Broadcast Review: Week 9
Tom Goodhines
Thursday June 15, 2000
Although this was its fourth broadcast of the season, Comcast Network, or CN8, will get my "Newcomer of the Week Award" due to this being the first time that I have seen their broadcast. Unfortunately, if it weren`t for outstanding games in Los Angeles and Buffalo, we might be talking about a contender for top production honors.
This network isn`t fooling around with elements that it brings for each game.
Dave Sims, a two-time Emmy Award winner as one of the nation`s best sportscasters, was solid with his play-by-play and Mike Mayock brought ESPN Arena Football League broadcast experience and insight.
The use of sideline reporter Tina Cervasio has helped vault the network up to the league`s elite. Cervasio, who is the Chief Correspondent for Fan Guides, Inc., showed why she should be considered the favorite for the "Golden Goody Award" for sideline reporting. Cervasio hustled to get interviews, injury updates, and really lifted the broadcast with a unique look into some "behind the scene" aspects.
This crew`s next broadcast will be on June 25, when the Buffalo Destroyers travel to New Jersey.
 Tina Cervasio set the standard in sideline reporting Image courtesy of Fanguides.com |
Top introduction/opening: 1. TNN. To the network`s credit, the "30-Minute Drill" is an unfair advantage. Highlight clips, in-depth features, and stats bring this top-of-the-line network the award once again. 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. Empire Sports Network. Other notables: Sunshine Network; Fox Sports South; Warner Brothers 61, Phoenix; Comcast Network 8, New Jersey.
Top pre-game: 1. TNN. See above. 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. WB 61, Phoenix. 4. CN 8, New Jersey. Other notables: Sunshine Network; Empire Sports Network; Fox Sports South; WB 61, Phoenix.
Top halftime: 1. CN8, New Jersey. Solid performance that included two separate features, statistics and highlights. 2. TNN. 3. Fox Sports West 2. Other notables: Sunshine Network: Fox Sports South: WB 61, Phoenix: Empire Sports Network.
Top post-game: 1. TNN. 2. CN8, New Jersey. 3. Empire Sports Network. 4. Sunshine Network. Other notables: Fox Sports South; WB 61, Phoenix; Fox Sports West 2.
Top play-by-play: 1. Bill Macdonald, Fox Sports West 2. Macdonald really showed his talents by calling a solid game. Not afraid to make strong comments and works well with his partner. 2. Jim Brinson, Empire Sports Network. Has really improved as the season has continued. 3. Eli Gold, TNN. 4. Gene Deckerhoff, Sunshine Network. Other notables: Bob Rathbun, Fox Sports South: Tom Leander, WB 61, Phoenix: Dave Sims, CN8, New Jersey.
Top color commentary: 1. Ed Cunningham, TNN. Still in a league of his own. Hey Ed! Did you get a call from ABC yet? 2. David Norrie, Fox Sports West 2. 3. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network. Other notables: Steve Tasker, Empire Sports Network; Doug Plank, WB 61, Phoenix; Charles Davis, Fox Sports South; Mike Mayock, CN8, New Jersey.
Top sideline: 1. Tina Cervasio, CN8, New Jersey. Pleasantly surprised by her hustle and her ability to continually find different stories within the game. 2. Jill Arrington, TNN. 3. Bob Trimble, Empire Sports Network. 4. John Jackson, Fox Sports West 2.
Top feature: 1. TNN. Gold and Cunningham talking to Houston quarterback Mike Hold, while he`s on the bench during the game. That might be the leading candidate for the "Golden Goody" Feature of the Year. 2. Fox Sports West 2, Macdonald on Los Angeles coach, Stan Brock. 3. CN8, Mick Moninghoff on New Jersey`s David Saunders. 4. TNN, Cunningham with the "Rules of the Game," featuring Houston`s Hold and the drop-kick. 5. TNN, Arrington on Iowa`s Larry Blue. 6. WB 61, Phoenix, "Rattlers` Tale" on Arizona defensive backs Cecil Doggette and Cedric Walker.
Top interview: 1. Fox Sports South, Rathbun with Nashville`s Andy Kelly. 2. Sunshine Network, Deckerhoff with Orlando`s Connell Maynor. 3. Empire Sports Network, Trimble with Buffalo kicker Mike Black following his game-winning kick.
Top shot: 1. WB 61 and Fox Sports West 2, Hunkie Cooper`s amazing touchdown return to win the game as time expired. 2. Empire Sports Network, Head coach Ray Bentley getting dosed in the traditional "Gatorade Bath" following the Destroyers overtime upset win over Albany. 3. TNN, shot of Iowa fan Courtney, of Flight Crew fame, holding a sign that read, "Houston, YOU have a problem!"
Top replay: 1. Fox Sports West 2 and WB 61, Phoenix, Series of replays showing the reactions of Cooper`s TD return at the end of the game. 2. Empire Sports Network, showing Buffalo`s Terrel Weems key interception in overtime. 3. Empire Sports Network, Buffalo kicker Mike Black`s game-winning field goal in overtime.
Oops!: 1. CN8, New Jersey`s Mayock calling the Red Dogs, "New Jersey Mad Dogs" in the second quarter. 2. Fox Sports West 2 and WB 61, for not getting a post-game interview with any of the major parties involved (e.g. Hunkie Cooper) in such an exciting finish. WB might want to consider adding a sideline reporter, just for these situations!
Top comments/quotes: 1. "What is he thinking?!" Fox Sports West 2`s Macdonald questioning Arizona coach Danny White`s decision to go for it on 4th-and-10 from the Rattlers own two-yard-line. 2. "Every one of [New Jersey`s] defensive backs will knock your jock off." CN8, New Jersey`s Mayock said of the New Jersey secondary in the post-game of the Red Dogs win over the Wranglers. 2. "And this just in - no penalty." Fox Sports South, Rathbun on a play late in the third quarter of the penalty-ridden Nashville/Florida game.
Special Mention: Tampa Bay`s Time Warner Cable will be a broadcast to keep an eye out for in the upcoming weeks. The network that has set the model for the "Starting lineup" graphic, by including headshots of the home team, should provide Storm fans with an entertaining experience. Since they didn`t broadcast this week, they were not included in this review, but expect them to be included in future reviews.
Special thanks to Arizona`s JT Thompson and New Jersey Red Dog fan, Butch Richards for their contributions to this week`s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
