Home
we had subs it was crazy

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Ticket spreadsheet
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • 2014 Recruiting Board, Offense
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • Michigan Future Schedules
    • User-Curated HOF
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
Home

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @TomVH (Tom)
  • RSS Feed
  • iPhone App
  • Facebook profile
  • MGoKindle Store
  • mgo.licio.us
  • Brian @ TSB [Archive]
  • Brian @ AOL [Archive]
  • Sour Salty Bitter Sweet

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MGoFootball
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Block
  • The M Zone
  • The Wolverine Blog
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • A Lion Eye
    • Hail To The Orange
    • Illinois Baseball Report
    • Illinois Loyalty
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
    • I'm In Love With A Fringe Bowl Team
    • TNABACG
  • Nebraska
    • Big Red Network
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • Big Ten Hardball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The Baseball Zealot
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Basketball Prospectus
    • Midmajority
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Inside College Hockey
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
    • Western College Hockey
    • CCHA
      • LSSU Hockey
      • Bronco Hockey Blog
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Doctor Saturday
    • CFB Stats
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
      • Fire Millen
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
      • The Daily Fungo
    • Red Wings
      • On The Wings
      • Behind The Jersey
      • Winging It In Motown
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Get Yer Tickets

Football Display Case

NFL Watches

Follow your favorite team with localtv-satellite.com: Click Here.

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part IV - A NEW HOKE)
    Ron Utah - 1 hour ago
  • APR And Big Ten Football: A High-Level Summary
    LSAClassOf2000 - 4 hours ago
  • On Endowment, Financial Aid, and Perceived Prestige
    maizeonblueaction - 23 hours ago
  • The Blockhams in "SPARTYCAN'T"
    Six Zero - 5 days ago
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part I)
    Ron Utah - 5 days ago
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
more
  • Yet Another Da'Shawn Hand post
    canzior - 2,909 views
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part II - THE MISTAKE)
    Ron Utah - 1,368 views
  • Devin and the White Rainbow
    MCalibur - 1,039 views
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part I)
    Ron Utah - 970 views
  • The Blockhams in "SPARTYCAN'T"
    Six Zero - 956 views
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part II - THE MISTAKE)
    Ron Utah - 52 comments
  • On Endowment, Financial Aid, and Perceived Prestige
    maizeonblueaction - 31 comments
  • Devin and the White Rainbow
    MCalibur - 15 comments
  • Who is Al Borges? (Part III - HOKE IS A STRATEGY)
    Ron Utah - 8 comments
  • The Blockhams in "SPARTYCAN'T"
    Six Zero - 5 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • Story on MBB Pete Kahler's Family
    0 replies
  • More Camp Offers, 2014 WR and 2014 CB
    12 replies
  • 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. Offered - Buckle Up
    53 replies
  • NCAA 14 Demo thoughts; MGoBlogger PSN/Gamertag list
    71 replies
  • ESPN projects next three seasons, ranks M #5 ($)
    47 replies
  • VOTE-B1G Preseaon Offensive POY (Devin)
    23 replies
  • OT - Pavel Datsyuk signs 3-yr extension with Red Wings
    40 replies
  • OT- Alabama Installing Waterfalls In Football Locker Rooms
    48 replies
  • The Full NBA Job Interview: Trey Burke
    5 replies
  • Michigan fits Steele's "National Championship Mold"
    37 replies
  • MGoProfile to Return This Week
    71 replies
  • One of the top DE in 2015 commits to GameCocks and trashes their academics!
    34 replies
  • ESPN Names Webber Top Draft Pick from B10 Since '89
    30 replies
  • MSU doesn't know who they're recruiting
    90 replies
  • (Mostly) OT: Michelle Chamuel of UM can win The Voice tonight (with votes)
    35 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››
  • More Camp Offers, 2014 WR and 2014 CB
    12 replies
  • 2015 OL Jon Runyan Jr. Offered - Buckle Up
    53 replies
  • NCAA 14 Demo thoughts; MGoBlogger PSN/Gamertag list
    71 replies
  • Story on MBB Pete Kahler's Family
    0 replies
  • OT- Alabama Installing Waterfalls In Football Locker Rooms
    48 replies
  • (Mostly) OT: Michelle Chamuel of UM can win The Voice tonight (with votes)
    35 replies
  • Michigan fits Steele's "National Championship Mold"
    37 replies
  • ESPN projects next three seasons, ranks M #5 ($)
    47 replies
  • Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong's "Core Values"
    132 replies
  • OT - Pavel Datsyuk signs 3-yr extension with Red Wings
    40 replies
  • MSU doesn't know who they're recruiting
    90 replies
  • B. Miller ripped - Ohio PR Machine
    52 replies
  • ESPN Names Webber Top Draft Pick from B10 Since '89
    30 replies
  • MGoProfile to Return This Week
    71 replies
  • One of the top DE in 2015 commits to GameCocks and trashes their academics!
    34 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››
  • Da'shawn Hand's New Top Three
    209 replies
  • OT'ish: Michigan or Harvard?
    176 replies
  • Coolest/favorite Michigan thing you own?
    139 replies
  • Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong's "Core Values"
    132 replies
  • OT: Man Of Steel. Wow
    129 replies
  • OT: City of Detroit Epic Comeback? (Business Insider)
    125 replies
  • High Noon with Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona Football Staff
    123 replies
  • ND to play ASU in football series
    112 replies
  • OT: Big storm coming
    103 replies
  • OT-4* recruit (non Michigan) posting really dumb things
    101 replies
  • OT: USA Vs. Panama World Cup Qualifier (10 PM EST)
    101 replies
  • OT: Tigers/afternoon baseball Open Thread
    97 replies
  • John U. Bacon on the GA Student Section
    97 replies
  • OT: Cool Story Bro!
    96 replies
  • Harbaugh tweaks Carroll on cheating.
    91 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 8
  • ››

