You Make the Call...
Tonight I saw on ESPN Classic a condensed re-broadcast of a Baseball game I was happy to see, even though "my" team lost - Cincinnati Reds at Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. I remember seeing this game, though I didn't "hear" it - typically we tuned out the network announcers and tuned in the game on WLW radio, which was better if you lived in Cinti - you wanted to hear Joe Nuxhall and Jim McNamara call the game.
Tonight there was no Jim and Joe to tune into - there hasn't been for a long time. But actually the network commentary was excellent, delivered by Joe Garagiola and a fellow named Tony whose last name I didn't catch. At one point in this
highly dramatic game a Red Sox hitter took first base off a pitch which bounced off of Reds' pitcher Pedro Bourbon's ankle and rambled aimlessly towards the third base line. Bourbon scrambled over to get the ball, but catcher Johnny Bench stepped in between Bourbon and the ball with his arms outstretched in a gesture which seemed to say "Don't touch that ball; the man is already on base and you'll just throw it away. Bring the next better up and we'll try for a double play."
After this, Garagiola, himself a former catcher, delivered a succinct impromptu upon the leadership qualities and flexiblity behind the plate of Johnny Bench. It was short, to the point and so eloquent as it nearly bordered on poetry. It consisted of complete sentences only, was delivered without pause, and was over by the time the next play began.
I sighed deeply. This is why I can't stand the empty-headed ramblings of a mush-head like John Madden - I grew up with a much better example of what color commentary is supposed to be. After my signature you will find a bit I wrote and circulated around work after the last Super Bowl, just so you can get my take on the whole matter. It's an intolerable situation nowadays, a nuisance that makes watching televised sports events almost unbearable (unless of course, you turn off the sound.)
But for one hour tonight, thanks to ESPN Classic, I was in heaven again; who wouldn't be with such deliciously dry and witty exchanges as were traded in the broadcast booth in Boston nearly 30 sumers ago:
(after Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant has delivered an obvious spitball to strike out Reds' batter Joe Morgan)
Joe: That pitch had ... a little something "extra"...
Tony: Yes. I think that was his "best" pitch.
Uncle Dave Lewis
udtv@yahoo.com
If John Madden Wrote Classical Music Reviews
"You know, if you haven't got the strings in tune and you haven't got a good
conductor, you sure ain't gonna have a good performance of the
Bruckner Ninth. I mean, you know Bruckner wrote it, he didn't finish it, but
he wrote it, and that score, well - the score is the law of the land. And if
they don't play from the score - well, of course they play from
the score, but if they don't play from it well, then you're just not
gonna have the penetration that you need for good coverage of the
Bruckner.."
copyright 2003 Uncle Dave Lewis