There was a thread regarding play-by-play announcers, and Iowa's specifically, a couple months ago in the lounge. It seems over the last 3-4 years it has become vogue to include the broadcasters in the many complaints on the message boards that were once designed to discuss the athletic programs and their coaches and players. I will admit--having walked in these people's shoes, it is a topic that bothers me enough to feel compelled to respond.
I will share as a former multi-sport athlete and coach at a mid-major (long before the coin was termed) I transitioned into broadcasting after deciding to spend more time with my family. Eventually I moved into the front office of a regional network. Included in my duties was the hiring, and unfortunately sometimes the firing of staff. I eventually left after becoming fed up with how large corporate juggernauts were tearing apart the industry. However, I still watch/listen to sportscasters with the same approach as I did over a decade ago.
Part of the issue is the subjectivity of the business. Much like an artist's painting, one person may like what another does not. Talent Directors are the same, but I guarantee you they listen with a much more defined sense of measure. There are certain across the board criteria that announcers must meet to be considered for a job. One may be strong in certain areas, while being weaker in others.
If they are not as strong in a particular criteria, that doesn't mean they are automatically a bad announcer overall. One of the biggest issues is how people listen and that it can eventually lead to personal bias. I'm not picking on Hawk24 or Linus, but your discussion about how you each individually recall "every missed shot" being described the same way--yet you each had a different phrase that came to mind. The reality is this--Not every missed shot by Brent was described the same way. However, a certain description was surely used multiple times during a broadcast. Basketball usually requires repeated phrases due to its constant action compared to other sports. This is what we used to refer to as the 90-10 Rule. People may like (or at least not think about) 90 percent of the call of a game. But if they hear something they don't like in the remaining 10 percent--that's all they remember.
I will be honest, but respectful of each of the people being discussed here....
Brent Balbinot: He brings a high level of energy (and emotion) to a broadcast. Generally that is a good thing. When he got started doing UI games Gary Dolphin was a pseudo-mentor to him. That led to his developing some bad habits, not the least of which was complaining about the officiating. While I agree that was an issue early on, listening to him over the last 5 years, it is not as bad as many of his critics claim. But the problem is many people still have that ingrained from first impression. SynergyHawk it's ironic that you think Brent was a complainer about the officiating while at the same time thought Shelley Till was great. In a critique she once asked me for, I told her while her analysis was very good she needed to cut down the screaming and yelling at the officials. Especially while Brent still had the call and she was yelling over him. His play-by-play description is excellent.
Rob Brooks: Definitely a low energy guy. As Linus mentioned his style is suited for slower moving sports like baseball. I have heard him do a few UI softball games on the radio, but not anything else. He will definitely need to speed up his call to make his basketball entertaining to listen to. I don't know if this decision is a move by him to help setup a potential move to take over when Gary Dolphin eventually retires, but having been in the t.v. booth for his career may make for a rough transition into radio where you not only have to be more descriptive, but faster with your call.
Jaimie Cavey She did a couple of fill in games years ago shortly after graduating. It was interesting to say the least. While a delightful person, her approach and overall personality is very "loosey-goosey". If I were to cross paths with her, I would definitely tell her, while you should certainly should have fun in this job, you also need to take it seriously. Oak I think you are mistaking Jamie with Kristi Faulkner who did 2-3 games last season. Jamie was suggested by Coach Bluder, but Brent had already lined up a rotation of color analysts and in my opinion chose 4 very good ones. The amount of work Brent did in addition to his own job to oversee, schedule and help train Kathryn, Todd, Stacy and Kristi was exceptional and well beyond what should be expected. The two most likely reasons Jamie was selected are that Coach Bluder wanted her and she lives in Iowa City, meaning the network doesn't have to pay her mileage to and from the games.
The broadcasts are definitely sound different this upcoming season. Time will tell how good the new crew will be.
Or, a little easier, Megan G and Ally D.
