Like Em or Hate em, They Are There For A Reason

I'm guilty of this.  So are many others.

As sports fans, we're often the harshest critics on those who broadcast sports for us.  We often nitpick at every comment they make.  We expect a lot from them, and we expect everything they say to capture the moment perfectly.

As someone who studied sportscasting in college, and as someone who aspires to be one full time at some point, I'm fascinated by what they say, how they say it, and how they conduct the broadcast.  And one thing I've learned about the profession: it's hard.  

Not many think so, at least from my experience.  Most people think, "describing and discussing a sporting event, ugh, that's real hard."  Listen, I'm not comparing it to brain surgery, but I'm saying it is more difficult than people think.  The people paid to do this for a living are entrusted with big money television and radio events, and are expected to make them informative and entertaining for a mass audience.

Since everybody is exposed to it constantly, everyone seems to think they could be a broadcaster.  Everyone thinks they can do it better than those currently paid to do it.

There are blogs like "Awful Announcing" and posts like this on Yahoo Sports.  Everyone is always quick to trash the guys in the plum positions, constantly taking cheap shots at them and constantly running their names through the mud.  They're easy targets.

After all, it's not like by criticizing a network broadcaster, they'll tell you, "then why don't you give it a try, and see how you do".  Why don't they?  Because they know most of us wouldn't be able to handle a minute.  Most of these guys have a tremendous confidence about them, and a tremendously thick skin, because they know that everything they say will eventually be scrutinized by bloggers, and worse yet, their colleagues often.

Here's my suggestion to all those who do this constantly:  relax.  Lay off.

By saying this, I'm not saying that there aren't times when it is completely fair to criticize a broadcaster.  I think you can criticize a broadcaster for being unprofessional, or for making critical fact errors in a broadcast.  If anything, we should expect that those being paid to bring us these games are prepared and take their jobs seriously.

But doesn't it get tiring to just bash these people because there's no repercussion to do so?  

It's like an American League pitcher throwing at his opponent.  It's much easier when you know you don't have to get in the batters box later in the game.

These guys are chosen because they have been successful in the past.  Those on the network level have been doing this for a long time, and big time executives must think they're good.  After all, these guys are the liaison between the network and the public.  It's not like these guys aren't chosen extremely carefully.  The business is subjective, sure.  So naturally we'll prefer some broadcaster's styles versus those of others.

But until you've tried it yourself, and you appreciate what these guys are doing, don't be so quick to criticize.  It's getting old at this point.