NBC Sports

[Law Goalie 147]

I see NBC has the TSN crew (Gord Miller/Ray Ferraro) doing the Buffalo/Pittsburgh game. I guess with HDIA...NBC ran out of crews to work?

Yeah, even the TSN guys were making fun of that; they wanted to know if they could all get seconded to NBC. Jay Onrait reportedly wants to play a lounge lizard on The Playboy Club.

Out of curiosity, what did our American cousins think of Miller? I've rather grown to like his calls for TSN: he tends not to talk over everything, almost to the point of letting Ferraro in too much, and does a pretty good job of letting the game dictate his tempo and urgency. Still, I don't know if we'll ever hear a better call than Cole and Neale in their primes.

[chippa13 1844]

Find a tape of an old Bruins game done by Fred Cusick and then you'll never hear a better call.

[Chadd 916]

I like the way Miller calls a game, just about perfect with the right partner.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

I can't stand NBC sports.. the guy who calls the playoffs is beyond irritating.

Agree w/ Law Goalie... Cole and Neale were the best tandem :)

[wrangler 157]

My favorite is Lloyd Petit, the guy we grew up listening to in Chicago.

[Tommyj214 3]

HOLY JUMPIN' you could have panger announcing your games!!!

[mug25 2]

Holy crap is NBC Sports showing it's bias...

2 intermissions of "Crosby Crosby Crosby". If we had a ticker counting how many times his name is said it would roll over like my car's odometer. Pierre McGuire needs to just quit his job at NBC and get a job with the Penguins broadcast team. He makes his love affair with Sidney blatantly obvious.

[Chadd 916]

I tried to catch the game tonight but it was backed out on NBC sports in for the sports bar I hit in Aruba.

[mug25 2]

I tried to catch the game tonight but it was backed out on NBC sports in for the sports bar I hit in Aruba.

You didn't miss much. The Rangers looked like absolute crap all game, save for a few good shifts from Hagelin and Gaborik. Richards disappeared. Dubinsky forgot he had a game tonight and Bickel scored on his own team. Oh yeah...NBC sucked on Crosby's nipple the entire time.

[skyscrape 5]

I love Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda announcing the sharks games. They tell it like it is wether it is good or bad. The guys were cracking me up the other night. They showed a replay while one of the Sharks forwards skated away from the second or third hit that night. Drew says, "well Sharks fans...I must say this makes sense. Coach Macllelan must have told all the players that there is no longer hitting in hockey." Randy then responded with "I mean that would be the only explanation for the complete lack of team physicality." They delivered it with a Bill Murray-esque dryness that had me in tears.

[mug25 2]

I love Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda announcing the sharks games. They tell it like it is wether it is good or bad. The guys were cracking me up the other night. They showed a replay while one of the Sharks forwards skated away from the second or third hit that night. Drew says, "well Sharks fans...I must say this makes sense. Coach Macllelan must have told all the players that there is no longer hitting in hockey." Randy then responded with "I mean that would be the only explanation for the complete lack of team physicality." They delivered it with a Bill Murray-esque dryness that had me in tears.

Sometimes you hear Sam Rosen make comments about the Rangers powerplay...in a much, much, much more subtle manner. He just sounds totally annoyed that he doesn't get a chance to say his legendary line.

[EBondo 233]

I forgot this thread existed. The way NBC glorified Crosby today was absolutely atrocious. I had to mute the game because everything was Crosby-related. It was sickening trying to watch that game today and not want to throw a shoe or eight at the TV. I fully expected them to interview him on what kind of shampoo he uses. I realize he just came back from injury and he's a star in this league, but holy crap, can they talk about something else for God's sake? Let's focus a little more on the Flyers' rookies, Bryzgalov's turnaround, the comparisons between Malkin and Giroux, the injuries to BOTH teams, not just Crosby. Today NBC was transformed into the Nothing But Crosby network.

[chippa13 1844]

The treatment of Crosby is no different than how the major networks look at any of the other sports. In golf, Tiger is always front and center, regardless if he is even in the field that day. In football, you hear about Tom Brady and not Dan Koppen. Baseball telecasts live for the Yankees and Sox. That is just the way it goes.

