Not a good start for Paul Azinger

[wobgon]

Why does golf have to be commentated by former Tour players? Networks keep regurgitating the same guys over and over expecting a different outcome. When I think back to my childhood, I still hear The Masters in Pat Summerall's voice. Guys like Red Barber, Vin Scully, and Mel Allen never played baseball at the highest levels, yet are revered for the job they did in the booth. Marv Albert is still the voice I hear when I think of NBA basketball games as a kid. It doesn't require having played the game at the highest levels to have knowledge of the game and speak intelligently and interestingly about the game.

 

I would like to see the result of having an Erik Anders Lang, Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath or DJ Piehowski in the booth. I told my wife last night, Tony Romo would be a welcome change to the CBS golf team. Not holding my breath waiting for any of this to happen though!

I agree that they should give Romo a try.....Anything to get him away from doing football.

[wobgon]

Why does golf have to be commentated by former Tour players? Networks keep regurgitating the same guys over and over expecting a different outcome. When I think back to my childhood, I still hear The Masters in Pat Summerall's voice. Guys like Red Barber, Vin Scully, and Mel Allen never played baseball at the highest levels, yet are revered for the job they did in the booth. Marv Albert is still the voice I hear when I think of NBA basketball games as a kid. It doesn't require having played the game at the highest levels to have knowledge of the game and speak intelligently and interestingly about the game.

 

I would like to see the result of having an Erik Anders Lang, Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath or DJ Piehowski in the booth. I told my wife last night, Tony Romo would be a welcome change to the CBS golf team. Not holding my breath waiting for any of this to happen though!

 

What makes Tony Romo so effective in his NFL analyst job is that he has tremendous insight into the game, coaching philosophies, reading defenses and sharing what he sees from the defense before the ball is snapped. I want that same insight from my golf analyst, what are the golfer and caddie discussing, what are the options, what pressure might they been feeling, from an ex-pro level what is a great, good or poor shot.

 

All sports have gotten more technical and analytical and sports fans seems to want more from the broadcasters than just a running commentary of what we can see with our own eyes and a little unrelated chit chat thrown in. I remember watching the old Met's games with Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy in the booth and it was painful. They bantered back and forth about old unrelated stories of the past and Kiner was often drunk before the end of the game. I like the direction golf broadcasting is going, but I'm not sure they found the right personalities yet.

 

Verne Lundquist, Ben Wright, Jack Whitaker, Henry Longhurst, Chris Schenkel and Scott Van Pelt have proven to be just as insightful as a former Tour pro. What makes Tony Romo so effective as an analyst is knowledge and preparation! He knows the game of golf and would presumably prepare for an analyst role in the same fashion as he would an NFL game.

Romo likes to tell you what is going to happen and is right...…......About 15% of the time...…..

[SEP1006]

Loved listening to Miller, was as honest as they come and you could tell he has a great passion for golf. May have been a little brash at times but if you don't totally believe in yourself then you won't play golf for a living for long!!!

[new2g0lf]

Why does golf have to be commentated by former Tour players? Networks keep regurgitating the same guys over and over expecting a different outcome. When I think back to my childhood, I still hear The Masters in Pat Summerall's voice. Guys like Red Barber, Vin Scully, and Mel Allen never played baseball at the highest levels, yet are revered for the job they did in the booth. Marv Albert is still the voice I hear when I think of NBA basketball games as a kid. It doesn't require having played the game at the highest levels to have knowledge of the game and speak intelligently and interestingly about the game.

 

I would like to see the result of having an Erik Anders Lang, Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath or DJ Piehowski in the booth. I told my wife last night, Tony Romo would be a welcome change to the CBS golf team. Not holding my breath waiting for any of this to happen though!

 

What makes Tony Romo so effective in his NFL analyst job is that he has tremendous insight into the game, coaching philosophies, reading defenses and sharing what he sees from the defense before the ball is snapped. I want that same insight from my golf analyst, what are the golfer and caddie discussing, what are the options, what pressure might they been feeling, from an ex-pro level what is a great, good or poor shot.

 

All sports have gotten more technical and analytical and sports fans seems to want more from the broadcasters than just a running commentary of what we can see with our own eyes and a little unrelated chit chat thrown in. I remember watching the old Met's games with Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy in the booth and it was painful. They bantered back and forth about old unrelated stories of the past and Kiner was often drunk before the end of the game. I like the direction golf broadcasting is going, but I'm not sure they found the right personalities yet.

