Image via Complex Original
Gus Johnson is a unique broadcaster to say the least. He takes a different approach to calling play-by-play. He's extremely out-going and brings a lot of energy to the broadcast. Whether he's calling the NFL, NBA, college basketball, or college football he brings superior enthusiasm and his passion is second to none.
He now has set his sights on conquering soccer as FOX has announced that Johnson will be the voice of the 2018 World Cup. It will be interesting to see how his style will translate to the pitch considering how enthusiastic and over the top many of the worlds soccer broadcasters are. On that note, check out Gus Johnson's 25 most over-the-top calls.
RELATED: Gus Johnson Wants You to Start Watching Soccer
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25. "Pause"
Date: 2007
Leave it to Gus to "pause" one of the most highly-regarded film directors of our generation. He has no shame.
24. Double OT Thriller to Advance to the Elite 8
Game: Xavier vs. Kansas St.
Date: 3/25/2010
There's something about Xavier games that get Gus Johnson extra excited. This is a classic NCAA tournament game between sixth-seeded Xavier versus second-seeded Kansas St. that goes into double OT and leaves Gus Johnson breathless by the end of the game.
23. Joe Adams' Cotton Bowl Return
Game: Kansas St. vs. Arkansas
Date: 1/6/2012
Cotton Bowl? Check. Punt return for the TD? Yup. A trademark Gus Johnson call? Uh-huh. What else do you need?
22. Tavon Austin's Return for Six
Game: Kansas St. vs. West Virginia
Date: 10/20/2012
Gus Johnson gets very excited during big plays. Very excited. He'll just be having a convo and then will immediately start screaming. Thank you, Tavon Austin for making that happen.
21. OSU Knocks Off No. 1 and Undefeated Illinois
Game: Oklahoma St. vs. Illinois
Date: 3/6/2005
People forget about how good the 2005 Fighting Illini were. Deron Williams, Luther Head, and Dee Brown where crazy good, and when they lost this game to OSU, it was a big deal. Matt Sylvester hits a three for the Buckeyes and serves Illinois their first loss of the season.
20. Matt Barkley's TD Pass to Nelson Agholor
Game: Oregon vs. USC
Date: 11/3/2012
Gus gets amped by Matt Barkley being able to find freshman Nelson Agholor for six again. Gus either loves to see freshman succeed or is a closet USC fan. He may or may not have swan-dived from the broadcast booth into the crowd following this call.
19. Josh Nunes' "Happy Feet"
Game: USC vs. Stanford
Date: 9/15/2012
Stanford's Josh Nunes runs hard for this vital third down conversion against USC. Gus seems overwhelmed with joy and just blurts out "happy feet!" #whateverthatmeans #classicgus
18. Marqise Lee's Kickoff Return
Game: USC vs. Hawaii
Date: 9/1/2012
USC came roaring into the 2012 college fotball season with even extra swag than normal because they were given the No. 1 ranking by the BCS, which would later become false. But nevertheless, Week One of the season was a cake walk for the Trojans. Regardless of the beat down Gus still finds excitement in this explosive kick return by Marqise Lee.
17. Collin Klein's TD Run
Game: Kasnas St. vs. TCU
Date: 11/10/2012
Collin Klein ran like an animal—especially for a QB—all season and this run is no different. Weddings, funerals, Bar Mitzvahs—Gus and his amazing commentating should be present at all of life's major events.
16. Taylor Martinez's Mad Scramble
Game: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin
Date: 12/1/2012
Taylor Martinez goes H.A.M. in the Big Ten Championship to get his Nebraska Cornhuskers on the board. One of the wildest coast-to-coast QB scrambles ever. Only Gus could make a crazy 76-yard scramble even crazier.
15. Russell Wilson's Bomb
Game: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Date: 12/3/2011
Before we knew that Russell Wilson was a bonafide stud, Gus Johnson knew the kid could make plays as shown in this clip. Wilson provides a big fourth down conversion in the Big Ten Championship for Wisconsin. And Johnson can't contain himself.
14. Oladipo's Half-Court Heave
Game: North Carolina Central vs. Indiana
Date: 11/23/2010
Gus Johnson is hype all game long. Do not get it twisted. This end of the half 65-foot buzzer beater from Indiana's Victor Oladipo gets Gus all amped up for the halftime report.
