# Dumb things said by sports Announcers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 10, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326 "2009-10-10T18:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/21 "2009-10-12T15:35:39Z")
Can we include crappy stats, too? Every game has these. During the Vikings game, there was something obnoxious like “The Vikings defense has scored 17 touchdowns since 2006, 2nd in the NFL.” The hell? Why is this important? How many have they scored, oh I don’t know, maybe _this year_?!(I think that’d be 1 for those playing in the audience, Jared Allen’s fumble recovery.) Why is 2006 the cutoff? Why not go back to 1984 (or something equally stupid)? If it’s so important to note that it’s 2nd in the NFL, why not tell us who’s first then? Why aren’t they important? There was another equally stupid one during the Twins/Yankees game, but I can’t remember it now. Gah! I hate these faux stats. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/22 "2009-10-12T17:04:35Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Can we include crappy stats, too? Every game has these. > > During the Vikings game, there was something obnoxious like “The Vikings defense has scored 17 touchdowns since 2006, 2nd in the NFL.” The hell? Why is this important? I think that is a pretty damn good stat if that is how many they have scored…but I know what yer getting at,“The Whoevers are 2-0 for the first time since 2006!”…WOW…Amazing stat. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/23 "2009-10-12T18:08:07Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I think that is a pretty damn good stat if that is how many they have scored…but I know what yer getting at,“The Whoevers are 2-0 for the first time since 2006!”…WOW…Amazing stat. Last night, the sports update guy said “The Indianapolis Colts are 5-0 for the 4th time in five years!” Okay, that’s an impressive run, absolutely. He also said, “The Tennessee Titans are 0-5 for the first time since 2006!” So just 3 years ago, they were just as terrible, and you’re telling me like it’s some kind of blow-me-away stat? Joe ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/24 "2009-10-12T18:32:09Z")
Let me just say I _love_ Ron Santo (who does color for Pat Hughes on Cubs radio broadcasts). He’s a home-town hero, and even if he’s not always the most articulate announcer, he really does know a lot about baseball, has a ton of good stories form his playing days, and always has fun at the ol’ ballpark. But sometimes, well… I listened to a game this season in which Milton Bradley, with nobody on, hit a single. The throw back in was wild and allowed him to take second on the error. During the next at-bat, he advanced to third on a wild pitch. A minute or so later, Ron suddenly exclaimed: “Wait a minute – How did Bradley get on _third??_” Ronny, you might want to actually, you know, _watch_ the game you’re being paid to comment on… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/25 "2009-10-12T19:02:34Z")
Let’s take a little pity on these guys, shall we? Try talking that much yourself sometime without saying something postworthy. Hell, try \*posting \*that much. The Bengals did win that game on the last \*possible \*play of overtime. I think the meaning was clear. Norm Einstein was one of Theismann’s HS classmates, a straight-A kid who went on to be a doctor, and was reportedly greatly amused by the comment. I just wish Eckersley would get through a game without using the word “cheese” even once. I don’t think he can. ---
**Author:** ![FrWindyShephardHenderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FrWindyShephardHenderson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrWindyShephardHenderson)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/26 "2009-10-13T14:24:46Z")
My favourite is some Soccer commentator excitidly telling the viewers that a manager was substiuting one of this players… … He’s pulling him off, he’s pulling him off ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/27 "2009-10-13T14:29:10Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I know we have had these before so try to keep 'em recent. > > Today in the Auburn-Arkansas game “He was looking ahead with his eyes.” The team that dominates on defense will win the game! Hell..just say the team that scores the most points will win the game. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/28 "2009-10-13T14:37:26Z")
Awful Announcing puts up the best from each football weekend. Last year’s best: > **[The 2008 Pam Ward Chronicles Award Show!](http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-pam-ward-chronicles-award-show.html)** > > Well that was a fun year wasn't it? Went by pretty quick too. Last year I had a bit of an Awards Show for the Pammies , so I figured we'd ... ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/29 "2009-10-13T14:52:42Z")
Some baseball fans are nuts about stats. They even have a name, sabrematricians. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabermetrics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabermetrics) ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/30 "2009-10-13T16:52:51Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Some baseball fans are nuts about stats. They even have a name, sabrematricians. > > [Sabermetrics - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabermetrics) Sabermetrics is not bring “nuts about stats.” It is a very specific kind of statistical analysis, as your link shows. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/31 "2009-10-13T17:25:40Z")
