It stands to reason that even if Berman swore to leave his seltzer bottle and whoopee cushion home – TV announcers choose their words with such gem-cutters’ care during the Masters that the telecasts make for unintended comedy – he was considered by the Masters people and/or ESPN to be a behavioral risk.
Seltzer bottle and whoopee cushion. That’s Berman in five words.
Like every other sports fan under the age of 45, I grew up worshiping at the altar of Berman. It’s been sad to watch him slide into self-parody for the last decade or so. There are younger, better anchors in ESPN’s stable. Van Pelt comes immediately to mind, especially for golf, for crying-out-loud. As for Berman. He’s a professor-emeritus and I suppose he’s earned the right to stay in Bristol as long as he chooses. Maybe they can turn him into a Harry Caray/Spuds McKenzie-type. Send him to the big events to be the grand marshal, but keep him out of the anchor’s chair.
When I was down in Phoenix over Labor Day, my buddy and I caught two Diamondbacks games. They happened to be playing the same Rockies team they’ll be playing tonight. This makes five out of the last seven seasons that I’ve seen one World Series participant live and in person. And when you see as few live games as I do, that’s quite an accomplishment.
There’s a disturbing trend creeping into Major League ballparks around the country. It started with “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” in Baltimore, spread to New York with that “Cotton Eyed Joe” song, and to Boston with “Sweet Caroline”. Now it’s made its way to the Valley of The Sun where they play “Brown Eyed Girl” during the 7th inning stretch. And not the whole tune, which would be fine. No no! They only play the chorus. And in case you can’t remember how to say “sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah”, they post it on the scoreboard while on the video screen they show the cheerleaders (they’re not called cheerleaders, but that’s what they are…”The Power Team” or some such nonsense) and they all point to their brown eyes.
*Blech*
The game experience is plenty good enough without all the manufactured tripe they throw in.
Minor annoyances notwithstanding, I’m still pulling for my D-Backs to take it all. No one was happier than I when they destroyed the Cubs in 3. After Red Sox fans, there are no more insufferable fans in sports than Cubs fans. I got real tired real fast of the condescension Ron Santo directed toward Diamondbacks fans. I know he’s the new Harry Caray and all, but he really needs to stick to rooting for his team, not trashing the other. Besides, we all know there’s only one real reason to visit Wiggly Wrigley Field.
As for the ALCS, I’m pulling for the Indians if for no other reason than to jam it straight down LeBron’s throat. That and the whole Red Sox thing.
So here’s hoping the D-Backs can win 8 more. When they do, I’ll have an excuse to fly back down and get another picture taken.
