OT - You are (no longer) looking live at B1G
Musberger & Palmer to be lead announcers for SEC Network:
Death of SEC soon to follow...
March 12th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
I won't miss Brent at all but I don't like that the SEC network just poached some of the biggest names in announcing for their network.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
He's well past his prime.
March 13th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
good old boy network, and anything that takes him away from games I watch is a blessing.
My theory is that the guys who develop schticks and spiels just become grating. Guys who are pretty bright, provide analysis, and have some personality are apparently hard to come by. Gus Johnson is obviously one.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
Poached is probably not the right word but assigning Brent to that network adds instant credibiltiy. I can't stand Brent but this shines a bright light on that network.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
He's good but he slobbers over the SEC a bit too much lately. This is the perfect hiring for them.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
If ya know what I mean. *wink*
*wink wink*
*heavy nudge*
*awkward laugh*
March 12th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
Actually, I think Brent took way too much flak for that.
Hyperbole is what Brent does. With Bama up 14 on ND and clearly heading for a blowout, what would you expect him to do? THe ABC cameras panned to Katherine Webb, giving Kirk & Brent a chance to talk about something other than the game. Brent was expected to comment, and, whadayano, he went with the superlatives.
That's my take.
"At one of the best pairs of legs I've ever seen, folks. That's Katherine Webb and I am one dirty old man ..."
Or words to that effect, anyway.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^
They can go get Gary Danielson back, pair them up together again, and 'em go nuts talking about great the SEC is.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:15 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
I beg to differ your beg to differ. I remember how Brent would get everyone jacked up about how Martin Gramatica would celebrate after making a FG. Seriously, broadcasting does not get any better than bringing that morsel of fantastic analysis of a FG kicker's celebration than that...
/s (just in case it wasn't obvious)
March 12th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
Palmer isn't a surprise; Musberger is a get for them. I just hope Brent is ready to completely ignore the 50% turnover at Alabama every year.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
March 13th, 2014 at 10:40 AM ^
Fowler just reupped with ESPN through 2023. He'll pull double duty on Gameday and the primetime game just like Herbstreit.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
he will no longer do primetime?
March 12th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^
What I don't understand is that most games worth watching are already covered by the major networks, ESPN, BTN, etc. When LSU and Bama play, it's already covered. You could put it on the SECN; with significantly fewer viewers compared to ABC or ESPN, but that makes no sense. When there are many games on at the same time, it's all about the size of the fan base, and Mississippi State vs Vandy won't draw many viewers. Unless you have a connection to those two schools, you are watching something else.
Someone please explain to me why the SECN is a big deal.
March 12th, 2014 at 11:54 PM ^
For all it's glory, the SEC has a lot of conference games that don't air anywhere major. They get a CBS slot and maybe an ESPN slot but that's it. There's plenty of decent games they can air on a weekly basis.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
I like Jesse Palmer.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
Your wish is granted?
March 12th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
announcer, but I always associate his name with big games. I will miss him out of nostalgia.
March 13th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
^This.
When I hear "You are looking live . . .", I get chills because I know it's a big, important, national game I'm about to see.
Then I turn off the sound.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
I'm just spitballing here, but I think we're talking about how we think he's one of the worst . . . .
Some of us go with what the national consensus has been, for many years; that Brent Musberger has, over a long career, been one of the best all-around sportscasters in his business. And particularly good with Big Ten football and basketball, being a product of Northwestern University and Chicago sportswriting.
Nobody mentioned his one great failure, which was golf. Musberger was handed a big role in golf when he was at ABC in the days after Jim McKay (who was great at everything including golf), and Brent was a train-wreck in trying to call golf. It is really his only significant professional failing.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
to not have to listen to Musberger any more. Dude has no clue.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
so I can watch an SEC game again without wanting to cut off my ears
March 12th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
For someone who will be 75 in May and has Musburger's career, it doesn't sound all that bad - (LINK). His revised duties:
"The current contract of Musburger, who turns 75 in May, was up as of early this year. His new deal is for multiple years and includes calling a college bowl game on ESPN, as well as Big 12 basketball."
The article also mentions that, so far, they've got the SEC Network coming to 20 million homes.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^
Can't wait to see what happens when he goes full Danielson and becomes a total SEC homer. I swear, Danielson is an entirely different human being in the booth for the SEC on CBS, and it sucks.
March 13th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
transformation from terrific, objective color man to complete SEC Slappy has been disturbing. Its actually hard to watch some of those broadcasts.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
March 12th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
When Brent Musberger did a game, you knew instinctively it was a big game, and his performance was routinely good.
The only underrated guy I can think of for them to promote is Mike Patrick, who is probably the most underrated play-by-play pro among the second-line announcers in the ESPN stable. Brad Nessler is of course the Number 2 play by play guy to Musberger; and Nessler is very good of course.
Musberger had developed chemistry with Kirk Herbstreit (also very good) and that will be lost now, apparently.
Big win for the SEC, getting Musberger and Jesse Palmer.
Well we've still got Pam Ward Beth Mowins, right?
March 12th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
You can have her. Keep her as long as you'd like.
March 13th, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
Uhhh.... Not so much.
March 12th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
McDonough and Herbie sounds like a solid team to me.
Griese probably gets a promotion as well. Spielman would probably need a new partner if McDonough goes with Herbie.
March 12th, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
Good riddance, you creepy, creepy asshole.
Also said some pretty horrible/racist things about Tommie Smith and John Carlos in '68.
March 12th, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
"Also said some pretty horrible/racist things about Tommie Smith and John Carlos in '68."
Wow....I thought my wife could hold a grudge. I wasn't even born in '68 so I have no idea what comments you're referring to, but for someone to hold comments a guy made about someone else almost 50 years ago is a little wierd to me. I mean, maybe if they were directed at you but someone else....
In my lifetime I have never heard him say anything remotely racist so though I fit in the "good riddance" crowd I don't share your reasons for being there.