Sports Television - by Steve Vandergriff

Now You See It - But...

2011-09-20T02:08:00.007-04:00

There are a lot of moving parts to a live sports television broadcast; under the hood, you have camera operators, utilities (cable wranglers), statisticians, graphics operators, graphics coordinators, a technical manager, a technical director, a score box operator, replay operators, engineers, and on and on and on. To the viewers, all of the effort of these folks put forth live on the air in a frantic television truck somehow funnels out through a couple of announcers and the visuals that are presented.

What is often overlooked, but one of the most vital components of any sports broadcast - is the audio. You might not realize it as you see it...but how you hear it can make a dull broadcast an Emmy winner. When that linebacker collides head on with the league's top running back, you can see the hit in live, HD color right there in your living room. But with a talented audio engineer on the mix, you'll not only see it...you'll feel the impact!

Home theater continues to improve; in this day of affordable digital surround, viewers expect bigger audio. Notice I didn't say "louder" audio. Just bigger. Bigger as in mic placements in new places (like that linebacker's shoulderpads). Bigger as in stereo surround, dropping the viewer directly into the middle of the basketball court (not just the shoe squeaks, but the pushing and jostling & 'pass me the ball' comments). Bigger as in a solid thud you can hear and feel in your gut as that heavyweight fighter lands a haymaker to the jaw.

Next time you're watching the big game, think about all the audio elements happening live, on the fly. Think about how many mics it took to get that sound, how somebody had to dream up those mic placements and wire up the stadium, and how a person stands over the massive digital audio console, pulling faders up and down to make sure the right channels are open at the right moments to deliver that audio to you - always fresh and piping hot! It's truly an overlooked art that puts the viewer on the field, in the huddle, in a way that no camera can do alone.

A Sigh of Relief

2011-08-04T01:51:00.003-04:00

The great NFL labor dispute is no mas. In a much-publicized, sometimes contentious debate over profits, free agency, schedule structure, and many other vital points, both ownership and the NFL players union came to terms in time to salvage the entire 2011 season. Well, unless you want to get technical and count the Hall of Fame preseason game which was scrubbed.

Had the entire season been lost, as had been feared, surely there would have been much hoopla about the numbers: tallying up the massive losses - league revenue, lost merchandise sales, player salaries, individual team profits, etc. However, it's quite likely that you would not have read much about a very significant group of professionals that would have been permanently impacted by a lost NFL season: the talented men and women who work hard to televise each game, bringing all of the hits, bombs, and blitzes into your living room or sports pub.

Those of us who work to televise live sports events are primarily paid by the game, on a freelance basis. It's a "no workee/no eatee" business...and most of us like to eatee.

Had the entire season been lost, some of the more fortunate television pros would have picked up other work on other sports events. The greater portion of us might have struggled to pick up part time work or drained our savings accounts, with those funds being lost forever.

So on behalf of all of my fellow sports TV pros, thanks to the players, league, and owners for working out a compromise and saving the 2011 NFL season. And thank you, the fans, for supporting your favorite teams and watching our hard work each week.

A Waste of Good Air Time

2011-03-20T11:07:00.003-04:00

Ever find yourself watching the final round of a golf tournament, and see clubhouse interviews of the tourney leaders, prior to their title round starting? I see a pattern here, and it usually goes something like this:

Announcer: "What are you going to try to do out there today?"

Golfer: "Well, you know, I'm going to try to go out there and 'shoot a low score' and see what happens."

Announcer: "Well, good luck today. Folks, there you have it - he's going to try to shoot low!"

Not exactly riveting commentary, is it? I mean, doesn't every golfer want to shoot low? Isn't that the point of the game? Wouldn't it be more entertaining (and insightful) to hear a golfer share something with the viewers that we don't already know? Here's how that same interview might sound, if the viewers were to be treated to some actual inside secret:

Announcer: "What are you going to try to do out there today?"

