ROSWELL, Ga. – As the 2006 NCAA Tournament enters its second week of competition, I will be in Atlanta, somewhere neither of “my teams” – the Kansas Jayhawks and Syracuse Orange – will be: the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. In the Atlanta bracket, a superior #12 Texas A&M team defeated Syracuse, an overrated 5 seed that only made the tournament because of its unlikely run in the Big East Tournament. Meanwhile, #4 Kansas was in early-season form, looking like a shadow of the Jayhawks that won the Big 12 Tournament the week before, losing to Missouri Valley runners up Bradley, an at-large 13 seed triumphant in the opening weekend. Bradley will play top-seeded Memphis in the Oakland regional semifinal tomorrow night. The early departure for the Jayhawks and Orange marks the second straight year that both 2003 finalists have failed to win their first round games.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – During the chaotic first round of the NCAA Tournament, details are likely to fall through the cracks. Such was the case on CBS Sports’ broadcast of the Kansas-Bradley game Friday night when a graphic, identifying legendary Kansas broadcaster Max Falkenstien, contained an incorrect spelling of Falkenstien’s last name. While it’s an easy mistake, and one that I made on a graphic promoting Falkenstien’s appearance on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday, the error is just as inexcusable on KUJH as it is on CBS. Falkenstien, who has been calling KU football and basketball games since 1946, ended his 60-year career as the voice of the Jayhawks when Kansas lost to the Bradley Braves, 77-73, in their opening round game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. On February 27, he was a guest on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday two days before calling his final home game at Allen Fieldhouse. The first-round broadcast was produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.

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College, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A new feature produced by SWPnet, “From Allen Fieldhouse to Your House,” aired tonight on Jayhawk Sports Talk: Monday, taking a behind-the-scenes look at CBS Sports’ production of college basketball at Allen Fieldhouse. Conversations with CBS director Mark Grant and announcers Craig Bolerjack and Dan Bonner complement exclusive footage of pregame preparation to provide unprecedented access for college television to take an inside look at network sports production. The premiere coincided with legendary announcer Max Falkenstien’s appearance on the show. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the interview.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I’m back at KU for the spring semester, introducing a new look to the site, to me and to Jayhawk Sports Talk. While specifics of the coming season at KUJH are still pending, I will share my recommendations for the weekend programs you shouldn’t miss:

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Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – I wrapped up the last weekend of my winter break in exciting fashion, on the road in Chicago for last weekend’s NFC Divisional Playoff between the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Splitting time at the new Soldier Field between national television and radio coverage on Fox and Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports, respectively, I now feel confident that I have seen two of the three best NFL TV crews in action, both of which were working last Sunday.

With additional equipment and personnel on hand, producer Richie Zyontz and director Artie Kempner told the compelling story of the Bears’ comeback in the midst of an uncharacteristically poor defensive effort on its home field. While Carolina dominated early and often, Fox’s top production duo never counted the Bears out, following the game’s story to its unfortunate end. The game was surprisingly high scoring, with the Chicago defense giving up around three touchdowns more than its per game average at home, but the Bears were within striking distance until just before the two-minute warning when Chicago’s Rex Grossman threw a game-ending interception. It was a very exciting finish to say the least. Fox, however, had a hard act to follow.

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Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After my month-long hiatus from writing these little gems because of this thing called college, I have returned with a multitude of material. Perhaps my standards are too high, but I unfortunately have more disappointment to share than elation. Allow me to begin with a critique of ESPN’s Thursday night college football crew. Regardless of how anyone may feel about S.U. alum Mike Tirico’s falsetto touchdown calls, Kirk Herbstreit’s quarterback mentality (not as bad as Joe Theismann) or Lee Corso’s bizarre antics, I have a bone to pick with two men I actually know: Bo Garrett and Mike Schwab, the producer and director, respectively. I don’t care how good a player might be; the nickname “Pacman” is not to be used on graphics in lieu of a kid’s first name. I am quite familiar with West Virginia’s Adam “Pacman” Jones. He was the star running back at Westlake High School, just south of the airport in Atlanta, and my high school football team had the misfortune of crossing his path while I was shooting my second jockumentary, Inside the Game II. He was called “Pacman” then, and he may be called that for the rest of his life. That still doesn’t mean you put it on a graphic. Mookie Blaylock and Tiger Woods are one thing, but “Pacman Jones”? I think not.

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Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Technology, Television by Scott A. Winer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Think Outside the Box: For some reason, networks have begun to show a growing number of replays with various split-screen effects. Here’s a thought: STOP! It began with Fox’s baseball coverage in the last few years and can now be seen on some of ABC’s college football telecasts.While some viewers may be able to follow two replays going simultaneously at opposite ends of the screen, no network seems to be able to integrate that with a background that doesn’t look absolutely hideous. Fox used its mind-numbing cookie-cutter shapes rather than simple polygons, and ABC’s background looked so pixelated that it was practically unbearable to watch. Whatever happened to the good ‘ole days when it was sufficient to show the isolated shot of the quarterback throwing and the subsequent pressure from the opposition’s defensive line and then seeing the receivers in isolation from a separate angle. I don’t remember anyone complaining that they couldn’t see both at the exact same time.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With the new NFL television contract extensions finalized for CBS and Fox, I suppose that most of the executives and production personnel at the two networks could rest easier as Week 10 blindsided football fans with a plethora of unexpected victories and losses around the league. Everything from the surprising demise of the Holmes-less Kansas City Chiefs to the Vick-torious Atlanta Falcons, who are somehow flying under the radar despite a 7-4 record, provided viewers with a little drama, suspense, and – thanks to the Steelers and Browns – intrigue. Indeed, I was watching the Pittsburgh-Cleveland bout, which at the very least made infinitely more sense than Evander Holyfield’s mismatch the night before. I was, however, watching the game in the midst of a few dozen college students. While I try to temper my criticism of sports telecasts, at least in public, the twenty-somethings around me were not so careful with their words. “I don’t like Dierdorf,” one of them said. “He probably wouldn’t like you either,” I thought – silently, of course. These kids mocked the slightest inflection in an announcer’s voice, his word choice, his criticisms of their favorite team, and proceeded to knock CBS’ pregame show, The NFL Today, for everything from the animated segment featuring the fictitious Thurston Long to why they think Shannon Sharpe doesn’t belong on the show.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer