Go Ahead, Get Drunk During Chris Berman's Primetime US Open Shifts

For the second time in the last three years, the US Open will be broadcast well into primetime.  Emanating from Pebble Beach (where I'll be to experience it), the National Broadcasting Company will air the live coverage of the tournament from 4:30 - 11pm ET on Saturday and 3 - 9 pm ET on Sunday.  When the primetime experiment was first tried at Torrey Pines, the Saturday round ended at 10pm. 

Frankly, I think the Open got the extra hour because why would anyone want to subject themselves to another episode of either The Marriage Ref or Minute to Win It?  I mean, there could be a special golf themed episode of either to fill in the surefire gaps in what will almost certainly be a six hour final round for the last pairing.  If Jim Furyk and Brian Davis couldn't get around a 6900 yard course in a respectable time, then what hope does anyone have at the Open?

Anyhow, the imminent problem with watching the national championship is Chris Berman's* dreadful coverage of the opening two rounds.  The guy can't even stand to wear a new golf shirt, much less not continue to recycle the same tired lines that he has been spewing at the WWL for the last three decades.  (NFL Network was willing to take one for the universe, ESPN, and you had to go and re-sign him.)  Normally, Berman's two hours air between 5 and 7pm ET along with Roger Maltbie, which Berman lovingly refers to as "happy hour."  There is absolutely nothing happy about listening to Chris Berman do golf.

Fortunately for me, I'll be at the Open and not even have to bother with Boom's voice.  But you, my unlucky friend, you can get home, kiss the wife and kids, and down a good six pack of beer before Berman hits the air.  You won't even realize who's talking at any one time.  The downside is that it could start a fight with your family.  The upside is that the argument would completely drown out Berman.  In every case, you win.

And that, among other reasons, is why the US Open in primetime is a great idea.  Oh yeah, and the killer ratings.

* - Feel free to substitute anything I wrote about Berman here with Johnny Miller's name, if you are so inclined.

** - Did anyone ever notice that Leonard Shapiro and Chris Berman could totally be long lost brothers?