OT - Hockey on Versus = Not Good
Holy Cow Versus coverage of the Wings games sucks. I have two main issues plus a pet peeve Issue #1 - They've had the contract for a while you think the cameramen/producer would have improved on following the puck. Also, if they ever watched CBC they would figure out the a wide angle shot is actually even better. Issue #2. If you are going to have the annoying pop up ad on the screen (for your own programming no less), for the love of god make certain that the pop up does not cover up the #$%^&*( puck. Pet Peeve. Take away the play by play guy's word a day calendar. My favorite was on a penalty kill when Stuart just slapped the puck down the ice and the announcer choose to try and impress us with "Stuart methodically clears the puck." Really, just stfu and call the game. At least they only mentioned Crosby a few times. Hopefully, Wings advance and then CBC will start carrying the games.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:27 AM ^
They used to have Mike Emrick and Joe Beninati as their lead announcers for most of the playoff games but for some reason, neither one of them has done a single game on Versus this year. I don't know why that is the case.
Emrick ain't exactly an improvement.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
Completely agree, Emrick is terrible. Raising his voice any time the puck gets even remotely close to the net, crossing jargon from other sports into hockey (it's not a cage, that's lacrosse), and otherwise just trying to make up phrases (a blocker as a "waffleboard" drives me nuts as a goalie, and "canceling" when you have two men going after the puck).
That, and he has absolutely no idea what he's looking at.
Dah!
April 30th, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^
Benanati was doing the Caps games on CSN and Emerick was doing the Devils games on MSG/FSN. Now that their teams are out I'm sure they will both be assigned to a second round series. Although, admittedly, I'd be happy if they weren't. Primarily because it's nice to hear some different voices.
The only thing Versus can do right is Le Tour.
But I can't handle Bob Roll for more than two hours a day... the man's crazy.
Yeah, but how about Lindsay Soto? Eh?
Does any network do a good job with hockey? (No snark)
If I was living in the footprint of FSN Detroit, that would be my preference.
Hockey NIght in Canada. Quality!
Unfortunately, Versus is the only channel that is broadcasting this series, at least in my area (Grand Rapids). My roommate and I broke down and ordered VS last nite (along w/ 49 other channels) for $10. As soon as the playoffs are over that shit is getting dropped. Stupid Versus.
Edit: Apparently FSDis broadcasting starting in Game. Don't I feel like a sucker.
April 30th, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
It doesn't help with Red Wings games, but FSN Pittsburgh does a good job with the Pens games.
I was actually thinking the same thing about Versus watching the game tonight.
It's better than listening to Pierre "Peckerhead" McGuire give his expert insight on NBC.
I'm actually a big Mike Emrick fan. You can tell he really understands the game, and he seems to keep up with the flow nicely while providing a very accurate assessment of what's going on. I also enjoy his use of unusual verbs like "worming his way ahead" and "pitchforked," but then again, I'm a word nerd.
I'm fairly neutral on the Versus play-by-play guy, but I definitely share your complaints about the camera. I had to watch the first-round series on FSN Arizona (I'm in Phoenix), and it was pretty clear from their camerawork that they don't have a whole lot of experience with hockey.
Don't forget "waffleboarding".
Yes, I also appreciate "waffleboarding." Although a couple times it kinda sounded like he said "waterboarding," which ... ya know.
My favorite was when one of the announcers said the Nabokov was "unperturbed", at which point his partner responded "I don't know what that just meant, but ok", reminded me of this:
Also, I agree on the pop-up image over the play thing being ridiculous.
It took you this long to figure out Vs, sucks...? I usually mute, or advert my attention elsewhere with the game on in the background whenever Mickey and Ken aren't calling the game. Two of the best in the biz.
While I'm on it, Mario and Rod have grown on me. I have found them very informative and entertaining. Rod is pure comic genuis. If you can ever catch a SF Giants home game though on CSN, do it. Kruk and Kuip are the Mickey and Ken in the baseball world.
Ken and Mickey are really good. By any standard. They would work fine on CBC. Redmond is a bit of a homer but it is a local broadcast. He could do a great job playing it down the middle if he wanted to. Superb at breaking down a replay.
Rod "country strong" Allen is the broadcasting equivalent of Rod Allen the baseball player. Career minor leaguer. Should be providing the "analysis" of Toledo Mud Hen games..
I disagree, Rod knows what he's talkning about. He works well with Mario, too. Yeah, he's a homer, but like you pointed out, it's a regional broadcast, so who cares.
