Not a good start for Paul Azinger

[Swisstrader98]

Looks like the top of Don Kings head!

 

Ok, ok, not bad

Actually think he may catch some flack for that one

[duffer987]

I agree that he appeared to root for Fowler.

 

Which was the point of my post. Many fan boys came on to show distemper, as they do. But the point of being an announcer is what I said, above. You are one of the few who have caught it. Being an announcer is not easy, but you have to remember who you are. As an announcer, you do not express a preference for a winner.

 

Of course, some of the fan boys here will still be in a lather. Over what, who knows, and probably temporary.

No broadcaster needs you to reveal the magical secrets of announcing. And going multiple times to the completely spurious 'fanboy' strawman shows how incredibly weak your argument - charitably calling it such - is.

He's just another talking head, like the last one and the next one, golf coverage will incredibly carry on.

[Swisstrader98]

I know it's tough taking over for Johnny Miller. But:

 

Paul, you are an announcer, not a cheerleader. The Phoenix is not over yet, but from the beginning, you were pretty much begging for Fowler to win the tournament. You would hate to see him blow that big a lead, etc, etc, hope he pulls it out, etc.

 

Get this, and get it good. Your job is not to root for any player, no matter how popular he is, and no matter how big a lead he has going into the final round. Your job is to call the action as you see it, from a player's prospective. You didn't do that today.

 

Not an easy job, is it? But learn, and be more objective than you were today, no matter how this one turns out.

 

I’m certain Paul is hangin on your every word:)

 

That being said, dude has no energy and I was very surprised they went w Azinger.

[GeorgeHWB]

Looks like the top of Don Kings head!

 

Ok, ok, not bad

Actually think he may catch some flack for that one

 

Why?

[mukster]

Azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzinger

[Wildwing55]

I know it's tough taking over for Johnny Miller. But:

 

Paul, you are an announcer, not a cheerleader. The Phoenix is not over yet, but from the beginning, you were pretty much begging for Fowler to win the tournament. You would hate to see him blow that big a lead, etc, etc, hope he pulls it out, etc.

 

Get this, and get it good. Your job is not to root for any player, no matter how popular he is, and no matter how big a lead he has going into the final round. Your job is to call the action as you see it, from a player's prospective. You didn't do that today.

 

Not an easy job, is it? But learn, and be more objective than you were today, no matter how this one turns out.

 

I'm certain Paul is hangin on your every word:)

 

That being said, dude has no energy and I was very surprised they went w Azinger.

 

Yep, agree with both your statements. Not sure this was NBC's best choice. A Ryder Cup or President's Cup Captain, yes. An announcer, I'm not so sure. But, this is the decision they made.

 

And, of course, the fan boys will continue to sling arrows, as they do. It's OK. I don't mind it.

[FredWomble]

Not a fan, either. Doesn't add anything to the broadcast, and as others have included he's just boring IMO.

[bladehunter]

I liked azinger. And Johnnie would have been pulling for Rickie too. Same same.

[2putttom]

Azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzinger

Ya got a case of bad gas ?

[tiderider]

have never liked zinger's commentary, though it doesn't matter when i'm watching golf ... it's just hard to hear someone who thinks they're funny/clever when they're not ...

[Ronnie Mundt]

We are gonna knock on Zinger for rooting for Fowler? Oh come on. How can you not root for Fowler. Every damn player not named Branden Grace was rooting for Fowler, and I’m pretty sure Grace was graceful in defeat.

[dbleag]

Azinger was very disappointing when he worked for Fox Sports over the past few years.

 

He couldn't pronounce many player's names and, while some are difficult, it's his job as a professional to learn them. I thought I heard a few mispronunciations today.

 

He shouldn't try to imitate Johnny Miller, that's not what I expect - he should bring some kind of player perspective to the job.

 

I always liked him as a player, though.

[agood3putt]

I like Azinger seems to have good players mentality

[PappyVanWinkle53]

I couldn’t stand Johnny Miller and his constant “when I played in 1974” comments myself. Kind of enjoying Zinger today

 

Did you know Miller shot 63 at the US Open???????

[iBanesto]

It is never an easy start when you have a strong grip like Azinger.

[SixtySomePing]

Be happy, they also considered Chamblee...

[GolfTurkey]

Be happy, they also considered Chamblee...

 

 

[jmkenn0]

Could be my imagination, but azinger asked bones something about Mickelson, there was an awkward silence, then I don't remember hearing from bones the rest of the day?