 

Verne Lundquist, Ben Wright, Jack Whitaker, Henry Longhurst, Chris Schenkel and Scott Van Pelt have proven to be just as insightful as a former Tour pro. What makes Tony Romo so effective as an analyst is knowledge and preparation! He knows the game of golf and would presumably prepare for an analyst role in the same fashion as he would an NFL game.

Knowledge he gained as an NFL QB, not a commentator preparing for a game. Romo has experience and insight on how to read a defense, what to do given the read and the game situation. A non-pro or coach isn't going to gain that experience and insight during a 3 day prep. Their preparation involves learning the players numbers and names, meeting with players, watching some film and observing teams practices, none of that replaces real on the field experience.

 

I completely disagree and so do a lot of others. There is a thread pertaining to this subject already in existence. Romo has played golf at a higher level than 99.9% of this board! Your theory also doesn't explain Longhurst, who was never a golfer but a career soldier in the UK. It doesn't explain Pat Summerall, who played and commentated NFL football for nearly five decades. It doesn't explain Ben Wright, Verne Lundquist or Chris Schenkel.

 

Agree to disagree!

 

Commentator is different than analyst, Summerall called the game Madden was the analyst. Anyone can call a game, Romo isn't a commentator he's an analyst.

[BMC]

I was in broadcasting for 35 years. Doesn't make me an expert. My thoughts on golf announcing:

 

95% of the viewers play/have played golf. Talk to them.

 

You don't have to fill every second. White space (silence) is drama.

 

Hire professional, golf knowledgeable broadcasters who know how, and most importantly when to talk.

 

Shut up once in awhile. Anybody can Google stats and spit them out.

 

Being a former player doesn't make you an even decent broadcaster.

 

The directors and producers of golf telecasts are really lousy at their craft.

[golfortennis]

I was in broadcasting for 35 years. Doesn't make me an expert. My thoughts on golf announcing:

 

95% of the viewers play/have played golf. Talk to them.

 

You don't have to fill every second. White space (silence) is drama.

 

Hire professional, golf knowledgeable broadcasters who know how, and most importantly when to talk.

 

Shut up once in awhile. Anybody can Google stats and spit them out.

 

Being a former player doesn't make you an even decent broadcaster.

 

The directors and producers of golf telecasts are really lousy at their craft.

 

I want to argue. I really do. But I just can't. This post is spot on. We need to get this man into production.

[BMC]

I was in broadcasting for 35 years. Doesn't make me an expert. My thoughts on golf announcing:

 

95% of the viewers play/have played golf. Talk to them.

 

You don't have to fill every second. White space (silence) is drama.

 

Hire professional, golf knowledgeable broadcasters who know how, and most importantly when to talk.

 

Shut up once in awhile. Anybody can Google stats and spit them out.

 

Being a former player doesn't make you an even decent broadcaster.

 

The directors and producers of golf telecasts are really lousy at their craft.

 

I want to argue. I really do. But I just can't. This post is spot on. We need to get this man into production.

 

Ha ha. I was in production. It's a tough job. Layers of management, budgets, talent egos. Technology is better today, HD, shot tracer, etc...but I think the shot selection and general content was better 10-20 years ago.

 

I know a lot of people don't like him, but Jim Nantz is really good. People will notice that when he retires. People are very opinionated when it comes to sports broadcasters, but there's a reason Nantz does Super Bowls and the Masters.

 

Azinger shows some promise, but he's going to have to put some effort into becoming good at the job.

[crispy830]

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

 

The main thing I won't miss from Miller is him talking about himself. I prefer Azinger already.

 

Agreed.

[golfortennis]

I was in broadcasting for 35 years. Doesn't make me an expert. My thoughts on golf announcing:

 

95% of the viewers play/have played golf. Talk to them.

 

You don't have to fill every second. White space (silence) is drama.

 

Hire professional, golf knowledgeable broadcasters who know how, and most importantly when to talk.

 

Shut up once in awhile. Anybody can Google stats and spit them out.

 

Being a former player doesn't make you an even decent broadcaster.

 

The directors and producers of golf telecasts are really lousy at their craft.

 

I want to argue. I really do. But I just can't. This post is spot on. We need to get this man into production.

 

Ha ha. I was in production. It's a tough job. Layers of management, budgets, talent egos. Technology is better today, HD, shot tracer, etc...but I think the shot selection and general content was better 10-20 years ago.

 

I know a lot of people don't like him, but Jim Nantz is really good. People will notice that when he retires. People are very opinionated when it comes to sports broadcasters, but there's a reason Nantz does Super Bowls and the Masters.

