As bad as the USGA was when it came to setting up Shinnecock Hills last Saturday at the U.S. Open, there was something far worse.
And that would be FOX Sports.
Once again FOX proved that the USGA sold its broadcast soul to the devil.Once again, compared to the real pros at CBS and NBC, Fox was so very amateurish.
The best thing that happened during the four days of the 118th U.S. Open came when FOX lost the audio portion of its telecast for 15 minutes on Friday — heaven sent!
FOX out-foxed itself with all these wonderful microphones that picked up all those obnoxious New Yorkers screaming constantly at the top of their drunken lungs. That got really old by Sunday.
In case you missed it, those mics also picked up a couple of guys talking sexual escapades during the Friday broadcast. A FOX staffer even had to issue an apology:
“Today, during the live FS1 broadcast of the 2018 U.S. Open, one of the many microphones on the course inadvertently picked up some offensive crowd chatter. We sincerely apologize,” Fox Sports spokeswoman Anne Pennington said in an official statement.
Then there’s the on-air talent of lack thereof.
Paul Azinger kept repeating himself countless times.
Joe Buck? He can’t be saved. Football? Yes. Golf? He’s awful, simply awful.
And Ken Brown and his “Brownie Points?” What a waste. Can’t they come up with someone besides this guy? He was best-known in his playing days for being the slowest player on the European Tour.
Holly Sonders? Bleah!
This broadcast crew makes us appreciate how much we miss Jim Nance and guys like Gary McCord, David Feherty, Gary Koch and yes, even to some degree — Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller.
The USGA should have known that CBS and NBC have all the best broadcast talent.
FOX has the leftovers and once again, it showed.
Horrible, simply horrible.
Good news is that it won’t happen again for a year.
10 Comments
RM
Yep, I like Paul Azinger as a golfer, but was underwhelmed by his on air observations. Much prefer the other gang, and I’m fine with Faldo and Miller as part of it.
The main negative thing for me was the mikes at the tee boxes. I guess they were there to pick up chatter from the players and caddies while they tee off, but hearing the drunks yelling doesn’t add to the experience. After you’ve heard the morons screaming “Get in the hole!” from 500 yards away for the 25th time, you’re hoping the TV geniuses toss those mikes where sun doesn’t shine.
Tom Edrington
Oh heck yes, RM. And I wish we had $5 for everytime some moron screams TIIIIII-GAAHHHHH! while Woods is just walking around….please….and the incessant “Get In The Hole” gets beyond old…..Baba Louie too….no such crap at the Open Championship, can’t wait for Carnoustie!
sandman69
Isn’t there any way to stop these morons from shouting, or removing them if they do? I agree, can’t wait for Carnoustie!
Tom Edrington
No mindless screaming by the Scots, they appreciate good golf and sing in the pubs, LOVE SCOTLAND, we were at Carnoustie last October, awesome place!
guiltyhd
Joe Buck should be fired he is a total ass
Tom Edrington
Okay for football, for golf, he’s lost in the dark!
guiltyhd
I wonder if there would be any complaining about course conditions when hogan and Palmer played are the golfers or babies especially golf Chanel
Tom Edrington
Guys were a lot tougher back in those days, courses weren’t as manicured and the greens weren’t like pool table tops.
sandman69
Isn’t there any way to stop these morons from shouting, or removing them if they do? I agree, can’t wait for Carnoustie!
Tom Edrington
Not as long as the booze sales flow.