Welcome back to “On the Air,” in which Sports Media Watch Podcast co-host Armand Broady will offer in-depth breakdowns of broadcasters, on-air performance and career journeys, plus chronicle broader trends in the industry.
The 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and Texas marked the end of the career of broadcasting legend Keith Jackson. Two decades later, the broad-faced announcer with the booming baritone and the instantly recognizable Southern accent is still regarded by many as the sport’s definitive voice.
It seems difficult to believe now with the benefit of hindsight and a catalog of his classic calls, but Jackson’s accent was not always well-received. Jackson explained during a 2016 interview with host Dan Patrick.
“I never did try to manufacture a southern voice,” said Jackson, who passed away in 2018. “It was what I heard as a little fella. People on the other side of the table made more of it than was warranted.” One of those people was Tony Kornheiser, who described Jackson in a 1988 Washington Post column as “tortuously folksy.”
Jackson is perhaps the most prominent example of a network TV announcer receiving backlash for his distinctive voice.
Add Australian native Leigh Diffey to that list. In 2010, Diffey was a candidate to become TNT’s lead NASCAR announcer. Adam Alexander was eventually hired. In a 2024 interview with the “Off Track with Hinch and Rossi” podcast, Diffey claimed TNT turned him down because of his accent.
“So I went and did that audition,” Diffey said. “It was myself, Adam Alexander and Rick Allen. I think that I did get the job, but ultimately I didn’t get the job because the big, big boss at Turner didn’t prefer to have an accent calling the Cup races.”
What TNT didn’t do in 2010, NBC did in 2024, hiring Diffey to replace Rick Allen as lead NASCAR voice. The response from fans has been mixed and, at times, vitriolic.
“I think I’m done with NASCAR,” former ESPN NASCAR host and pit reporter John Kernan said in an August 2025 X post. “After further review stage racing SUCKS! And I’m sure Leigh Diffey is a great guy but, if I want to hear that accent, I’ll watch Formula 1. Sorry, guess I’m xenophobic.”
Kernan is not alone. A quick search on social media will reveal deep and visceral reactions from die-hard NASCAR fans. Some express disdain for Diffey’s voice, while others — like longtime Fox NASCAR broadcaster Mike Joy — extol his knowledge and passion.
“I’ve known and worked with Leigh for more than a decade,” Joy said recently to the Daytona Beach News Journal. “He’s always brought an unbridled enthusiasm to his announcing that I don’t think any other commentator can match. Better yet, his level of study and preparation is equal or better than anyone in our profession. His love for the sport and dedication to it puts him at the top of his craft.”
The sharp responses — both positive and negative — to Diffey’s accent highlight a broader issue within sports media.
On one hand, broadcasters are encouraged to be themselves. On the other hand, many fans and network executives listen for a certain sound. It’s an innocuous, middle-of-the-road tone that doesn’t offend any region of the country or any group of suits in the office or on social media. No reasonable person would argue against the obvious value in an announcer having a pleasant-sounding voice, but to enforce an unwritten mandate or suggest that an announcer sound a certain way robs that announcer of his/her distinct charm.
Whether we realize it or not, the voices we listen to have become homogenized. There are little nuances here and there but, on the whole, the voices of our national announcers aren’t all that distinguishable. Consider this: How many national broadcasters feel free enough to call games with their own unique flair? Can you picture an ESPN, Fox, CBS or NBC announcer describing a football as being “slicker than boiled okra” à la Red Barber? It doesn’t seem all that likely, does it?
There are so many legendary announcers we remember for their distinctive voices. Think of Marv Albert, Howard Cosell, Ian Darke and Lindsay Nelson, to name a few. These icons remind us that a noticeable accent can be a benefit, not a detriment. At the end of his career, Diffey might not be remembered as fondly as these announcers, but it is not a stretch to assert that his skill and energy have landed him the opportunities he’s received. He deserves the chance to place his stamp on the sports he calls without being denigrated for his accent.
Plus: Saban-McAfee dynamic key to post-Corso GameDay
As Lee Corso’s television career ends, ESPN’s “College GameDay” has the elements it needs to maintain its perch as college football’s flagship show.
Going forward, the key to the show will be the on-camera relationship between Nick Saban and Pat McAfee. There are still elements of storytelling and analysis, but “GameDay” in 2025 is defined by moments, and McAfee is a lightning rod who knows how to create a viral moment. His kicking segment has created television gold, and he keeps the cast members on their toes with his spontaneity.
Saban, the stolid 73-year-old coaching icon, has been great as a full-time television personality. He explains the game at a high level, has a wealth of stories from his legendary coaching career and is still close enough to the game to provide fresh perspectives on its current coaches and players.
His age, resume and personality make him a perfect straight man to McAfee’s antics. If ESPN continues to lean into the odd couple dynamic between the two, GameDay will keep Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” at arm’s length.
