Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > October > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBradley’s Buzz: T(otal) B(lackout) S(aturday)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“You haven’t missed much.”
The folks at TBS are taking a pelting. The network pulled one of the all-time whiffs by losing the broadcast of the first 20 minutes of Saturday night’s ALCS Game 6. Deadspin called it an epic failure, and AwfulAnnouncing.com wondered why baseball hadn’t sold the rights to “a real station.”
Writing in the New York Daily News, Bob Raissman quoted an unnamed network source as calling the failure “mind-boggling” and “somewhat embarrassing.” Someone posting on a Los Angeles Times blog opined that TBS “should stick to reruns of ‘Family Matters.’ “
Never mind that TBS pretty much pioneered baseball on cable three decades ago. A big-time network simply can’t lose a signal and put up a rerun of “The Steve Harvey Show” and expect no one to notice. And nowhere did they notice more than in — you guessed it — cranky New England.
An enterprising Sox fan posted the office number for TBS sports president David Levy on a Boston Globe blog. Tony Massarotti of the Globe raised the possibility that the dreaded glitch might give MLB a way to opt out of its postseason contract with TBS. And the Boston Herald dared to ask spokesman Jeff Pomeroy if the network planned to compensate Red Sox fans financially for their pain and suffering at having missed 20 minutes of baseball. Pomeroy’s response: “We’re talking seriously?”
You can understand Pomeroy’s failure to find any humor therein. You’ve doubtless read Kristi E. Swartz’s reports of Turner Sports and its ongoing court case against Texas car salesman David McDavid in the ol’ AJC.
It didn’t help that TBS’ Chip Caray welcomed viewers by saying, “You haven’t missed much.” (Actually, they’d missed the game’s first run — a homer by Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton.) National pundits have lined up since last season to rip Chip. Phil Mushnick of the the New York Post wrote that the announcer “worked hard to confuse simple realities with crazy talk,” which was almost gentle compared to last year’s evisceration by Richard Sandomir of The New York Times.
A personal note: I tend not to watch postseason baseball on TV; I listen instead on XM Radio. When I do watch, I usually turn down the sound because I can’t stand the bloviation. But I had the volume up during Boston’s Game 5 comeback, and what I wanted to hear — a discussion of whether Coco Crisp was wrong to try (unsuccessfully) for second base after driving in the trying run — went undiscussed by Caray, Buck Martinez and Ron Darling.
Perhaps Steve Harvey has some thoughts on the matter.
Smitty, sitting pretty
The Falcons’ stunning start has prompted two nice features on Mike Smith, the coach of whom few had heard. Pete Prisco of CBSsports.com recounted Smith’s salty address to his troops before their win at Lambeau Field. And Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports goes to great length contrasting Smith and Bobby Petrino, which isn’t exactly news but still makes for interesting fare.
A Georgia team in a BCS game?
In ESPN.com’s weekly bowl projections, Bruce Feldman has Georgia Tech going to the Orange Bowl. Which means Feldman thinks Tech will win the ACC. Which it just might.
Grim tidings for Fulmer?
Last week Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel spoke with Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton, and the printed report of their conversation couldn’t have been happy reading for Phillip Fulmer. Given a chance to say the school would stand behind the coach no matter what, Hamilton said nothing of the sort.
As Mark Wiedmer wrote in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Fulmer’s response to Tennessee’s dismissal of Mississippi State was a cheery, “Not dead yet.” In another column, Wiedmer noted that Haywood Harris, Tennessee’s beloved publicist, missed his first home game in 48 years. Harris has been ill. Cracked Wiedmer: “There is no truth to the rumor that the Vols’ struggling play made him sick.”
Permalink | Comments (46) | Post your comment | Categories: Bradley's Buzz
Comments
By Crimedog
October 20, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Two more player arrests and two more slaps on the wrist from His Holiness.
By yellowblood
October 20, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Now our team is beginning to measure up to our Tickle Pile tradition where we win a championship every year.
By 82DAWG
October 20, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
When did Jim Donnan return as coach of UGA, ‘cause doesn’t this just look like a Jim Donnan team!? All that talent and yet so underwhelming on the field. Please wake me up when Martinez is gone.