Golfer: "Well, I've got to disrupt his game anyway I can. So for breakfast I ate a plate of Brussels sprouts and broccoli, along with a giant bowl of baked beans. If he isn't thrown off by the smell of methane, I do a mean impression of Rodney Dangerfield. Maybe I can bust a few lines from Caddyshack on him during his back swing. "Last time I saw a mouth like that it had a hook in it!" If all else fails, I'm gonna try to get the gallery involved in singing the Coke song, "I'd like to teach the world to sing..." as we make the turn. He might beat me, but one way or another it's gonna be the longest round of his life!"

Now THAT would be entertaining.

The Blog is Back, and in 3D

2010-06-20T13:23:00.004-04:00

After a time out, the blog is back! And there's been a lot of sports television happening since the last post. Amidst the great games, drama, and back stories, there is a new technological development in the works - and it will be here for everyone before you know it - 3D.

At the Masters at Augusta this year, ESPN treated us to a 3D broadcast of the tournament. They had piles of glasses on tables in the media center, and anyone could stroll up, don the glasses, and be mesmerized. Or nauseous. Or ambivelant. 3D golf actually looked pretty cool, although not perfected just yet. Certain objects featured a very pronounced 3D look, such as overhanging tree limbs, deep bunkers, and grandstands - while others were barely noticable. Graphics were kind of wacky to watch as they appeared on screen, seemingly floating in space about 100 yards in front of anything else. And they wiggled up and down very slightly, which would get old pretty fast, especially after viewers were a few pints deep at their favorite sports watering hole.

Still, 3D is the future of sports television. Rumor has it that the technology is also being developed to eliminate the need for the goggles at all. Before you know it, we'll all be watching our favorite sports in full, vivid, in-your-face 3D. Except for Texas Hold 'Em. For the love of God, we do not need to see poker in 3D.

Serena's Worst Side Overshadows 2 Great Champions

2009-09-24T13:53:00.006-04:00

I worked the U.S. Open tennis tourney again this year; upon flying home, several friends asked me about the tournament. Sadly, no one wanted to know about the "REAL" storylines that unfolded in this year's Open (inspiring wins by Juan Martin Del Potro & Kim Clijsters). Instead, everyone - - and I do mean EVERYONE only asks one thing: "So were you there for the Serena incident?"

The answer to the question is, yes...I was there. But how and why did THAT become the story of the tournament? Let's not forget that she was about to lose that particular match anyway. Let's not forget that Clijsters was unseeded, coming back from retirement, childbirth and honestly - probably just hoping to make a respectable showing on her way back to competitive tennis. Instead she became the first mom to come back from maternity retirement and win the U.S. Open. Awesome story right there. Let's not forget that Juan Martin Del Potro blew Cilic off the court, then knocked out Rafael Nadal, then had to go through Roger Federer to win the title. Awesome storyline right there. Playing so many stout matches in one tourney proves that his win was no fluke - it wasn't as if he got lucky and let someone else take out the big guns before him. No, Del Potro did it the hard way - and fully deserves his big fat paycheck and crown.

It is really sad that a great tournament with two great champions, both fighting long odds to win their titles, is completely overshadowed by one person's tantrum. Serena is a great tennis player in her own right, but let's keep the focus where it belongs - on those who rolled up their sleeves and played the best tennis in Flushing.

Cut!! Ok Everyone, Just be Yourselves for a Bit...

2009-07-27T21:24:00.004-04:00

Last week I worked a televised junior golf tournament in New Jersey, at Trump National. Donald Trump himself was there, walking the course everyday, following the teen golfers with great interest. Our cameras picked up a few shots of Mr. Trump, chatting with friends, chatting with golfers, eating, spectating...all the 'normal guy' stuff you don't necessarily picture him doing.

I must admit, my respect level for him rose quite a bit as I watched him interact as a regular person. At one point he stopped to deliver an interview for our cameras and rather than talk about himself, he praised the young golfers in the tourney and gave props to his grounds crew for working hard to have the course in tip-top shape.

That brings me to my point: even in the sports world, people behave differently off-camera than they do on-camera. This goes for reality television too, where participants are often encouraged to greatly exaggerate their actions and emotions for maximum television ratings. We should all remember that no matter how outlandish people may appear when the cameras are rolling, they are generally just like all of us when the cameras aren't present: they go to the bathroom, they spill food on themselves, they pick their noses, and they cry real tears.

