Broadcast Review: Week 7
Tom Goodhines
Thursday June 1, 2000
 Bob Rathbun, Play-by-Play for Fox Sports Net Image courtesy of KATSFAN.com |
Where the network lacks in a sideline reporter, it makes up by using different segments that help in setting the scene for the game. The “Rising Stock” segment, which features a player to watch for in the game, and the “Injury Report” are two elements that are used in the pre-game that assist in setting the tone for the match-up.
During the broadcast, the Fox Box that includes the score and clock has a unique feature. When a penalty flag is thrown, the box indicates the moment it occurs. It also lists the infraction when the referee announces the call.
An improvement that I would still like to see from the network is the use of a sideline reporter. Although it would be hard to fill the shoes of last year’s reporter Julie Tello, (who is now working for TNN with AFL Relations) – updates from the field would be icing on the cake.
Top Production: 1. Fox Sports South. 2. The Nashville Network. 3. Sunshine Network. 4. Fox Sports West 2. 5. Warner Brothers 61, Phoenix. 6. Midwest Sports Channel.
Top pre-game: 1. TNN. The name of this category might change by the time the “Golden Goody Awards” are announced. The “TNN Pre-game Award” does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Hmm... 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. Fox Sports South. 4. WB 61, Phoenix. 5. Sunshine Network. 6. Midwest Sports Channel.
Top halftime: 1. TNN. The Kurt Warner presentation made this one a no-brainer. The only thing that I would have liked to see more of was the Hall of Famers. The network did talk to Orlando’s Herkie Walls in the first half and did a mini-feature on him, but I would have enjoyed more from the other inductees as well. 2. Midwest Sports Channel. 3. Fox Sports South. 4. Fox Sports West 2. 5. WB 61, Phoenix. 6. Sunshine Network.
Top post-game: 1. Fox Sports South. 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. WB 61, Phoenix. 4. Sunshine Network. 5. Midwest Sports Channel. 6. TNN.
Top play-by-play: 1. Bob Rathbun, Fox Sports South. It’s no secret that Rathbun is one of my all-time AFL favorites. Back in 1987, Rathbun teamed with current ESPN College Football ace studio analyst Lee Corso, for the inaugural season broadcasts. Rathbun is very similar in style to TNN’s Eli Gold and brings an “authoritative” presence to each broadcast. He is smooth with his delivery and uses his AFL history knowledge and shows that “doing your homework” does pay off. 2. Tom Leander, WB 61, Phoenix. 3. Eli Gold, TNN. 4. Gene Deckerhoff, Sunshine Network. 5. Bill Macdonald, Fox Sports West 2. You know the competition is tough when last week’s winner places fifth the following week! 6. Bill Michaels, Midwest Sports Channel.
Top color commentary: 1. David Norrie, Fox Sports West 2. Norrie has been pushing TNN’s Ed Cunningham each week and finally breaks through to the top spot. Aside from his solid analysis, the former UCLA quarterback wasn’t afraid to make strong comments about the struggling Avengers. Some broadcasters might be afraid to “bite the hand that feeds them,” but as Cunningham told me during a recent interview, “In my book, that’s your job as a color commentator,” Cunningham said. “You have to present the viewer with the facts. If you do your observations tactfully and with class – you will always have the respect from others for being truthful.” And Norrie took a page from that book. 2. Ed Cunningham, TNN. 3. Doug Plank, WB 61, Phoenix. 4. Charles Davis, Fox Sports South. 5. Brian Noble, Midwest Sports Channel. 6. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network.
Top sideline: 1. Jill Arrington, TNN. Along with hosting the “30 Minute Drill,” Arrington interviewed Hall of Famers Herkie Walls and Albany owner Glenn Mazula, as well as Iowa governor Tom Vilsack. It’s a good thing she didn’t try to talk to anyone in “The Barnyard!” Another solid job by Arrington. 2. John Jackson, Fox Sports West 2. I’m glad to see Jackson back on the sideline after a week off because of a trip on a cruise. Welcome back!
Top feature: 1. Gold, TNN, with “Inside Arena Football” week in review. 2. Arrington, TNN, on Kurt Warner. 3. Deckerhoff, Sunshine Network, halftime piece with Orlando’s Kenny McEntyre.
Top interview: 1. Deckerhoff and Curci, Sunshine Network, with AFL Commissioner, David Baker. 2. Gold and Cunningham, TNN, with NFL MVP and former Barnstormer, Kurt Warner. 3. Michaels, MSC, with Arizona coach Danny White. 4. Rathbun, Fox Sports South, with Nashville coach Pat Sperduto.
Top shot: 1. TNN, Kurt Warner watching his #13 Iowa Barnstormer jersey get raised to the “Barn’s” rafters. 2. Sunshine Network, Oklahoma defensive back Kusanti Abdul-Salaam going over the boards in the end zone during the third quarter against Orlando. 3. WB 61 and MSC, Arizona Ironman, Hunkie Cooper’s kickoff return for a touchdown to start the game.
Top replay: 1. TNN, Iowa defensive back, Kevin Kaesviharn’s spectacular interception in the third quarter against Tampa Bay. 2. Fox Sports West 2, Los Angeles wide receiver Corey Johnson’s one-handed catch after the pass was deflected by San Jose’s Tommy Jones in the first quarter. 3. Fox Sports West 2, San Jose’s James Roe recovering a kickoff for a touchdown.
Top quote: 1. AFL Commissioner David Baker on Sunshine Network, “The reason why I got a big smile on my face is because [Dallas Cowboys’ owner] Jerry Jones is all over [the AFL] tonight. He’s excited. He thinks it’s good for football and he thinks it’s a great compliment [to the NFL.]” 2. NFL MVP and former Barnstormer Kurt Warner on TNN, “I got an opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine and I’m proud to be a part of Arena Football. I hope that I can be a great spokesman [for the AFL] and hopefully give a lot of other guys a chance to do what I’ve done at the National Football [League] level.” 3. Baker on Sunshine, “I’ve been bad-mouthing Jay [Gruden] all night in front of Jerry Jones because I don’t want the NFL to know about him!” 4. Baker on Sunshine, “[Jerry Jones] hit on his first 13 oil wells – I hope his 14th oil well is the Arena Football League.”
Strongest comments: 1. Norrie, Fox Sports West 2, “It’s becoming apparent that this LA Avenger team did not show up tonight ready to play defense.” After San Jose grabbed a 36-7 lead halfway through the second quarter. 2. Macdonald, Fox Sports West 2, “It is so glaring. Now with 367 minutes of football this year – the Avengers, believe it or not, have led for only 23 minutes.”
“Golden Goody Awards”: The “Golden Goody Awards” will be given out at season’s end to the top performers in 15 categories. Any parties (business or other) interested in becoming a sponsor for the “Golden Goody Awards” should contact me at tom@arenafan.net or Kevin Sheller at kevmo@arenafan.net. A mention in one of the league`s most popular weekly columns could be very beneficial to a company. Just food for thought!
A special thanks to Arizona’s JT Thompson for her contribution to this week’s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
