TIME TO CUT THE MICS
Not until Sam Darnold was captured by a live microphone saying “I’m seeing ghosts,” did anyone ever say: Did you hear what Player X said on the mic’d up segment of “Monday Night Football?”
No, right? That stems from NFL Films (as you probably know by now) acting as a censor to make sure nothing “embarrassing” or “offensive” makes it on air. That’s why the “spontaneous” audio replay segment is garbage. It’s an illusion that a network, in this case ESPN, is bringing you closer to the game.
A network is really just creating anticipation that it might actually air something outrageous from a player or coach who is forced, er, designated, per league “edict,” to wear the microphone. Instead of the real deal, instead of passion, pap is presented.
Darnold’s self-critique causing such a media firestorm is proof positive comments airing in these segments previously were as spicy as a bowl of oatmeal.
This microphone “mayhem” is not exclusive to ESPN, who also uses it on its NBA telecasts. All the networks televising live events use it in different forms under different titles. No matter the concept, the results are the same, unless you think a basketball coach screaming to his team to “get back” on defense is big audio dynamite. One of the few exceptions to all this is HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
“But a team knows what to expect when they are on that show,” an industry source said. “Foul language and unexpected revelations are part of ‘Hard Knocks.’” Yet the participating teams still have a big say on what eventually makes the cut for each episode.
Judging by their overreaction to Darnold’s “ghost” line, the Jets probably would like to have input on what gets out over the airwaves during their games. After all, they have been known to complain to both SNY and ESPN-98.7 when the content of those two outlets Jets’ shows bothers them.
Adam Gase stopped short of calling for an NFL investigation on who is responsible for allowing Darnold’s few words to be heard by a few million viewers. We wouldn’t be surprised if the organization interrogated the employee responsible for working with ESPN as a liaison on the mic’d up segments.
There’s a solution to all this: All audio replay segments should be immediately discontinued. They are a farce. They provide no insight or drama.
Yet if they are to continue, the segments (outside of foul language) should not be censored. The irony of the Darnold situation is apparent. A network finally presented meaningful audio. It showed how rattled Darnold was by Bill Belichick’s defense.
The ESPN audio delivered unscripted reality. The reaction was to complain and point fingers. Even the unexpected truth hurts.
DEBATE, ROUND 1: SWEENY VS. CASHMAN
Thanks to Sweeny Murti, no one fell asleep Thursday during Brian Cashman’s season-ending press conference in the Bronx.
Murti, veteran WFAN Yankees beat reporter, scored a direct hit on Cashman’s sensitive spot/ego when he asked him about all the pitchers still working in the World Series (like Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander) and the GM’s inability to acquire any of them when they were on the market.
Cashman, an expert at working the media, was immediately taken aback by Murti’s inquiry, and challenged the reporter’s inference that he didn’t aggressively pursue any of these aces.
The back-and-forth, captured live on YES, was civil, yet it contained an entertaining hint of contentiousness, with Cashman talking down to Murti. The reporter maintained his cool. The moment was entertaining and clearly sent Cashman, a cat in control, off script. Very Nice!
DEBATE, ROUND 2: MARTINO VS. BENIGNO
Joe Benigno upset over the Mets not landing Joe Girardi?
How stunning. Yet, Benigno’s harsh reaction (evidently Brodie Van Wagenen’s “slicked back hair” is a liability) was mirrored in the Valley of the Stupid and other media precincts. The familiar Mets lines (Wilpons didn’t want to spend millions on a manager; BVW wants a puppet in the dugout; etc.) were dusted off and regurgitated.
Those looking for some balance were able to find it. While mouths like John Harper, Anthony McCarron and Todd Zeile (SNY’s “Baseball Night in New York”), would have preferred having Girardi in the Mets dugout, they did not hesitate to highlight the negatives Joey Loose-Leafs now brings to Philly. Their colleague, Andy Martino, had a unique take.
He applauded the Mets organization for not rolling over to the pressure of “their fan base and talk radio.” Host Sal Licata was perturbed over that reference. Anyway, would love to see Martino verbally go oneon-one with Benigno. Can someone make that happen?
MARVELOUS MR. ALBERT
With all the player movement in the NBA, it was good to see Marv Albert, one of the league’s TV stars, staying put on TNT.
Last November, reports surfaced that Albert might have been working his last season as TNT’s No. 1 NBA voice. Neither TNT or Albert confirmed those reports, only saying the legendary play-by-play man had two years left on his contract.
Turns out reports of Marveloso’s demise were premature. On TNT’s NBA opening night Tuesday, Albert worked Pelicans-Raptors. And on Thursday night, Albert was in Houston with his partner Chris Webber for TNT’s coverage of Bucks-Rockets. The duo was cooking. Yes!