The Four-Letter has come a long way over the last three years. So far, in fact, that I was quite pleased to see the network take the US Open away from USA Network, which had grown complacent.
The multiplicity of voices on ESPN works for me. The jury is still out on host Hannah Storm, but she is reliably smooth and professional. Mary Jo Fernandez is always willing to call a spade a spade. Mary Carillo is still the best analyst – better even than McEnroe in my view. Seeing her and Cliff Drysdale brings back memories. (Fred Stolle where are you?)
Tracy Austin and Ted Robinson were exhausting and excessively chatty and we never got a break from them. My dislike for Robinson is well known. I was pleasantly surprised that he did not make the move to ESPN. McEnroe and Robinson have been having the same conversation for the last ten years. McEnroe still makes for good tv, but having him react to new voices will push him. It’s also nice to see actual debates and disagreements about what players should do.
Darren Cahill is the best tactical expert the network has on tennis.I’m impressed that ESPN thinks so too. When Brad Gilbert became available to the network, most people expected to see Cahill shunted aside. But Darren is a voice of reason who easily brings the focus back to the match. It’s easy to see why he was an extremely effective coach.
The Brothers McEnroe called the Roddick match together and it was enjoyable. I’ll be watching though, to see if Patrick can keep John from conducting a nostalgia parade. John offered his own review of ESPN’s effort, bemoaning the fact that David Robinson and Doug Flutie didn’t join him in the booth. Wise decision, ESPN. I don’t need to hear Flutie’s opinion on tennis (and Flutie is a terrible football analyst, too. Which means I don’t need to hear his views on ANYTHING)
ESPN ditched the stupid Michael Barkaan/Extra! style of sideline reporting. I get that we’re in New York and we can expect some celeb interview drivel from time to time, but last night it was minimal and I loved it. This is the biggest difference between USA and ESPN. Rather than turning the courtside reporter into a celebrity gosspip correspondent, Cahill and Pam Shriver give insight into what’s happening courtside. After Roddick cut his ear and it bled all ovr the court, he got into it with the chair umpire. Cahill found out it was because the ball kids were not allowed to touch Roddick’s bloody towels. (HIV rules) A stack of fresh white towels were delivered so the kids could keep them coming.
Interviews with family and coaches are a mixed bag because often they chose to say nothing, but kudos to Shriver for getting both Richard Williams and Venus’ hitting parnter, David Witt, to spill the beans about Venus’ tendinitis and acknowledge her crappy play.
Guest commentary from Agassi was fascinating. He really has insight into how the game is played. Twenty years ago I never thought I would write that. Visits to the booth ought to be limited to former players and coaches, because they have the inside track.
Now that I’ve written a glowing review of ESPN, they’ll probably screw up tonight.
Posted in:
Andre Agassi, Austin, Carillo, Commentary, ESPN, Gilbert, Mary Jo, mcenroe, media, Richard Williams, Shriver, Stolle, US Open, USA, Venus
Passing Shots
First Night at the Open: ESPN Gets an A-
Posted on September 1, 2009
0
The Four-Letter has come a long way over the last three years. So far, in fact, that I was quite pleased to see the network take the US Open away from USA Network, which had grown complacent.
The multiplicity of voices on ESPN works for me. The jury is still out on host Hannah Storm, but she is reliably smooth and professional. Mary Jo Fernandez is always willing to call a spade a spade. Mary Carillo is still the best analyst – better even than McEnroe in my view. Seeing her and Cliff Drysdale brings back memories. (Fred Stolle where are you?)
Tracy Austin and Ted Robinson were exhausting and excessively chatty and we never got a break from them. My dislike for Robinson is well known. I was pleasantly surprised that he did not make the move to ESPN. McEnroe and Robinson have been having the same conversation for the last ten years. McEnroe still makes for good tv, but having him react to new voices will push him. It’s also nice to see actual debates and disagreements about what players should do.
Darren Cahill is the best tactical expert the network has on tennis.I’m impressed that ESPN thinks so too. When Brad Gilbert became available to the network, most people expected to see Cahill shunted aside. But Darren is a voice of reason who easily brings the focus back to the match. It’s easy to see why he was an extremely effective coach.
The Brothers McEnroe called the Roddick match together and it was enjoyable. I’ll be watching though, to see if Patrick can keep John from conducting a nostalgia parade. John offered his own review of ESPN’s effort, bemoaning the fact that David Robinson and Doug Flutie didn’t join him in the booth. Wise decision, ESPN. I don’t need to hear Flutie’s opinion on tennis (and Flutie is a terrible football analyst, too. Which means I don’t need to hear his views on ANYTHING)
ESPN ditched the stupid Michael Barkaan/Extra! style of sideline reporting. I get that we’re in New York and we can expect some celeb interview drivel from time to time, but last night it was minimal and I loved it. This is the biggest difference between USA and ESPN. Rather than turning the courtside reporter into a celebrity gosspip correspondent, Cahill and Pam Shriver give insight into what’s happening courtside. After Roddick cut his ear and it bled all ovr the court, he got into it with the chair umpire. Cahill found out it was because the ball kids were not allowed to touch Roddick’s bloody towels. (HIV rules) A stack of fresh white towels were delivered so the kids could keep them coming.
Interviews with family and coaches are a mixed bag because often they chose to say nothing, but kudos to Shriver for getting both Richard Williams and Venus’ hitting parnter, David Witt, to spill the beans about Venus’ tendinitis and acknowledge her crappy play.
Guest commentary from Agassi was fascinating. He really has insight into how the game is played. Twenty years ago I never thought I would write that. Visits to the booth ought to be limited to former players and coaches, because they have the inside track.
Now that I’ve written a glowing review of ESPN, they’ll probably screw up tonight.
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