NBC found out that the broadcast talent pool is pretty shallow.
Make that real shallow.
So it’s basically not that surprising that The Peacock Network tapped Paul Azinger on the shoulder this week and said: “Hey Paulie — Johnny’s out, you’re in.”
That would be Paul Azinger taking over in the booth for the soon-to-be-retired and off to hang out with his grandchildren Johnny Miller.
Hopefully Zinger will be better with a little practice and he’ll get more of that than he does with FOX. Anything FOX and golf is a travesty, as in that networks butchery of the U.S. Open broadcasts where the announcers basically stink and Azinger is stinky just by association. The fact that we’re stuck with FOX for our national championship is something almost akin to a “death-do-us-part” vow where the USGA basically proved that it is a greedy pig, very much like the PGA Tour and sold its heart and soul to the devil, which in that case is FOX.
The addition of Zinger simply strengthens the CBS headlock on the good broadcast talent. When you look at NBC’s choices, it really didn’t have much of a choice.
The one good thing about Johnny Miller is that he wasn’t afraid to piss anyone off from this new generation of golfers. That may not be the case with Azinger.
Azinger’s already shown us that he’s bringing a “he’s my buddy” attitude to the booth as far as Tiger Woods is concerned. On Monday, the Golf Channel sat down with Zinger and posed the question as to who is the best player out there right now when they have their “A” game.
Good question because the No. 1 ranking in the Official World Golf Rankings has become a revolving door as of late — Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, then the other Justin, as in Rose, so very briefly and now Brooks Koepka.
Who has the best “A” game — has to be Koepka. There’s nothing he can’t do. Ultra-long, really good iron player, good putter and he’s proven he’s a total closer, especially given last season’s U.S. Open and PGA. Brooks can handle the heat and he’s simply getting better each year. HUGE upside with this guy. And he’s so totally cool under pressure.
But no, Azinger does not agree with us.
His choice wasn’t surprising:
“I just can’t see anybody beating Tiger when Tiger’s at his best. I just can’t see it,” Azinger said. “He’s not his best yet, but he’s almost his best. And when Tiger’s his best, there’s more that comes with Tiger than just the score he shoots. That crowd comes with Tiger, and it’s a whole ‘nother dynamic when Tiger’s at his best. And I’m just going to have to say that when Tiger’s at his best, he’s still the best.”
Sure, Paul, sure. What we have there is Azinger making sure that El Tigre will whisper stuff to him whenever needed.
As far as the crowd dynamic, well, Koepka heard it all at the PGA and basically laughed it off. Didn’t bother him a lick.
So we sit and wonder what sort of analyst Azinger will be?
Just tough to think he’ll be bold enough to piss people off the way Miller did and that was why Miller was so effective, he didn’t care.
As for Azinger, the only person he managed to piss off was Seve Ballesteros in the Ryder Cup.
And that seems like such a long time ago.
One Comment
baxter cepeda
Cute your man crush for Brooks.
But Zinger is correct. Tigers biggest foe is himself, especially at majors.
But the story here is that Millers great booth career is coming to an end. A true legend. He will be missed.
Zinger is pretty good in the booth —the only problem FOx is Buck imo. Everyone else is pretty good for Fox imo. Except for there are way too many accents in all American golf coverages.
I like all these accents and At first varying accents helps avoid confusion but after a while all these British and Aussie accents make those coverages sleepy and therefore kinda boring.