How about that chargers jags game? I'm a die hard charger fan and even I was wondering how they would market that game.

Still better than the NFL Network coverage. They could make any game sound like there's no one in the stands. Do they own a boom mic?

Look, Gruden can polish a turd better than anyone. That counts for something. I have clothes to wash.

[maximumcoleing.jpg]

Jaworski is the worst

well besides Joe Buck

Hell, I think it's amusing to hear the hollow hype when a game is either a dog from the outset or it get's out of hand by early in the third, particularly if the announcer expects to be taken seriously. There are always a couple of games each week that could only be made interesting by talking about the spread or the over/under line, which is obviously prohibited. I do recall in the past that Al Michaels made vague gambling references a few times in the past, doubt he would try it these days.

So explain to me where the shock is, he is trying to hype what was going to be a dull farking game, imagine that.

Deadspin sucks though so I bet they thought wrestling was real until 2003

jaylectricity: BigJake: Jaworski is the worst

well besides Joe Buck

Now imagine Jaworski beside Joe Buck.

Are you a wizard Satan?

/Wanted for questioning,

Lifeless: [maximumcoleing.jpg]

teflon: [bustedopen.net image 312x234]
/Wanted for questioning,

Sorry about you're damn luck, SLAPNUTS!

It's kinda OCD but the way Gruden refers to teams in the singular bugs the shiat outta me. "This Saint offense," "That Jet defense..."

Adolf Oliver Nipples: Still, what would a football broadcast be if they all just said that the game was a joke and the one team sucks donkey tonker? There has to be something compelling about an otherwise boring game to keep the viewers with nothing invested in the teams watching it.

The problem I have with this is that they have no way of proving that by trying to "sell" the game to an audience, they'll gain more (or retain more) viewers. Be honest. If a team doesn't have a lot of bright spots, come out and say that they're rebuilding. The hype jobs performed for every single damn NFL game are getting pretty tiresome. Compare say, an MLB broadcast. Much more dry to be sure, but they aren't going to try and hype up a bad team in some vain attempt to keep you interested.

CoonAce: It's kinda OCD but the way Gruden refers to teams in the singular bugs the shiat outta me. "This Saint offense," "That Jet defense..."


I cringe whenever I see the Saints are on ESPNF. He Says Drew Brees like it is a single word, constantly. Drewbrees throws to Drewbrees receiver so Drewbrees can set a Drewbrees passing record for Drewbrees.

Also, he coached Tampa so fark him in his ass.

Summons the council of DOUGIE_AXP JimFromStPaul Firstnationalbastard Smiths ferro_man kellykellykelly HobbleKitty Nyrkah1 Robsul82 LucklessWonder Silgryphon ThemanofPa Verbaltoxin Dellsworth1007 Eagles95 To this thread for a Jackin'
No smackdown thread, no peas.

Sadly being a Chiefs fan this is nothing new. Although when I originally saw that I wondered what the hell they were smoking but pretty much every game they are trying to paint the picture that Palko is some young rookie quarterback trying to lead his team against overwhelming odds....before they mention oh wait he's a 30 year old throw away.

Peter von Nostrand: And a TV network is trying to hype the programming it airs so that people will watch, which generates ad revenue?

Congratulations on completely missing the point, Sherlock.

Yes, everybody on sports TV tries to make the most of the hand they've been dealt. Duh.

But the point of the article is that ESPN's MNF coverage is so far over the top that it isn't persuading people to watch, and may even be driving people away. If Jaworski came on and said "I've looked at hours of tape and here's the things Palko does well. If the Chiefs can gameplan around that, they can have a shot here", it might actually be effective. What they are doing now is merely annoying. They are pissing away their credibility for nothing. Watch NBC's coverage for an example of how it should be done.

Any excuse to repost this: your handy media guide to NFL coverage.

Fox: The studio has been replaced by the high school jocks' lunchroom table. They are having much more fun than you are. Meanwhile, Joe Buck will talk in a bizarre singsong cadence about other programs coming up on Fox while a football game takes place in the background.

CBS: Two middle-aged men in blazers, ties and slacks are mildly annoyed to have been dragged away from a very good Sunday lunch at their country club and are embarrassed to find themselves at a football game rather than a golf tournament.

NFL Network: Two business travelers are killing time in the bar of a soulless chain hotel. They make polite but awkward conversation about the football game playing on the bar's TV set, even though neither of them really understands the game or cares about the teams involved. Everybody finishes the night even more depressed than when they started.

ESPN: Three frat boys have broken into the broadcast booth and are making each other laugh with fart jokes. They have no idea the microphones are on. Meanwhile back in the ESPN studio, Chris Berman and a dozen other people would like to tell you how awesome ESPN is.

NBC: Please don't interrupt. The adults are talking.

czetie: If Jaworski came on and said "I've looked at hours of tape and here's the things Palko does well. If the Chiefs can gameplan around that, they can have a shot here", it might actually be effective.

Do you realize that Jaworski is one of the few guys on ESPN who actually does that on a weekly basis?

And, all things considered, ESPN's coverage of the NFL versus SEC football like a complete 180. Though they have had clowns like Shannon Sharpe, they are generally pretty professional about the whole thing, if maybe a bit too old fashioned.

ESPN covers "their" conferences and "their" professional leagues with the same kind of insane bravado (which is almost worse than the hype CBS gives the SEC, because at least THAT hype isn't running 24/7 on basic cable). If you're not shown on "their" network, you don't even matter. See: the NHL.

