Oh, to be a G.O.A.T. in 21st century America
As for this week’s news about Tom Brady, specifically that FOX has drafted another quarterback to do color on its football broadcasts whenever he retires, and that he can expect to collect something between $20 million and $37.5 million a year at it for at least 10 subsequent seasons, I’m guessing your reaction was similar to mine:
Well, isn’t that marvelous? It’s about time that guy caught a break. No?
Doesn’t matter what we think; it matters only what FOX-TV execs think, and I gather it goes something like this: “Look, we have no earthly idea whether Tom Brady can provide color/analysis in a way that attracts and holds an audience [and ultimately boosts advertising rates], or that anyone can really do that in the post-Madden era, but if we can make the G.O.A.T part of the FOX brand, the NFL and our investors will continue to view us favorably in an ever-more-competitive landscape.”
NBC had a similar brain spasm when Joe Montana retired, signing him for their studio show with no broadcast experience, a job everyone decided after one year he would not grow into.
This kind of G.O.A.T. Gambit became necessary at FOX after ESPN absconded with its No. 1 broad cast team, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, to fuel inject its unremarkable “MondayNight Football” booth. Amazon Prime Video made a similar play, plucking Al Michaels from the “Sunday Night Football ”stage and pairing him with Kirk Herbstreit for this fall. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo were still the lead dogs at CBS as of noon Friday.
Romo, i ts hould be emphasized, persuaded FOX thatthe Brady hire could work, whether FOX knows itor not. The former Dallas quarterback’ s breath taking as an analyst without portfolio after CBS madehim its top analyst led to a record-breaking contract, $17 million annually.It worked with Romo. Brady, depending on your source, could make twice that.
The New York Post, like FOX a Murdoch property, said the deal was for 10 yearsand $375 million, and while FOX didn’t disclose, other industry sources put Tom’s annual take at somewhere between $20 million and$25 million. That’s basically a matter of whether he’ll make $10,000 per play or $15,000 per play.
If you’ll remember, this might have been what George Costanza had in mindas he discussed his future employment options with Jerry on “Seinfeld.”
George: “Maybe I could bean announcer, like a colorman. You know how I always make those interesting comments during thegame?”
Jerry: “Yeah, yeah, ya make good comments.”
George: “So what about that?”
Jerry: “Well, you know they tend give those jobs to ex-ball players and people that are, you know, in broadcasting.”
George: “Well that’s really not fair.” Jerry: “I know.” This, the experience aspect of the Brady news, is what directly affects you andme, and we simply don’t know what to expect from Brady behind the mic.
Doe she even know who’s a beast and who’s a freak? Does he know Day 1 from The Get Go? Or will he bea From The Jump guy? When is that meeting with play-by-playman Kevin Burkhardt, in which Burkhardt explains, “Ok Tom, now if I say, ‘Their backs areto the wall,’ you say, ‘That’s right Kevin; there’s no tomorrow.’ If I say ‘There’s no tomorrow,’ you say, ‘That’s right Kevin; their backs are to the wall.’ Also, remember, it’s ‘a buck 30,’never ‘a minute and 30 seconds.’ And finally, in case of emergency, when we don’t know what to say butwe have to say something, there’s always ‘It is what it is.’”
Canwe count on the G.O.A.T.at this point to even know a Gut Check from Crunch Time? Can he distinguish from his broadcast vantage point whether someone really Got His Bell
Rung or is just Slow To Get Up?
If Fox has any luck, Brady’s first observation will not be, “If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.” Fox should probably try to getout in front of any such impulse, since there might besome in the audience who haven’t forgotten that the G.O.A.T. was once suspended four games for a role in deflating footballs (the better to grip them and beat you with my dear) for the A FC championship against Indianapolis, costing the New England Patriots$1 million and two draft picks, including a first-rounder.
What little FOX has said about all this, it has still managedto describe a sizable learning curve for Mr. Terrific. He’ll not only have to develop his broadcast style almost overnight, he’ll have further responsibilities. He’s got to understand the FOX brand, understand whatit takes to be a “brand ambassador,” and find out what’s involved in “client promotional initiatives.” Also, I think I saw somewhere, he’s got to clean out the fridge on alternating Thursdays.
Butit’s all good. As a player, Tom made around $300 million flinging footballs like no one’s even flung’ em, and now he can make even more explaining how no one will ever be as good as he.
Tickled to hear it, really.