This one is a slight variation on the old, louder, more rasporous theme, but it still kicks ass if in a softer way. I like that they didn't change it when CBS entered this weird share broadcast deal with Turner a few years back. I actually like it best in its quick-hit form (10 seconds or so) that is used so often.
4.) NFL on CBS
Overtime, this one has really grown on me - specifically the 'First on the Field' variation (below). When it was released in 2003, it was a clear attempt by CBS to metal-up their older theme to match what FOX was putting out, and while that blatant copycat-ism annoyed me at first, I've overtime accepted that they did a really good job.
3.) UEFA Champions League Anthem
OK, technically this isn't a theme in teh same way the others are, but God Damn does the Champions League Anthem always hit the fucking spot. It does as the quick intro, as backing those endless Heineken ads, and of course when they play it on the field when they intro the players. It's especially great as they change the images slightly each year to update it with it ending with the previous years winner lifting the trophy - something that is so often Sergio Ramos.
2.) Sunday Night Football (NBC)
Who knew, getting John Williams to score your theme song would turn out well! It's actually changed slightly to a more rock-forward version of Williams' very orchestral original theme, but overall the change has been for the better. It should also be noted how great some of the variations on the theme song area - go to 2:20 of the clip. These ones are often played during commercial breaks, and they are all great. NBC has done a great job since Day 1 becoming the premier football telecast and that starts with their music ('Waiting All Day for Sunday Night' excluded, in all its forms)
1.) NBA on TNT
Old
8.) Thursday Night Football (NFL Network)
I don't know why I liked this one so much - it changed when CBS, and then FOX, took over part of the TNF package. It was just a bit off kilter, with an almost Christmas Bells like chorus that envoked that they only started carrying games close to Christmas. It's hard to remember now that Thursday Night Football started in 2006!
7.) NHL on ESPN
Us hockey heads swear by the altar of this theme, most heard during the cool NHL2Nite show hosted by John Buccigross on ESPN2. They actually brought it back when ESPN aired the World Cup of Hockey - seemingly something that will return in 2020, but I don't think that's often enough to move it to the 'current' category. It evokes an incredible sense of nostalgia - which in a way all of these do.
6.) ESPN World Cup Theme
Again, in reality this is still 'current' for ESPN for the EUROs, but in all reality, this was a short lived classic. ESPN released a slightly altered version for the 2014 tournament in Brazil that was a bit more samba-ish, but the underlying beautiful music remained. I still remember when they released this in 2010, with all the Africa imagery. It was perfect, a clear sign that ESPN was finally fully in on broadcasting soccer.
5.) NHL on ABC
Yes, it probably isn't as well known or remembered as the ESPN one - a theme that shares some similarities, but I always prefered the ABC variant. ABC only really broadcasted hockey in the Finals and maybe select games before that, so this wasn't mass broadcasated, but good God was it great every time. Of course, it helped that during ABCs short run hosting the Stanley Cup Final, my Devils made a habit of making it there.
4.) ESPN Grand Slam Tennis (old)
ESPN of course still broadcasts a lot of Grand Slam tennis, but they changed the theme from these two classics. The first was there from 2003-2008 (when ESPN first dipped their toes into the Grand Slam well outside of Australia), and the bottom was there from 2009-2015 (when ESPN slowly took over nearly every slam). Both are equally good in my mind and evoke such great memories of a world before Djokovic becoming a behemoth, a world of a much more fun Federer-Nadal duopoly.
3.) NFL on CBS (old)
Ah yes, back when CBS was so different. This theme was last used in 2002. How long ago was that (aside from it being, in a literal sense, 17 years ago...)? Well, the Raiders winning the AFC Championship was the last game played with this theme. At that pointt, Jim Nantz was the studio host, with Greg Gumbel as lead announcer. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were nothing more than one-time flukes. God, I long for these days.
2.) MLB on FOX
Some random outposts still use this theme for local games, and God bless them. It is perfect. The main theme, the later themes that were used for quick shots at the end of innings. This is baseball. I don't know a single baseball fan that wasn't totally dismayed when FOX gave this up to go with the same beaten-to-death football theme that had been used for so many years. I so wish FOX would bring this back. I still play it from time to time, and will venture back in my mind to 2005, when the Astros made the World Series as an NL team.
1.) NBA on NBC
I don't really need to explain this one, do I? This is the Gold Standard of sports theme music, the only one with a fairly well known name ('Roundball Rock'). The only one older fans can still hum easily. It's basically perfect.
