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Published on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
If you are anything like me, while watching Fox Sports coverage of the American League Championship Series between the Indians and Boston Red Sox, you were thankful for one thing: The series wasn't on TBS.
The caustic tones of Chip Caray's New York Yankees' bias still echo like fingernails on chalkboard, the yelping of agitated dogs and, even worse, the screaming of Congress when neither party can agree on anything.
While I've heard a couple of folks gripe otherwise, I sincerely appreciated the knowledge and even-handed analysis of Fox's Joe Buck and his partner Tim McCarver, especially during the marathon five-hour broadcast Saturday night.
While the Indians have essentially gone unnoticed by the national media listen to sports-talk radio or watch television as they droned on first about the Bronx Bombers and now the Bosox, Fox's broadcast team at least gives them some respect.
''The Indians and Red Sox are the two best teams in the American League. Sometimes the best teams don't advance, but this year, they did,'' McCarver said before the first game in the ALCS.
After that epic battle Saturday night, Buck said that fans should just strap themselves in and enjoy the ride. ''Cleveland simply had to win Game 2,'' Buck said. ''By doing so, they proved what many people thought coming in that this is anyone's series. The Indians had very good at-bats against one of the best 'big game' pitchers of all time in Curt Schilling.''
That is the type of commentary that is needed on a national level, not the thinly veiled cheerleading that Caray provided.
Browns get respect
Wait a second. The national media aren't supposed to offer praise of the Browns. They're to be mocked. Kicked while down and spat upon, by those know-it-all talking heads, right? Apparently not anymore.
Do we dare take note of the fact that the Browns, who pretty much filleted the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium 41-31, are receiving some notice on the national level for . . . gulp . . . playing well?
There it was on NFL GameDay on the NFL Network after the Browns' victory. Taking note of quarterback Derek Anderson's play Sunday, Steve Mariucci, former coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, offered this perceptive comment: ''Brady Quinn might end up on that bench a little bit longer.''
Deion Sanders, the future hall of fame cornerback, even gave Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards a pat or two on the back for his three-touchdown showing Sunday.
''He has developed into one of the best receivers in the league,'' Sanders said.
You know that Armageddon is upon us when Sanders has something complimentary to say about a Browns player, let alone a wide receiver.
Be afraid, OSU fans
Here's a reason Ohio State fans should worry about whether their football team will run the table and make it to a second consecutive national championship game: Jimmy Johnson is on your side.
Each week, the BCS Standings are announced on Fox, and Johnson had this to say about the Buckeyes: ''The team that has a breeze is Ohio State. Who do they have left to play? They won't get beat.''
ESPN the TV magazine
ESPN is taking a bolder step in sports journalism by adding a long-form sports magazine show to its lineup beginning at 7 tonight. E:60 debuts with a staff that includes Jeremy Schaap (a favorite in this corner), Lisa Salters, Rachel Nichols, Tom Farrey and Michael Smith. ESPN will air 15 original episodes a year, four weeks beginning tonight, another run in April, and again in June. You have to imagine that HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel served as an impetus for this, but given the talent at ESPN, that doesn't matter much. Viewing should prove compelling.
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
If you are anything like me, while watching Fox Sports coverage of the American League Championship Series between the Indians and Boston Red Sox, you were thankful for one thing: The series wasn't on TBS.
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