Did the U.S. open seal Azinger's fate?

[caniac6]

3 hours ago, Creedo77 said:

Azinger and NBC are parting ways, Ryder Cup was his last call

That decision is straight as train smoke!

[the bishop]

Azinger sucks. Thank God he's gone. 

[tiderider]

5 hours ago, kmbean said:

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/38934533/paul-azinger-nbc-golf-analyst-contract-not-renewed

that's soooooooooooooooooo unfortunate ... it's such a tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuff position ... inCREDible to last that long ... 

 

fav azinger comment: adam scott gets out of bed each morning and apologizes to the sweet spot ...

[CDLgolf]

So who's next in line that wrxers won't like ?

[KennyP]

5 hours ago, 3whacker said:

Curt Byrum seems the logical choice to replace Zinger

 

Is he diverse enough?

 

[Port and Starboard]

The whiny bitchy crowd will get what they ask for..............................milk toast.

[Mcgeeno]

Zinger sucked. 

 

This is good news even if they replace him with Dennis Miller its an upgrade lol.

[Pens #1 fan]

So he’s replacing him. And why so much hate for him. I watch a ton of golf but I just follow why everyone hated him. I barely pay attention to what is being said except when the shots are being called. 

[jordan2240]

I liked azinger when he was paired with faldo, but found him very bland otherwise.  How 'bout someone who knows golf but wasn't a pro.  Tony Romo.

[Kaysquare]

Now, if only Jim Nantz would decide to retire.......

[jordan2240]

19 minutes ago, Kaysquare said:

Now, if only Jim Nantz would decide to retire.......

Off topic, but nantz at least voices some excitement.  The guy who really needs to go is Al Michael's.  TNF is a snooze fest.

[JohnnyCashForever]

NBC should hire Phil to replace Zing.  The guy knows golf, has multiple-major-winner-cred, is entertaining, and is unafraid to say what he thinks.  

[chillybilly]

I will miss Zinger if only for his occasional digs at a player who deserved it for lack of focus, concentration, courage etc.

 

I won't miss Zinger for 'that was a GREAT shot' two dozens times per hour or other mastery of the bleeding obvious.

 

Zinger's best role was in a 3-man booth where he could play sharp tongue, devil's advocate etc. against the play-by-play man and the 'white knight' analyst eg Faldo who was gilding the lily  ('He's a great player etc.).

 

Forced to play choirboy right down to the haircut & necktie, it was a role that didn't suit him or he didn't relish. The real Zinger is/was a smartass, a hothead, a master of profanity. Interesting but not genteel network fodder.

 

If Johnny Miller was irreplaceable that didn't mean another major winner/Tour vet couldn't be critical, even caustic in Milleresque fashion.

 

Perhaps Zinger was his own worst enemy by bigfooting the on-course reporters or even the camera crews by attempting to predict ball flight, landing spots, view of the green, lie, etc. Instead of asking 'Roger what's he looking at here?' Zinger often attempted to predict, even to divine, what the player was facing. This was foolhardy since the easier and safer path for an 18th Tower person would be to wait until the player actually arrived at the ball and most/all of the circumstances were known. One might say this is a hazard of the Tracer Ribbon - it's easy enough to declare a shot off-line, in trouble etc but the temptation to predict the rest of the hole's outcome was just too great in too many instances.

 

The problem, such as it is, in the present is that the PGA Tour is even more clubbish than it was before the dawn of LIV Golf. Player A is private-jet-flying-friends with Player B. Player B was Player C's college teammate. One can watch or attend a PGA Tour event and see a sort of pro wrestling fakery. The shots and the scores and the emotions are real but the players are buddy-buddy through thick and thin. See also: NFL & college football players in 'bitter rivalries' laughing, hugging and chatting after games like they're at a family reunion.

 

An analyst is going to have to choose one of two paths - be an outsider or be an insider. An outsider will have to be critical, harsh. Chamblee-like as it were. An insider will be a Colt Knost type - I know X, I know X's caddie, we had dinner, we played a casual/gambling round etc. Both types can succeed. Broadcast Row types still think it's the 1960s and Chris Schenkel is hosting the coverage. As others have wondered, who is the safe pick? Should it be a safe pick?

[chillybilly]

2 minutes ago, JohnnyCashForever said:

NBC should hire Phil to replace Zing.  The guy knows golf, has multiple-major-winner-cred, is entertaining, and is unafraid to say what he thinks.  

 

It's been reported by multiple sources that was the desired/intended path for Phil prior to the LIV/gambling mess.

 

He would have made Johnny Miller look like Mr Rogers and he would have been 100x more entertaining in the process.

 

I am not convinced that Phil can't end up in that role - his degree of separation from the Tour would make him fearless in his criticism but obviously his name is mud at Tour HQ and they would likely veto his hiring.

[Holy Moses]

38 minutes ago, JohnnyCashForever said:

NBC should hire Phil to replace Zing.  The guy knows golf, has multiple-major-winner-cred, is entertaining, and is unafraid to say what he thinks.  

He’s a little preoccupied at the moment. Phil would have been a great analyst in another world.

[Louis_Posture]

Mickelson worked as a broadcaster a few times and his performance was nothing special. Also, it's not easy to be informative, insightful, and entertaining. Johnny Miller was exceptionally good, and Faldo does a very respectable job of it.

[gvogel]

1 hour ago, chillybilly said:

I will miss Zinger if only for his occasional digs at a player who deserved it for lack of focus, concentration, courage etc.

 

I won't miss Zinger for 'that was a GREAT shot' two dozens times per hour or other mastery of the bleeding obvious.

 

Zinger's best role was in a 3-man booth where he could play sharp tongue, devil's advocate etc. against the play-by-play man and the 'white knight' analyst eg Faldo who was gilding the lily  ('He's a great player etc.).

