I Want You to Grade the Golf Media's Talent

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 12:46 PM EST Comment 33 comments

One of our readers, Vince Spence (who also went to my high school, as well his son), told me about an idea that he had on one of his blogs. His idea was to grade the Golf Channel talent with a report card of A through F.

But why limit ourselves? I know we spend some time here talking about the golf media, and the members that do well and not so well.

So, here's what I want to do. Let's open this up to any member of the golf media - TV, print, magazine, blogs, you name it. Give the person(s) you pick in the comments section a grade from A through F and tell me why.

This kind of thing lends itself to a lot of unnecessary or unfounded critiques. Let me take a moment then to say two things:

(1) The opinions expressed in the comments are those of the person writing them, and not necessarily mine;

(2) Please don't ruin this by just saying "So-and-so sucks, F-." Throw me a bone and give me a reason.

I think this could be a lot of fun, so let's see how we do in airing our Cheers and Jeers of the golf media. And please throw in a few cheers, or I'm going to have to grade on a curve.

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Cheers and Jeers

Doesn’t BiPM have C&J copyrighted? If that makes no sense to you Ryan, please disregard or, better yet, delete this comment.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Feb 19, 2009 12:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought that was a TV Guide thing

Am I wrong on that?

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

either way...

…if it’s copywritten, it’s copywritten….just take the capital letters off of “cheers and jeers” and we can call it something else.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan, if you’d known what I was referring to you would have seen the humor. Since you don’t it’s nothing to worry about.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Feb 19, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BiPM ?

What DOES it stand for ?

BIPM Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (International Bureau of Weights and Measures; France)
BIPM Bureau of Invasive Plant Management (Florida)
BIPM Business Intelligence Process Management (software)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’ve got me curious now what it stands for, especially since I love a good joke :)

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh my !

this one could take on a life of its own…and being the shy, retiring type, myself, I just don’t know that I’ll have anything to contribute…. :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vince Cellini....

A+, didn’t know he was college football horse, enjoy him greatly and he usually has no problem joking around or making fun people.

by wiggitywhales on Feb 19, 2009 1:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just had a thought...

(Quiet D ! I know what you’re thinking) :-)

How about posting a list of who is on which network ? Or break it down by job ? (host, analyst, course reporting, interviews, etc)

Great call on Vince Cellini. He’s the definition of “smooth” and he truly enjoys sports of all kinds. His brother does morning drive here in Atlanta, and when they get together, it’s some of the funniest radio you’ll ever hear.

Another for the A catagory is Steve Sands. He is the best interviewer on xxx Golf Channel – great sense of humor and enjoys talking with people.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I can put that together

I do have a link in the original post to all of the talent at Golf Channel. It might be exhaustive to get all of the magazines, blogs, etc. So tell me which ones you want to see and I’ll pull them out for you with links.

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh

I thought you were just talking about the broadcast media – TGC, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

Have at whoever you want. Bill Jempty tends to look at print media, so I didn’t want to cut him off at what he does well.

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

GGGRRRRRRRRRR

There are very few absolute F’s – but Kelly Tilghman gets one.

His name is not YO !!!!!!!!!!!!! Geez. Just because he doesn’t roll his “r’s” like the Spanish doesn’t mean that he didn’t pronounce the “R” in his name. LISTEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 3:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

li/ri

it’s a sound distinction we make in English that native Japanese speakers don’t make. to my ears, Japanese speaker are either in-between the l and the r or switch randomly between them. the ryo/lyo sound is even more complicated, being one of the few “compound” sounds in Japanese. I’m not a linguist, or a grammarian, so I don’t know the right terms to use, but I do know that after 5 years of trying, the sounds in his first name are among the most difficult I find to pronounce.

by The Constructivist on Feb 19, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

great explanation...

…I had a feeling you would know how to describe it. I can hear how an Asian pronounces things, and they make sense when I see them spelled – but it’s just hard for me to get those sounds out of my mouth.

These talking heads who try to pretend that they are cool with their affectations drive me nuts. Well practiced English right up to the point where something non-English comes up. welcome to “WATAMALA !!” (lol)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TGC Reporters - I took a few alphabetically

Adam Barr – He usually has the boring stuff, but he is self-deprecating and although not funny, has a good sense of humor (B-)

Curt Byrum – He’s about as good as he was on the tour. ‘A’ for effort, overall grade (C+)

Vince Cellini – For a guy with a non-golf background, he does a very good job. Most professional of the staff, great voice and can be pretty funny (A)

Brandel Chamblee – Of all the ex-pros, I like Brandel the most. He has truly grown into this job and he is very comfortable and very credible. I’d like to see more of him in the tower (read next report card) (A-)

Nick Faldo – I’d rather listen to poa annua grow. Offers good tour insight, but his delivery is pretty god-awful. Kelly T. has to spend a lot of time ‘explaining’ what he means. (C-)

Inga Hammond – Maybe it’s me, not her. (F-)

Brian Hammons – Another professional without a ton of golf background. Good delivery and seems to rise to the occasion when stuck with a TGC knucklehead.