> [@Hung\_Mung](#): > > I just hate it when the following exchange, in any sport, involving any statistic, occurs: > > Color Guy: “This is one great player. He hasn’t had an interception/fumble/allowed a goal in amount of time.” Bonus points for graphics showing the statistic, double-bonus for a quick video replay of the last time the event occurred. > > Two seconds later… > > Play by Play Guy: “And the player just had his first interception/fumble/goal allowed of the season.” > > Just saw it today, in fact. Color Guy says the Denver Broncos haven’t allowed a passing touchdown all season. Tom Brady immediately threw a TD pass. Argh. There is definitely something to the “commentator curse”. It’s a particularly effective weapon against FG kickers, it seems. “He hasn’t missed a field goal in 35 attempts, dating back to last season…and it’s NO GOOD!” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/32 "2009-10-13T17:47:04Z")
But then there was the Patriots’ first Super Bowl win, set up by the actual mention that Adam Vinatieri had never missed a kick indoors. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/33 "2009-10-13T17:54:51Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Gah! I hate these faux stats. I’ve always thought baseball was the worst for those. “And now Player X is stepping up to the plate, he’s 4-for-3 on the road against right-handed pitchers from National League teams with a bird for the mascot with winds over 12 miles an hour blowing from the east on odd-numbered days, Jim.” The cut-offs just get more and more arbitrary. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/34 "2009-10-13T17:58:35Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Can we include crappy stats, too? Every game has these. > > During the Vikings game, there was something obnoxious like “The Vikings defense has scored 17 touchdowns since 2006, 2nd in the NFL.” The hell? Why is this important? How many have they scored, oh I don’t know, maybe _this year_?!(I think that’d be 1 for those playing in the audience, Jared Allen’s fumble recovery.) Why is 2006 the cutoff? Why not go back to 1984 (or something equally stupid)? If it’s so important to note that it’s 2nd in the NFL, why not tell us who’s first then? Why aren’t they important? > > There was another equally stupid one during the Twins/Yankees game, but I can’t remember it now. > > Gah! I hate these faux stats. The worst stat I’ve seen was also during a vikings game, just after Favre threw a touchdown against the Packers. He apparently now has “the most touchdown passes on a single team, before throwing a touchdown pass against that team.” ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/35 "2009-10-13T18:02:56Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Awful Announcing puts up the best from each football weekend. Last year’s best: > > [Awful Announcing: The 2008 Pam Ward Chronicles Award Show!](http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-pam-ward-chronicles-award-show.html) Spectacular! Thanks, me likey. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/36 "2009-10-13T18:12:16Z")
I never understood the commentators stating that Favre “Loves playing the game.” Not that I doubt it but do all the other players out there hate playing the game? To them it’s a major drag and they just do it for the paycheck? Peyton Manning? Oh yeah, he just hates playing football. Same for all the other quarterbacks. Nobody loves playing football except Favre.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/37 "2009-10-13T18:13:43Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Awful Announcing puts up the best from each football weekend. Last year’s best: > > [Awful Announcing: The 2008 Pam Ward Chronicles Award Show!](http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-pam-ward-chronicles-award-show.html) Ooh, Pam Ward is on there. She’s the one who referred to Syracuse’s version of the wildcat formation as the “Stallion Package.” Well, she did it once. Presumably someone whispered a little something in her ear after that. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/38 "2009-10-13T18:22:26Z")
[Colemanballs](http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=colemanballs&) (updated every week). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/39 "2009-10-13T19:03:49Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I’ve always thought baseball was the worst for those. > > “And now Player X is stepping up to the plate, he’s 4-for-3 on the road against right-handed pitchers from National League teams with a bird for the mascot with winds over 12 miles an hour blowing from the east on odd-numbered days, Jim.” > > The cut-offs just get more and more arbitrary. The reason those ridiculous stats arise is because every single situation has been recorded and databased, and is easily brought up for the announcers to use. “Hey - computer guy. Run a query on this situation: One out, bottom of the third, left-handed pitcher, down by 2, batter changed his jersey number within the last 14 days, Joe Smith umpiring third base.” It’s all in there, and it all brings up such a ridiculously small sample size as to make the information totally worthless. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326/40 "2009-10-13T19:08:47Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I never understood the commentators stating that Favre “Loves playing the game.” > Not that I doubt it but do all the other players out there hate playing the game? > To them it’s a major drag and they just do it for the paycheck? Peyton Manning? Oh yeah, he just hates playing football. Same for all the other quarterbacks. Nobody loves playing football except Favre.:rolleyes: Yeah, that one gets tiresome. There _have_ been a few players over the years who clearly are playing because they’re very good at it, and they make a lot of money at it, not because of any particular enjoyment they get from it (Barry Sanders comes to mind), but I suspect they’re the exception to the rule. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-things-said-by-sports-announcers/513326.md?page=3)