GaryMrMets
12-20-2005, 04:13 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/376247p-319708c.html
Simms right when wrong
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Play-by-play voices and analysts are more inclined to alert you to when they are right than admit when they are wrong.
Let there be no misunderstanding: Many mouths are quick to hold themselves accountable for a factual mistake and apologize for the error. Still, when one of their opinions goes sour as a lemon and milk cocktail, they rarely - if ever - backtrack and engage in verbal flagellation.
One exception to this rule is Phil Simms.
Simms ascended to CBS' No. 1 NFL analyst spot for a number of reasons, including his ability to communicate original insights. Throughout his tenure, Simms has also taken himself to task before multiple audiences of millions.
On Saturday, working Chiefs-Giants, Simms once again let viewers know he, unlike some of his analyst brethren, is not all-knowing. With 8:55 left in the third quarter, the camera was on Tiki Barber.
"He's too small. He's going to wear down. That was the thought process," Simms said. "I was one of them. I didn't think he could be a long-term, focused running back."
Later in the same quarter, after Barber ripped off a 55-yard run to the Chiefs' 37, Simms - again - took himself to the woodshed.
"I thought the Giants' running game would suffer today because of all the shifting (due to injuries) of the offensive line," Simms said. "Well, I was wrong - big time."
In both these instances, Simms did not have to take himself to task. There are others - many others - who shared his opinions. And yet, by issuing these loud mea culpas, Simms showed he does not treat viewers like morons or take them for granted.
He also exhibited qualities in short supply in the sports media business - integrity and credibility.
GIANT HUMBLE PIE: No surprise if panelists on YES' "Hanlon On-Line" each receive a plate of grilled crow when they enter the studio this week. They all picked K.C. to beat the Giants. On last week's show while commenting on Barber, one participant, Anthony (Fooch) Fucilli, said: "...They (the Giants) don't have a running back who can break enough tackles - like LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson - and get into the end zone." Guess this means Mr. Fooch gets two plates of crow.
SO LAMEY: Judging by his call of Sunday's game, no one was more upset over Indy's unbeaten streak ending than Bob Lamey, the radio voice of the Colts.
Checked out Lamey's call of Chargers-Colts on Sirius Satellite Radio. The best way to describe his play-by-play is by simply striking the "y" from his last name.
After Indy went ahead 17-16, with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, Lamey, in dramatic tones, said the Colts were "back from the dead." Hmmm. Considering Indy's high-powered offense, erasing a 16-point deficit - with the help of a couple of turnovers - was not a huge surprise.
Lamey's volume was considerably lower when, with 6:41 left in the fourth and San Diego up 19-17, the Colts' Dominic Rhodes fumbled the kickoff. Lamey went into a soft monotone, sounding more like a golf announcer than a football voice.
Crying time for this homer came as he called Michael Turner's 83-yard TD run, sealing the deal for San Diego with 2:03 left. If you ever wondered how play-by-play of a funeral would sound, this was it. As Turner headed toward the end zone, you could hardly hear Lamey tick off the yard lines.
"The streak is over," Lamey whined.
Fortunately, in a minute or so, the radiocast would be too.
WELL DONE: Nice tribute to Bob Sheppard, working his final Giants regular-season game Saturday, by Simms and Jim Nantz. Got to believe Nantz was kidding when he said the legendary PA voice was "a little understated today."...ESPN-1050 continues to register new highs on the Moron Meter. On Sunday, some bottom feeder called Jody McDonald to proudly announce how he and his crew arrived at Giants Stadium at 5:35 a.m. Saturday for a 5:15 p.m. kickoff. "We had time to get drunk, sober up, get drunk, sober up again, and get drunk," this lowlife told McDonald. Instead of just dismissing the fool, McDonald enthusiastically encouraged him. "That's the attitude," McDonald gushed. Yeah, right. Drink all day. Go in the stadium and drink some more. Then, get behind the wheel and drive home drunk. Great "attitude."...On CBS' "The NFL Today," host Greg Gumbel put J. Whyatt Mondesire's recent column about Donovan McNabb in proper perspective. "Right to free speech not withstanding," Gumbel said. "Can't we just tell people who don't know what they are talking about to shut up?"
Originally published on December 20, 2005
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/784-simms_phil.JPG
Phil Simms doesn't try to hide when his analysis comes up short, a rarity on TV landscape.