Still, I do wish "the Donald" had pulled me aside and whispered, "You're fired!" just once. I mean, I would always have that story to tell, you know?

Want to Appear on TV at a Major Sports Event?

2009-04-28T04:15:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago I was working the Masters at Augusta. I know I'm stating the obvious, but I love that place. This was my 11th year there and weather-wise, it was the best. The tournament itself was also spectacular, with a great storyline (Tiger's return), Phil and Tiger paired up on the last day and both lurking just behind the lead pack, and a three-way playoff at the end. Congrats to Angel Cabrera, and congrats to Kenny Perry. Kenny is one of professional golf's gentlemen and it would've been a great feat had he held on at the end.

Something only seen in our TV trucks and thankfully not by viewers at home: some drunken bozo took a half-gainer into a bunker on 17 just as Tiger was preparing to chip to the green during the final round. People, this is not how you get put on television! (it wasn't even given a mention by the announce crew) If you want to be seen on TV during one of the four Major golf tournaments, the best two ways are: 1) be a behaved member of the gallery and settle for being part of the out-of-focus background, or 2) learn how to rip 'em off the tee and tighten up that short game. That's pretty much it right there. Getting drunk and doing something idiotic doesn't get you on television; it only gets you arrested.

2009-01-04T16:50:00.012-05:00

It’s the start of a new year, and most reputable sports publications are handing out their annual awards for one thing or another. Since this isn't a "reputable" publication by any stretch, I've decided to list five of the most television-friendly sports names to ever be typed on a lower-third. I won't even go as far as to say that these are the five best ever; after all, there is a plethora of great sports names to choose from. Names like Usain Bolt, Catfish Hunter, I.M. Hipp, He Hate Me, and Magic Johnson (who wouldn't want a 'magic johnson', ya know?). So here are five of my all-time favorite television-happy sports names, in no particular order:

Rollie Fingers: Any baseball player with the name "Fingers" must be a pitcher, right? And he must throw some wicked stuff too! Then add the "Snidely Whiplash" mustache and an unflappable sneer and it all adds up to a Hall of Fame career on the mound. I just don't know if he would've gotten as many guys out if his name was Rollie Smith and he was clean-shaven. I do wonder though if he was ever beaned by a line drive. Can you imagine the trainer running out to a woozy Rollie, saying, "Hey kid! How many fingers am I holding up?" With that name, 'ol Rollie was either destined to become an ace pitcher or a concert pianist.

Jean-Claude Killy: This guy dominated the slopes in the sixties and seventies, cutting a swath through the competition on his way to several Olympic gold medals. Killy (pronounced "Keelee") had it all: handsome features, a french accent, sick skills, and a Brut Cologne endorsement deal. His name just exudes the whole romantic french persona we American men are jealous of. "I am Jean-Claude Killy! I am french! I ski better than you, I look better than you, I am frenchier than you...I AM better than you! See how I tie my sweater around my neck and still look good? Smell the Brut, I am Jean-Claude Killy!" Somehow I don't think he would have been as marketable had his name been Barney Faffoofnik.

Bronko Nagurski: Technically his playing career was over before live TV became the real reason these games are even played. But the name Bronko Nagurski is the toughest football name I've ever heard. I mean, just look at that guy's jaw - that's gotta be hewn from pure granite. He's one player from a bygone era who could still start both ways today - and probably still play without a facemask. Heck, when his NFL career ended he went into pro wrestling and won a few titles there. He could snap DeMarcus Ware in half by just glaring at him. This makes me want to lobby my congressman to pass that reincarnation bill; we need Bronko Nagurski playing on Sundays again, this time on network television.

Dick Trickle: What is it about the name Richard that causes people to want to screw with it so? The name Richard is befitting of kings and paupers alike. But "Dick?" Seriously, why "Dick?" And if your last name is Trickle, wouldn't you want to just leave it at Richard, or Rich? If it were my kid and our last name was Trickle, I'd stay as far away from the lower extremeties as possible when choosing baby names. I'd go with Larry or George...something safe. This guy never won a Cup race but thanks to his name he got plenty of air time on ESPN. Is it a coincidence that Dan Patrick left the network about the same time Dick hung up the car keys? Random fact: Tom Cruise's character in the craptastic movie "Days of Thunder" was named "Cole Trickle." C'mon Tom. Go all out. Be a Dick.