 

Forced to play choirboy right down to the haircut & necktie, it was a role that didn't suit him or he didn't relish. The real Zinger is/was a smartass, a hothead, a master of profanity. Interesting but not genteel network fodder.

 

If Johnny Miller was irreplaceable that didn't mean another major winner/Tour vet couldn't be critical, even caustic in Milleresque fashion.

 

Perhaps Zinger was his own worst enemy by bigfooting the on-course reporters or even the camera crews by attempting to predict ball flight, landing spots, view of the green, lie, etc. Instead of asking 'Roger what's he looking at here?' Zinger often attempted to predict, even to divine, what the player was facing. This was foolhardy since the easier and safer path for an 18th Tower person would be to wait until the player actually arrived at the ball and most/all of the circumstances were known. One might say this is a hazard of the Tracer Ribbon - it's easy enough to declare a shot off-line, in trouble etc but the temptation to predict the rest of the hole's outcome was just too great in too many instances.

 

The problem, such as it is, in the present is that the PGA Tour is even more clubbish than it was before the dawn of LIV Golf. Player A is private-jet-flying-friends with Player B. Player B was Player C's college teammate. One can watch or attend a PGA Tour event and see a sort of pro wrestling fakery. The shots and the scores and the emotions are real but the players are buddy-buddy through thick and thin. See also: NFL & college football players in 'bitter rivalries' laughing, hugging and chatting after games like they're at a family reunion.

 

An analyst is going to have to choose one of two paths - be an outsider or be an insider. An outsider will have to be critical, harsh. Chamblee-like as it were. An insider will be a Colt Knost type - I know X, I know X's caddie, we had dinner, we played a casual/gambling round etc. Both types can succeed. Broadcast Row types still think it's the 1960s and Chris Schenkel is hosting the coverage. As others have wondered, who is the safe pick? Should it be a safe pick?

Perhaps Azinger's problem was that he talked too much.  He felt compelled to comment on everything.

[SEP1006]

4 hours ago, the bishop said:

Azinger sucks. Thank God he's gone. 

 

Agree 1000%. Now if they would get rid of Morgan Pressel that would be a double bonus !!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

1 hour ago, JohnnyCashForever said:

NBC should hire Phil to replace Zing.  The guy knows golf, has multiple-major-winner-cred, is entertaining, and is unafraid to say what he thinks.  

 

Not to sure about this one. The few times he's been in the booth he goes into way to much detail. Trying to impress everyone with how smart he thinks he is. His nickname isn't FIGJAM for nothing.

 

 

 

 

[Mp14forlife]

On 6/20/2023 at 10:19 AM, NoTalentLefty said:

This post is a knee jerk’n reactionary piece of cow manure even a dung beetle would stay away from. 

You like apples? Well I got him fired with this thread! How do you like them apples!!!!!!! Jk...

Not surprised by this move. I'm sure his colleague's complained about his performance and him being the lead guy only lead to more resentment. He was terrible.  

[kmbean]

Phil just placed a very large wager he will be named next lead NBC golf analyst. 

[NoTalentLefty]

19 minutes ago, Mp14forlife said:

You like apples? Well I got him fired with this thread! How do you like them apples!!!!!!! Jk...

Not surprised by this move. I'm sure his colleague's complained about his performance and him being the lead guy only lead to more resentment. He was terrible.  

Well you can be right about something once but I do not think this thread got him fired.

[Lobby]

Golf tv announcers’ job is to create drama where there is none. 
 

Therefore, all these talking heads have to balance talking too little and boring us, and talking too much and pissing us off. 
 

Azinger had gone over the edge from being too boring to being more “entertaining,” and sounding vindictive and judgemental

 

Zinger wasn’t entertaining to me. I wish him the best. 

[jordan2240]

2 hours ago, Louis_Posture said:

Mickelson worked as a broadcaster a few times and his performance was nothing special. Also, it's not easy to be informative, insightful, and entertaining. Johnny Miller was exceptionally good, and Faldo does a very respectable job of it.

Not only was it nothing special, but it was downright boring.  He made some entertaining commercials, but those lines were written for him.  When he was featured on feherty, I thought that episode was boring as well.  Wouldn't even be on my list of candidates.

[mizuno player]

Eh.  Azinger didn't bother me. I don't watch much anymore outside the majors. 

As long as I don't hear Frank Nobilo at the majors I'll be ok. I also didn't find Phil to be all the scary Mother F er either. His smartest guy in the room act I could only handle in short bursts. Not an entire broadcast. 

 

 Colin or McGinty. Or Bring Rog back!!! 

[Louis_Posture]

42 minutes ago, Lobby said:

Golf tv announcers’ job is to create drama where there is none. 
 

 

The best broadcasters share their knowledge of the game to teach viewers (players). If a viewer truly listens, he can often learn something useful.

[Pens #1 fan]

Calling it now, Justin Leonard will be replacement

[3whacker]

8 hours ago, KennyP said:

 

Is he diverse enough?

 

No, and I think/thought that might come up, I was just basing it on who they already have on payroll

[the bishop]

8 hours ago, SEP1006 said:

 

Agree 1000%. Now if they would get rid of Morgan Pressel that would be a double bonus !!!!!!!!!

 

And take that awful wardrobe with  you on the way out!

[chillybilly]

9 hours ago, gvogel said:

Perhaps Azinger's problem was that he talked too much.  He felt compelled to comment on everything.

 

I but I cast some blame in the direction of Hicks, who tended/tends to prompt all his on-air colleagues even when they don't need prompting and/or silence would serve the situation better.

Edited November 20, 2023 by chillybilly

[Ferguson]

We need to know the real reason he was let go.