mgo.licio.us

  • AIRBHG Invades Steelemas!

    wow

    0 comments
  • NBA Job Interview: Trey Burke (With Scouting Report!)

    Jalen, Burke, and Simmons.

    0 comments
  • 2013 World Dwarf Games to be held at MSU

    Mike Hart the heavy favorite in the trolling competition

    0 comments
  • NBA draft rumors: Pistons like Cody Zeller, but not Trey Burke - Detroit Bad Boys

    just what the Pistons need: a third string center. Joe Dumars was replaced by a mean ol' alien a few years back you guys.

    4 comments
  • New college grads: Don’t sell your time for a living

    this would be a close approximation of hypothetical graduation speech

    9 comments
  • College World Series Misspells "College" On Dugout

    no you guys they're just super pumped about COLLLLLLLLLLLLEGE

    0 comments
  • Michigan no longer looking for a transfer quarterback, Brady Hoke says

    not a surprise

    0 comments
  • Babcock: 'Glendening will play at the next level, for sure''

    premature congrats. One thing we can be sure of: he'll take fewer asinine penalties than Abdelkader

    1 comments
  • Spurrier may have to come up with a new UT spelling joke.

    Thanks to ugly transitions between Fulmer/Kiffin/Dooley/Davis, Tennessee is on the edge of APR penalties for football.

    1 comments
  • Report: NCAA ditching domes prior to Final Four

    i approve of this message

    0 comments
  • San Antonio Spurs may be doing something right by drafting international athletes

    strong indictment of AAU right heah

    0 comments
  • NBA draft 2013 Toss Up: Better PG prospect, Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams

    Glockner sides with justice

    0 comments
  • Brady Hoke-coached fantasy camp raises $140K for prostate cancer research

    a good cause, and a good time

    0 comments
  • Michigan men's basketball receives high academic honor with APR Public Recognition Award

    good job gents

    0 comments
  • Tournament trash talk helped Mitch McGary complete massive turnaround, Bacari Alexander says

    "Jeff Withey shouldn't have called him Peter Dinklage, is all I'm saying."

    1 comments
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more

Decision Time

By Brian — January 9th, 2009 at 3:42 PM — 74 comments
Filed under:
  • hate
  • what could possibly go wrong

In such a cynical, sarcastic society, oftentimes looking for the negative on anybody or anything, if you're fortunate enough to spend five minutes or 20 minutes around Tim Tebow, your life is better for it.

-Thom Brennaman

"DECISION TIME! DO YOU GO FOR IT?"

"Go. Go. Go. Go. Go"

-Brennaman and Charles Rogers. On third and goal.

Ideally, football games are not opportunities to reflect on just why everyone under 35 has a protective shell of cynicism and sarcasm between the world and everyone's inner Beaver.* But this one was the BCS championship game on FOX, so it was either that or picture Thom Brennaman massaging lotion into Tebow's feet.

Anyway, the reason most of my generation raised outside the state of Utah and I are looking for the negative so often is people like Thom Brennaman, corporate robots who relentlessly praise anyone and anything they're directed to.