Anna Smashnova: This woman retired from the pro tennis circuit in 2007 and frankly, I want to know who authorized it. Graphics operators the world over are mourning the loss of the Smashnova name on tennis scoreboard and stat pages. That name just wouldn't have sent the same message to opponents on the pro needlepoint circuit. You know, the message that says, "You are facing Smashnova today. Prepare to have your yamsack handed to you on live television." With the name Smashnova on her bag, Anna was destined for greatness as a tennis player. Now that her career is over, what now? Hey what about pro wrestling? The Smashnova name works there too, and Bronko proved there is money to be had there if you've got the marketing chops. How did Vince McMahon miss this one?

Alright so those are five of my favorites. What about yours?

-Steve

Wild Bill Hickok Might've Been onto Something...

2008-12-27T05:03:00.006-05:00

Unscientifically speaking, in 2000 the fastest growing televised sport was probably NASCAR racing. In 2005, it had to be poker. I mean, suddenly it was everywhere, on every sports channel, all the time. Poker: I'm sorry, but anything you can play while you've got a martini in one hand, and a cigarette dangling from your lips is just simply not a sport. Call it a game, call it strategic, call it competitive if you must - but face it people, POKER IS NOT A SPORT. So why is it all over my SPORTS channel?

Maybe that's why in 2007-8, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) became such a televised hit (no pun intended). Relentless kicking, punching, flipping, blood, sweat, thrill of victory, agony of defeat - oh yeah, it's all there with the UFC! None of this sitting around, "waiting for the flop" garbage. No fat guys in sunglasses twiddling poker chips to "psyche out" their opposition. No sirree! UFC represents a return to the glory days of televised sports: just two guys in a ring pounding the stew out of each other, with very few rules to stifle the action.

Now to be fair to poker aficionados, there might just be a way to position cards and other parlor games so that they properly qualify as sports content. First, move the poker game to a saloon, and open the game up to the ruffians, the cons, and those prone to random unprovoked violence in general. I'm thinking we call it "Wild West Poker." Each player wears a couple of six-guns, and just might use 'em on his opponents at any time. Then again, he may be a poor shot and hit some innocent bystander by mistake. Now I might watch that sort of thing! Hey, they don't have to use real bullets - red paint balls would still make good television. They could even give out awards for "Best death scene wearing a pair of chaps" and such. This might encourage players to really throw themselves into character. Have a few chair-busting, bicuspid-losing wild bar fights thrown in to keep viewers off balance. Cards alone do not qualify as a sport. Cards with some good 'ol fashioned violence attached...now there's some real sports content right there.

It's a Bloody Shooting Gallery, I Tell Ya!!!

2008-12-09T03:09:00.009-05:00

Way back in the old days...you know, about 5-10 years ago...we kept things simple. Football could be done easily with 8 cameras, baseball with 5 or 6, basketball with 4 or 5, tennis with 4 or 5, and boxing with 4. The one sport that really ate up cameras was golf - with 15-20 lenses covering mostly the back 9.

That was then, this is now. Thanks to improvements in RF technology we've got more cameras than Paris Hilton has handbags. For example, in golf we can now position cameras on all 18 holes, in the clubhouse, up the fairways, on the driving range, and a few mobile ones trekking across the links for good measure. If Tiger Woods picks his nose, by golly we'll get hi-def replays from 13 angles!

So now that we have this capability, I ask you the viewer: where would you like to see cameras positioned so that we show you a side of your favorite sport that you've never seen? What have you been missing out on? How can we better bring viewers onto the playing field, right into the heart of the action? C'mon, don't hold back - we've got 37 cameras trained on you right now as we await your response!

"Nip it in the Bud!!! Nip it, nip it, nip it!!!"

2008-12-02T00:44:00.005-05:00

Once again this week, sports fans were treated to another pro athlete running afoul with the law over a firearm incident. This time though, the athlete of note actually shot himself. In the leg, even. Ladies & gentlemen, I give you Deputy Bernard P. F...er, Plaxico Burress.

