The ‘Am I Being Too Harsh’ series is your chance to talk about today’s sportscasting current events. We want to hear your thoughts! Head on over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to leave us a comment and keep the discussion going!
Criticism is something we all hear, at every level. Of course you can’t please everyone, but at what point do you have to take a look in the mirror and say the criticism isn’t unwarranted? I ask this question of the major networks and their crews, especially those who broadcast for the big-four American sports. In my opinion, sportscasting has hit a sharp decline and we keep letting the powers-that-be get away with it. There’s a lack of credibility in the booth and somehow it’s not hurting ratings. Am I being too harsh in saying that sportscasting credibility is the lowest it’s ever been in American sports?
By now you’ve probably heard some kind of criticism of Booger McFarland and the whole Monday Night Football broadcasting crew. For those who don’t know, it seems that ESPN’s booth duo is often raked over the coals, each for their own separate reasons. For lead play-by-play Joe Tessitore, most of his criticism comes from people saying he gets overly excited and is a bit hyperbolish. Then there’s Booger McFarland. A former NFLer converted color analyst who’s been known to lose track of the game and make comments based on wrong information. Some people have gone so far to say that ESPN needs to make a change, immediately.
And remember Jason Witten? He was attacked so badly in 2018 that I wonder if it played into his decision to return to the field as a player in 2019.
That’s just one example, but we could look to other networks. How about FOX Sports play-by-play broadcaster Dick Stockton? In November, Philly sports media ripped him to for his call of the Eagles vs. Bears game to the point he had to actually respond.
We all make mistakes, it’s human of us. In my opinion, however, the mistakes that the current American sportscasters are making are adding up to a mountain and bringing down the overall quality of sportsbroadcasting in America. Am I being too harsh?
