When one decides to watch or listen to their favorite sports team's game, they do not only expect to see a game. It is all about what commentary comes alongside which intrigues the viewer/listener. They have people for these jobs, and they are called Sportscasters. Not only is it the job of the caster to provide play-by-play, but it is also their duty to educate the audience about what is going on, usually using stories or past experience to do so. We have had many great broadcasters in our time (Mel Allen, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, and so on), but we have also been cursed of having to listen and process the "information" given by others. Here is a list of those Sportscasters that the world might be better off without:
10. Rick Jeanneret-The longtime hockey play-by-play man has been worshiped by the people of Buffalo for many years. However, his extreme outburst of emotion has provided for many viewers to hide under their couches, as well as for some awesome Youtube videos. He has been recorded as for saying and holding the phrase, "Goal!" for more than 15 seconds! Rick also will repeat a player's name during a play more times than is necessary, something that often aggrivates the viewer.
9. Charles Barkley-If I may use one of his own phrases, Chuck is just "Turribul". While Barkley enjoyed an extravagent NBA Career, his mistake to move to the TNT NBA Crew was a bad idea. While he does provide for comical moments at times, he is also known for his use of hyperbole much to often. He frequently will disrupt quality analysis from his colleagues to present the viewer with useless information. During the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Barkley made over 10 references to Dwayne Wade's Red Suit rather than paying attention to the actual event.
8. Joe Buck-I am sure to draw some fire with this one. While Joe Buck has won numerous Emmy's (Which I have the utmost respect for), he has also been known for his bleak attitude during a game. While it is important for a broadcasting personality to not show bias, it is also necessary to show enthusiasm, which he does not display. Take Super Bowl XLII, Giants vs. Patriots. David Tyree makes what is regarded now as one of the best plays in maybe NFL History. Joe Buck began by painting the picture well of Giants QB Eli Manning rolling out, but then only to follow with, "Tyree makes the catch." Buck even stated he has no passion left for baseball on numerous occassions. He has also been marred in controversy with former Giant Barry Bonds as well as the Minnesota Vikings for an onfield incident in 2005.
7. Keith Hernandez-Hernandez is a very smart man, don't get me wrong. He was an All-Star multiple years, and will often provide good insight. However, it is the stupid things that he says which makes you want to do a face-palm. During a game in San Diego, Hernandez spotted a girl employee in the Padres' dougout. Upon realizing herself as an employee, Hernandez stated, "I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout." Why Keith, why? This brought large amounts of criticism to himself, which he may never recover from. It is said to "Have a Keith Hernandez Moment" when you have a sudden realization of what you have done, all in reference to his appearance on Seinfeld.
6. Tim McCarver-Another Emmy Award winning Broadcaster finds himself on the list. Now you may be callng me crazy right now, but I know for a fact I have this one right. McCarver has been known to cause a lot of problems with players. For example, Tim often used to crticize Deion Sanders for playing two sports, baseball and football. When Sanders' Braves won the 1992 NLCS, Sanders dumped 3 buckets of Ice Water on McCarver's head, while he was still on assignment. Many think of this as Tim's punishment for making the remarks. He also often flubs names, recently pronouncing Yankees Pitcher Joba Chamberlain's name as J-OH-BUH. SI's Norman Chad once said, "When you ask Tim what time it is, he will tell you how a watch works." This is in reference to him often over-analyzing everything. His work has been even mentioned on FOX's hit show Family Guy, saying that, "...well, at least he couldn't be any worse than Tim McCarver is at sports casting".
5. John Madden-Madden is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable men in the NFL. He coached the Raiders to a Super Bowl title, as well as has his own line of video games. However, Madden will often find himself on the end of ruthless, tasteless (and often hilarious) jokes about his actual broadcasting ability. During Super Bowl XL, Madden said the word "Bootleg" 10 times in a span of 30 seconds. He will often fumble over his words in mid-sentence, sounding almost like he is "eating" his own words (not a joke at his weight). His willingness to endorse almost anything is paradied by comedian Frank Caliendo, having in a skit Madden endorsing the women's product Vagisil. It has also been known during the broadcast for John to overuse the telestrator, drawing things numerous times during the game. He is also known for his sudden outbursts of "Boom!" during big plays.
4. Mike Adamle-Adamle is best known as the voice of the original "American Gladiators". Alongside the Gladiators, Mike worked as an on-field interviewer for the failed Vince McMahon project, the XFL (Extreme Football League). Currently, Adamle provides play-by-play for WWE's "ECW". While I personally do not watch wrestling, I have read in many places that Adamle often flubs people's names and will actually "Wonder Off" just prior to a show going live. He is often heckled by the audience for his insipid work, actually having led him to walk off set on one occassion.
3. John Sterling-What I am about to say will anger any true bandwagon Yankee fan. John Sterling is the worst play-by-play announcer in the history of sports. Working for the Yankees Radio Affiliate WCBS 880 AM, Sterling has covered New York Sports for years. As a matter of fact, he has never missed a Yankee Game (including Spring Training) in all of the years he has covered them, which is more than 19 years. I 100% praise him for this. It is his handling of the game and EXTREME hyperbole which can agitate any sports fan. He will overuse the phrase, "Theeeee Pitch..." when a pitcher is ready to deliver a ball. However, his home run catchphrase, "It is high, it is far, it is gone!" is by far the most frequently spoken of them all. On one occassion, Sterling exclaimed this 4 times in a game, none of which were even a home run (obviously excluding the "gone" part). He aggrivates the whole sports world with his, "Yankees Win. TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!" call after every Yankee win as well. I was once at a sports broadcasting lecture given by an NBC sports personality, and he even warned the whole audience to not be like Sterling. You can see a "tribute" I made to Mr. Sterling, which was featured on Sports Illustrated's website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDPfV8qljHM2. Stephen A. Smith-Will someone get me some cheese doodles (you will have no idea what I am talking about if you have never seen the hit Stephen A. Youtube video)? "Stephen A." is by far the most opinionated sports analyst in the whole entire nation. In fact, Smith used to have his own talk show, Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith, which failed miserably on ESPN. He would often hold a question and answer with fans, in which it seemed he would bash almost anything they would say or ask. Smith brings a new meaning to the word "hyperbole". He is known to shout words such as "How-evuh!" or something along the lines of "The New York Knicks of New York are..." In fact, Smith once stormed off the set of an ESPN NBA Halftime show after ranting on the Knicks. Smith regularly hosted a radio show on ESPN Radio, which was cancelled due to lack of viewers this year. 2008 has continues to be dismal for Stephen A., as he has been fired from the Philadelphia Inquirer and demoted from NBA Lead Analyst to Interviewer.
And the Number 1 Worst Sportscaster Today is...
1. Suzyn Waldman-Rated the worst Sportscaster in New York by the citizens of New York City, Waldman has been the Yankees color commentary announcer since 2005. Her and the aforementioned John Sterling undoubtedly are the worst duo of all-time (yes even worse than Captain and Tenneal). Waldman made national headlines last season, for her call when Roger Clemens announced his comeback to the Yankees. Being from New England, her accent took control of her actions. "RAGAH CLEMENS, IS STAHNDING RIGHT OWTSAHDE OF GEAHGE'S BAWKS!" The call earned her many appearances in the popular radio show, Mike and the Mad Dog, in which she called in warning them not to play the clip again. This was to no avail. When the Yankees were eliminated during the playoffs last year, Waldman cried on air after fearing manager Joe Torre would leave. This earned her much criticism, as it is widely known not to express personal emotion during a broadcast. She has also been involved in minor run-ins with players, such as an incident with former Yankee Jesse Barfield. You can see another "tribute" I made at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Uz79_SO_ASo there you go, this is my list of the Top 10 Worst Sportscasters of all-time. Am I saying that these people have put in no work? Absolutely not. All I suggest is that these people figure out alternate ways to present the game to the audience. Do you agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!
It looks like Brett Favre's retirement may end before it even starts. Sources say that Brett Favre has changed his mind and wants to play in the NFL next season and has asked the Packers to remove him from the retired reserve list. Favre retired on March 6th of 2008 which means he has not even gone through 1 NFL season as a retired player yet. Favre currently is downplaying this story saying that it's "all rumour", but could a possible comeback from retirement be in the mix?
I know it might be a bit too early to speculate this but with the recent leaving of Jaromir Jagr from the NHL and the recent retirements of Dominik Hasek and Trevor Linden, plus the fact that I'm feeling under the weather and have nothing better to do, I look at other notable players that might hang up their skates for good.
A day after winning the epic Wimbledon finals match against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal will not be playing tennis for a while. ESPN.com reports that muscle pain above his right knee will preclude Nadal from playing in the Mercedes Cup, a tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, that is played on clay, Nadal's specialty.
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