Now, it is worth mention that this could've been truly tragic. An innocent person could've been struck by Plax's stray bullet; or Plax himself could've ended his career...heck, his LIFE...with his itchy trigger finger.

I don't understand how these guys who make zillions of dollars and are "living the dream" can chuck it all away like a Rex Grossman sideline toss. Hasn't anyone learned from the Pacman? Oh wait, he still has yet another chance. Ok, bad example. Alright, what about Chris Henry then? Oops, sorry. He's still on an NFL roster too.

Geez, sign me to a $5mm contract, just for one season. I may not make a catch in a live game, but I'll fulfill every fan's autograph requests, stay out of trouble with the po-po, keep away from incidents in the nightclub...and laugh all the way to the bank.

Where Have you Gone Barry Sanders??

2008-11-27T21:57:00.005-05:00

The NFL has its traditions, but as an organization it's also done a pretty good job of evolving over the years - with one glaring exception. Seriously, this is the last season I want to climb into the lazyboy with a plate of holiday bird and be subjected to the stinky Lions on TV. Can we all just agree on this one?

Every year I look forward to a hard hitting holiday tradition - and every year I find myself surfing for Andy Griffith reruns by the end of the first quarter of the Lions game. For the uneducated, the Lions have never been to the Super Bowl. They hardly ever make the playoffs. They are 3-7 in their last 10 T-day games.

Enough. For the love of God, enough. Television programming is all about putting stuff on the air that people want to watch. We want to see thinking man's football, with a lot of back-stories simultaneously unfolding. We don't want to see the Lions, a team so bad that they've taken to wearing throwback uniforms almost exclusively (I swear this is to conceal their identity). The Lions have no back stories. They have no side stories, no front stories. As a franchise the Lions never seem to string together 3-4 consecutive seasons of good football. Their current quarterback was retired in week 8, yet starting for the Lions by week 10. Watching the Lions play is a bit like watching a Danny Bonaduce reality show. (wincing) "Please get help Danny. Please!" (wincing) "Please get some draft day rehab, Lions. Please!" So let's move on, shall we? Give us the Patriots. Feed us the Steelers. Heck, give us Donnie & Marie reruns...we'll take it!

After Further Review...

2008-11-24T13:33:00.010-05:00

I'm a big fan of sports officials using instant replay to get every call right. I don't care how long it takes, I'd rather see every ruling be perfect so that the best team always wins...uh...at least as long as the best team happens to be who I am rooting for! If not, then why do we waste time with these replay reviews anyway???

The trouble is, since the use of instant replay came into vogue as a game officiating tool we've all witnessed some cockamamie decisions rendered forth. Decisive decisions even!

Replay rules have always stated that there must be 'conclusive evidence' in order to overturn the original call on the field. Regardless, we still see refs in every game make an attempt to officiate each replay review. It seems that while many replays lack enough visual proof to pass judgement, judgement gets passed anyway - as if there is an implied obligation to draw some tangible value from the replay gadgets on hand. Hey, if you don't have enough concrete evidence then just say so!

In my opinion here is what they need to do to improve the replay system. This goes for all sports, from the NFL to Tiddlywinks:

1) Take the guy on the field out of the equation. I mean, c'mon - he's the one who probably blew the call in the first place! Have replay officials in the booth upstairs do all of the reviewing and simply pass decisions downward...kind of like the Supreme Court only not as pompous.

2) Getting the right call shouldn't be up to the coaches, shouldn't cost timeouts, and shouldn't be a strategic move. Getting the right call should simply be for the good of the game (soccer's "Law 18"). Don't let coaches call timeouts or throw challenge flags. Don't let the officials on the field have any control over it either. Instead, have the replay officials upstairs decide whether to stop play to review the tapes. And if you're going to stop my game it had better be worth it! No need to review every 3 yard run - just look for those game-changing, mission critical moments.

3) Be consistent. If there's not enough evidence, just say so and move on.

