Broadcast Review: Week 14
Tom Goodhines
Thursday July 20, 2000
His versatility and knowledge of the league makes him one of the few guys that would be able to pull the feat off on consecutive nights. A strong performance in the Tampa Bay game was enough to win it for him this week, but he sealed it with the Orlando game.
Elsewhere around the dial, CBS commentator, Mark May takes over the lead role of color analyst on The Nashville Network for the departed Ed Cunningham. According to Eli Gold in last week’s pre-game, Cunningham is taking a position with “another network” that doesn’t allow him to continue his duties with TNN. Also, Sam Wyche is still unable to step in to the booth due to the continuing throat problems that he is having.
May is a veteran NFL broadcaster, but his inexperience with the AFL appeared to make him tentative and a little “gun shy.” But there is little question that this guy knows his football. Add into the equation the fact that he is filling the shoes of one of the most astute AFL broadcasters in the business, and you have a large mountain for the experienced broadcaster to climb.
May has an excellent delivery, knows the game from a player’s perspective, and is able to bring that to the viewer. Once May gains confidence in the AFL game, I would expect him to become one of the tops in the league.
 Sunshine Network`s Rick Peckham interviews Tracey Perkins. Image courtesy of Joe Kauffman |
Top introduction/opening: 1. KCAL. Highlight clips of the Avengers season brought in the broadcast with a bang. 2. Sunshine Network, Orlando. 3. TNN. 4. Cox Communications, Oklahoma. 5. Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay.
Top pre-game: 1. TNN. The “30-Minute Drill” gives the viewers a look at the upcoming game as well as features and updates from around the league. I think there is little question that TNN will win the “Golden Goody” in this category. 2. Cox Communications, Oklahoma. 3. KCAL. 4. Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay. 5. Sunshine Network, Orlando.
Top halftime: 1. Sunshine Network, Orlando. A feature on Orlando head coach Jay Gruden, key statistics and highlights that were top of the line. 2. TNN. 3. KCAL. 4. Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay. 5. Cox Communications, Oklahoma.
Top post-game: 1. TNN. 2. Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay. 3. Sunshine Network, Orlando. 4. KCAL. 5. Cox Communications, Oklahoma.
Top play-by-play: 1. Rick Peckham, Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay and Orlando. Solid performance on a double-duty weekend will win it for you every time. 2. Eli Gold, TNN. 3. Derrin Horton, KCAL. 4. Jack Damrill, Cox Communications, Oklahoma.
Top color commentary: 1. Artie Gigantino, KCAL. Now that Cunningham is no longer in the mix, it is clear sailing for Artie. He truly brings the viewers closer with his unique insight and witty analysis. 2. James Bates, Sunshine Network, Tampa Bay. 3. Mark May, TNN. 4. Jim Traber, Cox Communications, Oklahoma. 5. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network, Orlando.
Top sideline: Jill Arrington, TNN. As the lone sideline reporter this week, Arrington was still able to show her worth by bringing in the other elements of the AFL experience for the home viewers.
Top feature: 1. TNN. Arrington on Houston quarterback, Robert Hall. 2. TNN, Arrington on New England head coach, Mike Hohensee. 3. Cox Communications, Oklahoma, Damrill with AFL Assistant Media Relations Director, Jennifer Boehm.
Top interview: 1. KCAL, Horton and Gigantino with AFL commissioner David Baker. 2. Sunshine Network, Orlando, Peckham with Jay Gruden. 3. TNN, Arrington with Arizona’s Hunkie Cooper. 4. TNN, Arrington with Arizona’s Sherdrick Bonner in the post-game.
Top shot: 1. Sunshine Network, Orlando. Showing Orlando’s Stevie Thomas’ fumble return for a touchdown. 2. (This could also go as the worst shot!) Cox Communications, Oklahoma, Showing Milwaukee’s Wade Wayne’s gruesome broken leg injury. 3. TNN, endzone shot of Hunkie Cooper’s interception in the second half.
Top replay: 1. KCAL, Los Angeles’ Chris Jackson’s touchdown reception in the second quarter. 2. TNN, Arizona’s Cory McCoy making a diving touchdown reception to end the first half. 3. TNN, Arizona kicker tripping Anthony Derricks on a return.
Top comments: 1. KCAL’s Artie Gigantino, “[Buffalo and Los Angeles] are two of the better young franchises in the league and don’t be surprised if we see these two battling for an Arena League title in a couple of years.” 2. TNN, Microphone catching Arizona full back, Bob McMillen talking to quarterback Sherdrick Bonner after some confusion on dropped pitch, “You just killed my great first quarter!”
Top audio: 1. TNN, Catching Arizona’s Sherdrick Bonner offering kicker Bjorn Nittmo $50 to hit the iron on a kickoff. “50 dollars right here – off the bar and I got 50 for you.” 2. TNN, Bonner telling Nittmo that he’d give him $20 for his efforts on a touchback. 3. KCAL, Catching Los Angeles assistant coach, Terry Karg and quarterback Scott Semptimphelter talking offensive strategies in the fourth quarter.
Oops!: TNN catching the always-cool Hunkie Cooper cursing in the fourth quarter.
Special thanks to Los Angeles’ John Tamanaha and Oklahoma’s Wes McKinzie for their contributions to this week’s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
