Let’s talk sports broadcasters.
In today’s sports world, broadcasters are part of the entertainment. The thing is, I don’t want to be entertained by them. I want to watch the game, get some play-by-play, some background color and analysis and some silence. I want to watch the game. I realize I am not part of their target audience that seems to need constant talk and entertainment, but I want to WATCH THE GAME.
How many of you mute the sound occasionally just to watch the game? OK, a little humor and word play is good, but shut up sometimes. Do these guys get paid by the word?
Now, we all have our favorite broadcasters and some that grate on our nerves. My trash might be your gold, and your faves might by my Hall of Shamers. Maybe the ones we grew up are the voices we long to hear again.
We’ll, here are my thoughts, and please send me in yours. Agree, disagree or add your favorites to my list. Just send your comments to me at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com
OK, I grew up hearing Bill Stern’s dramatic, mellifluous all-business commentating. I loved Vin Scully’s picture-painting by word. Scully often said there were times to let the TV picture tell the story and times he said more to paint the scene when on radio.
In various sports, Dick Enberg had the voice, the humor and intelligence to be a cherished on-air voice, and Keith Jackson spent 50 years as “the voice of college football,” with authority and professionalism.
In basketball, Chick Hearn gave a “words-eye view,” and brought in such phrases as “dribble-drive” and “faked him into the popcorn machine.”
There have been some good ones for me, including Bob Uecker (a perfect blend of humor and knowledge), Ernie Harwell, Mel Allen, Herb Score, Frank Gifford, Pat Summerall teamed with Tom Brookshire and John Madden (great football commentary), Enberg teamed with Merlin Olsen (a perfect TV pair), Marty Brennaman, Marv Albert, Marty Glickman, John Miller with Joe Morgan, and Jack Buck.
Today, I appreciate Ron Darling’s and Ken Singelton’s quiet knowledge in baseball, Al Michaels with Cris Collinsworth, and Joe Buck with Troy Aikman. I enjoy James Brown and am sorry he is in-studio more than in the press box. In hockey, I personally enjoy Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond’s honesty and stories along with solid game-calling.
Watching the MLB wild card playoffs, Matt Vasgersian (a talk-talk-talk-and-won’t-shut-up guy) and Alex Rodriquez had me reaching for the mute button, while another ESPN channel offered Jason Benetti, Eduardo Perez and Mike Petriello – superior, and Perez was knowledgeable and an asset.
My don’t likes include a huge list topped by Vasgersian, Tim Kurkjian and his clownish responses, Dick Vitale (can’t stand his approach, but I was never a Howard Cosell fan, either) and Bob Costas, who used to be good, but now must be glib and force in comment far away from the game’s action where it doesn’t belong. John Sterling is an annoyance to me. Tim McCarver was always trying to force in a catchphrase and an inside joke. The same for Joe Garagiola. And my list goes on, but what about you?
Do you enjoy constant comment or would you like to watch the game with some voice enhancement to describe the action or strategy without all of the banter or buzzwords?
PERFECTION AND NEAR PERFECTION
In local bowling league action, Sept. 27 at Redskin Lanes, Mike Byers rolled a perfect 300, and on Oct. 5 at Redskin Lanes, Vince Becker III bowled a 299 … soooo close. Great rolling, guys. Is there something in the Redskin Lanes water?