I don't understand why people like to point out that Rod had a short lived playing career. So what? That still gives him a unique insight. And his scouting days provide a rare insight - not many color guys are former scouts.
Plus, he says country strong. Which is apparently the Barack Obama of color phrases. You either love it or hate it. I choose to love it as long as I don't hear it six times a game.
April 30th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^
Mickey is a bit biast, but most regional broadcasters are homers. Source: years of Center Ice and MLB Extra Innings packages.
Mickey calls it as he sees it most of the time. When the Wings' opposition gets screwed on a call he will say something albeit he is a bit more vocal when the Wings get screwed. Why shouldn't he though, he's getting a nice paycheck from them.
I actually really like Rod on Tigers games. But I live in Chicago and see more Sox broadcasts than Tigers, so I'm comparing him to Ken Harrelson who may be the absolute worst homer in television baseball commentary. Harrelson is funny, I like his baseball stories, and would love to hang with him at the bar. But he offers nothing to the viewing experience, rarely calls plays and simply cheers for the White Sox. You may as well be sitting in the stands listening to the fans.
As for hockey coverage, I love how FSN Detroit interviews opposing teams' players at intermission (when they get the chance). There are only so many players on the Red Wings to interview, so that keeps things interesting. Also, it shows respect for the opponent and makes Detroit fans more informed on other teams in the league. They even interviewed Coyotes players in the playoffs this year.
I've never seen the Blackhawks' TV coverage do that, at least not yet. Chicago still seems to be trying to promote their own players to ever shed light on the opposition. Their fair weather -- I mean, "new found" fan base is still growing.
To be fair to Chicago's broadcast, their TV broadcasting is really just developing still after the dark ages of Mr. Wirtz.
True. And before I offend all Chicagoans, l want to mention that I do enjoy Cubs TV broadcasts. Good stuff even if the team isn't.
Game three is when FSN Detroit will start broadcasting the games. So i guess we will all have to deal with the shit on Versus until then.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
Yay for FSD!
I was thinking they were done. Did they have any games after the 1st round last year?
April 30th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
I hear you on the ads issue and the camera zoom issue. We've been stuck with every game on Versus so far this playoff year. It sucks.
April 30th, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^
Than nothing!
April 30th, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^
Depends on your perspective. For those of us who pay to have Center Ice I would argue that no Versus would be better. The games that are on Versus (up until the Finals) are also broadcast on the local RSNs, but they get blacked out everwhere except the local market which forces everyone who is not ing the local market to watch Versus. I understand why they do it, but I for one would pay a substantial amount of money (above the normal CI subscription) to get all of the playoff games on CI instead of Versus.
April 30th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
Bring Back Gary Thorne
That Man has a voice for hockey.
Still remember all the calls for the Red Wings
Darren McCarty and amazing goal
and so on
April 30th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Take away the play by play guy's word a day calendar.
HA! Couldn't have said it better myself. My personal favorite was when he was talking about the crowd in San Jose and said "they really pack the rafters here". Really? There were fans in the rafters? I sure didn't see any. I guess he could have been talking about banners, but I'm pretty sure San Jose doesn't have too many of those yet.
Fans being in the rafters doesn't sound too safe. In fact a guy got arrested for being up in the JLA rafters earlier this year. (SORRY I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EMBED).
I was watching the game last night with a friend and while being a cameraman must be difficult in hockey, it would be nice to see the puck at least half the time. It would have been nice to have FSD coverage with Ken Daniels and good ol' Mickey.
If bettman wants to make some damn $$$, how about not putting the nhl on a channel only half the country gets! I couldn't even watch it because I don't have Versus. Go back to ESPN/ABC like Pre-Lockout
I thought he went with Versus because they offered more money than ESPN. I think that was shortsighted, and the NHL loses due of the lack of coverage.
I don't watch poker, so I'd rather see the NHL back on ESPN.
That is generally correct. After the lockout the NHL wanted ESPN to pay the same rate as beforet he lockout. ESPN balked at the price, so the NHL went to Versus.
April 30th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
But would ESPN even want the NHL now, given that poker repeats have better ratings nationally (I believe)? It's a bit of a chicken or egg thing, where part of the reason the ratings are low are because of Versus, but ESPN could look at those numbers and say it isn't worth it at an equivalent price to what Versus pays, even though with ESPNs reach it's logical that ratings would improve.
The other advantage of having the NHL back on ESPN would be that highlights might be on Sportscenter occasionally, since they would have a commercial interest in promoting the sport (like they do with Nascar).