Broadcast Review, Week 3
Tom Goodhines
Wednesday May 3, 2000
Both Tampa Bay and Orlando will be showcased in broadcasts this year and the on-air talent that the network has brought in has done well with their insight and professionalism in promoting the league. Rick Peckham, Gene Deckerhoff, and Fran Curci are some of the mainstays that have been involved with Sunshine`s coverage from the beginning. "We have had a long and strong relationship with Sunshine [Network]," said AFL spokesman David Cooper. "Their commitment to Arena Football has set the standard for other networks to follow. We look forward to many more years in this partnership."
In the Orlando Predator media guide, Herkie Walls is listed as a color commentator for the Predator games. The former Predator legend has experience in the booth (last year for Fox Sports South) and on the playing field. A number of networks that used former AFL players have improved their broadcasts by bringing in these expert analysts - the best example being Mike Hold for ESPN last season. Guys like Walls and former AFL quarterback Ben Bennett would be perfect candidates for openings for on-air talent. Let`s hope that the Predator media guide is correct and Sunshine puts Herkie in the booth or at least on as a sideline reporter (sideline coverage is one area that they should look into.)
Week Three Highlights
Best Production: 1. TNN, The total package that the network puts together is the best that the league has ever seen. ( Apologies to the 1994 ESPN crew with Steve Physioc and Rick "Doc" Walker!) The pre-game show continues to educate the viewers on a "new sport" without insulting the long-time fans. The team of Eli Gold and Ed Cunningham is the best in the business. The pair appears to have been working together for years, but have been together for only three weeks! The broadcast uses a nice mix of features and interviews throughout the telecast and the graphics continue to be the best out there. The only drawback on this week`s broadcast was - a bad penalty-laden game. 2. Sunshine Network. 3. Warner Brothers 61, Arizona. 4. Empire Sports Network.
Best play-by-play: 1. Rick Peckham, Sunshine Network. Peckham is a seasoned AFL veteran and continues to demonstrate that he is one of the best. He was able to properly set the scene in a longtime rivalry between Albany and Tampa Bay and his strong knowledge of the league and the rules is very apparent.
Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum added fuel to the fire in this match-up with disparaging comments about the city of Albany. According to Peckham, Marcum told his radio listeners on his show on 620 WEAE Radio that, "It`s strictly a rumor, but someone told me if they were going to give the world an enema, they`d put the tube in Albany."
Peckham set up the controversy nicely and continued with a strong game performance to knock Gold from his position at the top of this list - at least for this week! 2. Eli Gold, TNN. 3. Tom Leander, WB 61, Arizona. 4. Jim Brinson, Empire Sports Network.
Best color commentary: 1. Ed Cunningham, TNN. Week-in and week-out, Cunningham is in a league of his own. Astute insight and a genuine respect for the game and its players are two of the reasons why Cunningham continues to lead this category. Sam Wyche will have his work cut out for him when he takes over the color commentary duties for TNN. 2. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network. 3. Ray Bentley, Empire Sports Network. 4. Doug Plank, WB 61, Arizona.
Best sideline reporting: 1. Bob Trimble, Empire Sports Network. In probably the closest race out there, Trimble gets the nod this week. Trimble`s ability to hustle and find guests and his willingness to find special interest stories makes him one of the best - especially this week. With the game already decided, Trimble was able to keep the viewers interested in the blowout with different insights and interesting interviews. 2. Jill Arrington, TNN. Despite finishing second here, Arrington is still solid as a pre-game host and gets high marks for her efforts.
Newcomer of the week: 1. Fran Curci, Sunshine Network. Although not really a newcomer, it was the 2000 debut for the former Tampa Bay Storm coach. Curci doesn`t have the smoothest delivery, but there is no question that this guy knows the game. He was right on with his analysis and was able to bring the viewer closer to the game with his "coach`s mentality" and coaching strategy knowledge. 2. Tom Leander, WB 61, Arizona. 3. Doug Plank, WB 61, Arizona. There is a lot of potential for the former Chicago Bear, who is a radio broadcaster making the move to television to replace the departed Cunningham. He is definitely a commentator with a bright future.
