Scrutinizing the Scrutinizers
This week, CBS has come under necessary scrutiny for what some have called "blown coverage" of their NCAA Tournament telecasts. Sadly, the scrutiny isn't for the right reasons. Here's why.
As I said, there's been scrutiny, especially from local radio personalities on both sports talk stations in the Washington DC area (which was mentioned nationally on "Mike & Mike" this morning), my home base. The specific issue came when CBS decided to air the last couple minutes of regulation and the overtime of the Ohio State-Xavier thriller in lieu of the Maryland-Butler game. The criticism presupposes that most people in the DC area are Maryland fans. News flash: They're not. Many are, but the Terps are very polarizing in the DC area dating back to the post-Duke debacle riots in 2001. Arguably, they're the fourth-most successful program in the metropolitan area since 2004. The fans consist mostly of Maryland and Georgetown supporters, and then George Mason and George Washington to a lesser extent.
Switching Games?
There's nothing wrong with switching games. This isn't the first year in which CBS has switched games. Some of you must've been in hibernation. It's difficult for fans who are supporters of a single local team. They want to watch their team play from start to finish. If it bothers you so much, here's my solution to the Maryland fans who haven't seen anything but the NIT since 2004: Buy a ticket.
In reality, such fans comprise a small portion of the fans watching during the Round of 32. It's the not-so-tough decision and responsibility of CBS to show close games reaching finality, because that's what March Madness is all about. There's a frenetic pace attached to the spectacle that may be difficult for single-team fans to fathom. When I wasn't able to watch North Carolina spar with Michigan State for the first few minutes, did I want to moan to CBS for not being able to watch my beloved Tar Heels? No, because I was watching a double overtime game between Vanderbilt and Washington State followed by a near-impossible comeback by VCU against Pittsburgh. These finishes are what the madness is all about.
In my humble opinion, there is some room for improvement. The live look-ins take longer than they used to because Greg Gumbel's lead-ins are longer than they used to be, waiting for both Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis to interject on the games' activity. It's a drag. This is my main bone of contention and it can be corrected next year. All in all, CBS has it right in most cases, although their continued blackout of the Notre Dame-Winthrop (became available with 12 minutes left in the first half) game to show the final 2 minutes of the Memphis-North Texas was unnecessary.
Looking ahead to next year, here are three feasible recommendations to consider:
- Do not make the Memphis-North Texas mistake ever again. It was a double-digit game and the winner was known to everyone before the switch.
- For DirecTV package subscribers only, establish a clear, interrupted feed for those whose local teams are playing. This is subject to technological limitations and potential price hikes.
- Reduce the length of live look-ins that take place in the middle of a game.
As I said, there's been scrutiny, especially from local radio personalities on both sports talk stations in the Washington DC area (which was mentioned nationally on "Mike & Mike" this morning), my home base. The specific issue came when CBS decided to air the last couple minutes of regulation and the overtime of the Ohio State-Xavier thriller in lieu of the Maryland-Butler game. The criticism presupposes that most people in the DC area are Maryland fans. News flash: They're not. Many are, but the Terps are very polarizing in the DC area dating back to the post-Duke debacle riots in 2001. Arguably, they're the fourth-most successful program in the metropolitan area since 2004. The fans consist mostly of Maryland and Georgetown supporters, and then George Mason and George Washington to a lesser extent.
Switching Games?
There's nothing wrong with switching games. This isn't the first year in which CBS has switched games. Some of you must've been in hibernation. It's difficult for fans who are supporters of a single local team. They want to watch their team play from start to finish. If it bothers you so much, here's my solution to the Maryland fans who haven't seen anything but the NIT since 2004: Buy a ticket.
In reality, such fans comprise a small portion of the fans watching during the Round of 32. It's the not-so-tough decision and responsibility of CBS to show close games reaching finality, because that's what March Madness is all about. There's a frenetic pace attached to the spectacle that may be difficult for single-team fans to fathom. When I wasn't able to watch North Carolina spar with Michigan State for the first few minutes, did I want to moan to CBS for not being able to watch my beloved Tar Heels? No, because I was watching a double overtime game between Vanderbilt and Washington State followed by a near-impossible comeback by VCU against Pittsburgh. These finishes are what the madness is all about.
In my humble opinion, there is some room for improvement. The live look-ins take longer than they used to because Greg Gumbel's lead-ins are longer than they used to be, waiting for both Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis to interject on the games' activity. It's a drag. This is my main bone of contention and it can be corrected next year. All in all, CBS has it right in most cases, although their continued blackout of the Notre Dame-Winthrop (became available with 12 minutes left in the first half) game to show the final 2 minutes of the Memphis-North Texas was unnecessary.
Looking ahead to next year, here are three feasible recommendations to consider:
- Do not make the Memphis-North Texas mistake ever again. It was a double-digit game and the winner was known to everyone before the switch.
- For DirecTV package subscribers only, establish a clear, interrupted feed for those whose local teams are playing. This is subject to technological limitations and potential price hikes.
- Reduce the length of live look-ins that take place in the middle of a game.
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