By Father of Five
October 20, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I have two 10 year old boys who love baseball (and 3 teenage daughters who have been interested in most of the NL games) who have never seen the Rays play. We don’t have cable/dish or TBS so, thanks to the masterminds at MLB, we’ve missed a lot of baseball. We get 20 digital channels over Atlanta airwaves, but TBS is no longer one of them. Way to think of the future, MLB.
By justafan
October 20, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
UGA football is beginning to look like the Longest Yard. Most player end up in jail.
By willdave
October 20, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
Saturday night, I turned on the television and started flipping channels between Missouri-Texas, LSU-South Carolina and ALCS Game 6. When I flipped to TBS and saw that idiotic “The Steve Harvey Show” was on, I thought the baseball game had been rained out. Then I quickly remembered Tropicana Field has a dome. I didn’t know what was going on!
I agree: TBS’ failure to broadcast the first 20 minutes of such a crucial postseason game is totally inexcusable. Let FOX or ESPN have those rights.
By Lex Luthor
October 20, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Sometimes bad things happen. Just remember, no network has more expierence in broadcasting nationally televised baseball games. There used to be that real good baseball team they covered almost nightly for decades.
By T
October 20, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Hilarious! TBS tries big boy TV and fails miserably, who didn’t know that… They would rather try and make you laugh than actually inform. They are a joke and Chip is the leader of that category!
By Najeh Davenpoop
October 20, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Every time I hear the hopelessly untalented Chip Caray attempt to broadcast a baseball game it makes me that much sadder that his infinitely more talented and entertaining dad is no longer around.
By USAFCCF
October 20, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
TBS deserves the bad karma for dropping the Braves……
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
The thing I loved about TBS over the years was the way they treated every Braves game like it was just another game — no Fox-type hype, in other words. Then they get the MLB playoffs and they start going all Fox on us — three men in the booth, dugout reporters, half-hour pregame shows with four men talking at once. I’m sorry, but I find it all very sad.
By murfdawg
October 20, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Basketball practice has started in Lexington, so forget about writing about UGA, baseball and other subjects you know little about and give us the inside scoop. I usually don’t read your column until after Thanksgiving, but I got bored and was looking for a small diversion.
By baloney
October 20, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Ahh yes, Chip Caray babbles on with info about players,games etc. makes you think he was actually there. He was still pooping yellow when real baseball was played.
By Malted Falcon
October 20, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
When the Braves season ended, I thought I was mercifully done with Chip Caray, but there he was, ruining the ALCS for the nation and not just us poor locals. How long are the Braves going to be held hostage by this bozo? TBS had 3 other play-by-play guys who were much better. Where’s Ernie Johnson, Jr.? He’s sooo much better than Chip and easy on the ears. R.I.P. Harry and Skip, but Chip has got to go. He’ll never get better because he thinks he’s a “professional”. He routinely gets caught babbling on and on about nothing and missing the action in the game. One time, this season, the Braves had the tying run on second in a game against the Phillies in July. Chip never even mentioned the Braves, he spent the whole inning talking about which city the Florida Marlins should relocate to. (Chip preferred Portland, because he used to broadcast basketball there) AARRGGHH!! At least now, a nation feels some of my own frustration. Chip Caray holds ATL hostage.
By GT
October 20, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Brad, One of the most underrated guys in this town is Terry McGuirk. When Turner came up with all the broadcast ideas Terry was front and center. Terry is gone and the product has gone too. The shame of it is the contribution TBS made to the growth of Atlanta and the south is immeasurable, now the sun rises and sets back in New York again, which is the home of the sub mortgage upon other novelties. The north keeps a strong hold on their position by the editorial agenda they back. How is the south or anyone else going to get out from under their shoe if they can’t make some mistakes, it is almost like segregation with regions involved instead of race. Last I looked TBS was owner by a New York based company and certainly not controlled locally.
By cdawg
October 20, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Fox and ESPN are just as bad as long as Tim McCarver and Joe Morgan call those games. It is a lot like having to listen to Johnny Miller call Golf on NBC. Wait until FoX calls the BCS games again this year, you’ll be petitioning for TBS and only hope that Fox loses its signal.