Top feature: 1. Arrington, TNN, on Arizona`s Hunkie Cooper. Without question, Cooper is one of the best ambassadors for Arena Football. Arrington was able to give the viewers a look at the other side of one of the best players ever to play the game. 2. WB 61, Arizona, "Rattlers` Tail," a piece on a pre-season workout using only comments from Arizona Head Coach Danny White. 3. Trimble, Empire Sports Network, on Buffalo`s Tony Jones. 4. Cunningham, TNN, the rules of the game segment on the nets with some help from Carolina`s Dexter Dawson. 5. Arrington, TNN, on Orlando`s free agent tryout survivors Rodney Brown and Fred Ray.
Best interview: 1. Cunningham, TNN, with Carolina WR/DB Jack Jackson. An interesting story about Jackson, a former Predator who was left unprotected during the expansion draft, played out throughout the game. The talk included the reasons why he was left unprotected and what it would be like to play against his former team after scoring three touchdowns for the Predators in last year`s Arena Bowl. 2. Peckham, Sunshine Network, with Albany head coach Mike Dailey. 3. Trimble, Empire Sports Network, with New England quarterback Chad Salisbury.
Strongest/Best comments: 1. Bentley, Empire Sports Network, "Now you have to start to question - is it time for some major changes within this franchise?" Following Buffalo`s 58-31 loss to New England. 2. Curci, Sunshine Network, "They [Tampa Bay] are just going to have to go down to the St. Petersburg Police Department and get Stevie Thomas and call him back out here. If you`re listening Stevie - we need you!" Following another injury to a Tampa Bay wide receiver. 3. Leander, WB 61, Arizona, "[San Jose`s] Mark Grieb just became wallpaper!" after Arizona`s Jai Hill tackled Grieb into the wall.
Top observation: 1. Curci, Sunshine Network, saying that Tampa Bay starting quarterback Thad Busby was "under-throwing the ball and John Kaleo might see some time" at quarterback just before Marcum made the change at quarterback.
Missed call: 1. Empire`s Brinson and Bentley correctly called Buffalo fullback Tony Jones out of bounds after he hit the wall, but incorrectly said: "You are automatically out-of-bounds as soon as you touch the wall." 2. TNN, used a graphic in the "Inside the AFL" segment that incorrectly listed Jake Hoffart with Chad Salisbury`s passing statistics.
Could do without… 1. All the clichés - Empire`s team tends to be the biggest offenders. The use of clichés is not bad, but trying to work them into every sentence is. 2. Self promotion - it has to be done, but Empire Sports promotes too much of the other programming on the network during the game and not enough about the next Destroyers` broadcast. Empire is the only network that goes to the studio and talks about other sports. Some people view that as a positive, but I view it as taking away from the game. TNN is also guilty of the promos, but they balance it with ones that promote the next AFL broadcast.
Could use more of… Commercial spots - Empire Sports Network does have some of the best commercials out there and does get extra points for doing weekly stories on the Destroyers for Fan TV. More networks could take a page out of Empire`s book for including their AFL team in their regular sports newscasts.
Best shot: 1. Sunshine Network, showing Albany lineman Joe Jacobs running up and talking to Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum following the first of consecutive sacks. Many people have speculated on what was said, but Jacobs told me he said, "You can have me for $3,500 [weekly] base salary next year!" Not a bad setting for a job interview, but after the second sack by Jacobs on the next play that resulted in a safety, Marcum might consider that price tag to be a steal. Jacobs finished the game with three sacks and was named the league`s Ironman of the Week. 2. WB 61, Arizona, showing Arizona`s Ironman Hunkie Cooper throwing a touchdown to teammate Bob McMillen.
A special thanks to JT Thompson and Gene Nudo from the Arizona Rattlers for their contribution to this week`s column.
Tom Goodhines was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.