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Robbie Tolan Faces Long Recovery After Police Shooting

Posted: Feb 16th 2009 10:00AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: MLB Media Watch

At 2 a.m. on December 31, a 23-year-old minor league baseball player named Robbie Tolan was driving to the home he lives in with his parents after going out to eat with his cousin. Even though Tolan had done nothing wrong, a police officer began to follow him. And even though Tolan was unarmed, another officer confronted Tolan once he reached his home, drew his gun, and shot him.

Tolan survived, but he was only recently released from the hospital, and he still has a bullet lodged in his liver and may never play baseball again. The gut-wrenching story is explored in a stunning report by Bryant Gumbel that will air Tuesday night on HBO's Real Sports.

Continue Reading Robbie Tolan Faces Long Recovery After Police Shooting

NFL Network Hires Bob Papa to Replace Bryant Gumbel

Posted: Jun 25th 2008 3:37PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Media Watch, NFL Network

0 COMMENTS

Neil Best of Newday is reporting that NFL Network has hired Bob Papa to handle play-by-play on its slate of eight regular-season games, replacing Bryant Gumbel as the top in-game broadcaster on the league-operated cable channel.

By hiring Papa, NFL Network has basically gone the exact opposite route it went when it hired Gumbel: Papa is an old pro who has a firm understanding of the job but isn't well known outside New York; Gumbel is a big name who had no experience calling play-by-play.

Tom Hammond was thought to be the front-runner for the gig but was apparently passed over. NFL Network wanted Al Michaels but couldn't afford him.

On NFL Network Papa will work with analyst Cris Collinsworth. Papa's primary job is as the Giants' radio play-by-play man. He is also the lead announcer for HBO's Boxing After Dark.

NFL Network to Hire Al Michaels?

Posted: May 1st 2008 5:18PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Media Watch, NFL Network

2 COMMENTS

Now that NFL Network is done with the two-year experiment of Bryant Gumbel as play-by-play man, where will the league's official cable channel turn?

Neil Best of Newsday reports that the NFL could be looking to add a huge name: Al Michaels.

Michaels, who for three decades has been among America's best-known play-by-play voices, would lend instant credibility to NFL Network, which has struggled to find an audience. If the league could get Michaels, it would be thrilled.

But could the league get him? It would be a tough schedule for Michaels, who would have to do double duty for seven weeks, working NFL Network Thursday and NBC Sunday. And Michaels isn't crazy about working on cable TV -- especially cable TV that not every cable subscriber gets.

Still, if the NFL is willing to fork over enough dough -- maybe $500,000 a game or so? -- I could see this happening.

Madden '09 Announcers: Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth

Posted: Apr 25th 2008 1:21PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Media Watch, Video Games, NFL Network

0 COMMENTS

We found out yesterday that Brett Favre will be the face of Madden '09. Today, courtesy of Awful Announcing, we find out whose voices we will hear doing the broadcast on the game.

Madden NFL 09 will also feature a network-inspired broadcast presentation. Players will benefit from the authentic football knowledge of an in-booth play-by-play and color commentary team featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond. In addition, numerous graphical enhancements have been made, including realistic weather and grass, sleeker player models and exterior stadium views.

That's kind of big news. First off, it pretty much confirms the Hammond/Collinsworth team on NFL Network (imagine Bryant Gumbel on the game). Second, it takes us away from having John Madden and Pat Summerall/Al Michaels in our ears.

Apparently John Madden will be in the game in some form (I mean, it is the 20th anniversary edition and Brett Favre is on the cover) but it hasn't been revealed.

Bryant Gumbel in 1980: I'm Not a Whiz at Play-by-Play ... I Don't Like My Voice

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 12:30PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Media Watch, NFL Network

0 COMMENTS

There were two basic complaints about Bryant Gumbel, the recently departed play-by-play voice at NFL Network, and both of them are addressed in this post at the New York Times' Fifth Down blog. The first is that he made too many verbal gaffes, like the infamous time that he called Tony Romo "Rick Romo":

The second was that his voice wasn't right for the job of being a play-by-play announcer. And it turns out that in a 1980 Sports Illustrated article, Gumbel acknowledged just that:

"I'm not a whiz at play-by-play announcing," says Bryant Gumbel. "I don't like the sound of my voice. And I was never a professional athlete. My ability is to digest a lot of information, which I dispense calmly and articulately while everyone around me is going bananas."

Gumbel pretty much nails what his harshest critics say when he says he's not a whiz at play-by-play and doesn't hve a good voice for it. But overall, I think Gumbel got a little bit of a bad rap because he didn't get enough credit for the way he interacted with his color commentators on NFL Network: You could always tell Gumbel's background was as an interviewer because he set up the ex-players in the booth with penetrating questions.

The Gumbel era will be remembered as a failure, as eventually the voice and the mistakes became too much to overcome. I'm not sorry to see him go, but I also think he got more criticism than he deserved.

Marv Albert Should Replace Bryant Gumbel as NFL Network Play-by-Play Announcer

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 6:49AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Media Watch, NFL Network

3 COMMENTS

Now that Bryant Gumbel has stepped aside as the play-by-play man on the live regular-season games broadcast by NFL Network, the big question in sports broadcasting is who will replace him.

The answer should be Marv Albert.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today suggests that Albert would be a worthy candidate, and he's absolutely right. Although I was never as down on Gumbel as most people, the fact is that if NFL Network wants to the exact opposite of Gumbel, Albert is their man.