Err... ESPN's hype IS worse, because CBS Sports isn't running 24/7 on basic cable.

This makes me realize how much I miss Howard Cosell.

This is news to people? Announcers are always given assignments to "sell" a part of the game. I'll lay money that we will hear, on the MNF game, lots of Marshawn Lynch, for instance. I remember one game about two years ago where a player they were trying to puff up was injured in the second quarter, and they continued to talk about him (and show the highlights) for the rest of the game.

So you mean this Colts vs Vikings game is really as bad a matchup as I thought?

meh, their salesmanship still isn't as bad as their jinx-machine when they pull out the "hasn't done something stupid in weeks/months/years!" right before said player does something stupid

puffy999: czetie: If Jaworski came on and said "I've looked at hours of tape and here's the things Palko does well. If the Chiefs can gameplan around that, they can have a shot here", it might actually be effective.

Do you realize that Jaworski is one of the few guys on ESPN who actually does that on a weekly basis?

Yes I do. You only have to listen to him being himself on, say, Mike & Mike to know that.

And that's precisely what makes it all the more conspicuous when gets up on MNF, throws all that knowledge and preparation out the window, and huffs and puffs about the chances of a team we all know is going to get crushed.

And worst of all: he knows he doesn't believe what he's saying. We know he doesn't believe what he's saying. And he knows we know. The only people apparently not in the know are the producers of ESPN, who apparently actually think we're buying it. But then, those are the same people who thought it was a good idea to cram some celebrity with a book or movie to shill for into the booth during the 3rd quarter and let the MNF crew desperately fish for some connection to sports while a football game takes place behind them. There are times when it seems that the goal of the MNF producers is to find out how annoying it is possible to be without quite driving away fans.

This isn't about Jaworski's knowledge of the game or analytical skills. It's about the stupidity of the MNF producers who actually think we're buying their flim-flam, rather than tuning in despite it because, hey, football's on.

McManus_brothers: My favorite Al Michaels moment: on SNF one night, Cris Collinsworth was talking about how he and his sons play fantasy football, how it brings them together, and how much they enjoy it. Al Michaels responds, "Yeah, but is it as much fun as shooting dice?" Lulz.

The other thing I respect about Al and Michael is that they won't try to convince you that a game is great despite the evidence of your eyes, or that a comeback is likely when it's not. If the game is boring in the 4th quarter, they'll happily chat about other things than the play on the field: upcoming schedules, playoff standings, what this result means for other teams... They show respect for their audience, and I in return respect them for that.

FishyFred: I can't remember the name of the guy who teamed with Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann for ESPN Sunday Night Football, but HE was the farking worst.

Dude, you just uttered an impossibility: That someone was worse than Joe Theismann.

Don't like it? Quit watching.
Simple really.

Remember this misguided experiment

czetie: puffy999: czetie: If Jaworski came on and said "I've looked at hours of tape and here's the things Palko does well. If the Chiefs can gameplan around that, they can have a shot here", it might actually be effective.

Do you realize that Jaworski is one of the few guys on ESPN who actually does that on a weekly basis?

Yes I do. You only have to listen to him being himself on, say, Mike & Mike to know that.

And that's precisely what makes it all the more conspicuous when gets up on MNF, throws all that knowledge and preparation out the window, and huffs and puffs about the chances of a team we all know is going to get crushed.

And worst of all: he knows he doesn't believe what he's saying. We know he doesn't believe what he's saying. And he knows we know. The only people apparently not in the know are the producers of ESPN, who apparently actually think we're buying it. But then, those are the same people who thought it was a good idea to cram some celebrity with a book or movie to shill for into the booth during the 3rd quarter and let the MNF crew desperately fish for some connection to sports while a football game takes place behind them. There are times when it seems that the goal of the MNF producers is to find out how annoying it is possible to be without quite driving away fans.

This isn't about Jaworski's knowledge of the game or analytical skills. It's about the stupidity of the MNF producers who actually think we're buying their flim-flam, rather than tuning in despite it because, hey, football's on.

I'm just getting annoyed at TV sports production altogether. I would love to be able to sync the radio broadcast with the TV feed, because radio announcers (despite their varying homerism) know how to call games. Once you get past Al Michaels and Gus Johnson I can't think of a single NFL play-by-play announcer worth half a shiat. And I'd rather listen to Mixon, Szoki, and Robinson than listen to Kenny Albert or Ron Pitts.

Also, people hating on Deadspin can EABOD.

oryx: This makes me realize how much I miss Howard Cosell.

I don't.

Peter von Nostrand: You mean the opening pieces are scripted? No farking way!

And a TV network is trying to hype the programming it airs so that people will watch, which generates ad revenue? Holy farking cow! That's unpossible

Yeah seriously. I was looking for some groundbreaking stuff from that "important paragraph" and I found what I thought everyone already knew.

jaylectricity: How about a, "Sorry folks, we really thought this was going to be a good game, but it's 35-7 near the end of the third quarter. Sorry we wasted your time tonight."

I don't feel I've wasted my time if it's a blowout. You're not guaranteed close games just because you tune in. I've watched football for 30+ years at every level. I know how it works. Not every game can be the Game of the Year.

What I don't like is feeling like they are blowing smoke up my ass while it's a blowout. I don't need someone, who is otherwise presented to me as some sort of expert, lying out of his ass to pump up a bad game or a bad player.