 

Azinger shows some promise, but he's going to have to put some effort into becoming good at the job.

 

Funny you say that about Nantz. His syrupy stuff is what turns me off, but yes, he is good. It was never so evident as when he was really sick a few years ago and couldn't do a broadcast. They couldn't get Macatee in until the next day, so Feherty sat in his chair. Wow was it an eye opener.

 

It's TV. Michael Crichton has said TV people are some of the stupidest people around. Of course, him being a Ph.D. would say that. No, he said, I'm talking 2+2=5 stupid.

 

Agreed on shot selection. My theory is that there is a need in the people's minds to show a shot with a "result." A putt goes in the hole or not. A chip or an approach is near the whole or misses the green. Drives on the other hand, it's very opaque as to what is and isn't a good drive, so those are ignored. I haven't been able to come up with a better reason why they will show sooooooo many putts when they haven't shown a single shot from the guy leading up to the putt on that hole.

[golfortennis]

I was in broadcasting for 35 years. Doesn't make me an expert. My thoughts on golf announcing:

 

95% of the viewers play/have played golf. Talk to them.

 

You don't have to fill every second. White space (silence) is drama.

 

Hire professional, golf knowledgeable broadcasters who know how, and most importantly when to talk.

 

Shut up once in awhile. Anybody can Google stats and spit them out.

 

Being a former player doesn't make you an even decent broadcaster.

 

The directors and producers of golf telecasts are really lousy at their craft.

 

I want to argue. I really do. But I just can't. This post is spot on. We need to get this man into production.

 

Ha ha. I was in production. It's a tough job. Layers of management, budgets, talent egos. Technology is better today, HD, shot tracer, etc...but I think the shot selection and general content was better 10-20 years ago.

 

I know a lot of people don't like him, but Jim Nantz is really good. People will notice that when he retires. People are very opinionated when it comes to sports broadcasters, but there's a reason Nantz does Super Bowls and the Masters.

 

Azinger shows some promise, but he's going to have to put some effort into becoming good at the job.

 

Funny you say that about Nantz. His syrupy stuff is what turns me off, but yes, he is good. It was never so evident as when he was really sick a few years ago and couldn't do a broadcast. They couldn't get Macatee in until the next day, so Feherty sat in his chair. Wow was it an eye opener.

 

It's TV. Michael Crichton has said TV people are some of the stupidest people around. Of course, him being a Ph.D. would say that. No, he said, I'm talking 2+2=5 stupid.

 

Agreed on shot selection. My theory is that there is a need in the people's minds to show a shot with a "result." A putt goes in the hole or not. A chip or an approach is near the whole or misses the green. Drives on the other hand, it's very opaque as to what is and isn't a good drive, so those are ignored. I haven't been able to come up with a better reason why they will show sooooooo many putts when they haven't shown a single shot from the guy leading up to the putt on that hole.

[CasualLie]

Nantz is good, already admitted as much in earlier post, but still has this arrogance about him that creeps into the broadcast, or worse offline. He seems to have finally let go of the Fred Couples as roommate stories, but probably because Fred is not contending anymore. And he seems to have short term memory of how he ripped into Tiger mercilessly post-9i to head / hydrant scandal.

 

But they all have their "ticks" they think makes them unique but it is so overdone. Faldo and the abuse of the word "trundle". Koch's "better than most" nonsense. McCord's giggle. And on and on.

 

Yes, someday Nantz will retire and the Masters will sound weird.

[Titleist 670]

I did notice that Azinger originally said Rickie's meltdown reminded him of Van de Velde's quad bogey at the Open. He later corrected himself, but I was a bit surprised he got that wrong at first - it's one of the biggest moments in recent golf history.

[3whacker]

We will find out just how objective Zinger can be when he does a Ryder/Presidents Cup, especially if the US is getting beat

[new2g0lf]

Azinger is going to need some time to improve his demeanor and approach to being a regular analyst. It's okay for him to not want to be overly critical but he has to be honest when he's assessing the performance of golfers in the tournament.

[Scooterboy59]

I would have liked to see Brandel Chamblee. He would have been a good choice or Duval. I'm ok with Azinger he's going to do fine.

[USAF Retired E7]

I like Zinger, and David Duval would be good also.

 

I try not be critical, but Gary McCord needs to stfu already

[new2g0lf]

I like Zinger, and David Duval would be good also.

