Don’t know if nearly 50 years on this job qualifies me as a sportscasting historian, but I do know this: There has never been a time in my life when televised sports have been worse, more excessively senseless and for no good reason other than negligent or dopey execs who think that we neither want … Read more
Why continue to treat baseball fans — or try to attract new ones — with images of rank public immodesty rather than with genuinely skillful baseball? Source link #MLB #served #showcasing #fundamentals #worthless #selfaggrandizement
And here I thought that Bad Bunny was Bill Belichick’s pet name for his, er, girlfriend. It figures that the best things presented by ESPN/ABC are a matter of accident. Thus it stands to reason that its best MLB postseason telecasts have been the Tigers-Guardians games anchored by Sean McDonough, whose calm, knowledgeable and hype-free … Read more
Beware of those who publicly declare that their stuff doesn’t stink. Recently, CBS newsman and “60 Minutes” regular Scott Pelley made news and noise when he seized the close of the venerable program to deliver an appeal, threat or whatever, depending on how one heard it, to CBS News parent Paramount, as it was reportedly … Read more
There used to be a ballpark … I suppose he lasted years longer than the game plan allowed, a split-T formation vs. an empty backfield world, but there will be no Richard Neer starting tomorrow morning at WFAN. The last reliable stop to enjoy thoughtful, calm, topical and clean adult-oriented sports talk radio — and … Read more
As all sports-attached TV networks are conspicuously working off the same plan to remove the sport from our sports, we wonder: Who came up with the plan? Where was the research and surveys that told network execs that the sports-minded public prefers the worst images from games, the worst acts and actors in their sports, … Read more
Having missed two columns to my annual formaldehyde blood spins, let’s not waste time writing the pithy. Catch-up formation on “Hut.” (Hmm, wonder where “hut” came from.) Hut! It’s all a con continued: When MLB introduced interleague play, thus further homogenizing the two leagues, “Bottom Line” Bud Selig proudly boasted that “it’s a gift to … Read more
There are exceptions to most every rule. As long as they’re exceptional. For all my whining about game-casters who talk too much, there are two who would only minimize their value if they chose — or were able — to speak less. One was now-retired hockey play-by-player Doc Emrick whose charm, knowledge, wordsmanship and overall … Read more
Signs of the times: What does it tell us that LeBron James, one of the all-time greats — some argue the greatest in basketball history — makes for such a self-entitled, blind-to-facts compromise of the good senses that he has become impossible for thoughtful adults to root for? Further, why do thoughtful fans of what … Read more
It’s like modern baseball, lousy with conspicuous, shameless artificial additives and cheap con jobs. It’s now almost an obligation to stand at first and signal your dugout for group approval — a shallow ritual — after hitting a checked-swing bloop single. But diminished standards have become standardized. Even the natural act of laughter has been … Read more
You see it all game, every game. It’s like the thanks-for-nothing, “They move the chains,” replacing the useful “first down” and the yardage gained. It’s tired, repetitive and poorly designed to sound hip. Source link #Athletes #stop #immodestly #foolish #ways
In 1996 there was a rock-and-roll hit by the Easybeats, “Friday on My Mind.” The lyrics included, “Monday I’ll have Friday on my mind.” Well, Friday I had Monday on my mind. Rick Monday. It happens at red lights, in the shower and while searching for the remote. That’s when and where I wonder about … Read more
The most transparently absurd sports presence on TV remains the lead face and voice of the transparently absurd sports network: Stephen A. Smith, hustler of multiple cultural accents to best serve the day’s perceived audience and his sustained ESPN go-to-guy employment. Blessed with both ESPN impunity and immunity in addition to millions in pay and … Read more
It just seems that by Sunday night, let alone Monday night, no matter how appealing the flexed-for-TV-dough matchups, the thrill is gone. Source link #Footballs #neverending #onslaught #killed #remaining #thrills
To quote the intrepid mariner, Popeye the Sailor: “That’s all I can stands, ’cause I can’t stands no more!” I grew up an unshakable Giants football fan. Good times, bad times. Allie Sherman to Ray Handley to Brian Daboll. I was No. 16, Frank Gifford, in the fall and winter, No. 16 Whitey Ford in … Read more
It’s not too early for MLB and its partner TV networks to start working on next season. First step: Change the in-game disclaimer from “Any rebroadcast, retransmission or account of this game, without the express written consent of Major League Baseball, is prohibited” to be more realistic, as if anyone would steal what MLB, ESPN, … Read more
The Game 1 verdict was unanimous. It was harsh and came quickly — bottom of the second inning. It was rendered by three adult women not inclined to watch baseball unless the Mets or Yankees are in the World Series. Juror 1: “These guys talk so much I don’t hear a thing they say.” Juror … Read more
The best way to start an argument is to try to avoid one. Thus, “Don’t take this the wrong way … ” is all it should take. So let’s get our Fox World Series preview out of the way then move on, as if it’s not likely that Fox will has put sudden repairs to … Read more
OK, so you run a 75-year-old business that once thrived but has been losing popularity among your most devoted, longtime customers and their progeny. What do you do? 1) Ignore those customers’ complaints and advice? 2) Treat those complaints as quickly, smartly and long-term logically as possible? 3) Make your product even more difficult and … Read more
The “Never Forget” vow is tossed around quite a bit. But the shelf life of “never” depends on how long it takes to forget to remember. It can take decades, years, months and weeks to fade then vanish. In sports, however, it takes minutes — until the next pitch, punt or power play. Late last … Read more