The annoying shilling doesn't stop at the commercial break's edge these days; in fact, that guy with the Boomhauer accent saying "that thur is purty dern cool" during one of the six hundred commercials for a pickup truck was probably the most genuine moment of the night. That guy actually believed tool boxes in the side of your pickup truck were purty dern cool, and he communicated that without sanctimony or idiocy. At no point did he turn to the camera and say that if you didn't think tool boxes on your pickup truck were purty dern cool then you are destined for the lake of fire.

If only we could say the same for FOX. I could write a bunch of stuff about what an embarrassment that whole thing was, but other people have taken care of this for me. Fanhouse:

Brennaman was so far over the top in his pro-Tebow hyperbole on Thursday that the game became darn-near unwatchable unless the volume was off.

Orson:

Assumptions one should not make about this game: … 3) Fox puts on an incompetent broadcast. No. Incompetent doesn't cover how inept their clodfooted work on the BCS has been.

Awful Announcing, which must live for moments like this:

This is so bad, I really don't even have words to describe it.

Deadspin:

According to Fox announcer Thom Brennaman—and if you don't agree with him, you must be some kind of deranged lunatic—Tim Tebow just may be the finest human being to ever live on this planet or any other.

Etc, etc, etc. The presentation was such a disaster that a lot of people have been complaining about how bad the game was when, really, it wasn't too bad. Julio Iglesias was nearly decapitated, and there was a critical fourth-down stand and a couple of miraculous interceptions and all in all it was a tense, well-played football game but for the context.

At some point, being directed to interpret everything as history in the making has a downside. Now we expect the Greatest Game Ever Played between the Greatest Players Ever Assembled every time out. And when that's not happening—which it wasn't—no one backs off. They just lie to your face.

So, yeah, I'm tired of all hype. I'm tired of having the "national championship" game between two teams virtually indistinguishable from a half dozen others on a random Thursday night in January on a network that never shows college football. I'm tired of how stupid it all is.

And I think I'm detecting a seismic shift in opinion out there. Bowl defenders outside of newspaper columnists who love them some junket are few and far between—and frankly, I'd rather have Stewart Mandel on the other side of any argument I'm having, thanks very much. Every year some coach and some president gets screwed and converts to the church of playoff. Last year, weirdly, it was Georgia. This year, obviously, it's USC and Utah and Texas. At some point things have to change, because last night felt more like a farce than a championship.

*(60s television version, not unwise quarterback version.)

  • Login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:57 PM | the Bucks and the Brennamans (Score:1)
Erik_in_Dayton
Erik_in_Dayton's picture
Joined: 12/03/2008
MGoPoints: 6798

Joe Buck, of course, was the great broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals and Marty Brennaman is a great broacaster for the Cincinnati Reds. Both men complement(ed) the games they called rather than overshadowing them.

I bring this up b/c Jack and Marty are/were the dads of Joe Buck and Thom Brennaman. The latter two are both so entitled, bombastic, and just generally loud that I can barely stand to watch them call a game. It is indeed easy to be cynical once one of those guys has been yelling at you through your tv for three hours while a dancing robot shills tonight's Fox Sports-GE-Budweiser postgame show featuring the erudite commentary of Carlos Mencia and Carmen Electra.

It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

                         

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 3:57 PM | A playoff isn't going to (Score:1)
Mat
Mat's picture
Joined: 07/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1534

A playoff isn't going to address any of the complaints listed here.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 3:57 PM | The only problem I have with (Score:1)
nuck
nuck's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 701

The only problem I have with them going to ESPN the year after next is that I won't get then in HD unless I pay more $$$. Right now FOX is free (though pretty terrible at football coverage). I really hope that ESPN will broadcast the games on ABC ... any chance that will happen?

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM | They call it ESPN but it'll (Score:1)
jgunnip
jgunnip's picture
Joined: 12/08/2008
MGoPoints: 319

They call it ESPN but it'll really just be ESPN on ABC. I wouldn't fret about it.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 12th, 2009 at 11:29 AM | Not so sure (Score:1)
Other Andrew
Other Andrew's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 204

Ask NBA fans what they think. The WNBA is on ABC all the time, but NBA games (outside of the Finals? I can't even remember), have been pretty much relegated to ESPN with rare exceptions. NBC used to air up to five games a weekend during the regular season. I believe Disney only acquires major sports in order to get people to order cable because ESPN is one of the few cable networks that the distributing companies actually have to pay for rather than the other way around. I could be wrong about that fact, but it is how I understand things at this point.

