Playing with a lead

[skyvue]

I like Fran, too, as I've stated several times above and in other threads; he's one of my favorite announcers. And I fully understand all the extenuating circumstances; I stated those above, too. But last night he focused so much on not seeming biased that he came off as utterly biased in favor of texas.

An impartial observer, who didn't care who won and perhaps didn't know about James, would have watched that broadcast and thought, "Why is he talking about a game from two years ago so much? And why does he act like Texas is making a comeback? They're down by 20+ points and have been the entire second half."

The point that Fran is between a rock and hard place is fair but way overstated. I've never heard a single person claim he was biased in favor of OU -- have any of you? And if it's really such a difficult position for him to be in, then he shouldn't be repeatedly placed in that situation by the higher-ups at ESPN.

By all means, he should try to keep his audience interested in the game, so a reference or two to the 2012 game is fine. But he should give his audience some credit, too. When the Sooners continued to maintain and even expand their lead, he started to look a little silly when he continued to reference that game over and over. Viewers aren't idiots; they could see how the game was going. When Musberger, of all people, is ribbing you for the positive texas spin you're putting on the game, you should know you're overdoing it.

The one supremely absurd moment was when Fran exclaimed, "Here they come!" when ut hit a three to cut the lead to what, 23 or 24 points? with four and a half minutes on the clock. Sorry, but that was just laughable.

 

[152219]

In an ESPN Insider article, today Fraschilla projected the Big 12 to finish

1. KU
2. UT
3. ISU
4. OU
5. WVU

 

[steverocks35]

In an ESPN Insider article, today Fraschilla projected the Big 12 to finish

1. KU
2. UT
3. ISU
4. OU
5. WVU

Wow, that's ridiculous, did he suffer a traumatic brain injury on the way back to the hotel last night?

 

[opsooner]

I like Fran, too, as I've stated several times above and in other threads; he's one of my favorite announcers. And I fully understand all the extenuating circumstances; I stated those above, too. But last night he focused so much on not seeming biased that he came off as utterly biased in favor of texas.

An impartial observer, who didn't care who won and perhaps didn't know about James, would have watched that broadcast and thought, "Why is he talking about a game from two years ago so much? And why does he act like Texas is making a comeback? They're down by 20+ points and have been the entire second half."

The point that Fran is between a rock and hard place is fair but way overstated. I've never heard a single person claim he was biased in favor of OU -- have any of you? And if it's really such a difficult position for him to be in, then he shouldn't be repeatedly placed in that situation by the higher-ups at ESPN.

By all means, he should try to keep his audience interested in the game, so a reference or two to the 2012 game is fine. But he should give his audience some credit, too. When the Sooners continued to maintain and even expand their lead, he started to look a little silly when he continued to reference that game over and over. Viewers aren't idiots; they could see how the game was going. When Musberger, of all people, is ribbing you for the positive texas spin you're putting on the game, you should know you're overdoing it.

The one supremely absurd moment was when Fran exclaimed, "Here they come!" when ut hit a three to cut the lead to what, 23 or 24 points? with four and a half minutes on the clock. Sorry, but that was just laughable.

No, but you already stated the reason for that. He definitely leans for the other team when he announces to ensure that doesn't happen. He would be accused of favoritism if he didn't. That would not make it right but that is the world in which he lives. Once his son is gone I think you'll see different behavior when he calls OU.

I also agree with you that he should probably just avoid the games but he lives in Dallas so I am sure he wants to cover the Big 12 plus it is a good way for him to get to visit with his son, even for a short while.

 

[skyvue]

No, but you already stated the reason for that. He definitely leans for the other team when he announces to ensure that doesn't happen. He would be accused of favoritism if he didn't.

It's a matter of degree. It's not black or white; there are many shades of grey. So while he may avoid accusations of favoritism (accusations of which no one has yet cited a single example), he denies proper credit to a terrific team that deserves positive coverage.

A skilled announcer could tread that line pretty easily, and I believe Fran could too. Instead he makes the huge leap from one end of the spectrum to the other, ignoring the vast middle ground in between. And all because of a player who averages 1.4 minutes of playing time per game.

Let's face it, he'd have had to go pretty far over the top to ever be accused of overpraising OU last night. Any such complaints would have sounded pretty silly after that beatdown.

Bob Costas is a casual acquaintance of mine (though I've not talked to him in some years) and he once told me that every broadcast game, every single one, sees complaints from both sets of fans. A certain percentage of both fanbases will always be convinced following a game that the announcers were favoring the other side.

If that's the case, if they're going to catch grief either way -- and Costas says they do -- then Fran (or any other announcer) should stop worrying and just call the game as it happens.

And I'll leave it at that. I'm repeating myself at this point, so I'll let it drop.

 

[sperry]

As usual he did a great job covering the game. He always praises Kruger and the players. The Texas 20 point lead was the only positive he could say about them, they weren't giving him anything to work with.

 

[steverocks35]

When Mushberger has to give you a reality check you haven't had a good night.


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