I’m watching the Outback Bowl right now, and the announcers are awful. Asleep with excitement. There have been several big plays already, but in describing even the most exciting play the announcers manage to sound like they’re reading a stock ticker. In fact, actually calling the game seems like an annoyance to them. It interrupts their inane People Magazine patter about players’ and coaches’ personal stories.
Keith Jackson was the king. He got fired up about the games he called. He was excited about every big play, his voice rising as he made the call:
Jones finds his way through the hole! He’s still on his feet! Close to the first down! Fumblllllllllllle!!!
How hard is it to understand that the way to get viewers excited about a game is for the announcer to sound like he’s excited about the game? Jackson did that every time. It could be Southwestern Louisiana versus Ball State, and Jackson’s delivery would convince you it was a struggle worthy of Homer.
Meanwhile, on my TV:
*Smith is a really terrific kid out of East Side High School. His parents are in the stands. (And Donovan’s in for the touchdown.) Now as I was saying, Smith’s parents made the trip all the way from Fairbanks to see the game today. *