13. David Lee's Tip Gets Gus Excited. Ayo!
Game: New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats
Date: 12/20/2006
First off, this play is insane. With 0.01 seconds remaining in the second overtime, the Knicks knew they didn't have time to catch and shot. Instead, they tried a desperation inbound lob in the direction of the basket and some how David Lee found a way to tip it home for the win. It really is no coincidence, magical things occur when Gus Johnson is calling a game.
12. "Pure!"
Game: Washington vs. Arizona
Date: 3/12/2011
These are the type of games that you can't watch while Gus is on the call. His energy will damn near give you a heart attack. Crazy finishes seem to follow him everywhere he goes.
11. Chris Johnson Goes for 89 Yards
Game: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
Date: 11/1/2009
CJ2K has said he's faster than Usain Bolt. After this run, he very well may be. We think it's fair to say that Chris Johnson's fantasy owners sure were happy this day. And from the sound of it, Gus probably had CJ on his fantasy team too.
10. David Garrard's Hail Mary
Game: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Date: 11/14/2010
Coaches always tell their defensive backs on a last second Hail Mary to knock the ball down. Cornerback Glover Quin for the Houston Texans does just as he was told his whole life, but what Quin didn't account for was that Gus Johnson was calling the game. So something absurd was bound to happen and it certainly did. Some how Garrard's bomb gets batted down right into Mike Thomas's hands making for an unforgettable ending.
9. "HA-HA"
Game: Ohio State vs. Xavier
Date: 3/17/2007
One of Gus Johnson's most famous catch phrases is the poignant "HA-HA!" There's no better example of that than this March Madness game between Xavier and Ohio State. After a great finish in regulation, Gus leaves us with a patent "HA-HA," leaving us wanted more going into the commercial break. No chance of changing the channel after that, and not to leave you hanging: Ohio State did hold off Xavier to win in overtime 78-71.
8. "Sorrentine from the Parking Lot"
Game: Vermont vs. Syracuse
Date: 3/18/2005
Gus Johnson is March Madness. Who calls a better tight college basketball game than him? During a great overtime first round thriller in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Vermont and T.J. Sorrentine stun Syracuse. Gus breaks out the old school "from the parking lot" line and you have no choice but to love it.
7. "With the Caaaatch!"
Game: Gonzaga vs. UCLA
Date: 3/23/2006
After a UCLA comeback and a last second chance by Gonzaga, Gus is on the verge of blowing out a fuse in the arena. Greg Gumble is quick to add his little two cents on Gus's excitement as well.
6. Alex Marcotullio's Game-Tying Three
Game: Ohio State vs. Northwestern
Date: 2/29/2012
Gus doesn't have to be on a major network to get it going. Here he is on the Big Ten Network and excited as usual after this game-tying three by Northwestern's Alex Marcotullio. Fun fact: After all that excitement, Northwestern still lost 73-75. #ohwell
5. "The Slipper Still Fits"
Game: Florida vs. Gonzaga
Date: 3/19/1999
Tenth-seeded Gonzaga pulled off the upset over sixth-seeded Florida in an absolute thriller made even more amazing by Gus Johnson. He should do all big games by obligation. He's easily the most exciting commentator doing it. "The slipper still fits!"
4. Adam Morrison's Winner
Game: Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga
Date: 12/10/2005
This could be considered Gus Johnson's most famous call. Gonzaga's Adam Morrison banks in the game winner that sends the Gonzaga fans and seemingly all of Seattle along with Gus into pandemonium.
3. Isaiah Thomas' Game Winner
Game: Washington vs. Arizona
Date: 3/12/2011
An amazingly clutch shot by Isaiah Thomas, and no, not the one MJ wouldn't allow on the Dream Team and ruined the Knicks organization. This Isaiah is just like Gus says: "Cold-blooded!"
2. Stokley's Circus Catch
Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos
Date: 9/14/2009
How perfect is it that Gus Johnson was calling this game for CBS? It was fate that Gus would be calling this unbelievable play. In a game that the Broncos couldn't do anything right on offense, their first touchdown comes with just seconds remaining on the clock. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
1. "He's Got Getting Away from the Cops Speed"
Game: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans
Date: 11/1/2009
Some people seem to think that Gus was wrong for saying "He's got getting away from the cops speed" when referring to Chris Johnson, but lets be real. If Gus made that call to an Arian Foster run no one would say anything and by the way CJ has no criminal record. Stop judging CJ and Gus. This is an original and clever way of describing CJ's incredible speed.
CJ turns that corner and he could not be caught by anyone no matter who was chasing him: the cops, FBI, CIA, Coast Guard, not even Jason Bourne.