Back to Work Linkage

Good morning. Back to work Monday and we’ll get to some links after I quickly give you my review of the NFL Network’s production of the annual Hall of Fame Game from Sunday.

First off, the game’s look improved dramatically from last season. Last season was directed by John Gonzalez, formerly of NBC. While he did a pretty decent job, the production of the 8 Thursday and Saturday night games was ok, as if the game was just a regular Sunday telecast. Gonzalez did not give the games a special feel. Last night was the first for former Monday Night Football director Craig Janoff who takes over this season and I could tell there was a much better look. Also, the “Fox Box” on top of the screen was streamlined, no longer taking up the entire top portion. Instead, it was smaller and in the middle. Camera angles were lower and clearer. Janoff who has extensive experience in directing primetime games gave this production higher values. I think viewers who can get the NFL Network will notice the difference. Now, that was the best thing about the game which really wasn’t much of a contest.

As much as I’m a fan of Bryant Gumbel’s work on Real Sports, Gumbel still has a long way to go on play-by-play. Up until last season, he never did play-by-play. He had been a studio host for NBC Sports in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, but had not done football play-by-play. Instead of doing play-by-play, he and analyst Cris Collinsworth had a conversation missing several plays in the process. Collinsworth is very good on analysis whether it be in the studio or in the booth, but with Gumbel, the broadcast doesn’t flow. If I want to hear two guys having a conversation, I’ll talk with my friends and turn the sound down. I need to hear down and distance, who has the ball, how far the play went for and who made the tackle. Instead, it was as if the game was secondary to Gumbel’s conversation with Collinsworth. The NFL Network would be better off to hire someone like Gus Johnson or Ian Eagle to do the games. Or I would be more than happy to replace Bryant next season. I probably would be cheaper than Bryant’s salary.

Ok, let’s go to the links.

Let’s start with David Scott from the Boston Sports Media Watch. Scott talks to first year Red Sox radio announcer Dave O’Brien who’s been following Barry Bonds for ESPN. Dave called the 755th homer on Saturday and has the opportunity to call the 756th homer this week. O’Brien also said that he will be calling more Red Sox games next season and that is certainly good news for those of us who have been suffering with Glenn Geffner whenever Dave is on assignment for the Alleged Worldwide Leader. If you didn’t have the opportunity to hear Dave’s call on ESPN2 on Saturday, Scott’s story has a link to YouTube. Watch it as soon as you can because MLB will most likely take it down by the end of the day.

Heading over to USA Today where Michael Hiestand writes about the increase in live sporting events being put online, decreasing work productivity. He says this will be put to a challenge next year when NBC puts as many as 1,000 hours of the 2008 Beijing Olympics online.

Phil Mushnick in the New York Post says Ken Singleton of YES makes the right assertions on broadcasts, but doesn’t explain why. And Mushnick also goes after ESPN’s Joe Morgan again and for good reason.

In the Houston Chronicle, David Barron says he was happy to hear Buffalo Bill Thurman Thomas mention his high school coach in his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech.

Tom Witosky of the Des Moines Register writes a Q & A on what the Big Ten Network means for Iowa viewers. Centre Daily (PA) Times editor Bob Heisse writes in his “Back in Happy Valley” blog that DirecTV has made the channel assignment for BTN and it’s located near ESPN and NFL Network, on regular basic, right where the Big Ten wants.

Dusty Saunders in the Rocky Mountain News writes that the NFL Network is spreading its wings, grabbing many events such as the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for itself.

Comedian Jay Mohr has signed with Fox Sports to do a weekly program for the FoxSports.com website.

Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times writes that for the most part, athletes enjoy doing voices for “The Simpsons”. A quick aside, I enjoyed watching “The Simpsons Movie” this weekend.

In the Toronto Star, Chris Zelkovich writes that the CBC has signed a three year contract to broadcast Raptor games so it will have the three major sports, the NHL, MLB and the NBA in its fold.