Simms right when wrong
http://www.nydailynews.com/images/editors/header_tuningin.gif
http://www.nydailynews.com/images/columnists/raissman_b.jpg
Play-by-play voices and analysts are more inclined to alert you to when they are right than admit when they are wrong.
Let there be no misunderstanding: Many mouths are quick to hold themselves accountable for a factual mistake and apologize for the error. Still, when one of their opinions goes sour as a lemon and milk cocktail, they rarely - if ever - backtrack and engage in verbal flagellation.
One exception to this rule is Phil Simms.
Simms ascended to CBS' No. 1 NFL analyst spot for a number of reasons, including his ability to communicate original insights. Throughout his tenure, Simms has also taken himself to task before multiple audiences of millions.
On Saturday, working Chiefs-Giants, Simms once again let viewers know he, unlike some of his analyst brethren, is not all-knowing. With 8:55 left in the third quarter, the camera was on Tiki Barber.
"He's too small. He's going to wear down. That was the thought process," Simms said. "I was one of them. I didn't think he could be a long-term, focused running back."
Later in the same quarter, after Barber ripped off a 55-yard run to the Chiefs' 37, Simms - again - took himself to the woodshed.
"I thought the Giants' running game would suffer today because of all the shifting (due to injuries) of the offensive line," Simms said. "Well, I was wrong - big time."
In both these instances, Simms did not have to take himself to task. There are others - many others - who shared his opinions. And yet, by issuing these loud mea culpas, Simms showed he does not treat viewers like morons or take them for granted.
He also exhibited qualities in short supply in the sports media business - integrity and credibility.
GIANT HUMBLE PIE: No surprise if panelists on YES' "Hanlon On-Line" each receive a plate of grilled crow when they enter the studio this week. They all picked K.C. to beat the Giants. On last week's show while commenting on Barber, one participant, Anthony (Fooch) Fucilli, said: "...They (the Giants) don't have a running back who can break enough tackles - like LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson - and get into the end zone." Guess this means Mr. Fooch gets two plates of crow.
SO LAMEY: Judging by his call of Sunday's game, no one was more upset over Indy's unbeaten streak ending than Bob Lamey, the radio voice of the Colts.
Checked out Lamey's call of Chargers-Colts on Sirius Satellite Radio. The best way to describe his play-by-play is by simply striking the "y" from his last name.
After Indy went ahead 17-16, with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, Lamey, in dramatic tones, said the Colts were "back from the dead." Hmmm. Considering Indy's high-powered offense, erasing a 16-point deficit - with the help of a couple of turnovers - was not a huge surprise.
Lamey's volume was considerably lower when, with 6:41 left in the fourth and San Diego up 19-17, the Colts' Dominic Rhodes fumbled the kickoff. Lamey went into a soft monotone, sounding more like a golf announcer than a football voice.
Crying time for this homer came as he called Michael Turner's 83-yard TD run, sealing the deal for San Diego with 2:03 left. If you ever wondered how play-by-play of a funeral would sound, this was it. As Turner headed toward the end zone, you could hardly hear Lamey tick off the yard lines.
"The streak is over," Lamey whined.
Fortunately, in a minute or so, the radiocast would be too.
WELL DONE: Nice tribute to Bob Sheppard, working his final Giants regular-season game Saturday, by Simms and Jim Nantz. Got to believe Nantz was kidding when he said the legendary PA voice was "a little understated today."...ESPN-1050 continues to register new highs on the Moron Meter. On Sunday, some bottom feeder called Jody McDonald to proudly announce how he and his crew arrived at Giants Stadium at 5:35 a.m. Saturday for a 5:15 p.m. kickoff. "We had time to get drunk, sober up, get drunk, sober up again, and get drunk," this lowlife told McDonald. Instead of just dismissing the fool, McDonald enthusiastically encouraged him. "That's the attitude," McDonald gushed. Yeah, right. Drink all day. Go in the stadium and drink some more. Then, get behind the wheel and drive home drunk. Great "attitude."...On CBS' "The NFL Today," host Greg Gumbel put J. Whyatt Mondesire's recent column about Donovan McNabb in proper perspective. "Right to free speech not withstanding," Gumbel said. "Can't we just tell people who don't know what they are talking about to shut up?"
Originally published on December 20, 2005
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/784-simms_phil.JPG
Phil Simms doesn't try to hide when his analysis comes up short, a rarity on TV landscape.