I'm not sure when or why it happened - but at some point in time, radio sportscasters got VERY angry. And not just angry. Anger is a momentary fit 0f passion. You get over it and move on.
Sportscasters don't move on, except to the next topic or phone call, bringing along the same cutting anger and mean-spiritedness that they laid on the previous subject or caller.
These aren't professional athletes who have taken up the microphone, either - although it can be argued that a good percentage of professional athletes could do just as good a job, without the attitude.
Who are these flame-throwing no-names that have such little patience with their participating audience members?
My stab at profiling: Played some sport at some level (Little League Baseball, High School Football, Collegiate Intramural), started in a small radio market or college station, has no degree or equivalent experience, but considers themselves a journalist. Under 35, most likely under thirty. Single or married more than once. Always correct in a disagreement, the other party is just stupid. Except for getting hired for the on-mike gig, no different than most sports fans in America, the very people being railed against.
Covering sports ought to be fun. Most sports are games, after all. It ought to be fun to listen to people talk about games.
The exception?
Dan Patrick. As far as I can tell, he is the only one on the radio that provides a consistent laugh, and can even laugh at himself. Fun to listen to, and often funny - but not in that ESPN-schtick comedian proving ground that Obermann and others developed.
He even sounds sincere, when answering (seemingly) every caller's first words - "How ya doing?"
"Doin' good," he answers.
He sure is.
Check out the books at:
http://mchustonbooks.com
McHuston's One Famous Name
http://onefamousname.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment