TV sports personality's (either an announcer or an analyst) all seem to have taken one of two routes to get to their positions. Most of them have taken the sports route. They were players of their sports who exhibited a certain charismatic ability to speak to the cameras. The other route seems to be of the way of sports journalism. Sports journalists start normally in college. After college most write in Newspapers and for Magazines before ever getting a shot at being a radio or local television announcer. The ones who make it though are masters of their craft and have spent the better part of their lives studying sports for a living, not just playing one.
A stunning example is Tony Kornheiser who I don't believe has ever announced a live game before being thrown onto ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts this year. He took to the spot naturally though. He shows that he understands the sport and what is going on. He makes Theisman, who has been doing this for years, sound like a bumbling idiot some of the time. Have you ever noticed the long pauses from Theisman and Tirico (Yes I know Tirico took the route of journalism, but he is a college football specialist)?
And Its not just Theisman look at all the horrible analysts they show on an ordinary sunday. Terry Bradshaw, Shannon Sharp, Michael Irving, Phil Simms I could list them all day. Why do the company's keep hireing these idiots? Do people actually tune in to see which of their favorite players is making a fool of himself on national tv?
Players just do not seem to translate into good sports analysts or announcers. Coaches, although lacking the charisma needed, can at least show a good understanding of the game. I don't know though, maybe they should just let the professionals do their jobs.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Drugs on a Plane
Michael Vick entered Miami International Airport on Wednesday carrying a 20 oz bottle of water. After displaying a hesitancy to allow the bottle to be checked out by airport personnel suspicion arose and Vick had to relinquish the bottle to enter his flight. The bottle was found to contain a secret compartment hidden by the label that contained a dark sediment and smelled like marijuana.
Now I am a college student and I understand that there is nothing really wrong with smoking marijuana. But the United States as a whole has decided that that substance is illegal. So why would a high profile individual like Michael Vick even have the need to try to sneak it onto a plane? It is not like it would be hard to get once he landed. Vick you are not a bad guy for smoking marijuana, you are an idiot for attempting to sneak it on a plane.
Now I am a college student and I understand that there is nothing really wrong with smoking marijuana. But the United States as a whole has decided that that substance is illegal. So why would a high profile individual like Michael Vick even have the need to try to sneak it onto a plane? It is not like it would be hard to get once he landed. Vick you are not a bad guy for smoking marijuana, you are an idiot for attempting to sneak it on a plane.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Peyton time?
Time for some football picks
AFC Championship
Brady Manning three. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Ali Frazier three but for me at least is almost as big. This game could be the game that cements Brady in as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Or it could mark the coming of age of the true king Peyton Manning.
Beyond the quarterbacks there are more levels to this game than a skyscraper. Can Indy stop the run? What will Belichick come up with to stop Peyton and company? Will Vinatieri kick the game winner to break the Patriots heart? Who knows. But one thing you can be sure of is that both teams will come and play hard.
I for one think this is Indy's year. Peyton will come out and take his place on th throne that he deserves. With the balance that the defense has been providing Indy should be able to easily dismantle the mistake prone New England team. New England will need mental errors by Indianapolis like those commited by San Diego last week just to keep it close, and I don't see that happening.
Colts 31-24
NFC Championship
The Bears who seemed to be everyones early season pick to run away with the NFC, against the Saints who everyone had written off after a hectic season last year following the Hurricane. But like the city of New Orleans the Saints have come alive again. They are playing great football with a balanced offense which showcases two dynamic rookies, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush.
The Bears had serious problems with consistancy down the stretch of the season, and Rex Grossman was at the center of it all, but with injuries on defense mounting at the end of the season they really began to lose their sense of who they were.
I don't think the Bears can survive against such a dangerous offensive team without their defense stepping up big and creating plays. They need to make several turn overs to help keep the score close. They will also need Rex Grossman to play the game of his life. With the crowd behind them it could happen, but I will ride with the Saints.
Saints 27-20
AFC Championship
Brady Manning three. Doesn't have the same ring to it as Ali Frazier three but for me at least is almost as big. This game could be the game that cements Brady in as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Or it could mark the coming of age of the true king Peyton Manning.
Beyond the quarterbacks there are more levels to this game than a skyscraper. Can Indy stop the run? What will Belichick come up with to stop Peyton and company? Will Vinatieri kick the game winner to break the Patriots heart? Who knows. But one thing you can be sure of is that both teams will come and play hard.
I for one think this is Indy's year. Peyton will come out and take his place on th throne that he deserves. With the balance that the defense has been providing Indy should be able to easily dismantle the mistake prone New England team. New England will need mental errors by Indianapolis like those commited by San Diego last week just to keep it close, and I don't see that happening.
Colts 31-24
NFC Championship
The Bears who seemed to be everyones early season pick to run away with the NFC, against the Saints who everyone had written off after a hectic season last year following the Hurricane. But like the city of New Orleans the Saints have come alive again. They are playing great football with a balanced offense which showcases two dynamic rookies, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush.
The Bears had serious problems with consistancy down the stretch of the season, and Rex Grossman was at the center of it all, but with injuries on defense mounting at the end of the season they really began to lose their sense of who they were.
I don't think the Bears can survive against such a dangerous offensive team without their defense stepping up big and creating plays. They need to make several turn overs to help keep the score close. They will also need Rex Grossman to play the game of his life. With the crowd behind them it could happen, but I will ride with the Saints.
Saints 27-20
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Will Peyton Manning Ever figure out the Playoffs?
Peyton is almost undeniably one of the most skilled quarterbacks to ever play the game of professional football. He comes out every game with fire and intensity and a will to win. He makes incredible passes with laser like accuracy. That is until the playoffs roll around. Before this years playoffs even began most of the sports writers were already writing his team off because of his inability to pull them through in the big game. I stood by his side though. I believed previous years failures fell more on the team than just the star quarterbacks inability to win.
This year has changed everything. With the Colts rolling to two playoff wins noone thought that they would even have (especially over the great defense of the ravens). Cheers for Peyton, or not. He looked more like Eli Manning in those games then the great Peyton. He made bad decisions threw balls that should have never left his hand. Yet his team rallied around a great defensive effort and held both the Chiefs and the Ravens from taking advantage of Peytons mistakes and turnovers.
After all the sports writers said he needed to play like the hall of fame quarterback he is to pull his team to victory his team played like super bowl competitors and pulled their hall of fame quarterback to two wins he didn't deserve. Now he is going into the AFC Championship and needs to have a great game not only for his fans but his teamates who deserve it more than anyone.
This year has changed everything. With the Colts rolling to two playoff wins noone thought that they would even have (especially over the great defense of the ravens). Cheers for Peyton, or not. He looked more like Eli Manning in those games then the great Peyton. He made bad decisions threw balls that should have never left his hand. Yet his team rallied around a great defensive effort and held both the Chiefs and the Ravens from taking advantage of Peytons mistakes and turnovers.
After all the sports writers said he needed to play like the hall of fame quarterback he is to pull his team to victory his team played like super bowl competitors and pulled their hall of fame quarterback to two wins he didn't deserve. Now he is going into the AFC Championship and needs to have a great game not only for his fans but his teamates who deserve it more than anyone.
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