[Swisstrader98]

Could be my imagination, but azinger asked bones something about Mickelson, there was an awkward silence, then I don't remember hearing from bones the rest of the day?

 

Wow. Yes, thought it was just me or that the broadcast got cut off but I heard the same. Almost like bones was saying “not gonna touch that one” and then dead air.

[braincramp52]

I thought he was fine.

[CheckJV]

How many cans of Cheese Whiz was Zinger able to consume during the telecast? This will be his true test of greatness.

[Jackhammer993]

I think it’s a rough go with Azinger. That being said I’m not sure who a better choice would be. His missing putts on one side of the hole kept coming up with JT and than he brought it up with another golfer saying he did it 8-9 times and than immediately saying well maybe not that many. His commentary is more irritating than anything. Poor choice.

[buckeyefl]

I agree that he appeared to root for Fowler.

 

Which was the point of my post. Many fan boys came on to show distemper, as they do. But the point of being an announcer is what I said, above. You are one of the few who have caught it. Being an announcer is not easy, but you have to remember who you are. As an announcer, you do not express a preference for a winner.

 

Of course, some of the fan boys here will still be in a lather. Over what, who knows, and probably temporary.

 

Was this written on a certain tablet that didnt make it off of a certain mountain because it certainly isnt written in stone anywhere that i know of. if youve watched golf telecasts for more than five minutes you can pick up on the announcers pulling for certain people. Hell, the networks they work for do it openly. Maybe a cocktail before posting next time?

[buckeyefl]

Looks like the top of Don Kings head!

 

Ok, ok, not bad

Actually think he may catch some flack for that one

 

in todays ultasensitve SJW world you can take that to the bank.

[EricWGolf]

Azinger was terrible on Fox, and he’s terrible on NBC.

 

But not because of a perceived Rickie bias. Azinger was just parroting what most everyone watching was thinking. I think most people were rooting for Rickie in that situation because:

(a) he had played phenomenal golf for 54 holes;

(b) conditions were tough and no one wants a tournament decided by conditions over skill;

(c) he got a mind-boggling bad break that could have easily sent him on a downward spiral, but he maintained his composure and kept fighting back (how about that 1 putt after the double penalty?)

 

Azinger is there to provide color commentary, not the play-by-play. He’s supposed to bring some perspective and emotion. And while I generally dislike the content of his commentary (arrogance, incorrect assumptions, etc.), I think the small amount of cheerleading on this day was warranted.

 

 

But if he says “straight as train smoke” again, I may go insane and do something crazy!

like fire off a politely worded email to some faceless corporate drone with zero power at NBC requesting that they please consider looking into finding a new, more qualified analyst. Thank you.

[buckeyefl]

Azinger was very disappointing when he worked for Fox Sports over the past few years.

 

He couldn't pronounce many player's names and, while some are difficult, it's his job as a professional to learn them. I thought I heard a few mispronunciations today.

 

He shouldn't try to imitate Johnny Miller, that's not what I expect - he should bring some kind of player perspective to the job.

 

I always liked him as a player, though.

 

His personality can be very similar to Millers so you may be disappointed.

[EricWGolf]

Azinger was very disappointing when he worked for Fox Sports over the past few years.

 

He couldn't pronounce many player's names and, while some are difficult, it's his job as a professional to learn them. I thought I heard a few mispronunciations today.

 

He shouldn't try to imitate Johnny Miller, that's not what I expect - he should bring some kind of player perspective to the job.

 

I always liked him as a player, though.

 

His personality can be very similar to Millers so you may be disappointed.

 

Yep. This is the problem.

[braincramp52]

Looks like the top of Don Kings head!

 

Ok, ok, not bad

Actually think he may catch some flack for that one

 

in todays ultasensitve SJW world you can take that to the bank.

 

I thought the Don King thing was funny.

[iKOH423]

I didn't think he was that bad. Forgive my ignorance but how many tournaments on Fox did he commentate for? I think he will find his groove the more broadcasts he does. I would like to think he would approach this as a craft and work to get better.

 

I am also curious who else would be a better person for this position? Duval?

[ExTrumpet]

Man, some of y'all complain about bias and not giving a player's perspective, and then others complain about him talking about himself--a player on the biggest stage.

 

I like Zinger, but I wish Miller would have waited an extra day to retire...could have heard all kinds of "choke" comments because there was a lot of it from a lot of guys.