There are certain announcers, and Tim McCarver and Joe Theisman are two of them, that alway say, “<Otherwise mediocre player> is the best in the league at doing <special skill that no one could possibly keep track of and call him out on>”.
For instance, during the Cards game last night, McCarver (I think it was McCarver who is doing the games with Buck right now) says, “Mike Matheny is the best cather I’ve ever seen at getting his shoulders square when blocking a pitch.”
Right, the best ever, or at least since you said the same stupid thing about Javy Lopez (or whoever) when doing a game in June.
The football guys are worse. “Mediocre safety is the best in the league at running the stunt out of the 4-3 formation.”
“Mediocre running back is the best at stopping, then restarting his feet.”
“Crappy quarterback is the best at checking through his progressions.”
Among all the other annoying things that announcers do, this one really grates me the worst.
Ah, a pet peeve of mine! A related peeve is the fickleness of some announcers:
Mediocre player has just scored a touchdown. “That’s why he’s an unheralded but great wide receiver!” Later in the same game, mediocre player leaves a pass incomplete. “That’s why he’s overrated as a wide receiver.”
Well, it’s nice that everyone can be good at something.
One of my least favorite things sports announcers do (this one’s for you, ESPN bozos) is bad imitations of regional accents. There is no earthly reason to try and attempt a Boston or New York accent virtually every time you launch into a story on the Red Sox or Yankees. It would be loathsome enough if you could actually do a respectable accent.
But you can’t, and thus you reveal yourselves to be smirking morons.
I just googled “best in the league at”. Check out some of these gems. And I’m not saying some aren’t valid, but if you’re going to tell me “best in the league at” it better be for something like “hitting for average”, “throwing TDs” or “getting assists.” Not this stuff. . .
“The best in the league at giving his team exactly what it needs to win on a night-to-night basis.”
“He’s the best in the league at directing an offense.” (manning)
“Chelios was the best in the league at clearing out the front of the net when he was in his prime”
“Manning is acknowledged as the best in the league at running a team at the line.”
“Is best in the league at changing plays at the line of scrimmage” (manning, he keeps showing up)
“watch for Chad Pennington — one of the best in the league at hitting his target n stride”
“It’s the guys coming from the weak side to block shots that I get concerned about. And he is one of the best in the league at that”
“He’s the best in the league at legging balls out and making infielders move one way or another.”
“Kidd has the speed necessary to take any guard off the dribble and is the best in the league at passing the ball in traffic.” (probably, but still. come on.)
“McInnis is a dangerous pick-and-roll performer and probably the best in the league at nailing the floater in the lane.”
I have to admit, though, watching Manning seemingly call plays on the fly is a beauty to behold. Also, he’s the reason I’m in first place in my fantasy football league.
Currently in his prime, Hamlet’s the best BBQ Pit responder I’ve seen in my years as a SDMB announcer. When he’s in, you know it’s gonna be either a run or a pass.
Yeah, well, some are probably even true, but typically they’re subjective and unverifiable. Its a way for a guy to sound smart (like he’s evaluated all the guys in the league at one particular skill) without being able to be called out on it.
When McCarver said it yesterday, he said something like “best ever” or “best I’ve ever seen”. He wasn’t even just talking about current MLB.
I guarantee if you started a list of these, you’d see the same guy say the same thing about 2 different players.
Lord Ashtar is one of the best posters at nitpicking over minor details we’ve seen here at the Straight Dope Message Board since Councilman Picky O’Pickerson of Nitpickingville, Nitpick.
Of course, Derek Jeter is McCarver’s favorite target for these things. Soft grounder, Jeter charges the ball, and barehands it to first…“On that particular play, Derek Jeter is without a doubt, the best I’ve ever seen at it.”
Thank you, thank you. First, I have to give all the glory for this award to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom none of this would be possible.
Man, Bip Roberts, who I used to have decent respect for (didn’t watch much of the California Angels) is now the Giants’ television on-the-field guy. He’s so bad about this. He regularly shares the classic, “Whoever can score the most runs off the opposing pitcher is gon’ be the winner here tonight.” Auuuughghhh!
He’s the Kim Bauer; the Jai Rodriguez of Giants telecasts.
