Rate the Golf telecast crews

Cafe Society
1

Who’s great and who grates?

Here are the big three in the U.S., but feel free to introduce other crews and commentators I’ve missed…

ABC:

Host: Mike Tirico
Lead Analyst: Curtis Strange

Others: Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Alliss, Steve Melnyk, Judy Rankin, Bob Rosburg, Gary Smith Billy Ray Brown, Frank Hannigan and Roger Twibell.

CBS:

Host: Jim Nantz
Lead Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

Others: Gary McCord, Verne Lundquist, Bill Macatee and Peter Oosterhuis, David Feherty, Bobby Clampett and Peter Kostis.

NBC:

Host: Dan Hicks
Lead Analyst: Johnny Miller

Others: Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Bob Murphy, Gary Koch, Ed Sneed

2

Well, I was frustrated with CBS’ annoying coverage of the PGA Championship today. After showing nothing but Tiger early on, I turned it off and went out. When I came back, Shaun Micheel was at -7 and had a 3-shot lead. He proceeded to bogey the last three holes and end up tied with Chad Campbell for the lead. After bogeying 16 and 17, he hit his drive into the rough on 18. His second shot was a lob into fairway leaving him an up and down for par. Since they had run out of commercials to run, Jim Nantz and Lanny Wadkins had to fill up the time while Micheel walked up to his ball. Wadkins spun some elaborate tale about how finishing with a bogey would be GOOD for Micheel…it “just might get him angry enough to show up tomorrow determined.”

WTF? As if bogeying 16 and 17 would NOT make you determined on Sunday? And Micheel, playing in his first major EVER, will probably get no sleep tonight anyway…how could finishing with three bogeys be GOOD for him?? As he lies in his bed tonight he thinks…“I had a 3-shot lead in my first major…but I blew it…but at least I was consistent on those last three holes! Whew…NOW I can sleep!”

Sometimes commentators just need to shut the hell up. No one wants to hear your stream-of-consciousness thoughts.

3

Think Johnny Miller is by far the best commentator, Strange and Wadkins can both be pretty annoying.

NBC’s group of others is pretty strong. CBS has some good ones in Feherty, McCord and Clampett. ABC’s group is pretty weak.

Mike Tirico is the best host. His call during VanDeVelde’s blowup at the last regulation hole was memorable.