NEWSLETTER
Jason Benetti got the first crack at filling in for Bulls television play-by-play voice Neil Funk, who is retiring after this season.
And now we know he’ll get a few more bites at the apple before the All-Star Break comes in February.
The Bulls announced that Benetti, J.B. Long, and Adam Amin will replace Funk on eight TV broadcasts in January and February leading into All-Star Weekend, which is taking place in Chicago next month. Here are the details, via K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Here is a look at that upcoming schedule. First, January’s slate of games:
And this is how February looks:
This isn’t the first rodeo for Benetti, Long, or Amin, as each of these broadcasters did play-by-play for the Bulls in place of Funk during the first half of the season. So if fans weren’t familiar with those names before, at least they will have a better sense for their call of the game with these three getting another audition behind the mic. And the games they’ll get should be entertaining, for the most part. Games against the Celtics, Sixers, Pacers, Nets, and Raptors – a.k.a. the Eastern Conference contenders crew – provide a nice platform for these voices to strut their stuff.
Whether the Bulls choose from these broadcasters, or if they have anyone else lined up for games in March remains to be seen. But with Funk calling it a career at the end of the Bulls’ season, it makes sense for the team to use opportunities to perhaps find his replacement.
Now, how about the Bulls give these guys some competitive games to call?
