Broadcast Review: Week 8
Tom Goodhines
Wednesday June 7, 2000
The station has reeled in this week`s "Newcomer of the Week Award" with solid on-air talent, nice use of replays, and great game to boot. KCAL will bring Avenger games to Los Angeles when Fox Sports West doesn`t and the network started off this year`s slate of games on the right foot by putting out a great product.
The first thing that KCAL did right was select AFL broadcasting veteran, Artie Gigantino to do the color commentary.
Gigantino, who served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, USC Trojans, and Cal-Berkeley Bears, enters his fifth season covering Arena Football. Most of his previous AFL experience has come on the radio for the San Jose SaberCats. Gigantino also has experience as an analyst with CBS, Fox Sports, SportsChannel, and ESPN.
"That is a dumb, ignorant foul in a situation like this," the former coach said about a New England infraction late in the game. With statements like that, it is easy to see that the guy speaks his mind. He brings insight and is one of the best in the business at dissecting an offense or defense which allows viewers to get a better understanding of the strategies.
"Rookie" AFL announcer Derrin Horton works well with Gigantino. Although not perfect, the two appear to have hit it off right from the start, and I expect the two to improve on their chemistry as the season continues.
The next KCAL broadcast is scheduled for June 23 at Houston. I suggest that you try to catch this one - you`ll be glad you did.
Top Production: 1. TNN. The network continues to raise the bar and set standards that others will need to match. It will definitely be interesting when ESPN comes back into the broadcast picture as playoff time rolls near. Will ESPN be able to match TNN? We`ll have to wait and see. 2. KCAL. 3. Empire Sports Network. Empire gets special mention this week for its use of a "reverse angle" camera, that came in handy on a couple of plays during the contest. 4. Sunshine Network.
Top introduction: 1. KCAL. A nice mix of highlights brought the network`s first broadcast in with a bang. 2. TNN. 3. Empire Sports Network. 4. Sunshine Network.
Top pre-game: 1. TNN. No other network sets up a game better. The network has the resources and uses them well with highlight clips, interviews and great analysis. 2. KCAL. 3. Empire Sports Network. 4. Sunshine Network.
Top halftime: 1. TNN. Brings together a nice package of highlights and statistics. 2. Sunshine Network. 3. KCAL. 4. Empire Sports Network.
Top post-game: 1. TNN. This is one of the many aspects that separates this network from the others. Arrington`s post-game interviews help bring a major league feel and the network does an excellent job of "putting the icing on the cake" by wrapping the game up with great analysis. 2. Sunshine Network. 3. Empire Sports Network. 4. KCAL.
 Eli Gold of TNN Image courtesy of TNN |
Top color commentary: 1. Artie Gigantino, KCAL. Gigantino`s star shined even brighter with a close game. His strong comments and great insight were right on target. Things that he pointed out in the pre-game came to fruition as the game progressed - which is not an easy thing to do in this league. 2. Ed Cunningham, TNN. 3. Steve Tasker, Empire Sports Network. 4. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network.
Top sideline: 1. Bob Trimble, Empire Sports Network. Each week, this is always one of the closest races. Trimble edges Arrington this week with interviews that included Buffalo head coach Ray Bentley`s wife (Jody) and mother (Peggy.) 2. Jill Arrington, TNN.
Top feature: 1. TNN, Arrington on San Jose`s Jerry Reese. 2. Sunshine Network, Deckerhoff with Hall of Famer, Herkie Walls. 3. TNN, Gold on Inside Arena Football.
Top interview: 1. Trimble, Empire Sports Network, with Tennessee Titans` offensive lineman Scott Sanderson. Trimble continues to bring uniqueness to each broadcast and was able to hunt down the lineman and ask him about the new rivalry between Tennessee (Nashville) and Buffalo. 2. Arrington, TNN, post-game interview with San Jose`s Steve Papin and Barry Wagner.
Top shot: 1. KCAL, showing LA Avenger owner Casey Wasserman`s excitement as the game-clock expired for his team`s first win. 2. Sunshine Network, Carolina quarterback Fred McNair`s interception in the closing seconds of their loss to Orlando. 3. TNN, Arizona Ironman Hunkie Cooper`s career record-tying 16th kickoff return for a touchdown.
Top replay: 1. Empire Sports Network, showing officials correctly called Nashville`s Anthony Hicks down before his lateral to teammate Jeff Russell. 2. KCAL, showing New England`s Anthony DiCosmo`s missed fumble call in the first half.
Top graphic: 1. Empire Sports Network, a comparison of Nashville (19-11) and Buffalo`s (1-20) first two seasons. 2. TNN, showing the final score of the af2 game between Quad Cities and Greensboro - 103-3.
Top comments: 1. "Enjoy him now. I`d be very surprised if we don`t see him in an NFL camp somewhere," TNN`s Cunningham on Arizona`s Maurice Bryant. 2. "You might see that guy who goes in motion cross the line of scrimmage before the snap and sometimes they won`t call it. It`s one of those calls like traveling in the NBA - they just don`t make the call very often," KCAL`s Derrin Horton on the motion man in the AFL. 3. "What do you expect - it`s four cities against one. They shouldn`t be able to do that," TNN`s Cunningham on the 103-3 score of the Quad Cities/Greensboro af2 game.
Golden Goody Awards: "The Golden Goody Awards" will be given out at season`s end to the top performers in 15 categories. Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring this year`s awards should contact me at tom@arenafan.net or Kevin Sheller at kevmo@arenafan.net.
A special thanks to Los Angeles` John Tamanaha and Ken Gill for their contribution to this week`s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
