Re: Patriots 10 year contract extension with WBCN

[Bob Nelson <raccoonradio@yahoo.com>]

> It comes down to this: Sports fans *want* their
> local announcers to
> be "unabashed homers". 

I watched last year's Super Bowl on Fox and, in
retrospect, wish I had turned down the sound and
turned up WBCN. Reason: Pat Summerall closed his long
career by calling the Vinitieri field goal (which had
given the Patriots the win) in such an unexciting
manner, while Santos' "It's good! It's good!" etc.
call was much better to listen to, whether or not
you were cheering for the Patriots. Sports is supposed
to be exciting, especially for the fans of
a franchise that had never "won it all" in its
42 years of existence.

When Don Orsillo called one of his first NESN
Red Sox games (as their new voice), it happened
to be their first no-hitter in about 40 years (Hideo
Nomo). He sounded matter-of-fact and calm, at a time
when he probably should have been a "homer" and showed
a little passion. 

Yes, "homer" announcers can be annoying at times,
but there's also something nice to be said about them
(like the late Harry Caray when he would sing during
the seventh inning stretch, urging the Wrigley
faithful to "root, root, root for the Cubbies...").