Road Games is another blog

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:01 PM | Yep (Score:1)
Other Andrew
Other Andrew's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 204

I find myself missing Keith Jackson more than ever today.

You can move me over to the column of the recently converted, too, but I'm filled more with fear than anything else. Think about how badly they screwed up the BCS. Think they won't immediately go to a hastily constructed 16-team playoff bracket when they do finally make the switch? Anyway, I wrote a bit about it here, before yesterday's game.

What's worse is I stayed up until 3am (Argentina time) to sit through imbecilic hyperbole to see the team I didn't think deserved to be there lose to the team I can't possibly root for as long as the same dickhead is coaching them. Um, yeah, a little tired and cranky at the office today.

Road Games is another blog

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:05 PM | Brian, *Juaquin Iglesias* ... (Score:1)
nuck
nuck's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 701

Brian, *Juaquin Iglesias* ... not Julio Iglesias ... unless ... you know ... you meant the 65 year old singer...

(http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2009/01/ny-post-knows-why-ou-lost-ju...)

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:09 PM | that was an attempted joke... (Score:1)
Brian
Brian's picture
Joined: 05/26/2008
MGoPoints: 63760

that was an attempted joke... apparently didn't come off.

MGoBlog | email 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:11 PM | I did consider it ... (Score:1)
nuck
nuck's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 701

double post :'(

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:10 PM | I did consider it ... I think (Score:1)
nuck
nuck's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 701

I did consider it ... I think the NYPOST story threw me off though :P

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:14 PM | I got the joke (Score:1)
Maize4Blue
Maize4Blue's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 280

The odds are now even.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:15 PM | Bowls/TV (Score:1)
Noahdb
Joined: 07/21/2008
MGoPoints: 349

I like the bowl system. I don't believe I will ever see a college football playoff (and no, I'm not planning on dying soon).

But, I think the argument for and against the playoff is about as productive as an argument over which religion is the best.

However, I'm more than happy to talk about football as a television package. Anyone remember the game a couple a season or two ago where Adrian Peterson ran for about 300 yards against the Chargers? I downloaded that game as a torrent after the fact. The copy I have has sound...but no announcers. You can hear Fox's intro and outro music. You hear all of the little sound fx they play when a stat comes up or goes away. You can hear the crowd and the PA announcer, but you can't hear the broadcasters. Occassionally, they'll show a replay and the announcers will highlight something with a telestrator...you just can't hear it.

FANTASTIC. It's wonderful. It's an absolute joy to watch.

We seriously need to revisit the wisdom of putting announcers in the booth. Yes, it's great when you have a really great announcer like Jackson (in his prime) or someone like Vin Scully. But there are far too many broadcasts these days that are in dire need of silence.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:17 PM | Why Tim Tebow is so awesome (Score:1)
Tim Waymen
Tim Waymen's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 1334

Have you ever considered the possibility that the reason that Tim Tebow is so big on Jesus is because he in fact IS Jesus? Yep, you heard it here first. I mean, the guy is a modern day miracle worker, so don't be surprised if you see Tebow lead God's army against the legions of hell, let alone walk on water. The real reason that Mrs. Tebow never got the abortion is because that was God's baby in her uterus, not Mr. Tebow's (unless "Mr. Tebow" is actually one of God's hidden names). See how it all makes sense?

I just never knew that Jesus just had such an inflated opinion of himself.

Ann Arbor is a classy broad.

"Get off my plane!" - Ricky Stanzi, Air Force One 2

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 7:29 PM | Percy Harvin (Score:1)
M-Dog
M-Dog's picture
Joined: 07/06/2008
MGoPoints: 6524

is the Holy Ghost.

M'Dog

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 9:59 PM | wow (Score:1)
Henne for Heism...
Joined: 09/20/2008
MGoPoints: 0

.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM | AMEN (Score:1)
BeantownBlue
BeantownBlue's picture
Joined: 08/25/2008
MGoPoints: 541

Thank you Brian for articulating what so many of us are feeling. When the field reporter asked Percy Harvin how it felt to be a "Fed Ex national champion" I turned my TV off. As if I hadn't sat through a million commercials already...

And yes! How did the BCS ever think it would be a good idea to let the "best games" of the year be announced by people who DON'T COVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE REST OF THE YEAR. Those announcers blew.

Yes Mat, a playoff isn't going to fix everything. But the bowls are meaningless and riddled with big money interests. They're a farce. At least a playoff would allow that farce to used for something meaningful.