Can I do a few more tomorrow??

by Vincent Spence on Feb 19, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brian gets a B-

and, by the way, so-and-so DOES suck…

by Vincent Spence on Feb 19, 2009 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Just doing that to spite me? Just joking.

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

more grading? I'll pass!

It’s the comments that matter more than the grade, I always tell my students, but what do they look at first?

by The Constructivist on Feb 19, 2009 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You’re right, but I don’t think I could get as many comments if I just said to give me an explanation :)

by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 19, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

too true

I prefer to grade individual pieces of writing, since Like Bill, I tend to focus on the ink-stained wretches of the Gutenberg Era. I haven’t read enough of anyone to give them an overall grade.

by The Constructivist on Feb 19, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

fun reading on grading

Tim Burke, sensible as always:

http://weblogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/?p=724

by The Constructivist on Feb 21, 2009 1:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jim Nantz - F

Although the Masters is my favourite tournament, I can’t stand the commentary of Jim Nantz: it’s over-the-top, intrusive, and banal. Ever since he seemed to take on the lead role for this golf tournament and others, I’ve had to put up with his broadcasting ego, feeling as if every little thought that floats through his head is brilliant, insightful commentary that must be imparted to the golfing audience. I admit it must be a difficult job, and dead air is killer for a broadcaster, but there is a time and place for commentary. And definitely a place for NO commentary. For example, last year’s Masters, the final few holes, Trevor Immelman with the lead tries to maintain his composure and finish with his first major. Very little commentary is needed at this stage. True golf fans have watched all the rounds, culminating in the intense drama that is the ending holes of a major. As a television fan, I need simple info to enhance the viewing – club selection, wind direction, other player scores. But most of all, I want quiet; I want to feel like I’m there. What I don’t need – and I still remember Jim idiotically provided – is a rambling background piece on Trevor Immelman and how his parents’ are proud of him and his accomplishments. Are you kidding me? In the denouement of a movie, would you lean over to your companion and discuss the director’s previous work? I repeatedly yelled "Shut up" at my TV while Jim happily nattered on. There are times in any sports’ championship when commentators need to let the play on the course, field, rink, court, etc speak for itself. Jim has either not learned this or forgotten it. Big fat F. Other views of Jim here; it seems there are others out there who think a little more highly of him.

by Shivas on Feb 19, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's great !!

I’ve never heard it put better than your movie illustration.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nantz

is looking for an opportunity to finally say something people will remember rather than the 1997, “A win for the ages”…

I still do not know exactly what that means, but darned if I don’t hear it 30-40 times per year.

by Vincent Spence on Feb 19, 2009 6:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

that's modern broadcasting...

…Al Michaels is the same way. These guys sit around making lists of catch phrases, hoping they will get to use one – inserting themselves into the action so they will be remembered. It’s a dispicable practice.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Feb 19, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

really?

Well, since you’re in broadcasting, I guess you’d know.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Feb 20, 2009 9:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TGC

Brian Hewitt – To the best of my knowledge, Brian has never pissed me off and that’s worth a (B+) any day.

Kraig Kann – Smiles and laughs as much as anyone on TGC. I bet he was the Klass Klown. (A-)

Rich Lerner – He’s like my favorite old Docksiders – always there and very comfortable. (A)

Andrew Magee – Let’s you know HE is the tour pro and you are an announcer. Still a little rough around the edges, but pretty much tells like it is. (B)

Dave Marr III – It’s not his fault he’s Dave Marr’s son and suffers from the comparison. At least he’s not a jerk like Jeremy Schapp, Dick Schapp’s son. (B-)

Frank Nobilo – Still trying to figure out how he has a 2-day facial hair growth EVERY day. One of my favorites. He has it all – tour experience, sense of humor and camera presence. (A)

Peter Oosterhuis – I think a lot of people forget he has won on our tour and a dozen times worldwide. Quick to laugh, especially at himself. (A-)

Iain Page – Extremely versatile. I think I see him on every different TGC show. No apparent golf background, but does a creditable job. (B)

by Vincent Spence on Feb 20, 2009 6:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Johnny Miller

I guess nobody has any comments on Johnny Miller or the best ever in any golf booth, Ben Wright…

by Vincent Spence on Feb 20, 2009 6:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

good, bad, unlistenable, unwatchable, unreadable

all media, dead or alive…and I’ve been listening, watching and reading about golf for over
50 years…that either makes me knowledgeable, senile or both..in decending order:

A+… Dan Jenkins, Jim Murray, Ben Wright, Johnny Miller, H.W. Wind

A… David Marr Sr., Demaret, Judy Rankin

B…C. Schenkel doing Masters Highlights, Dottie Pepper

C…just about everybody else you can’t think of off the bat or just falls into the “so-so” category…including everybody at TGC…exceptions noted below:

D…Nick Faldo…spit it out, Nicky, enunciate, the Cockney psyco-babble is wearing thin.

EEE…Kelly Tilghman…if there was a lower grade than “E” she would earn it…what an annoying, irritating poor excuse for a golf announcer…how does he keep her job?

by rubdown on Feb 20, 2009 9:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs