football broadcasts: wtf?

[nostatic]

OK, I'll admit that it has been a few years since I watched an NFL game on TV. While fiddling with a cheap terrestrial antenna to check for HD signal I watched a bit of the Redskin-Cowboy game. A few things popped to mind:

1. Can the announcers shut the f*ck up?!? Good gawd...they prattle on non-stop forever. It is like having crowd/game noise alone is going to bring the world to the end. No, we have to fill up every free space. With all the mic technologies, why not just let people hear the sounds of the game. I'd pay to get a feed *without* any damn announcers, and instead a 5.1 surround mix of ambient sound.

2. Do players celebrate *everything* they do? A routine tackle, guy pumps his fist. And if someone scores a touchdown, does it really have to go on and on bleeding over into the sidelines for the next 5 plays or so?

3. Superimposed graphics. I'll admit that the first down line was kinda cool. But now "1st and ten" in a big arrow superimposed on the turf? How long before sponsor logos are put there as well? Or maybe they already are and I missed it.

This isn't a "sports sucks" rant. I actually was impressed with some of those guys (Collins/Moss was great to watch). But rather the presentation...uggh.

Am I just out of touch with reality (more so than usual)?

[Mule]

I thought you didn't watch this "spectator" stuff?

[K. Roman]

We all hate it. But if you enjoy football, as I do, what can be done?
And remember sitting on our couch, IS our pastime.

[JCF]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Am I just out of touch with reality (more so than usual)?

You see all too well.
If you watch enough though you become habituated.

You forgot to mention the commercials every third breath.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Mule

I thought you didn't watch this "spectator" stuff?

i like to watch


(saw "Being There" last night)

[Flatbutt1]

the celebrating after every routine play is exhausting. Especially the chest thumping,arms spead wide "adore me" kinda ****. Luv the game, despise the players.

[legion]

Originally Posted by nostatic

1. Can the announcers shut the f*ck up?!? Good gawd...they prattle on non-stop forever. It is like having crowd/game noise alone is going to bring the world to the end. No, we have to fill up every free space. With all the mic technologies, why not just let people hear the sounds of the game. I'd pay to get a feed *without* any damn announcers, and instead a 5.1 surround mix of ambient sound.

2. Do players celebrate *everything* they do? A routine tackle, guy pumps his fist. And if someone scores a touchdown, does it really have to go on and on bleeding over into the sidelines for the next 5 plays or so?

3. Superimposed graphics. I'll admit that the first down line was kinda cool. But now "1st and ten" in a big arrow superimposed on the turf? How long before sponsor logos are put there as well? Or maybe they already are and I missed it.

Spot-on, IMO.

1) I don't care about stats. I don't care about which team "came to play the game today". I don't care if the cart is in front of the horse or the horse is in front of the cart or the cart got loaded too soon (John Madden reference). I don't care about the gross over-analysis of every butterfly fart on the field. Just tell me what is happening and shut up when you don't have anything to say that is not reporting what just happened.

2) Much like the Hollywood set, football players are surrounded by an entourage of leaches that constantly telling them how great they are. They have bought into it an must constantly celebrate their greatness.

3) I HATE most of the graphics. I hate the stupid jumping robotic football player. I hate the lights telling me what quarter it is. Displays should be intuitive--not fancy and distracting.

[mattdavis11]

Too bad you don't get the NFL channel, that would have been a real treat for ya!


Bryant Gumbel kicks a$$.

[Flatbutt1]

glad ya did that bit in green!

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by nostatic

i like to watch


(saw "Being There" last night)

Was that with Peter Sellers? I stumbled upon that years ago. Should probably see it again.

[equality72521]

Half the reason I don't watch football anymore.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by nostatic

1. Can the announcers shut the f*ck up?!? Good gawd...they prattle on non-stop forever. It is like having crowd/game noise alone is going to bring the world to the end. No, we have to fill up every free space. With all the mic technologies, why not just let people hear the sounds of the game. I'd pay to get a feed *without* any damn announcers, and instead a 5.1 surround mix of ambient sound.

A couple years ago the French CBC had a strike and all the French announcers for Hockey Night in Canada were part of it. They still broadcast the games, but with no commentary whatsoever, just the sounds from the ice. It was only a couple weeks, but it was WILDLY popular. Tons of English people ditched the regular Leafs broadcasts (because the English CBC only ever seems to show the damn leaves) and watched the habs, because it was so much more like being at the game. Unfortunately, the strike ended and the CBC didn't learn anything.

[Porsche_monkey]

But when the NFL tried it (20 years ago?) if flopped. Or so they told us.

[sammyg2]

With Chauncy Gardener? Great movie.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You can thank Fox Sports for ruining sports with an over-abundance of graphics and endless announcer blathering.

If you think it's bad for football, watch a baseball game on Fox Sports sometimes. You'll be ready to stick a knife through Joe Buck's jugular within five minutes. I think that guy invented "annoying commentary". He's worse than a high-school girl with the inability to STFU for more than three seconds at a time.

Oddly enough, I find the best commentary/annunciation to be on radio stations, where they don't have the benefit of a picture to refer to. I guess the medium makes the announcers more efficient with their words? Dunno. I find in general they tend to "say more with less" on radio broadcasts though.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

With Chauncy Gardener? Great movie.

stop agreeing with me!

[Porsche_monkey]

I turned off the Redskins-Cowboys game when they found it necessary to show Ryan Seacrest in the booth...

[VaSteve]

Not NFL, but....


I did some work for NASA a couple of years ago. In the big presentation toom at HQ, they had the official NASA feed and the NBC news feed when they were having trouble with the NASA feed (or vice versa). Anyhow, the NBC news feed was constantly blabbering about everything. Everything. Speculation, insight, why is the shuttle white, etc. NASA feed was nothing more than raw audio from the command center I guess. T minus and the commands to the crew. Lots of "white space" and very refreshing.

Seems the news/media when something is happening needs to think out loud about it fill your brain at the same time they fill theirs. I have never seen a live event without a lot of babbling.... shame really.

[legion]

Silence allows viewers to draw their own conclusions...and that cannot be allowed.

[DaveE]

I've been in Montreal for the week and watched the Pats / Giants with French announcers. Since I don't speak French that was very entertaining.

I had the pleasure of watching "Lord of the Rings" in French too.........................