Don't let up Brian. I'm counting on you and Obama to bring special interests down and restore some dignity to my favorite sport.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:51 PM | "Fed Ex national champion" (Score:1)
Brian
Brian's picture
Joined: 05/26/2008
MGoPoints: 63760

oh my god... did this actually happen? I turned it off well before such a travesty could transpire.

MGoBlog | email 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 8:28 PM | Pretty much (Score:1)
TIMMMAAY
TIMMMAAY's picture
Joined: 09/08/2008
MGoPoints: 6015

He said "how does it feel to be the BCS Fed Ex national champion?". Just as bad.

not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 7:27 PM | I actually thought (Score:1)
Tha Quiet Storm
Tha Quiet Storm's picture
Joined: 12/22/2008
MGoPoints: 2067

it was "FedEX BCS National Champion." Either way it sounded absolutely awful when it was uttered.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM | Agreed (Score:1)
Six Zero
Six Zero's picture
Joined: 09/05/2008
MGoPoints: 10176

Last night felt like the corporate NFL monster had swallowed our beloved College Football and spit it back out, all covered in goo.

And, of course, that goo is FOX.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM | AMEN (Score:1)
BeantownBlue
BeantownBlue's picture
Joined: 08/25/2008
MGoPoints: 541

Thank you Brian for articulating what so many of us are feeling. When the field reporter asked Percy Harvin how it felt to be a "Fed Ex national champion" I turned my TV off. As if I hadn't sat through a million commercials already...

And yes! How did the BCS ever think it would be a good idea to let the "best games" of the year be announced by people who DON'T COVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL THE REST OF THE YEAR. Those announcers blew.

Yes Mat, a playoff isn't going to fix everything. But the bowls are meaningless and riddled with big money interests. They're a farce. At least a playoff would allow that farce to used for something meaningful.

Don't let up Brian. I'm counting on you and Obama to bring special interests down and restore some dignity to my favorite sport.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:27 PM | I don't think the BCS heard (Score:1)
JeremyB
JeremyB's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 426

I don't think the BCS heard your question. Their ears were stuffed with three-hundred-million-dollar earplugs.

http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/07/look-inside-bcs-fox-img-love...

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:31 PM | Word. (Score:1)
mad magician
mad magician's picture
Joined: 11/18/2008
MGoPoints: 252

Word.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:32 PM | Apparently Fox figured that (Score:1)
bronxblue
Joined: 11/22/2008
MGoPoints: 12617

Apparently Fox figured that since they only broadcast 4 college games a year, they might as well jam in as much corporate schilling, idiotic hyperbole, and horrendous announcing as a whole season. Just a horrible job by Fox and the announcing team, but I guess I never expected anything else.

As for Tebow, he's a football player who does some commendable missionary work (oh yeah, and these two awesome photos). He doesn't speak for a generation, and while I don't think he pursues this type of abject fawning, it drives me crazy that certain people have turned him into a demigod. If I want to hear about morality and righteous life, I'll go to church or watch the 700 Club. I watched last night to see two teams who probably shouldn't have been in the MNC game battle it out for an increasingly-corporate and biased title. As sad as it is, I'm actually looking forward to watching the games on ESPN in a few years, since at least their announcers try to be objective when calling games, and focus on what happens in between the sidelines more than every 5 minutes or so.

One final note - Can people stop talking about how great Florida's defense was last night? The two picks of Bradford were on flukey plays (the first INT was juggled by half of UF's defense, and the other was as much on the WR not keeping his hands on the ball as the Florida DB making a great play taking it away), and OU was generally able to move up and down the field as they pleased until the very end. I mean, OU still had 363 yards of offense, and left at least 6 points on the field because of first-half miscues.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM | Hype (Score:1)
mbrummer
mbrummer's picture
Joined: 07/29/2008
MGoPoints: 2336

I think the Hype machine has gotten out of control. This happened during the SEC championship game, where the announcers made it seem like everything was the best thing ever. Wow that "slant was just a great throw", "Best Punt Ever". It's getting to be overloaded, where you just get mad and say ok this is obnoxious, especially when it is two teams you are less than fond of.

On Tebow, the hype has gotten so out of hand, I think many people dislike him, the person, while the media hype is to blame. As a society, we are cynical because every celebrity, or person who is in the media' eye so much, has a PR person behind them, making sure when they do charity work that the media knows and everyone sees it. So when we see someone like Tebow getting such good media attention all the time, we are conditioned to think that there is someone in the background pulling the strings.

We get even more annoyed when Tebow makes average plays, and the announcers blow them completely out of proportion. Although Fox did not blame either INT on the receivers, (especially the first)which was shocking to me.