4) Postgame polygraph tests followed by firing squads: "On that play in the 3rd quarter, was that intentional pass interference or did you really just trip over a sprinkler head?" "Were you honestly trying to make that field goal? Because from here it looked more like you were aiming for the replay booth with your foot!" Ok, that might be going too far...nix that last one - for now anyway.

What do They do Inside that TV Truck, Anyway?

2008-11-18T20:42:00.005-05:00

When most people think of TV production trucks - rampant orgies, poker games, and tequila shots instantly come to mind. Ok, maybe not. But they do wonder what goes on inside those trucks and "Why so many of 'em?" In this blog I will attempt to clear this up for you; all in a few paragraphs and without a chinstrap or safety harness!

Let's start at the back of the truck and work forward. Although floorplans vary, in many trucks the rear-most area is where the engineering stuff is - patch panels, routing devices, signal quality measuring stuff and other technical gizmos. Next up is the 'video shader.' Probably the most overlooked but important position on a live show, the video shader watches all of the cameras constantly and attempts to adjust the picture quality of each one before it goes on the air live. Adjustments are made rapidly since a camera may swing to a dark corner of an arena for a fan shot, then whip back to the playing surface where there are a million footcandles of light. The video shader has to keep every camera looking good at all times.

Moving forward through the truck we'll visit the tape room next. More and more of what you see in live sports is actually NOT tape but rather digital harddrive-based machines. We'll still call it the tape room for about the next hundred years I'm sure. The crew in this area records and plays back instant replays for your enjoyment - you know, like when Joe Theismann's leg got broken in forty-six places and you wanted to see it over, and over, and over. The tape room also handles "packages" which are little pre-produced vignettes about key players, storylines, or sponsors. Anyone in the business will tell you that if this team does great work, it's a great show. And if they don't...

Now let's leave the tape room and continue the tour by stopping in audio. The "A-1" is the person who mans the audio console and mixes all of the sounds in real-time. From ball whacks to helmet-to-helmet collisions, you want great audio work to immerse the viewers into the game. They also have the all-important job of entertaining the crew with a great music selection during the set-up process. You can easily spot the better audio people, because their iPod is full of classic rock, blues, rockabilly, or just about anything other than rap or hip-hop.

This will bring us to the front of the truck, where all of the cursing and swearing usually happens. This area has the producer, the director, the technical director, graphics, the font coordinator, the assistant director, and a few people who seem to be important but are usually just in the way. The producer is responsible for the overall content of the show - developing storylines, getting all of the sponsored stuff in (see previous blog entry), and what replay angles to show. The director determines the pace of the show and tells the camera operators what to shoot. The director tells the technical director ("T.D.") what to do and how to do it. "Take camera 2...dissolve to camera 3...add the graphic...dissolve it out...animate to replay...take camera 7...no no no, not 7! I said 4!!!" Graphics types up all of the stats and textual information you see on the screen during the game; the font coordinator helps keep this information organized. "Where did we put Shaq's free throw shooting stats?" "I don't know, they're in here somewhere, I remember watching you type them up."

Sometimes there is much discussion in this room, and it can get pretty boistrous. The way it works is, the producer yells at the director, the director screams at the T.D., the T.D. snaps back at the director, the director barks at graphics, and graphics discusses the director's ancestory or eternal destiny. Sometimes people weep uncontrollably from the pressure, and sometimes they all swear they're going to "settle this outside after the show." This all continues until the final whistle blows and all is forgotten and high-fives are awarded to everyone. "Great working with you again, man!"

In the venue itself there are camera operators, additional audio people, stage managers to help keep the announcers on track, stats people to crunch numbers, "utilities" who do a lot of the physical cabling and set-up work, and a few more of those folks who look important but are just in the way. Other trucks you see at stadiums sometimes carry additional cargo. These trucks are called the "B units" and roll out for bigger shows. There are also international networks covering major events, and they rent trucks to produce their own shows too. Each "country" might have its own rental truck - which means the television compound where they all park can get pretty congested. Kind of like the tower of Babel, there are sometimes a gazillion languages being spoken, with $#%^$!! about the only word everyone knows in common. And that's what it takes to televise your favorite sport or live event.