People complained about Gumbel's voice. Albert has the best voice in broadcasting. People complained about Gumbel's inexperience. Albert has been doing play-by-play for close to half a century. People complained that Gumbel wasn't prepared enough. Albert is known for meticulous preparation.

Albert currently works basketball and Monday Night Football on the radio, and he should be able to fit the NFL Network Thursday and Saturday games into his schedule. This is a move NFL Network needs to make.

NFL Network Exec Declines to Say if He Asked Bryant Gumbel to Leave

Posted: Apr 12th 2008 10:43AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Rumors, NFL Media Watch

2 COMMENTS

So far, so good: we're one day into the life without Bryant Gumbel and NFL Network is still standing. Yesterday, FanHouse's Michael David Smith pointed out that the network released a statement claiming both parties said it was Gumbel's decision to step aside.

After seeing today's New York Times, I wonder if "both parties" actually means "NFL Network." From the Times' Richard Sandomir:

Bornstein publicly supported Gumbel, even as Gumbel struggled with the mechanics of play-by-play. When reached by telephone, Bornstein declined to say if he had asked Gumbel to leave.

Of course, Gumbel explained via e-mail that "What happened is we had a conversation and we agreed to go in different directions. It's really as simple as that," so maybe Bornstein's just being coy by refusing to answer the question. Either way, Gumbel's out and the NFL Network now needs a play-by-play guy for their eight regular-season games.

I'm quite certain I'm in the minority, but I didn't mind In-the-Booth Gumbel. The same person who came across as pompous and smug as an interviewer was surprisingly likable when working football games. Sure, he made mistakes (a lot of them, actually) but I'm willing to put up with a few "Rick Romos" if it means I don't have to hear the idiotic ramblings you're sometimes subjected to on other national networks that televise their games on, say, Monday nights. Apparently, that's just me, though.

Whatever, what's done is done. And word on the street has Tom Hammond, an NBC employee since 1984, as the early frontrunner to replace Gumbel.

Bryant Gumbel Leaves NFL Network

Posted: Apr 11th 2008 4:32PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Media Watch, The Word, NFL Network

261 COMMENTS

Bryant Gumbel is leaving his position as the play-by-play voice of live games on NFL Network, it was announced today.

Both parties said it was Gumbel's decision to step aside. Gumbel released the following statement through NFL Network:

"I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me," said Gumbel. "But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions. There are a lot of talented people at NFL Network. I thank them, I wish them well, and I have no doubt that they will be very successful going forward."

NFL Network President and CEO Steve Bornstein released a statement calling Gumbel "One of the great broadcasters of our time." But he had never worked in play-by-play before he was tapped for NFL Network, and many viewers and critics thought he struggled to learn on the job.

NFL Network will begin looking for a replacement to call play-by-play on its eight live regular-season games immediately. Cris Collinsworth is expected to remain as the network's primary color commentator.
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KEY BISCAYNE, FL - APRIL 03: Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys watches as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a match against Andy Roddick during day eleven of the Sony Ericsson Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on April 3, 2008 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

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Officials Not Doing the Panthers Any Favors

Posted: Dec 22nd 2007 11:22PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Panthers, NFC South, Charlotte, Carolina

6 COMMENTS

The lead story of Saturday night's Dallas Cowboys win over the Carolina Panthers will be the status of Terrell Owens' injury. However, many will talk about the tough calls against the Panthers during the game.

The two biggest calls were on huge passing plays in the 4th quarter. The first came on a long pass attempt from Matt Moore to Drew Carter that Cowboys CB Jacques Reeves broke up. The replays showed (and it was quite obvious to the naked eye) that Reeves held up Carter as he lept to break up the pass. No call. That was on 3rd down and would have sent the Panthers offense to mid-field.

The second was on a pass that Steve Smith seemingly caught, was knocked to the ground and the ball came squirting out. The official who was standing on top of the play ruled it complete. Then the other officials joined into the discussion and changed the call to an incomplete pass. Carolina challenged the call but referee Mike Carey ruled that since Smith was knocked to the ground, it was incomplete. Huh? Smith caught the ball, both his feet touched the ground, he was hit, he fell to the ground and then the ball squirted out. How in the world is that incomplete? Even Chris Collinsworth (who sheepishly said he guessed it was a good call) wasn't too sure during his analysis of the play with Bryant Gumbel.

Continue Reading Officials Not Doing the Panthers Any Favors

Bryant Gumbel Calls Tony Romo 'Rick Romo'

Posted: Dec 22nd 2007 6:32PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Media Watch, Dallas, NFL Network

17 COMMENTS

I don't dislike NFL Network play-by-play man Bryant Gumbel the way a lot of folks in the sports blogosphere do, but I must admit, this is a huge mistake:

That was after the Cowboys beat the Packers last month. FanHouse commenter Alex noticed it at the time, but this is the first time I've seen the video (via Awful Announcing). Gumbel makes too many mistakes with players' names; there's no disputing that.

So why aren't I on the anti-Gumbel bandwagon? Because I think he's the best play-by-play man in the business at setting up his color commentators. Gumbel's background in broadcast journalism makes him far more experienced as an interviewer than any other play-by-play man, and it shows: He knows all the right questions to ask Cris Collinsworth, Deion Sanders or Marshall Faulk, to put them in a position to make cogent points.

My guess is that Gumbel will be done at NFL Network after this season, and I would be fine with that, but I would also be fine with him returning for another season. His mistakes are glaring, but his strengths shouldn't be ignored.