Conference 7.286::golf

    Ben Wright always has a way of taking an obvious statement and turning
    it into a literary prose.  For example, a par three over the water
    would be explained as follows:
    	On this hole the ball will need to soar over 125 yards of peereless
    H2O and capture the relentless carpet that has escaped so many golfers.
    

>    	On this hole the ball will need to soar over 125 yards of peereless
>    H2O and capture the relentless carpet that has escaped so many golfers.

And when the ball goes in to the drink.  He would say something along the
lines of.

That is most unfortunate as Player X's ball finds it's watery grave.  That
seals his fate and untimely demise.

(Ever hear of a timely demise?)
    
Some people hate him.  In small doses I kind of enjoy him.  

    I'm with Schulz .0. CBS does a good job week to week with the
    "regulars". Why bring Brent "Mushroomburger" to the Masters? He
    dosen't know the game, history, or players to add any value. I think
    Gary McCord is a riot. What a colorman. 
    ABC has always done a good job with the "Majors", but Jim McKay
    has seen his prime. He has trouble following the leader board when
    it is flashed right in front of him. It's a good thing Dave Marr
    has been there to help him out. If any one would like to keep track
    of the errors this weekend by Jim McKay, I'll compare notes in this
    file on Monday with you.
    
    I'd rather be there than watch on the tube. You Mass. boys are lucky.
    Enjoy the tourney.
    
    Ken in Virginia

    You have to like Lee (lightening) Trevino for Most-Valuable-Colorman.
    
    He's just plain fun to listen to.
    Looking forward to seeing him on the seniors circuit if his back
    can take it.
    
    Sign me "also envious of Mass. right now"
    
    Mark in Toronto

CBS' addition of Gary McCord has added some much needed lightness to
all its telecasts.  Every shot that Ken Venturi describes that isn't
in the fairway, is "extremely difficult, and he'll be lucky to get it
close to the green"...boring.

Ben Wright is a little more tolerable now that McCord is on his case
during the tournaments.

Dale

There is one American announcer that sounds like he is calling a wrestling
match, I can't remember his name, so he may have already been discussed. I can't
stand him anyway...

Luckily the Open coverage has some Australian announcers for the pictures we
see, so it's a little easier to cope with. One of our announcers is our very own
one arm bandit - Jack Newton - he was a pro golfer before he lost a fight with a
Cessna propellor.

Anyway, happy golfing,


Lindsay

P.S. Go Greg!

    Having been a golfer since the age of 11, I have spent many hours
    in front of the TV watching my heroes play the game I love.  I never
    used to notice the quality of the announcing on the telecasts until
    the last few years.
    
    CBS in my humble opinion, is so far ahead of the other two networks
    that I think the PGA should cut an exclusive deal with them to show
    all the tournaments!
    
    Rick C
    
    P.S.:  Lee Trevino is colorful for a while, then he gets on my
    nerves...he's too fake!  Tom Weiskoff (sp) is too nervous during
    the Masters (maybe because they axed him as a regular weekly announcer).

    I really agree.  For the most part, CBS does an excellent job;
    especially with the depth of broadcast talent that they have.  ABC,
    and especially NBC, are far from the quality of CBS.
    
    In the U.S. Open last week, I really enjoyed Nickluas, but the comments
    of McKay left a great deal of confusion and misrepresentation. 

                       Tim
    
    
    
    

I like CBS, they generally offer the best overall coverage of a golf
tournament.  There are two major factors in the quality of golf coverage.  They 
are 1) the number and position of the cameras and 2) the announcers.  For 
normal golf tournaments I feel that CBS does the best on #1.  However you can't 
beat ABC's camera coverage for a major like the Open where they follow the 
leaders from 1-18.  Unfortunately because they don't have enough cameras to 
cover the whole course they are moving them from one point to another.  This 
means that they often miss shots of people other than the leaders.  (Did they 
show any of Peter Jacobsen's 64 besides the 18th hole?  I haven't watched my
whole tape of Sunday's round yet.   They often don't have this sort of
coverage.)

CBS does a good job as far as announcer go.  Somerall and Venturi are likable 
and wear well but not necessarily insightful.  McCord can get on your nerves 
and Wright can seem pompous.  

Jim McKay seems to be suffering from a terminal case of jet lag.  His 
performance has deteriorated over the last few years.  I thought Jack Whitaker 
and Peter Allis do a good job.  I think Nicklaus is a very knowledgable and 
insight full analyst, unfortuantely his voice & presentation get on my nerves.

NBC covers tournaments other than the majors (except for the women).  I believe
this year they also covered the TPC.  They picked up the coverage a notch.  NBC 
is more like a bunch of guys at the club said "Let's go televise a golf 
tournament."  Trevino is a good analyst but if you aren't in the mood for his 
humor it doesn't wear well.  Scully is too well rehersed.  I get the feeling 
that he has previously thought of a line for every situation and never speaks 
spontaneously.  In general compared to CBS they seem like the JV squad.

I rate them as follows:
    1. CBS - overall coverage
    2. ABC - great camera coverage of the majors, if the announcers
              get to me I can always turn down the volume
    3. NBC - could be better if they tried
    4. ESPN- where golf junkies go for a television fix on a slow week.
    
Note: ESPN & USA network coverage of Thursday & Friday rounds are some what 
less quality than the equivalent netowrk coverage for Saturday & Sunday.  They 
usually cover less holes & the announcers are practicing for the weekend.

Just my opinion,
Larry

    This years Open was very well done however, McKay still seems "out
    to lunch" on alot of occasions. Dave Marr did his usual good job
    of covering for McKay. There was one comment that has stuck in my
    mind and probably will forever. I'd like to share it with you and
    see if anyone else picked up on it:
    
    Strange has just putted out on 18 to win the National Open. He embraces
    his wife and completely breaks down in tears. ABC has got a camera
    on them and you can really share the emotion. This guy has just
    played his guts out for the last 36 holes and won. There isn't any
    commentary, just a picture and then the comment of the century:
    Dave Marr says " Thats why they call them Majors". 
    
    In all my years of watching golf and sports in general I have never
    seen anyone "capture the moment" better than that.             
    
    Keep it in the short grass,
    Ken