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I can't tell you how RARELY it is that I watch a game and think, "That was a really nice job by the broadcasting team."
The large majority of them are just AWFUL.
They out-and-out CHEER! For BOTH teams! It's nauseating!
Not only do they talk too much-- a pretty big problem on it's own-- they REPEAT themselves! Constantly! And they admit it!
"Like we were saying back in the 3rd quarter, Bob... and in the 1st quarter, and I think we said it in pre-game too, Bob... The <team of choice> really needs to <yada yada yada> better, if they're going to have a chance to win this game."
No FUCKING SHIT, Sherlock! We knew that before you brought it up, and then you brought it up seven times!!!
Far too often, these broadcasting teams fail to allow the game to speak for itself. Not every replay needs to be narrated in expansive detail. For example, it would be sufficient for the talking head to say, "Really nice block there by the left guard, Bonkerson. It paved the way into the second level for the back, where he could use his superior agility one-on-one against linebackers."
That would be good, right? It's not what we get, though. Instead, it's
"Lyle Bonkerson! A 2019 3rd round draft pick out of Spamford! The 6-3, 291 pound guard has been kept out of the lineup by a series of injuries over the first few years of his career, Bob, but you see right there why the club's GM, Buzz Offerson, invested a Day 2 pick on him! You can't coach a guy into the kind of toughness he has! You're either born with it, or you're not! He's the pride of Bumphuque High School in Texarkana, Wisconsin, Bob, where he starred for the Fightin' Peacemakers! Dad Merton and Mom Beulah are in the stadium here today!"
JUST. STOP!!!
Are these guys getting paid by the word? Do they get paid more, if they repeat themselves, or if they keep the subject matter on lame topics? That's an easy conclusion to draw, listening to them! What, you can't mention a player's name without bringing up where in the draft he was selected, and by whom? Where his hometown is, and the name-- and mascot-- of his high school?!?
I wish there were a constructive avenue to lobby for changes in how the game is broadcast, but as far as I know there aren't.
I guess I could boycott Gillette, Chevrolet and Budweiser. lol
So which broadcast teams out there strike the best balance?
It's not Steve Levy-- who apparently models his 'game' after Marv Albert.
It's not Al Michaels who will wear you out with his attempts at clever phrases and plays-on-words that too often fall short of being amusing. Just corny. Or lame.
It's not Jim Nance-- who spews all the sports-o-babble with the so-called best of them. He's really prone to amplifying a player's reputation, by, for example, calling a really solid player 'elite', when he's NOT elite. Just solid.
It's not Greg Gumble, either. Or Ian Eagle. Lot's of hyperbole and use of embarrassingly bad phrases like "dipsy-doo" and "prancing" and "That's a no-no!"
I've often thought that Tony Romo does a better job than most, but I haven't heard him call a game yet this season.
I *have* noticed that a lot of broadcasting pairs have been changed up for this season. Cris Collinsworth is no longer paired with Al Michaels, for example. I think that *was* an especially obnoxious duo. We'll see if being paired up with someone different brings out something better in them.
If there's anyone who doing the job better than the others, I want to give them credit. I'll take nominations.
The large majority of them are just AWFUL.
They out-and-out CHEER! For BOTH teams! It's nauseating!
Not only do they talk too much-- a pretty big problem on it's own-- they REPEAT themselves! Constantly! And they admit it!
"Like we were saying back in the 3rd quarter, Bob... and in the 1st quarter, and I think we said it in pre-game too, Bob... The <team of choice> really needs to <yada yada yada> better, if they're going to have a chance to win this game."
No FUCKING SHIT, Sherlock! We knew that before you brought it up, and then you brought it up seven times!!!
Far too often, these broadcasting teams fail to allow the game to speak for itself. Not every replay needs to be narrated in expansive detail. For example, it would be sufficient for the talking head to say, "Really nice block there by the left guard, Bonkerson. It paved the way into the second level for the back, where he could use his superior agility one-on-one against linebackers."
That would be good, right? It's not what we get, though. Instead, it's
"Lyle Bonkerson! A 2019 3rd round draft pick out of Spamford! The 6-3, 291 pound guard has been kept out of the lineup by a series of injuries over the first few years of his career, Bob, but you see right there why the club's GM, Buzz Offerson, invested a Day 2 pick on him! You can't coach a guy into the kind of toughness he has! You're either born with it, or you're not! He's the pride of Bumphuque High School in Texarkana, Wisconsin, Bob, where he starred for the Fightin' Peacemakers! Dad Merton and Mom Beulah are in the stadium here today!"
JUST. STOP!!!
Are these guys getting paid by the word? Do they get paid more, if they repeat themselves, or if they keep the subject matter on lame topics? That's an easy conclusion to draw, listening to them! What, you can't mention a player's name without bringing up where in the draft he was selected, and by whom? Where his hometown is, and the name-- and mascot-- of his high school?!?
I wish there were a constructive avenue to lobby for changes in how the game is broadcast, but as far as I know there aren't.
I guess I could boycott Gillette, Chevrolet and Budweiser. lol
So which broadcast teams out there strike the best balance?
It's not Steve Levy-- who apparently models his 'game' after Marv Albert.
It's not Al Michaels who will wear you out with his attempts at clever phrases and plays-on-words that too often fall short of being amusing. Just corny. Or lame.
It's not Jim Nance-- who spews all the sports-o-babble with the so-called best of them. He's really prone to amplifying a player's reputation, by, for example, calling a really solid player 'elite', when he's NOT elite. Just solid.
It's not Greg Gumble, either. Or Ian Eagle. Lot's of hyperbole and use of embarrassingly bad phrases like "dipsy-doo" and "prancing" and "That's a no-no!"
I've often thought that Tony Romo does a better job than most, but I haven't heard him call a game yet this season.
I *have* noticed that a lot of broadcasting pairs have been changed up for this season. Cris Collinsworth is no longer paired with Al Michaels, for example. I think that *was* an especially obnoxious duo. We'll see if being paired up with someone different brings out something better in them.
If there's anyone who doing the job better than the others, I want to give them credit. I'll take nominations.
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