Lexington/Derby Trial

[richiebee]

...would have been very interesting to see if Tiger decided to DQ himself (which was
never going to happen) how CBS would have reacted.

Have a feeling it somehow would have involved Jim Nantz on bended knee begging Tiger
to stay in the tourney.

[P-Dub]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...would have been very interesting to see if
> Tiger decided to DQ himself (which was
> never going to happen) how CBS would have
> reacted.
>
> Have a feeling it somehow would have involved Jim
> Nantz on bended knee begging Tiger
> to stay in the tourney.

I would much rather Jim Nantz DQ himself. Is there a more overrated announcer??

[richiebee]

P-Dub:

The man had a chance to call the Final Four and the Masters within a two week
period, so someone thinks he is doing something right.

His football work benefits from partnering with Phil Simms, probably the best
analyst in the business (and no I am not a Giant fan). I must temper this
appreciation of Simms by saying that I think some of the other ex player/analysts
(\"Moose\", \"Goose\" and Aikman) have set the bar pretty low.

Checking with Wikipedia, Nantz majored in broadcasting at the University of
Houston, where he played on the Golf team and roomed with Freddy Couples.

Also from Wikipedia, only two men have called a Super Bowl, a Masters and a Final
Four: Jim Nantz and Brent Musberger. For any of these events I would prefer the
former, even against the latter when he was in his prime.

Let me apply some quick analysis to your query as to whether there is a more
\"overrated\" announcer than Nantz: When you say someone is overrated, there are two
distinct implications: (a) A lot of people think this person is good; and (b) you
don\'t. You should avoid calling someone \"overrated\" because it implies (and you
are acknowledging) that plenty of folks (though not yourself) think the person is
pretty damn good. You are better off (semantically) just saying \"[Whoever] sucks.\"

Hard to imagine that the curmudgeons down at Augusta would allow anyone else to be
the lead man on the broadcast of the Masters; Nantz shows the club, the members
and the event a tremendous amount of respect, some of which might even be sincere.

Back to horse racing: I am starting a rumor that this will be the year that you
visit the Spa and see what all the east coast elitists are talking about...

[P-Dub]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P-Dub:
>
> The man had a chance to call the Final Four and
> the Masters within a two week
> period, so someone thinks he is doing something
> right.

Part of my reasoning for him being overrated is because he gets the plum assignments. Yes, someone who calls the shots thinks he\'s outstanding.  Mike Battaglia called Churchill Downs for 20 years, so someone thought he was good too. He is considered by many as being awful. I doubt most around these parts would disagree, yet he called races at one of our premier race tracks for a long time. BTW, not saying Nantz is the Battaglia of tv broadcasters.

>
> His football work benefits from partnering with
> Phil Simms, probably the best
> analyst in the business (and no I am not a Giant
> fan). I must temper this
> appreciation of Simms by saying that I think some
> of the other ex player/analysts
> (\"Moose\", \"Goose\" and Aikman) have set the bar
> pretty low.

When comes to something as subjective as sport casting, opinions are all over the place.  I love Gus Johnson, others can\'t stand him. Signed for big bucks with FOX. Agree about the guys you mentioned. There are guys doing lesser broadcasts far more insightful.
>
> Checking with Wikipedia, Nantz majored in
> broadcasting at the University of
> Houston, where he played on the Golf team and
> roomed with Freddy Couples.

Nantz is good doing interviews, and is good on a golf telecast. The pace of play lends itself to his style of broadcasting. He\'s not good, IMO, doing basketball or football. Thankfully Steve Kerr was added to the NCAA broadcast, the Nantz/Kellogg pairing can be a bit much.  Kinda like me at times.

>
> Also from Wikipedia, only two men have called a
> Super Bowl, a Masters and a Final
> Four: Jim Nantz and Brent Musberger. For any of
> these events I would prefer the
> former, even against the latter when he was in his
> prime.

As for comparing him to Musberger, I\'ll take Brent every time if its a football or basketball.  He\'s far better doing those sports than Nantz. Of course, my opinion only. Richie my man, you\'re killing me.
 
> Let me apply some quick analysis to your query as
> to whether there is a more
> \"overrated\" announcer than Nantz: When you say
> someone is overrated, there are two
> distinct implications: (a) A lot of people think
> this person is good; and (b) you
> don\'t. You should avoid calling someone
> \"overrated\" because it implies (and you
> are acknowledging) that plenty of folks (though
> not yourself) think the person is
> pretty damn good. You are better off
> (semantically) just saying \" sucks.\"

I\'ll take your advice and simply say.....Nantz Sucks.

> Hard to imagine that the curmudgeons down at
> Augusta would allow anyone else to be
> the lead man on the broadcast of the Masters;
> Nantz shows the club, the members
> and the event a tremendous amount of respect, some
> of which might even be sincere.


He does appear to suck up to some of those guys, but whatever works. Can\'t blame the guy for that.

>
> Back to horse racing: I am starting a rumor that
> this will be the year that you
> visit the Spa and see what all the east coast
> elitists are talking about...

My wife wants to go to the BC, I\'ll have to have a really good day at the track sometime to swing a Spa trip. When she hears Spa she thinks facial and massage, maybe I can fool her.

Richie, your posts always give me a laugh or something like that.  Had a tough day today, especially after hearing about Boston.  One of my dogs had a problem with her vision yesterday.  Took her to an animal eye specialist, long story short...she has 2 detached retinas. Left eye been that way for awhile, right eye just finally went bad. She can only see light/dark, no objects. Watching her stumble around, bumping into things is tough. I know she will get used to her condition, but I feel so bad. She\'s a 6yo chihuahua mix - got her from a rescue as a puppy -  and of my 3 dogs she\'s the one I have a soft spot for. Surgery an option but I don\'t think I want to go down that path for various reasons.

Sorry to make the TG board a place to tell about P-Dub\'s problems again, but just a bummer of a day. Positive part is that she can lead a happy and productive life, and is in no discomfort.

Richie as always I enjoy your posts. I needed a good smile. Steph a couple 3\'s from the record, A\'s playing well, and its Derby season. Good stuff. (Don\'t you dare mention....you know)

[Edgorman]

You would appreciate Nantz much more in the NCAA BBALL telecasts if he wasn\'t paired with the screaming, hollering Kellogg. He fits the definition of the worst.

[moosepalm]

P-Dub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> As for comparing him to Musberger, I\'ll take Brent
> every time if its a football or basketball.  He\'s
> far better doing those sports than Nantz.


Well, if there was a match race, you\'d certainly get generous odds.

[magicnight]

Richiebee wrote:
Hard to imagine that the curmudgeons down at Augusta would allow anyone else to be the lead man on the broadcast of the Masters; Nantz shows the club, the members and the event a tremendous amount of respect, some of which might even be sincere.

P-Dub wrote:
He does appear to suck up to some of those guys, but whatever works. Can\'t blame the guy for that.

My understanding is that Nantz is contractually obligated to be at least that much of a suckup. If he falls below that level he is subject to a full-body bikini wax at Amen Corner in front of thousands of angry patrons.

[kencbs]

Augusta approves all announcers.  A few years ago , on a Masters telecast, Gary McCord said the greens were so fast it looked like they were coated with bikini wax.  He also said the mounds in the greens looked suspiciously like body bags were buried underneath.  That was the last Masters he ever worked.