[mug25 2]

The treatment of Crosby is no different than how the major networks look at any of the other sports. In golf, Tiger is always front and center, regardless if he is even in the field that day. In football, you hear about Tom Brady and not Dan Koppen. Baseball telecasts live for the Yankees and Sox. That is just the way it goes.

ESPN nor the entire MLB do not do a "Jeter Watch" when he returns from an injury...

[Chadd 916]

ESPN nor the entire MLB do not do a "Jeter Watch" when he returns from an injury...

That's because they only talk about the Yankees and Red Sox 90% of the time. They already cover that during their normal blanket coverage of the team.

[pizzakid13 5]

I forgot this thread existed. The way NBC glorified Crosby today was absolutely atrocious. I had to mute the game because everything was Crosby-related. It was sickening trying to watch that game today and not want to throw a shoe or eight at the TV. I fully expected them to interview him on what kind of shampoo he uses. I realize he just came back from injury and he's a star in this league, but holy crap, can they talk about something else for God's sake? Let's focus a little more on the Flyers' rookies, Bryzgalov's turnaround, the comparisons between Malkin and Giroux, the injuries to BOTH teams, not just Crosby. Today NBC was transformed into the Nothing But Crosby network.

Come on man, I know you're a flyers fan but come on. Crosby is the only player in the league that casual sports fans know of. He IS the league. His return deserves the coverage.

[Chadd 916]

Come on man, I know you're a flyers fan but come on. Crosby is the only player in the league that casual sports fans know of. He IS the league. His return deserves the coverage.

you have a bit of a chicken-egg scenario there. He has been the only player promoted by the league and broadcast partners since he came into the league. There is no doubt that he is an amazing talent but the NBA learned what happened when you only promote one player.

[EBondo 233]

you have a bit of a chicken-egg scenario there. He has been the only player promoted by the league and broadcast partners since he came into the league. There is no doubt that he is an amazing talent but the NBA learned what happened when you only promote one player.

Exactly. I understand he's the biggest name in hockey, but why does he have to be the only one?

[wrangler 157]

He's also not the only face out there. Look at the others who've been used on the video game boxes.

[Chadd 916]

He's also not the only face out there. Look at the others who've been used on the video game boxes.

The NHL and NBC don't pick who goes on the cover of the games.

[EBondo 233]

I really wish there was a polarizing American figure in hockey. There's Sidney Crosby (Canadian), Alex Ovechkin (Russia), Steven Stamkos (Canada), but there isn't an American hockey player you could market like any of those three. Sure you can throw Patrick Kane into the mix, but he's not exactly your model citizen. Parise? I could see that, but not with the team he plays for. Put him on a team like New York, or Philly, or Boston, and then I could see it.

[wrangler 157]

He's also not the only face out there. Look at the others who've been used on the video game boxes.

The NHL and NBC don't pick who goes on the cover of the games.

Obviously. But that doesn't mean they are ignorant of the fact that casual hockey fans know names and faces other than Sidney Crosby. And, as you noted earlier, it's smarter business to promote more than one player.

[Chadd 916]

Obviously. But that doesn't mean they are ignorant of the fact that casual hockey fans know names and faces other than Sidney Crosby. And, as you noted earlier, it's smarter business to promote more than one player.

That proves that EA is smarter than the NHL, it doesn't mean that the NHL gets a free pass for putting all their eggs in one basket.

[pizzakid13 5]

you have a bit of a chicken-egg scenario there. He has been the only player promoted by the league and broadcast partners since he came into the league. There is no doubt that he is an amazing talent but the NBA learned what happened when you only promote one player.

Which guy are you referring to? Jordan comes to mind and that obviously worked pretty well.

I would disagree that casual sports fans know other players. Maybe A couple years ago when the league was pushing crosby vs. Ovechkin, so people knew both but now it's only crosby. So, the league must market his comeback heavily. I honestly dont support this policy but that's how they see it.

[Chadd 916]

Which guy are you referring to? Jordan comes to mind and that obviously worked pretty well.

I would disagree that casual sports fans know other players. Maybe A couple years ago when the league was pushing crosby vs. Ovechkin, so people knew both but now it's only crosby. So, the league must market his comeback heavily. I honestly dont support this policy but that's how they see it.

What happened when Jordan retired or someone other than Jordan was involved in a big game? Ratings were way down. You need to promote the sport to create long term fans, not create a cult of personality.