I had to go unplug the alarm clock (w/ radio) and bring it into the living room. These chuckleheads providing commentary on TV are especially stupid tonight, and don’t even deserve to be named. Someone like Dan Deirdorf f can make the mute button an option for me, but over time I’ve been able to develop a callus for the Gumbel/Simms tandem and a few others. As the NFL encores following a day of college games, the heady commentary slowly dies throughout Sunday, on dialysis by the 8:30 ESPN game and six feet under by halftime Monday night.
Patrick Pass broke a few runs and took a five yard pass for twenty yards, so the title phrase is spoken. Not that I have anything against Patrick Pass. In fact, he’s one of my favorite players. It’s the way these commentators sound like used car salesmen, with 75 percent of the insight coming in the form of stats, montages and scripted anecdotes on whatever player made the last good play.
A football game, this American creation that’s just naturally dripping with material from play to play to riff on, is cheaply dressed up and pimped out. There’s a reason why NFL Films only uses clips from the radio coverage. It wouldn’t work with a soundtrack of, “here’s why you like this guy who just made a play, here’s why you like this guy who just made a play, here’s why you like this guy who just made a play, here’s why you like this guy who just made a play…”
Chris here is a piece of advice for you. Turn on the football game of your choice and turn down the sound for the entire game ! It works and it’s much more enjoyable !
Paul, I hardly ever feel insulted by the coverage of college games. The announcers stick more to the game and the play to play strategy, with more talk about the program than any individual player. If anything, they’ll gush over a coach or potential top 10 pick.
With the NFL broadcasts though, it’s like a pageant. For a few years I would never listen to the Pats games with the TV volume up. For some reason this year I didn’t make sure the radio was set up prior to each game. Last night was too much for me to handle. That ESPN team is dreadfull.
The ‘might have another star here in New England’ comment made me look away – Heather asked me what was wrong – I responded, “These guys are killing me”. Two plays later, Pass fumbles the ball when his hamstring knots up.
Once the radio is on, I’m goofing on the television coverage w/ the volume down. Like clockwork, someone makes a play and the graphic goes up…thankfully I was spared the words to go along with that mess.
It sounds like I don’t care about something the NFL marketing team wants me to care about. Get Well Tedy! is my team name in fantasy football this year…but after one quarter of last night’s game, I was sick of hearing about Tedy Bruschi. I love these players, but the final score is what’s important.
I suppose that w/ the Patriots…the obligatory Brady blurb or recount of how many big kicks Adam Viniteri has made…if anyone watching the game doesn’t know about all that yet, they’re channel fliping.
OK – I could go on forever w/ this topic. The radio will be on before kickoff for the rest of the season. I did this to myself…as it is as easy as simply turning down the volume on the TV. Still – I wish they’d raise the IQ of their broadcasts.