“Now when I try to watch there is so much scrolling and popping up that I can’t see the play on my television. I don’t care that LaDainian Tomlinson has two receptions for 8 yards in the first quarter of another game that I am not even watching.
“There’s a reason why people watch TV — because they don’t want to read.”
Comedian Lewis Black on “Inside the NFL” on HBO quoted via Sideline Chatter.
First posted here three years ago today.
… and its only gotten worse in those three years.
In particular, I can’t believe how awful ESPN is at coverning football games. I thought that was their essential stock in trade. The Saturday night team isn’t so bad, comparatively, but all the others are the no better than those you find televising high school games.
I’m talking about more than just the innane, irritating commentary and endlessly distracting graphics. They miss plays. Poor camera work cuts off the important part of the action. They replay touchdown dances 5 or 6 times, but can’t rerun the crucial penalty that set up the touchdown.
What I loved about ABC’s Monday Night Football and some of the better college crews was that they knew more than I did, and could point out how the line blocking scheme openned up holes for the run, or how the linebacker faked out the guard to get past him to the QB.
The height of analysis this weekend was how the quarterback position is really important to the success of a college team.
Sheesh.
I usually watch most football games with the sound down real low. My family and friends think I’m crazy. I can see what is going on and most sports announcers go on inanely for hours talking about stuff that has no bearing on the game at hand. John Madden is about the only one I’ll turn the volume up for as he explains the game in the manner I can understand.