Wednesday Words

 

Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Costas

So, happy hump day, friends!

Let's grumble about a few things, shall we?

1) Soccer.

Remember I told you yesterday about Brunswick soccer? Remember I also said I'd call their match today?

It's a long story but they're not streaming their games. They just forgot to tell me and it's all good. We move forward. I had fun practicing calling soccer as a radio broadcast.

2) "Bob Costas is trash."

Good lord, people. Costas is anything but trash. The thing is, as a consumer, you're used to the histrionics of whomever you listen to. In the case of a Yankees fan, that might be Michael Kay, for instance. You're used to his cadence. His voice is your summer soundtrack.

You expect a rising voice and "SEE YA!" on every Yankees home run. Of course, you also probably watch a game differently than I do.

Once upon a time, many postseason broadcasts were split between the teams participating in the World Series. Thus, it felt like it was Red Barber and Mel Allen every October since Yankees/Dodgers was a familiar show.

There were exceptions to this rule but, generally, a local announcer was involved in the World Series until 1976. Eventually, the locals were phased out in favor of the network play-by-play voice and an "expert" analyst.

Thus you get the arrangement that we've evolved into as of 2022 and, in my opinion, we're the lucky ones to get Bob Costas and Ron Darling on Yankees/Cleveland.

Twitter, of course, does not agree. Thus, the socials were alive with "Bob Costas is trash." So is Darling, apparently, but he gets a little bit of a pass.

The thing, of course, is that Costas doesn't do hyperbole. He doesn't have a notepad of witty sayings. He calls the game but, admittedly, does so sitting atop a throne. He has long been one of the wiser sages of sports broadcasting and was on his game again last night.

I've enjoyed his work for 40 years and think, with Vin Scully's passing, Costas is our best living baseball voice.

But, obviously, not all concur with that assessment. Many took issue with his storytelling, specifically a breakdown of the Boone family tree that eventually produced Yankees manager Aaron Boone. There is a lineage that leads back a few generations of Boone's in baseball. I remember Aaron's dad, Bob, who was a very good catcher in the 70s and 80s.

Across the way, in the Cleveland dugout, is manager Terry Francona, whose dad, Tito, played 15 seasons. Darling specifically recalled the players involved in the narrative, having faced some of them throughout his career.

Of course, those with a short attention span felt this took away from the call.

Baseball -- more than any other sport -- lends itself to storytelling. Sports broadcasting in general is wonderful for that. But, that being said, I've also been lampooned for doing the same. I hear it. I read it. But I don't intend to change my style. 

Costas doesn't do over-the-top. He knows the flow of the contest a lot better than Twitter does. He's a Ford Frick Award Winner for a reason. 

A Hall of Fame broadcaster.

And he's no doubt laughing at the criticism today.

Turner will not be taking Costas and Darling off the ALDS, despite what people online are saying.

Oh, and Twitter also felt the duo were "pro-Cleveland" and "pro-Yankees."

I listened. I watched.

They were neither.

They were two great pros.

3) Today is "Clubhouse Day!" Thus we'll be in Mount Kisco tonight at 7pm for "The Clubhouse." Mark, Dave, Bob, and I will be there to talk sports and enjoy a ginger ale or two. Come on out to Hotel MTK Mount Kisco at 1 Holiday Inn Drive. You can find us in The Hub -- the restaurant just inside the front door. We'd love to build an in-person audience to be a part of the show.

Now let's go make something of this day.