By StPete Dawg
October 20, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
I hope the TBS staff will review their entire presentation of the ALCS. Graphics and camera work was good but the announcers were less than informative. Chip Caray seemed to be overly excited when the Bosox were winning and matter of fact when the Rays provided a dramatic play. Too many missed opportunities to explain what was happening ‘inside’ the game. TBS should take a look at Joe Magrane instead of cranky Old Buck as a color guy.
By CrimsonRedScarlett
October 20, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Now Steve Harvey can be remembered along with Heidi. They should have had a good phone line connection in order to at least provide audio. An old silent movie would hane been better than Harvey.By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
Remember when I said I don’t watch postseason baseball on TV, or if I do I hit the mute button? That’s a learned response to the sound of Tim McCarver’s voice.
Not to be a shill for XM, but there’s no comparison between hearing Vin Scully do the Dodgers-Phillies series — or even Joe Castiglione do the Boston-TB series — and having to put up with the endless pontificating on TV. Radio guys call the game. TV guys perform.
By Cleavon Little
October 20, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
I love how TBS forces Atlanta area people down the throats of a national baseball audience.
Chip, John (“What people don’t understand”) Smoltz and my personal least favorite—Joe Simpson.
Joltin’ Joe is one of the weakest local baseball announcers, yet because he had some Atlanta/TBS ties, he got to do the first round of the play-offs.
By T
October 20, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Chip makes my ears bleed! MB, i totally agree with your comments in the middle of the blog about what made TBS Braves telecasts great. The “zoo-like atmosphere” doesn’t work. Never has never will. But, when will the local media begin to expose Chip Caray for what he is? Answer: a joke. His Braves games broadcasts are half Braves half Cubs descriptions. I challenge anyone who doesn’t agree with me on this to really listen to what he says. I’m sorry, I can not anymore. When he is on the TV, the mute button is pushed.
By Kudzu
October 20, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
I love the Braves, Falcons, Tech, and sports in general…but good Lord, why make such a big deal about 20 minutes? I spend 100’s of hours a year watching my local teams and i am not loosing sleep over 20 minutes…you guys need to find a real life.
Outside of the SE, (i.e. CT) I can understand the condescending roasting of TBS, but the local media types ought to give the neighbor (TBS) a break.
By Ssgreeno
October 20, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Everytime we think we have heard the last from Chip Caray, - here he comes again. Is there No END to his meaningless and constant chatter? He’s like a recurring nightmare. And TBS deserves all the criticism it gets on this mess. They aren’t ready for Prime Time, and they showed it.
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Here’s what I don’t understand: In a three-man booth, you’d expect the play-by-play guy to talk less. But Chip seems to talk more.
Of course, nobody talks as much as Dave O’Brien of ESPN. (Who used to be part of the Braves’ radio team on WSB.) Unless it’s Tim Brando. (Who used to do the Hawks’ games on TV.) Or John Sterling. (Who used to do both the Hawks and the Braves.)
By KneeJerk
October 20, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
I thought Smoltz did a pretty good job in the opening round, especially for someone without a lot of experience.
By KneeJerk
October 20, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Sterling was horrible “Buzzer-beating bullseye basket”!!!
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
You should know that, in Yankee Stadium, the folks in the bleachers greeted each Yankee in the top of the first inning by chanting his name. (“Der-ek Je-ter,” or “Ber-nie Will-iams”, et cetera.) And they’d finish it off by chanting, “Johnnnn Ster-ling.”
By CaliChopper
October 20, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Stuff happens, why wasn’t CBS ripped as well for the Bills/Chargers game on Sun? Don’t networks bring back up generators to power their equipment?
By madmax
October 20, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
It all starts at TBS with the idiot David Levy and his innane quotes being out of touch, out of the city, and inept…and the head of the company being a dundering, introverted yes man who just collects a paycheck—Phil Kent. How about his answer in the McDavid trial that he was “busy doing other things” and didn’t know why they agreed to pay the $10 million fee? Guess if $10M means so little, that company must have plenty. Could they have used it for a backup generator maybe?
That crew can never succeed, yet they’ve been given the keys to the vault by NY Time Warner, who can’t get out of their own way themselves. MLB made a huge mistake, but took the gullible money from Turner. Now TBS is losing tens of millions on this deal, and they’re both hating life. You reap what you sow!