So because of the hype, we begin to hate the person,which is unfair because I don't think he asks or manipulates the media to do so.

Think about this, everyone has gotten sick of the Tebow speech after the Mississippi game. However, if Henne did the same thing after Appy St. last year, and then backed up his words, we would be having parades for him in Ann Arbor. We would all follow him into a battle. The problem is when you see it during every pregame and every game you get sick of it, and the hype of it.

I expect nothing and therefore never disappointed.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM | "So, yeah, I'm tired of all (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
Sgt. Wolverine's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 3525

"So, yeah, I'm tired of all hype."

Playoffs are all about endless hype. That's why tv loves playoffs -- there's more to hype.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:27 PM | The only thing is that in the (Score:1)
nuck
nuck's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 701

The only thing is that in the playoffs the hype is somewhat warranted as the winner of the game will go on in the playoffs and play a (presumably) more worthy opponent.

The significance of winning last night's game hinges entirely on the amount of hype that was created to justify calling them a "national champion."

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:04 PM | That's where we differ, then; (Score:1)
Sgt. Wolverine
Sgt. Wolverine's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 3525

That's where we differ, then; I don't think hype is ever really warranted at all beyond the pocketbooks of the networks (and the university athletic departments, maybe). Hype is entirely artificial and completely unnecessary, and I hate every last bit of it.

And when the winner of that playoff game goes on to face a better opponent? Yeah, the hype only gets louder.

Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:30 PM | NFL/NBA/MLB (Score:1)
mbrummer
mbrummer's picture
Joined: 07/29/2008
MGoPoints: 2336

They don't proclaim that these will be historic, earth shattering games every year, every time.

They say hey these games will be good with the best teams playing. No one talks about how Joe Flacco may be the best qb ever.

I expect nothing and therefore never disappointed.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:23 PM | I can't believe they LET us do that. (Score:1)
JeremyB
JeremyB's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 426

"Pretty frickin' cool" is how Boomhauer described the Rambox, prompting a discussion in the room about whether this was the first commercial to actually use the phrase "frickin." That Dodge Ram commercial was high on the list of things that needed to shut the hell up last night. An obnoxious and irrelevant spot where Men in t-shirts with their Man Professions printed on them do Man Things like yelling and grunting and Carrying Shovels Around and Driving Through Fireballs. I imagine this has to do with the Ram Challenge they promote; I don't really care to check.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:33 PM | Charles Rogers? (Score:1)
jg2112
jg2112's picture
Joined: 11/25/2008
MGoPoints: 5844

he got out of jail to announce the BCS Title game last night?

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:35 PM | Mostly agree. (Score:1)
wolverine1987
wolverine1987's picture
Joined: 07/07/2008
MGoPoints: 2935

How Fox, which does a respectable job doing the NFL, can be so awful on college football defies sense. Is it that they use their NFL bench guys for pre-game and announcing? Harly matters because I agree it was horrible. But nothing about their coverage or Brennaman;s comments will be solved by a playoff, that part does not compute.

"Everyone gets dumped Gabe. Let me give you some advice: a little coverup on your Adams Apple will make it appear smaller. Which will make you appear less like a transvestite." 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:44 PM | In defense of Tebow (Score:1)
wolverine1987
wolverine1987's picture
Joined: 07/07/2008
MGoPoints: 2935

Not that anyone was specifically criticizing him here, but there does seem to be a bunch of anti- Tebow sentiment out there, I think driven by the over the top platitudes showered on him. I would only say that it's not his fault that every college football announcer is trying to saint him, and even though you'd be forgiven for thinking he has a personal publicist, he doesn't, other than the job the networks and ESPN are doing for him. Simply on a football basis, the dude is one of the best college players i've ever seen though.

"Everyone gets dumped Gabe. Let me give you some advice: a little coverup on your Adams Apple will make it appear smaller. Which will make you appear less like a transvestite." 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:53 PM | the thing is: I've never seen (Score:1)
Brian
Brian's picture
Joined: 05/26/2008
MGoPoints: 63760

the thing is: I've never seen anyone actually criticize Tebow except 14-year-olds who use "Gayturds" unironically. How could you? He's a great football player and cheerfully does the Heisman pose with babies.

What vitriol is out there is directed at his apotheosis by scolding nimrods.

MGoBlog | email 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 12th, 2009 at 2:49 PM | This is the first item of any (Score:1)
Aequitas
Aequitas's picture
Joined: 09/22/2008
MGoPoints: 709

This is the first item of any substance that I disagree with Brian about.