 

I try not be critical, but Gary McCord needs to stfu already

 

I watched some of the Pebble Beach celebrity challenge yesterday, Nance and McCord were the live MC's, it was so bad I had to mute the tv. Someone really needs to tell McCord he's not funny so he stops trying.

[USCHawks31]

I like Zinger, and David Duval would be good also.

 

I try not be critical, but Gary McCord needs to stfu already

 

I watched some of the Pebble Beach celebrity challenge yesterday, Nance and McCord were the live MC's, it was so bad I had to mute the tv. Someone really needs to tell McCord he's not funny so he stops trying.

 

Don't do that. McCord seems like the type to go even further over the top if he were to hear that.

[WidespreadPanic]

It blows my mind that some people prefer Azinger over Miller, but it is what it is. To me, Johnny is way more informed and way more objective. Hopefully Zinger will grow on me.

 

I’m glad we can all agree that McCord is painfully bad.

[Wildwing55]

 

Get this and get it good??? :cheesy:

 

Yep. Obviously got your attention, didn't it...

 

All the best...

[Big Cat 3]

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.

how does Zinger keep getting these tv gigs ... he is boring and bad

[Big Cat 3]

Why does golf have to be commentated by former Tour players? Networks keep regurgitating the same guys over and over expecting a different outcome. When I think back to my childhood, I still hear The Masters in Pat Summerall's voice. Guys like Red Barber, Vin Scully, and Mel Allen never played baseball at the highest levels, yet are revered for the job they did in the booth. Marv Albert is still the voice I hear when I think of NBA basketball games as a kid. It doesn't require having played the game at the highest levels to have knowledge of the game and speak intelligently and interestingly about the game.

 

I would like to see the result of having an Erik Anders Lang, Andy Johnson, Brendan Porath or DJ Piehowski in the booth. I told my wife last night, Tony Romo would be a welcome change to the CBS golf team. Not holding my breath waiting for any of this to happen though!

 

What makes Tony Romo so effective in his NFL analyst job is that he has tremendous insight into the game, coaching philosophies, reading defenses and sharing what he sees from the defense before the ball is snapped. I want that same insight from my golf analyst, what are the golfer and caddie discussing, what are the options, what pressure might they been feeling, from an ex-pro level what is a great, good or poor shot.

 

All sports have gotten more technical and analytical and sports fans seems to want more from the broadcasters than just a running commentary of what we can see with our own eyes and a little unrelated chit chat thrown in. I remember watching the old Met's games with Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy in the booth and it was painful. They bantered back and forth about old unrelated stories of the past and Kiner was often drunk before the end of the game. I like the direction golf broadcasting is going, but I'm not sure they found the right personalities yet.

 

Verne Lundquist, Ben Wright, Jack Whitaker, Henry Longhurst, Chris Schenkel and Scott Van Pelt have proven to be just as insightful as a former Tour pro. What makes Tony Romo so effective as an analyst is knowledge and preparation! He knows the game of golf and would presumably prepare for an analyst role in the same fashion as he would an NFL game.

Romo likes to tell you what is going to happen and is right...…......About 15% of the time...…..

Romo is like listening to a 16 year old kid ... he is brutal even if he guessed a play right once

 

 

 

[braincramp52]

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.

how does Zinger keep getting these tv gigs ... he is boring and bad

 

He's not a analyst for soccer . He's doing golf. Getting hyped up is the color guys job.

[dlygrisse]

Opinions are like A-holes, everybody has one. Lots of A-holes on this thread. Uh....I mean opinions. :)

[Jack Pearsall]

He will want to improve but it’s a little early for a hanging.

[Hawkeye77]

He was great today!

[WidespreadPanic]

I would like to see the result of having a DJ Piehowski in the booth.

This has got to be a joke.

[Sixcat]

I would like to see the result of having a DJ Piehowski in the booth.

This has got to be a joke.

 

Nope, not at all! Those guys are articulate, passionate and knowledgeable about the game. "Tourist Sauce" (No Laying Up) and "Official Unofficial..." (Erik Anders Lang) on Youtube are better than anything Golf Channel has produced in years. The content is better! The production is better! The entertainment value is better!

 

To each his own I guess!

[Holy Moses]

Interesting that Azinger will be working the Thursday and Friday rounds of every NBC broadcast he's on. I like having the A team on every NBC broadcast.

[BB28403]

Is this Azinger on NBC right now?

He sucks, I mean bad.

 

What coffin did they find him in? Just put feherty in the booth .