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Bill Raftery Gibberish

PirateBlue08

PirateBlue08

Junior
Jul 25, 2025
319
351
63
Watching the Uconn Arizona game and it's finally getting to me after all these years. What on earth is Raf saying at the beginning of each game right after the tipoff? He says it every game.

Is there anyone on the planet who can actually understand him?
 
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papacheesy2

Freshman
Dec 10, 2006
55
73
18
PirateBlue08 said:
Watching the Uconn Arizona game and it's finally getting to me after all these years. What on earth is Raf saying at the beginning of each game right after the tipoff? He says it every game.

Is there anyone on the planet who can actually understand him?
Click to expand...
You talking about calling out the other team's defense? "And Arizona I opens.... MANTOMAN!!!"
 
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PirateBlue08

PirateBlue08

Junior
Jul 25, 2025
319
351
63
papacheesy2 said:
You talking about calling out the other team's defense? "And Arizona I opens.... MANTOMAN!!!"
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I'll have to pay closer attention, I literally have no clue what he says. It's this weird gibberish immediately after tipoff. He consistently does it at the beginning of games.
 
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dehere23

All-Conference
Feb 28, 2015
1,044
1,025
113
PirateBlue08 said:
I'll have to pay closer attention, I literally have no clue what he says. It's this weird gibberish immediately after tipoff. He consistently does it at the beginning of games.
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Typically, it is what everyone is saying here. One of his calling cards, and one of the many things to love about Raft.
 
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shu67

Senior
Jun 12, 2021
679
475
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PirateBlue08 said:
Watching the Uconn Arizona game and it's finally getting to me after all these years. What on earth is Raf saying at the beginning of each game right after the tipoff? He says it every game.

Is there anyone on the planet who can actually understand him?
Click to expand...
Hoddy Mahon and Rafs wife.
 
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SPK145

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
1,124
2,465
113
radecicco said:
The BE needs some shameless shills. Every other power hoops league has them. Give a listen to the B1G, ACC, or SEC networks.
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They do and I don't like that either,

When Raf said DePaul was a very good team as he did 2 years ago and then they proceeded to go 0-20 in the BE, well, you're just not very credible any more.
 
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radecicco

All-Conference
Jun 24, 2013
748
1,144
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I heard the original “Onions!” call when Siena beat Ohio State in the NCAAT. He followed that up with “Onions, Double Order!” in OT of that same game. Love the guy.
 
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VegasPJ1

Junior
Feb 19, 2023
524
380
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radecicco said:
The BE needs some shameless shills. Every other power hoops league has them. Give a listen to the B1G, ACC, or SEC networks.
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ACC’s biggest shill is SH’s own Dick Vitale, a/k/a Dukie V for one.
 
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lloyde dobler

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2004
729
1,099
82
PirateBlue08 said:
Watching the Uconn Arizona game and it's finally getting to me after all these years. What on earth is Raf saying at the beginning of each game right after the tipoff? He says it every game.

Is there anyone on the planet who can actually understand him?
Click to expand...
I can’t believe that in 2025 there’s a single person who doesn‘t understand what he’s saying after the tip
 
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dehere23

All-Conference
Feb 28, 2015
1,044
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lloyde dobler said:
I can’t believe that in 2025 there’s a single person who doesn‘t understand what he’s saying after the tip
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We are aging ourselves. Next it will be - What's this sweater game everyone talks about or Who was that Pearl guy?
 
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lloyde dobler

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2004
729
1,099
82
I had a chance to write a magazine profile once on Raftery and got to speak to Ian Eagle.

Eagle recalled the first time Raft said “Onions!” during a Nets game. At the next commercial break, he laughingly turned to Raft and said “Onions?” Raftery replied back “BIG BALLS!”
 
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NIL BAD

Junior
Aug 15, 2025
297
256
63
dehere23 said:
I think he's best known for "onions" at this point. More so than the "mantahman" or "lahngiere". But "send it in Jerome" is what I recall first and when I started loving the guy as an announcer.

And Sean Miller with the pass to Lane on that fast break, I believe.
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Yes Miller to Lane with Jody Sylvester watching closely. What a piece of work that guy was.
 
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MBF68

Redshirt
Sep 15, 2003
106
49
28
SPK145 said:
They do and I don't like that either,

When Raf said DePaul was a very good team as he did 2 years ago and then they proceeded to go 0-20 in the BE, well, you're just not very credible any more.
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Never a fan going back to the time we were both at the Hall. "Historic" Walsh was never nearly big enough to house his ego. It's nice to know that people who have crossed paths with him report he is a nice guy. In late '90s in the third of Blaney's growingly woeful season, he put in a big plug on air for George's return! On the other hand, I applauded him for getting in the face of the beyond-reproachable John Thompson for the thug-like behavior of his Alonso Mourning teams.
 
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radecicco

All-Conference
Jun 24, 2013
748
1,144
93
MBF68 said:
Never a fan going back to the time we were both at the Hall. "Historic" Walsh was never nearly big enough to house his ego. It's nice to know that people who have crossed paths with him report he is a nice guy. In late '90s in the third of Blaney's growingly woeful season, he put in a big plug on air for George's return! On the other hand, I applauded him for getting in the face of the beyond-reproachable John Thompson for the thug-like behavior of his Alonso Mourning teams.
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We were about to get to the BET Finals 1994 when Caver got absolutely mugged going in for a fast break layup late on the game. He was so dazed he missed both FTs. We lost a hear breaker. Should have been a T and ejection but refs weren’t going to mess with Thompson.

Thompson got wind of what RAF had said on air and proceeded to berate him in the post game press conference, calling Raf a failed coach.
 
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MBF68

Redshirt
Sep 15, 2003
106
49
28
radecicco said:
We were about to get to the BET Finals 1994 when Caver got absolutely mugged going in for a fast break layup late on the game. He was so dazed he missed both FTs. We lost a hear breaker. Should have been a T and ejection but refs weren’t going to mess with Thompson.

Thompson got wind of what RAF had said on air and proceeded to berate him in the post game press conference, calling Raf a failed coach.
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I thought it was after a UCONN game and an ugly enounter between Nadav Henefeld and Mourning.
 
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radecicco

All-Conference
Jun 24, 2013
748
1,144
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MBF68 said:
I thought it was after a UCONN game and an ugly enounter between Nadav Henefeld and Mourning.
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I defer to your memory. I just know caver got crunched I thought it was vs Gtown. I‘m sure it was in 1994 and in the BET.
 
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