There’s one different “rule change” we would like Rob Manfred, and each different commish to implement: Announcers and analysts must be heard and never seen.
After all, sports activities TV productions are usually not underneath the commissioner’s jurisdiction, however you get the image, proper?
John Sterling is ostensibly screaming “take a look at me” when he launches into his embellished radio house run calls, however do we want on-line video of them, courtesy of what somebody “cleverly” dubbed The Sterling Cam?
Additionally, what precisely is the aim of SNY having a digicam in a position to present “unique” video replays of Gary Cohen delivering his signature “It’s outta right here!” house run name? Does the manufacturing workforce assume the sight of Cohen standing on his toes making the decision, whereas Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez blankly stare into house, is extra concerning the recreation or manufacturing must-see TV?
Does this sort of jive illuminate what is going on on the sector? Do the unwashed plenty tune-in to see Max Scherzer pitch or see a video replay of Cohen making a high-decibel strikeout name?
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Similar holds true for the Yankees Leisure and Sports activities Community. The brainiacs there often pop up a replay of Michael Kay, who has by no means met a digicam he doesn’t like, squeezing out his “See Ya!” house run name, whereas whoever is becoming a member of him within the sales space seems to be entranced.
Voices like Cohen and Kay usually communicate of their reverence for the sport. If that’s actually true, why don’t they’ve an issue with a gimmick — involving them — designed to take the main target off the sport itself or, maybe, choosing up an advertiser to sponsor these booth-cam video replays. Or produce clicks and on-line views.
[ Bob Raissman: Fans and broadcasters also have to come to grips with MLB’s new pitch clock ]
All this nonsense brings into sharp focus how a manufacturing wrinkle mushroomed right into a manufacturing nuisance. It began many moons in the past with the announcers doing a reside between-innings on-camera industrial, like pouring a bottle of beer right into a glass (some carried out higher whereas inebriated). Then got here the on-camera recreation intro.
It then expanded to in-game, in-booth “superstar” interviews, partially on digicam, throughout a recreation. Someplace alongside the road, the on-camera recreation reset (“I’m Tweedledee, he’s Tweedledum, welcome to the printed sales space.”) grew to become a staple of most broadcasts.
[ Bob Raissman: Fox gives Derek Jeter a soft landing spot for the next chapter of his baseball career ]
Our notion is most voices are OK with an expanded function within the recreation telecasts. It’s one thing else their brokers can use to extract extra funny-money from the fits.
But not all yakkers need video replay of their calls making it to air or on-line. In a current interview with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, CBS Sports activities’ Kevin Harlan chided his employer for releasing video of him calling THE key play in Furman’s upset win over Virginia in Spherical 1 of the lads’s hoops tourney.
Mockingly Harlan, a veteran Scream Machine, mentioned he was embarrassed by the video, which additionally confirmed him gesturing for his analysts Stan Van Gundy/Dan Bonner to structure whereas he did his factor.
Harlan, who indicated there are different voices who don’t just like the sales space cam, mentioned: “And I do assume it’s sort of peeking in again of the curtain and I simply assume there are some stuff you simply don’t need to be seen.”
Like if a voice sneezes in the midst of a name. Or is caught on video passing fuel. Possibly catching an announcer in an embarrassing second is what that is finally all about.
Oh, how 2023.
Jim Nantzs’ last goodbye from the Closing 4 Championship Sport Monday may simply be “So lengthy! Buddies.”
For this isn’t the top of a profession that’s near 4 a long time lengthy, a lot of it working March Insanity, it’s only a “goodbye till we meet once more.” And that shall be in a number of days at The Masters. Then it will likely be extra golf earlier than heading again to NFL protection.
CBS Sports activities boss Sean McManus (reportedly at the side of Nantz) merely minimize off Nantz’s piece of NCAA pie and put it on the deserving Ian (The Hen) Eagle’s plate. Regardless of Nantz’s down-sizing there’s little doubt he’s nonetheless CBS’ signature voice. And he’s nonetheless the one true massive recreation voice left in The Eye’s cabinet.
Via all of the years on high, Nantz has not turn into a caricature of himself. On digicam, he’s by no means tried utilizing his broadcasting standing to aim to turn into larger than the occasions he lined.
Of all his many accomplishments, SiriusXM’s Christopher (Mad Canine) Russo broke new floor on the radio final week by indicating he contacted a lifeless individual within the religious world.
Why else would Canine say, with certainty, the late nice coach, analyst and sidewalk thinker, Al McGuire, would have agreed with him and gone nuts over the past second Creighton foul on San Diego State guard Darrion Trammel, which finally gave the Aztecs a 57-56 win and a visit to the Closing 4?
Query: If Russo can contact McGuire within the nice past, why does he want Steve Lappas to offer tourney evaluation?
When and if he involves the Jets, will Aaron Rodgers do a weekly spot with one of many native sports activities speak radio stations?
[ Bob Raissman: Aaron Rodgers is obsessed with managing the message … ‘I’ll speak for myself’ ]
Doubt it. Rodgers will probably keep loyal to Pat McAfee’s YouTube present, the place he’s been making headlines the previous few years. So, it’s uncertain both ESPN-98.7 or FAN would need to pay him in the event that they don’t have an unique weekly spot with the Jets QB in Ready. Additionally, contemplating the ramshackle state of terrestrial radio, the 2 shops may need hassle assembly Rodgers asking value.
Chris Canty, who works with Chris Carlin on ESPN Radio’s afternoon drive present, has a method with phrases. Canty, referring particularly to the Lamar Jackson fiasco, not too long ago discovered an insightful hook to elucidate why NFL house owners have a gap of their collective soul. “They go to nice lengths to guard quarterbacks,” Canty mentioned, “however they don’t need to pay them their cash.” …
The NFL house owners tabled their dialogue on bringing versatile scheduling to Thursday Evening Soccer. After they finally do deliver flex scheduling to TNF, regardless of the protest of John Mara, the league shall be a step nearer to enjoying video games the place they belong — in a TV studio. In-stadium paying prospects are handled like stumblebums in comparison with shops who pay billions for NFL TV rights. …
FAN/SNY’s Sal Licata mentioned it was “a nasty look” for Jets gamers to tweet about not wanting Ezekiel Elliott to hitch Gang Inexperienced. Contemplating he not too long ago threw an in-studio mood tantrum, that includes him ripping his headset off, Licata may really know what “a nasty look” is. …
Golf on the radio is an acquired style. SXM begins its Masters protection April 6. Among the many many radio commentators Maureen Madill stands out. Her evaluation, delivered with an Irish accent, is unusually descriptive. So, as an alternative of claiming Ian Poulter is strolling on the inexperienced, Madill as soon as described the Englishman as doing his: “Peacock Prowl. It’s nice to see this assured strut again.”…
How quickly earlier than the pom-pom waving Yankee media places Anthony Volpe on the Corridor of Fame poll?
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The Pinstripe Categorical
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: GREG McDERMOTT
For the shows of sophistication after his Creighton workforce suffered a crushing, controversial 57-56 loss to San Diego State within the Elite 8. Whereas the sport was selected a final second foul name, the coach instructed his workforce to take the excessive highway, an avenue he clearly travels on.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: ERIC MUSSELMAN
The Arkansas basketball coach stripped off his shirt after his workforce defeated Kansas and was celebrated by the media. Appears to us the excitable Musselman took the main target off his workforce whereas making an attempt to make the win all about him.
DOUBLE TALK
What Jacob deGrom mentioned: “My [opening day] outing, I’m not thrilled with, didn’t make pitches.”
What Jacob deGrom meant to say: “I already miss Mr. Met.”
