Edited: Big Ten Network Announcers for EMU game
So, I was watching the U of I vs. Minnesota woman's soccer game today (my GF plays for Illinois, before people hate on me for watching soccer) and I have to say, the announcers for the game were excellent. Well-versed, intelligent, smooth play by play. I was impressed.
I bring this up because the announcers for two Saturdays ago against EMU were not so excellent. Indeed, they stunk. I don't understand how a minor sport with little coverage like woman's soccer has solid commentating and the major, most watched sport that brings in the most money, football, gets poor commentating.
This needs to get fixed.
Thoughts?
September 27th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
I watched the EMU vs UM game on the BTN...the announcers were terrible. For instance, they kept saying "...Michigan going wiht the no huddle...RR wants to keep this up tempo..." as if this was not something UM normally does. It was obvious during several portions of the game that they did not do their homework.
This past game vs Indiana was on ESPN2. The announcers were not as bad as BTN, but they left a lot to be desired. This week vs MSU is on BTN. Hopefully the announcers will have their act together.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:55 AM ^
Good call. I meant the EMU game and I actually meant to say EMU but Indiana was on the mind. Apologies for the miscue.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:35 PM ^
Because ESPN has to show that they are progressive and Pam Ward had a good interview and fake taping, and now they can't fire her. MSU got stuck with her forever, and now we do.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^
My ears are still bleeding.
September 27th, 2009 at 11:37 PM ^
you are right about the suckitude of BTN football announcing. The Eastern game was on the BTN, and although the color guy was OK, the play-by-play guy had no idea about what team he was calling.
Examples:
- The play by play guy observed several times that Michigan seemed to be playing a lot of no-huddle offense. (C'mon, has Michigan huddled once in the RichRod era? Wouldn't someone who has done basic prep for the game noticed this?)
- Totally miseed the Roh INT - the play-by-play guy assumed that he had lost track of the down, and that the EMU play was a 4th down play and that Michigan's possession was the result of EMU turning it over on downs.
- This one is on the color guy: Minor and Brown are pretty much the same body type and running style.
EDIT: OKBLUE - you beat me to it!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:11 AM ^
Speaking of Roh, how about the BTN commentators repeatedly referring to him as "Greg Roth"?
September 27th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
We are talking about Pam Ward here. Thankfully I was at the game and did not have to listen to her absolute drivel, though I've (unfortunately) watched many of her calls over the years. I've never seen an announcer miscall so many plays. Player names, down and distance, the outcome of a play (out of bounds vs. inbounds, touchdown calls, [prime example in the IU game], etc.).
You name it, she will botch it.
Edit: You reference the IU game, but that game was on ESPN2. Are you referring to the EMU game (that was on BTN)? Either way, I think the fact that Pam Ward is awful still stands.
Double Edit: Pammies!
September 27th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
lord of our blog, the one and only Brian, is well known for watching soccer, posted about USA soccer some this summer, and was thinking of starting a blog for it
dont get me wrong i prefer football, but there is nothing wrong with the beautiful game that is soccer
September 28th, 2009 at 12:21 AM ^
I don't like soccer much, but I'll be damned if it isn't hard has hell to play, especially at elite levels. You need to have some kind of conditioning to take that on.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:57 AM ^
are on the lowest rung of ESPN/ABC announcers. Whatever the least appealing game on ESPN that week will be.......Bentley and Ward will be there.
These two have worked together for several years now, and they simply have not gotten better at calling games.
I too am becoming amused at some announcers calling Michigan games as if they've never seen a spread offense before and what Michigan runs is some novelty. I watched parts of 15 different games this weekend and 9 out of 10 had a spread offense team, and the other 2 games both teams ran spread plays.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:11 AM ^
i like watching soccer and the english commentators are great and 2x as better than most of the football commentators (collage wise the pros have good commentators) and i wish that they got good commentators... it makes the game more exciting (watching at home) although the notre dame-michigan commentators werent too bad... BTN has pretty bad ones though lol....
September 28th, 2009 at 2:40 AM ^
Why would anyone hate on you for watching soccer? I for one can't wait for the world cup and I try to catch EPL and La Liga games whenever it's on TV.
I was watching the game against EMU and the BTN announcers were pretty terrible. The guy kept calling Craig Roh, "Roth". Also saying rugged run about 100 times got pretty irritating.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:57 AM ^
ha ha I noticed the "rugged run" thing too! It was said once on like a one yard gain by Shaw. I was like...what does that even mean? And why on earth is it this man's go-to phrase?
September 28th, 2009 at 3:13 AM ^
It's sort of like what we call "Givin' him the Skittles."