Ive seen people personalize the attacks directly at Tebow, not just the hype. You have players taking shots at him saying he wouldn't be the x ranked player in x conference. Fans citing the religious aspect and almost offering a personal offence that it's included in the package of Tebow. There's more to it than mere hype-backlash.

Jealousy. Insecurity. Pettiness. Most of Tebow's detractors suffer from at least one of those three ailments. I mean on this very thread some clown's panties are in a bunch about how Percy Harvin didn't get enough love. Well guess what homeboy, Harvin's gone. We'll get to see if Tebow can carry the team without him like he did in the SEC title game. And so what? So one announcer went overboard on Tebow? Who won the effing Heisman? Who votes on that? Media, yeah? There was PLENTY of love being copiously ladeled out all over other players, including Harvin.

I respect what this kid's done and he's on a short list of QBs that I'd love to see play that position at Michigan. That he's a better citizen shouldn't be a detraction from who he is, and it sounds like it is to some people. And if someone's offended by that, and yet not equally offended by Pacman or Plax, there's something really wrong with society.

It's ironic that the same Tebow detractors on these forums and the local airwaves loves them some Tom Brady cornbread. Hey, we can talk about Brady ALLL day long, he's the best! But Tebow? Overhyped and we're all sick of it!

"Do not disturb my circles."
 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 4:55 PM | the way they were talking up (Score:1)
d.
d.'s picture
Joined: 01/09/2009
MGoPoints: 189

the way they were talking up Tebow parallels how Brent and Kirk were all over USC's nuts during the Rose Bowl. Halfway through the 2nd quarter when they called the game and anointed USC the National Champs.

Did anyone else hear Brent's awkward comment during a lull in the action,

[depressed tone]
"Well, Kirk, let's just hope 2009 is better than 2008."

[silence]

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:02 PM | Awful annoucing (Score:1)
andy19il
andy19il's picture
Joined: 07/11/2008
MGoPoints: 26

It wasn't just during this game with the goofy hyperbole. It's almost become standard. I had to sit and listen to Shon Morris and that BTN play by play guy talk about what a great game the UM/IU game was and how exciting the play was. Guys, it was a terribly played game. Sure, it was close, but that doesn't make it *good*. And to listen to these guys blather on about how great it was just destroyed their credibility. It is the Vitalification of sports annoucing. But he's at least being mostly authentic.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 10th, 2009 at 1:02 PM | MSU-ND not a historic rivalry? (Score:1)
Don
Don's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 19379

Maybe you have an different definition of "historic," but the facts indicate that the rivalry between MSU and ND is in fact more "historic" than the rivalry between UM and ND.

Michigan State and Notre Dame have played 72 games total since their first game in 1887, and they've played virtually every year since 1948. The 1966 game was perhaps the first modern TV media "game of the century."

By contrast, UM has played ND only 36 times, with our first game against them in 1887. We've had stretches of 33 and 35 years between games against the Irish, with the latter stretching between 1942 and 1978. During that same time, MSU played ND 28 times.

The decline of MSU football since the late '60s may have dimmed the luster of the rivalry with ND in most years since then, especially in comparison with Michigan and ND, but history is history.


  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:17 PM | If you thought is was bad in 2008... (Score:1)
VAWolverine
Joined: 11/06/2008
MGoPoints: 1789

just wait to see what is said about Tebow if he comes back for 2009.

They will probably roll back a big stone for him to run onto the field for his last home game.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:18 PM | If you thought is was bad in 2008... (Score:1)
VAWolverine
Joined: 11/06/2008
MGoPoints: 1789

just wait to see what is said about Tebow if he comes back for 2009.

They will probably roll back a big stone for him to run onto the field for his last home game.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:19 PM | If you thought is was bad in 2008... (Score:1)
VAWolverine
Joined: 11/06/2008
MGoPoints: 1789

just wait to see what is said about Tebow if he comes back for 2009.

They will probably roll back a big stone for him to run onto the field for his last home game.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 8:50 PM | You can say that again. Oh, (Score:1)
Chrisgocomment
Chrisgocomment's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 1126

You can say that again. Oh, wait.

