Broadcast Review: Week 10
Tom Goodhines
Thursday June 22, 2000
Surprised? Then you didn’t catch the game on television.
TNN has claimed top production honors this week with one of the best packages by any network this year. Some of this week’s exceptional features included: a camera in the locker room, unique end-zone camera shots, and the best use of on-field microphones this season. Add into the equation, the all-star – or should I say – “Golden Goody” caliber on-air talent in each of the positions that keeps this network’s production at or near the top every week – which isn’t an easy task.
How powerful are TNN’s broadcasts? They have me inventing new categories each week! TNN dominated the new “Top audio” award as Producer, Mike Moore; Director, Jeff Montoni; Associate Producer, Tom Scofield and the rest of the crew turned it up a notch with creative nuances.
Taking a page out of the 1994 ESPN broadcasts, TNN was able to capture New Jersey coach, Frank Mattiace’s pep talk in the locker room – which was outstanding. But, the network’s use of “on-field microphones” were the highlight of the week’s top broadcast.
TNN microphones were able to capture New Jersey quarterback Tommy Maddox telling teammates of his conversation with Albany lineman Joe Jacobs as the two were on the ground after a play. The top catch came when Albany quarterback Mike Pawlawski talked to center Kyle Moore-Brown about his pass-blocking footwork after the two had problems early in the game. Not only was the crew able to capture the moment on camera and with microphones, but they followed it up with excellent replays showing Moore-Brown stepping on Pawlawski along with major league quality commentary and insight from former NFL offensive lineman, Ed Cunningham.
This week’s production proved that when you’re aiming for the top, you can’t take a break! A job well done by the crew for staying on top of things – even during the commercials.
Top production: 1. TNN. 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. Warner Brothers 61, Phoenix. 4. Time Warner, Tampa. Other notables: Empire Sports Network; Fox Sports South; WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville.
Top introduction/opening: 1. Fox Sports West 2. The opening three-dimensional animation that was created by Slingshot Networks is by far the best out there. Excellent work by Brian Seeliger and crew! 2. TNN. 3. Time Warner, Tampa. 4. WB 61, Phoenix. Other notables: Empire Sports Network; Fox Sports South; WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville.
Top pre-game: (tie)1. WB 61, Phoenix and Fox Sports West 2. Both networks were able to re-cap last week’s dramatic victory by the Arizona Rattlers and “set the table” for this week’s game. 3. TNN. 4. Fox Sports South. 5. Time Warner, Tampa. Other notables: Empire Sports Network; WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville.
Top halftime: 1. TNN. 2. Fox Sports West 2. 3. Fox Sports South. 4. WB 61, Phoenix. Other notables: Time Warner, Tampa; Empire Sports Network; WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville.
Top post-game: 1. Empire Sports Network. Not only did they have Trimble hustling down to the field to talk to the top players of the game, but they return to the arena in their half-hour sports show following the game for an interview and post-game reaction from Buffalo coach Ray Bentley. 2. TNN. 3. WB 61, Phoenix. 4. Time Warner, Tampa. Other notables: Fox Sports West 2, Fox Sports South, WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville.
Top play-by-play: 1. Tom Leander, WB 61, Phoenix. Tom is really hitting his stride and is able to bring the viewers in closer with his vast knowledge of the league. It’s not easy holding off Eli! 2. Eli Gold, TNN. 3. Bill Macdonald, Fox Sports West 2. 4. Bob Rathbun, Fox Sports South. Other notables: Eric Keaton, Time Warner, Tampa; Jim Brinson, Empire Sports Network; Trey Bender, WKFT TV 40, Fayetteville.
 Ed Cunningham Image courtesy of TNN |
Top sideline: (tie) 1. John Jackson, Fox Sports West 2. 1. Jill Arrington, TNN. Both Jackson and Arrington shined with quality interviews. Jackson was able to grab LA Avenger quarterback Todd Marinovich’s father, Marv and Tampa Bay Bucs’ Keyshawn Johnson. Arrington added with features and numerous interviews that included everything from Albany coach Mike Dailey to Mark Valvo’s mother on her birthday. Other notable: Rob Stone, WKFT-TV, Fayetteville.
Top feature: 1. WB 61, Phoenix, “Rattlers’ Tale” on Hunkie Cooper. 2. Fox Sports West 2, Macdonald on Los Angeles’ Anthony Rice. 3. TNN, Arrington on Albany’s Quincy Jackson. 4. Time Warner, Tampa, Keaton on Tampa Bay’s James Bowden.
Top interview: 1. Fox Sports West 2, Jackson with Keyshawn Johnson. 2. Fox Sports South, Rathbun with Nashville’s Darryl Hammond. 3. Fox Sports West 2, Jackson with Marv Marinovich. 4. WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville’s Rob Stone with New England coach Mike Hohensee and Carolina coach Doug Kaye.
Top shot: 1. WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville, getting New England’s Anthony Derrick’s game-clinching interception return for a touchdown in overtime. 2. TNN, New Jersey’s infamous Ike, in a tuxedo, holding a proposal sign for Arrington. 3. TNN, Any time they were able to get Mike Pawlawski in his “Official Arenafan hat” on the sidelines!
Top replay: 1. Empire Sports Network, Buffalo Destroyers’ kickoff recovery off a Mike Black kick that clinched their second victory. 2. TNN, Albany Firebird Van Johnson’s one-handed interception from the end-zone camera. 3. Fox Sports West 2, Marinovich’s touchdown pass to Chris Jackson in the corner of the end-zone.
Top audio: 1. TNN, Pawlawski and Moore-Brown discussing the lineman’s footwork on pass blocking. 2. TNN, Maddox talking to teammates about his conversation with Jacobs after a play. 3. TNN, Mattiace’s pep talk in the locker room – we need to see more locker room shots! 4. Empire Sports Network, Use of microphone on Buffalo offensive coordinator, Tony Kimbrough.
Top graphic: 1. WKFT-TV 40, Fayetteville, comparing Carolina’s current starting line-up with that of Week One. 2. TNN, showing Albany’s record when trailing (1-3) or leading (5-0) at halftime.
Scoop award: TNN’s Cunningham on New Jersey’s Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Lewis getting a look from Jacksonville Jaguars scouts last week. (If Lewis doesn’t get Rookie of the Year, he should get serious consideration for “Breakout Player of the Year.” Sounds like a potential Ironman Insider feature story to me!)
Oops!: This week goes to… ME! Last week, I left out the potential top observation or comment of the year!! Fox Sports West’s Bill Macdonald astutely stated before LA Avenger kicker Kyle Pooler teed up the ball with a four-point lead and seven seconds on the clock, “One thing that you want to make sure of in this situation – is to not let Hunkie Cooper touch the ball.” And we all know what happened after that!
Top comment/quote: Fox Sports West 2, Keyshawn Johnson telling Jackson, “As long as I’m in condition, I’ll do alright out there, but the [AFL] game is a little faster then the NFL.”
Special thanks to Arizona’s JT Thompson, Time Warner’s Eric Keaton, and Carolina’s Nathan Boudreaux for their contribution to this week’s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
