Last year brought significant change to Chicago sports media. The White Sox and Blackhawks hired new play-by-play voices. Danny Parkins left The Score for FS1, sparking a lineup shuffle. Chicago Sports Network launched with new and familiar faces.
And all of it affected this year’s power rankings, my fifth — FIFTH! — in a hopefully never-ending series. I rank the market’s talent on TV, radio and — for the first time — podcasts. The rankings are based on appeal, quality, longevity and personal preference.
More than 130 people were considered. The top 20 follow, with last year’s rank in parentheses, plus some special mentions.
1. Adam Amin (2): The Bulls’ TV play-by-play voice is the first to earn the top spot twice. Amin ranked No. 1 in 2023. As part of Fox’s No. 3 NFL crew, he seamlessly adapted to a new analyst, Mark Sanchez, and he’ll continue to call MLB games for the network. How many broadcasters call the top three U.S. leagues regularly? Amin has posted videos on Instagram showing how he prepares for broadcasts, and the extensiveness explains how he’s so knowledgeable.
2. Pat Hughes (1): In his fifth decade calling baseball, Hughes finally received the recognition he deserved, earning the Ford C. Frick Award and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023. The Cubs’ radio voice separates himself with his precise attention to detail. His deep knowledge of the game and dry wit make every broadcast, even the blowouts, delightful.
3. Jon Sciambi (3): Hiring “Boog” was a coup for the Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network after Len Kasper’s stunning move to the South Side in 2021. He brings national appeal, having worked for ESPN since 2010. He remains the network’s radio voice of “Sunday Night Baseball” and the World Series. Sciambi is a student of the game, which comes through on each broadcast.
4. Marc Silverman (10): Even though ESPN 1000 is the radio flagship for the Bears and White Sox, “Silvy” continues to hold their feet to the fire. He challenged former coach Matt Eberflus during weekly interviews, and he remains critical of Sox and Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for, well, everything. He helped innovate halftime of Bears games by turning it into a radio show.
5. Dan Bernstein (4): Yes, the whole Barstool saga was a bad look. Yes, it seems like some people don’t want to work with him. But his midday show on The Score with new partner Marshall Harris was the station’s highest-rated show in the fall ratings book in the key demographic of men aged 25-54. He’s not the same host he was with Terry Boers, and that’s a good thing.
6. David Kaplan (7): The co-host of ESPN 1000’s morning show is hitting it big with his YouTube page, “The REKAP,” which has more than 215,000 subscribers, numerous sponsors and a content director, Ryan McGuffey. Take that!
7. Ozzie Guillen (8): He and Chuck Garfien were more fun to watch than the White Sox last season during NBC Sports Chicago’s swan song. He’s frank, funny and opinionated, and he’s expected to have a big role in CHSN’s Sox coverage.
8. Laurence Holmes (6): He got his way by moving away from Bernstein to afternoons at The Score, which wasn’t a good look. But he’s insightful and knowledgeable, and he has expanded his “House of L” platform to video and is producing more shows.
9. Dionne Miller (11): She continues as a sports anchor and reporter at ABC 7 while co-hosting on ESPN 1000, including on the Bears pregame show.
10. Steve Stone (15): He did what he could to make Sox broadcasts tolerable, which was a tall task considering the team — and his new partner.
11. Jason Goff (12): It’s a shame The Score didn’t bring him back, but he’s doing just fine with Bulls studio shows and his “The Full Go” podcast with The Ringer.
12. Tom Waddle (14): The ESPN 1000 co-host joined the station’s Bears Sundays and continued to appear on Marquee’s Bears coverage.
13. Stacey King (13): His shtick on Bulls broadcasts might not be for everyone, but I adore it. More important, he breaks down the game well and isn’t afraid to criticize.
14. Chuck Garfien (NR): No one works harder to produce Sox content than Garfien, who will resume his role as Sox studio host at CHSN.
15. Zach Zaidman (17): His calls of DePaul games are electric, and he filled in on Bulls TV and radio this season. He’ll be back on Cubs radio, too. One day, he’ll be in the NBA.
16. Leila Rahimi (5): Her rank took a hit after her mysterious departure from NBC 5, but she still talks a good game at least twice a week at The Score.
17. Taylor McGregor (NR): She does a fine job as Marquee’s field reporter, but she hit another level working the sideline for several bowl games on ESPN this season.
18. Adam Hoge (NR): The CHGO member is one of the foremost Bears talkers. He’s also one of the most followed with more than 109,000 followers on X.
19. Darren Pang (16): As excited as Pang gets when the Hawks are rolling — as rare as those times are — imagine if they start winning.
20. Herb Howard (NR): He delivers quality Bears coverage for The Bigs and always sounds impressive on radio hits.
Dropping out: Danny Parkins (9), Jeff Joniak (18), Ruthie Polinsky (19), Marshall Harris (20).
Rising star
Connor McKnight: He was a finalist for the Sox’ TV job, and I wonder if the team regrets not giving it to him. Unlike the person hired, McKnight was ready to be a major-league broadcaster.
Welcome addition
Rick Ball: Though the Hawks’ new TV voice hasn’t been able to call much quality hockey — at least for his team — it was clear from the start that Ball was a quality broadcaster.
Underrated
Cassie Carlson: She’s doing great work on Fox 32’s extensive Bears coverage, including reporting from games and hosting shows.
Overrated
Caley Chelios: She doesn’t provide much insight on Hawks studio shows aside from the usual hockey-speak. It makes you wonder if her only qualification is her last name.
Lifetime achievement
Dave Eanet: An outstanding broadcaster and person, Eanet has called Northwestern football since 1990 and basketball since 1996. The new press box better bear his name.
Super sub
Jeff Blanzy: After the departures of Rahimi and Polinsky at NBC 5, Blanzy stepped into the breach. Such loyalty deserves a reward — such as the lead sports-anchor job.
Great teammate
Matt Spiegel: How many co-hosts has he worked with at The Score? Too many. But he makes the effort to make the partnership work.