I had a mind to get all long-winded about the NFL Network’s broadcast last night — you know, about the hullabaloo over cable versus satellite and it being one of the biggest games of the season yet millions of non-sports-bar-going fans couldn’t see it, all as prelude to the stinker of a job turned in by Bryant Gumbel, Cris Collinsworth, and nearly the whole dang production crew. But I won’t go on and on, because those who care have no doubt had the same watercooler discussion already. Perhaps you, too, kept a list of the things that came out of the duo’s mouths that seemed nonsensical to the point of distraction. You know, things like Collinsworth calling Roy Williams “the best tackling safety in the league.” The plays that started immediately after a commercial break, and the extra point that cameras completely missed. And, at the end of the game, after mentioning the Cowboys quarterback in every sentence possible, Gumbel teasing a post-commercial interview with “Rick Romo.” Like I said, I could get long-winded, but I won’t.
Update: The kind commenters have reminded me of similar instances of broadcasting buffoonery. As just one for instance, Deion’s “sideline” reporting that was really from the corner of the endzone. Remember? Someone thought it’d be a good idea to have the cameraman circle Deion as he talked about … something or other. And then stop circling when he got behind Deion and the game was going on way in the distance. “Hello?” I wanted to tell Prime-Time. “Over here. Over here?” Argh.