By T
October 20, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
If you know anything about Tuner broadcasting (and i do, a little), you immediately know that most of the people in position to make decisions are puppets. They continually make horrible decisions and pay no consequences for their mistakes. I left there 10 years ago and might be a little bitter, but having worked there it was “plain as day” the incompetence that went on there then. And I’m sure continues…
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
I’ve heard TBS isn’t the same as it was. Then again, what is?
By MLB on XM Listener
October 20, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bradley,
Aren’t Major League Baseball play-by-play broadcasts on XM are THE BEST audio entertainment invention of the last 25 years, including MP3 players?
Vin Scully is absolutely fantastic, but how about Bob Uecker calling Brewers games, eh? Either of those men calling a game will get me to turn off my TV immediately.
Good Times!
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
I even enjoy bad announcers — like San Diego’s Ted Leitner, who strikes me as Ted Baxter calling baseball — on XM. But now I’m worried that this XM-Sirius merger is going to mess everything up.
By MLB on XM Listener
October 20, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
You are worried the XM-Sirius merger isgoing to mess up MY beloved MLB broadcasts on XM ??
How, exactly?
Do you know something specific about how this merger will effect the MLB rights that the general public does not, Mr, Bradley?
I even listen to the local BRAVES games on XM, just so I won’t have to (directly) patronize the simpletons who run ClearChannel and all the once-great local radio stations in Atlanta they’ve ruined over the past 5 years.
By MLB
October 20, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
You’re right Mark. TBS isn’t the same as it used to be. They’re trying to play with the big networks, and along the way they’ve forgotten the people who got them there.
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
I have no inside knowledge. I just know from reading message boards — try xmfan.com — and other sites — try Orbitcast.com — that there are a lot of concerned listeners. Not necessarily about MLB, but about things in general and music channels in specific. (“Don’t touch DeepTracks!” is often heard, and I’d second that emotion.)
By SouthGARules
October 20, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness John Sterling is in NY. He & Susan Walden (I think that’s her name) are terrible. His A-bomb from A-Rod & his Ballgame over, Yankees win, TTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN! as well as her reaction to Roger Clemens in owners box (OM MY GOD THE GREATEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN-THE ROCKET IN GEORGE’S BOX ANNOUNCING HE’S COMING BACK) Evidentally this stupid woman has never been married or had children.
By CaliChopper
October 20, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
The music on Sirius is good and heard from those switching from XM its better. The sports channels are fantastic, Football, Basketball, hockey and NASCAR, hope they merge MLB and SEC into the mix.
By Mark Bradley
October 20, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
See, I was very, very satisfied with XM as is — Bob Dylan’s show, Deep Tracks and MLB. That’s why I’m nervous.
By NRBQ
October 20, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
Last night, when the one of the Rays knocked in a run with no one out, Chippie shouted, “HOW BIG are two-out hits in the playoffs?!!!!!!”
The other two guys were stunned.
It makes my skin crawl when he says, “And Smoltz comes out of the game after making 92 tosses.”
Tosses? Smoltz? Really?
By CaliChopper
October 20, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this
If I still lived in ATL I would probably be nervous also but not living in the region anymore 1 service with all would be a dream instead of having 1 and not the other or paying for 2. Sirius as of now has NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and NCAA Football(excluding the SEC) The Music and comedy channels are first rate.
By CaliChopper
October 20, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
I shoulda bought one of those Braves radios Skip, Pete and Ernie used to tell us to tune into years ago,,,,
By Malted Falcon
October 21, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Anybody wanna start a fire Chip Caray website? I’d patronize THAT site’s sponsors.
By Grady
October 21, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Mark - just for the record, WTBS went away a year ago.
By Drexel Gal
October 21, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Sports and XM satellite radio: a match made in heaven. All MLB games and nearly every college football and basketball game. For those of us old enough to remember “surfing” the AM dial to ick up out-of-town games on crackly stations that faded out at the most inoppotune moment, XM has been the best thing to happen to sports since Howard Cosell’s ouster.
By Malted Falcon
October 22, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
sports has never been the same without Howard Cosell. Vanilla for everyone, Drexel Gal