MASN, IRL the big winners from weekend TV coverage
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
June 29, 2009
Someone has to watch, listen to, and monitor the hours of sports that fills up the weekend on TV, radio and broadband. That is what I am here for, to make sure we don't miss any of the great moments in broadcasting heard over Saturday and Sunday. So here are the Williams' winners for this past weekend:
1. The Battle of the Beltway » MASN was the big winner with their "shared broadcast teams." While the games were less than stellar, the telecasts were playoff worthy.
Jim Palmer and Rob Dibble gave a three-day clinic on baseball. The old school Palmer and the new school Dibble were so entertaining that I actually wanted to watch the game. Both Palmer and Dibble took the time to explain to the fans why both the Nationals and Orioles were going to be contenders down the line by analyzing both the mistakes and good plays made by both teams.
They were at their best talking pitching and, with so many young starters on both clubs, there was plenty for the guys to talk about. The fact that I actually watched three games played by two last place teams and enjoyed the broadcasts, feeling that one day soon these teams are actually going to be better, was a true testament to just how entertaining, informative and insightful Palmer and Dibble were this weekend. Let's not forget the fine work by Nats play-by-play man Bob Carpenter and his Orioles counterpart Jim Hunter, who both did a fine job keeping the conversation moving while not missing a beat in calling the games.
2. The IRL on Versus » OK, is it me or did the Indy Racing League cars running Saturday night in Richmond look like slot cars? This is the track where the NASCAR boys are in a single file line for over 500 laps and slowly bump or push the other cars out of the way. Meanwhile, the IRL cars were buzzing around Richmond three across, darting in and out for position. Quite fun to watch, but after the race I went on eBay looking to buy a slot car set.
Honorable mention goes to Versus for taking the TSN Canada feed. They gave the NHL draft all the drama and importance of the NFL draft. The gang at TSN had every little detail on each of the draftee's no matter where they played.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
