Sports broadcasting is an industry that is constantly looking for ways to improve their presentation. Whether this means developing new segments and concepts or borrowing them from somewhere else, they are always trying to win more ratings. This is why we now have guys jammed between the benches dodging pucks at hockey games, much like baseball commentators dodge foul balls and Pam Oliver dodges out-of-bounds running backs. One of the few cases of the inverse happening is the Fox Sports Robot – who survived the end of hockey coverage by Fox and can be seen this weekend running in 85 yard touchdowns through exploding defenders during commercial breaks on Fox’s football coverage.
One thing that I’m surprised Versus, and NBC in the upcoming months, have not adopted yet is the video introductions of the starting lineup. They’re always looking for ways to spotlight NHL players and their personalities, including and certainly not limited too eliminating their most important piece of equipment besides their jock, but they haven’t poached one of the staples of any football or baseball production. Over the years they have begun at least showing the line combinations at the beginning of the game. Which has been great, because let me tell you, lately trying to figure out which Flyers defenseman are scratched after meeting up with some friends for drinks before the game can be as confusing as spelling Joffrey. But they haven’t taken it far enough in my opinion. Maybe because it would sound something like this?
“Mike Richards, Kichener Public School Number 21”
“Mike Knuble, Jon Runyan, Michigan”
“Simon Gagne, 2 years of L’Ecole des La Virgin Marie”
“Kimmo Timonen, Durmstrang”
“Matt Carle, 1 year of Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, MI”
“Marty Biron, Lac St. Charles Public Middle School.”
If they’re afraid it would be a detriment to the U.S. Educational system they could surely have the guys say where they played before they turned pro. It’d be a great education for the viewing public as to where these guys come from. People might even get to know the feeder leagues for the NHL.
“Mike Richards, Kitchener Rangers, Ontario Hockey League”
“Mike Knuble, Michigan, NCAA”
“Simon Gagne, Quebec Remparts, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League”
”Kimmo Timonen, Kalpa Kuopio, Finnish Elite League”
“Matt Carle, University of Denver, NCAA”
“Marty Biron, Beauport Harfangs, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League”
And then the announcers would say something like, “You know what Jim, the Harfangs moved from the suburbs of Quebec into the city proper in 1997, and actually turned into the Quebec Ramparts. Towards the end of the 1996-97 season Marty Biron was traded away right before the trade deadline, but up until that point he had been sharing the team bus with a rookie you may have heard of – Simon Gagne.”
Wouldn’t that be cool to provide some insight into just how connected all the guys in the NHL are? To show the public that when you say a guy is Finnish it actually means he is from Finland, not Nashville? And just think, you wouldn’t even be squirming in your seat hoping that they can name all 11 guys before the next play goes off or you’re going to have to wash your hands ten times, because there are only 6 starters!
One thing that I’m surprised Versus, and NBC in the upcoming months, have not adopted yet is the video introductions of the starting lineup. They’re always looking for ways to spotlight NHL players and their personalities, including and certainly not limited too eliminating their most important piece of equipment besides their jock, but they haven’t poached one of the staples of any football or baseball production. Over the years they have begun at least showing the line combinations at the beginning of the game. Which has been great, because let me tell you, lately trying to figure out which Flyers defenseman are scratched after meeting up with some friends for drinks before the game can be as confusing as spelling Joffrey. But they haven’t taken it far enough in my opinion. Maybe because it would sound something like this?
“Mike Richards, Kichener Public School Number 21”
“Mike Knuble, Jon Runyan, Michigan”
“Simon Gagne, 2 years of L’Ecole des La Virgin Marie”
“Kimmo Timonen, Durmstrang”
“Matt Carle, 1 year of Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, MI”
“Marty Biron, Lac St. Charles Public Middle School.”
If they’re afraid it would be a detriment to the U.S. Educational system they could surely have the guys say where they played before they turned pro. It’d be a great education for the viewing public as to where these guys come from. People might even get to know the feeder leagues for the NHL.
“Mike Richards, Kitchener Rangers, Ontario Hockey League”
“Mike Knuble, Michigan, NCAA”
“Simon Gagne, Quebec Remparts, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League”
”Kimmo Timonen, Kalpa Kuopio, Finnish Elite League”
“Matt Carle, University of Denver, NCAA”
“Marty Biron, Beauport Harfangs, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League”
And then the announcers would say something like, “You know what Jim, the Harfangs moved from the suburbs of Quebec into the city proper in 1997, and actually turned into the Quebec Ramparts. Towards the end of the 1996-97 season Marty Biron was traded away right before the trade deadline, but up until that point he had been sharing the team bus with a rookie you may have heard of – Simon Gagne.”
Wouldn’t that be cool to provide some insight into just how connected all the guys in the NHL are? To show the public that when you say a guy is Finnish it actually means he is from Finland, not Nashville? And just think, you wouldn’t even be squirming in your seat hoping that they can name all 11 guys before the next play goes off or you’re going to have to wash your hands ten times, because there are only 6 starters!
posted by Ryan at
8:01 AM
2 Comments:
Genious. Pure genious...
I also propose replacing the Devil's entire broadcasting lineup?
If I have to hear one more lopsided call from "Doc", "Chico", and the always impressive Ken Daneyko, I might kill somebody...
dirty jerz!
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