No question, Jim.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:20 PM | how do they mess up what down (Score:1)
bluetell
bluetell's picture
Joined: 07/03/2008
MGoPoints: 4770

how do they mess up what down it is. it's on the screen. all you gotta do is count up from 1. you don't even have to go past 3 usually

Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick

 

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 6:31 PM | Brenneman and friend (Score:1)
LONGISLANDBLUE
Joined: 01/09/2009
MGoPoints: 0

horrible job. just horrible. not only did they get the down wrong, more than once, they also had the distance wrong. they don't know that after a "dead ball foul" (after the play), the yardage is lost but the down and distance both stay the same?? after a personal foul, these 2 bozos kept calling it first and 20 when it was still first and 10 albeit from a different spot. many, many stupid comments belieing their lack of knowledge. and the big hit early on by the florida db (major wright) was interference. the receiver was hit before the ball arrived, not much before but i could see it from the screen. why did they think stoops was complaining?! and the officials were also clueless. bad job even for fox. isn't brenneman (or was) a play by paly guy for the cinn reds? stick to baseball. i guess with the nfl this weekend, they had to dig deep for this game. and no mention of utah. and the love in with tebow. sorry for the rant. i'm done. :)

bohn49traversecity

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:49 PM | Thank you Brian (Score:1)
Yostal
Yostal's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 2786

The big thing is that it wasn't a great game, not every game is going to be USC/Texas 2006, nor does it need to be, but don't try to tell me that this game is something it isn't.

Similarly, I want to enjoy the player on his own merits. I want to believe that Tim Tebow is a great player, and I think he may very well be a great college player, but I do not need Fox selling me a bill of goods on MORE reasons why I should like him. Let me make my own decisions.

I sometimes suspect that Fox presumes that because they have not aired any college football leading in to the BCS bowl games, that no one else in the country has watched any college football either. It's just maddening.

Also, I realize that these are times calling for greater fiscal responsibility, but DirectTV could you not at least make two different versions of the ad showing you that you can DVR things from your computer so I don't have to believe the guy in that meeting has recorded Hellboy 2 approximately 74 times during BCS season?

Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter

"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 7:20 PM | Good Point. (Score:1)
M-Dog
M-Dog's picture
Joined: 07/06/2008
MGoPoints: 6524

I could not quite put my finger on it . . . Fox covers the BCS games not just like they are the only college games they air all year, but like they are the only college games they even watch all year.

M'Dog

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 7:44 PM | I change the channel during that particular ad (Score:1)
befuggled
befuggled's picture
Joined: 07/01/2008
MGoPoints: 1038

The Dennis Leary and Howie Long truck ads are next.

Where's Charlie Bauman when you need him?

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:55 PM | That is worse than the NASCAR (Score:1)
wlvrine
wlvrine's picture
Joined: 09/25/2008
MGoPoints: 1468

That is worse than the NASCAR mouthpieces telling their audience that Dale Earnhardt was a 4 (5maybe i dont know) time SPRINT cup champion.

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 5:57 PM | The "casual" fan (Score:1)
dex
dex's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 1883

FOX, and all the networks, know that we are going to watch the BCS title game. It doesn't matter who plays or what channel it is on - we are pretty diehard football fans and will be tuning in. Same with a lot of us and the Super Bowl. So they do nothing to cater to our tastes, because hey, what are we gonna do, watch Office reruns?

So the whole broadcast is designed to appeal to the people who only watch the "big game". That's why they slurp Tebow - it's an easy storyline for your grandma or cousin that doesn't like sports or uncle who pretends to like football to digest and understand. And that's why the Super Bowl commercials are popular - so 38 year old middle manager at your office who doesn't watch football can talk about "the big game" with you without having to watch the actual football, and instead focus on Terry Tate, Office Linebacker.

We're all delusional if we think ESPN is going to handle it much better. Sure, Brent and Herbie probably won't get 3rd and 4th down confused and we might have an actual playclock instead of a retarded clock ticking up to the next OU snap, but the hype and the catering to the casual fan will still be there. A playoff won't change that either.

great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA

  • Login or register to post comments
January 9th, 2009 at 6:01 PM | Love the comment (Score:1)
umjgheitma
umjgheitma's picture
Joined: 12/02/2008
MGoPoints: 1397

The announcers couldn't get enough of the comment made that Tebow would be the 4th best QB in the Big Twelve. I believe the exact response was, that is the most idiotic statement ever made (I may be off but it was definately along those lines). Really!?! That's the dumbest statement ever made?!?

I will say I think Sam Bradford is totally overrated, and that Threet would be close to a Heisman candidate with that o-line. Sam didn't do anything once there was a hint of pressure, if he didn't get 6 seconds in the pocket then the play was done. Looks like we got another Jason White (who?) on our hands.

Has the whole world gone CRAZY!?!

  • Login or register to post comments
  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »
Powered by Pressflow, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.