And Now a Word From our Sponsor...

2008-11-13T20:52:00.002-05:00

Is there anything in a sports telecast that isn't sponsored these days? Hmm. Let me think...

Ball? Sponsored. Uniforms? Sponsored. Stadium? Sponsored. Event title? Sponsored. Score bug? Sponsored. Play of the day? Sponsored. Instant Replays? Sponsored. Zamboni? Sponsored. Pregame show? Sponsored. Halftime show? Sponsored. Post-game show? Sponsored. Announcers' suits? Sponsored. Race team? Sponsored. Game stats? Sponsored. Tailgate area? Sponsored. Starting lineups? Sponsored. Shot clock? Sponsored. Game highlights? Sponsored. Event program? Sponsored. Gloves? Sponsored. Armbands, wristbands, headbands, marching bands? Sponsored.

Well, I guess that settles it then. There is nothing else left to sponsor in sports television...

[sound of crickets...]

[more sound of crickets...]

Oh wait! I've got it! The fans! What about the fans!?! I can't believe that no one has thought to sponsor the fans! If you'll excuse me, I've got to get New York on the line. I may be sitting on a gold mine...

The Fabric of America

2008-11-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

Do you recall an era where players spent their entire career playing for the same sports team? It wasn't uncommon for a guy to be drafted straight out of college and play every season with the same club until the day he retired. Occasionally somebody might be traded, but boy oh boy that was big news!! I mean, switching teams - c'mon!!

As a result of this old school loyalty, great rivalries formed. Bears - Packers, lookout America! Those guys hate each other! Dodgers - Yankees, oh this oughta be good! Those guys hate each other! Lakers - Celtics, grab a chair! Those guys hate each other!

Well those days are over, people (sigh). Thanks to free agency, your favorite players get richer and richer while bouncing from one team to the next. It's not uncommon now for a guy's bio to read, "He's played shortstop for twelve different major league teams and is hoping to catch on with a thirteenth next season." Personally I find it harder to root for any team anymore. The guys I root for this season will all be playing for another team the next season - and then I'll have to root against them. It all comes down to this: we're basically just rooting for clothing...just rooting for a uniform and an insignia - doesn't matter who's actually wearing the stuff.

Ryders on the Storm

2008-09-23T20:23:00.000-04:00

Working the Ryder Cup last week, I got a firsthand look at the raucous crowds that gathered each day to cheer their side to victory. I watched the golfers themselves display great emotion as the tide swung back and forth between Europe and the United States. I'll never forget Ian Poulter's fierce scowl after winning a hole, Anthony Kim's arms flapping upward to incite fans, Paddy Harrington's quick, ducky walk off of each green as if he'd just plucked a $20 bill off the sidewalk, or Boo Weekley's "giddyup!" ride on a driver off the tee.

It seems that every Ryder Cup and President's Cup competition brings disdain from the losing side, and the refrain is the same year after year. "Sure they won, but they weren't very gentlemanly about it! They're poor sports!" Uh...sorry, but I disagree.

This is EXACTLY what golf needs, people. If the Euros take the cup back in 2010 at Wales, I hope they give some "in your face" gestures as they enjoy the fruits of their victory. Let's face it - golf is often devoid of passion and drama. It's often quiet and boring, with those little proper golf claps awarded at the conclusion of each hole. The Ryder Cup is different however; the passion and drama are there, and the crowds help fuel the golfers' pride and patriotism. It's actually a joy to watch, and the tension felt by viewers is so un-golf that it locks viewers in for the entire duration. So don't squelch it, encourage it!

Think about this: a major league baseball player has a quarter of a second to determine whether he's going to swing at a 95mph fastball or not, with the entire stadium screaming and cheering as the ball comes toward him. So why do we have to be so quiet in golf?? What if we were allowed to scream and cheer throughout, like they do in baseball? And what if baseball marshalls held up "quiet please" signs before the pitcher began his windup? Would we see players hitting .500? Conversely, if we could make more noise in golf, would we see top scores be more along the lines of bogey golf? (90)

So join me in my Ryder cheer: "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!" And let my Euro brethren enjoy theirs next time.

-Steve