June 25, 2003

They should get Bill Walton instead. Then when some lineman blows out his knee and is carried off Walton bellow, "That's TERRIBLE! He wasn't even TRYING to block his man!"

posted by Mookieproof at 03:08 PM on June 25, 2003

This is a complete fucking joke. You know, if there is ONE job where the "jockocracy" might have relevance, it's on the sidelines. There, through mixing with former players and being on the field to hear familiar sounds and terms, one of these bozos might actually convey something I didn't know already. Lisa Guerrero's chances of adding to my football-watching experience — slim to none. And Lisa, this doesn't have a DAMN thing to do with you being a woman, even an incredibly attractive one. Let's face it — it's how you ended up where you're at now, and that's fine. But your pretty mug is going to just piss me off when you tell me Marshall Faulk sprained his ankle on a cutback, and then you stare blankly into the lens because you don't have any insight to add. When we need a sideline reporter for "Matlock," we'll call you.

posted by wfrazerjr at 03:34 PM on June 25, 2003

Lisa Guerrero's chances of adding to my football-watching experience - slim to none. I have to disagree with you. Like "therev" said, what possible insight are you looking for from a sideline reporter? They pretty much report what they hear... any schmoe off the street can do the job. So, why not have an attractive girl do it instead of someone like Eric Dickerson. Does Eric Dickerson or Lynn Swann really add insight for you? Do they add to your football-watching experience? I don't know about you, but I think that seeing a hot girl on TV between plays would definitely add to MY football-watching experience... but that's just me.

posted by jhwoo82 at 04:24 PM on June 25, 2003

Therev, two points: 1) Before I chose newspapers, I was a TV commentator. No, not on MNF, but I did do quite a bit of high-end regional high-school and low-end college football and basketball. I could have pursued it, but writing is my first love. That said, I'm better than at least 75 percent of the former players who put on a headset because they used to put on a jock. As for muting the sound, here's another alternative — how about the networks putting TWO people in a booth who can elucidate their thoughts? Rather than me sitting in silence, how about hiring qualified people? Aren't you more apt, therev, to watch a game with good broadcasters? Doesn't it enhance your experience? 2) There's a limited amount of information to be gleaned from standing around on the sidelines. I wish they'd do away with those positions completely. But since they won't, who's going to have a better chance of a) understanding the nature of the injury and its overall effect on the team and the game and b) reading the mood and tenor of the sideline and possibly foreshadowing something? Is it Lisa Guerrero? Or is it Steve Tasker? If you have to have someone standing around, why not have it be someone with a clue?

posted by wfrazerjr at 04:49 PM on June 25, 2003

I've always had a pretty low expectation of sideline reporting, aside from the great Suzy Kolber and the occasional hardball interview by Jim Gray, so I don't mind Lisa Guerrero replacing Melissa Stark. Guerrero can't be any worse than the slobbery former-pros who are more interested in being pals with athletes than reporting on the event.

posted by rcade at 05:15 PM on June 25, 2003

I don't mind it - I think there are a lot of less-qualified broadcasters out there, most of whom are former players, and in a meaningless position she's fine. I like the askmen profile saying "although we are skeptical about the authenticity of her busom." :) If they're fake she's automatically on my "I can't respect you" list and I reverse my decision. But so far on FSN she's been decent. Did Melissa Stark do anything else besides sideline reports? That's one cushy job if she only has to work 17-18 days a year. It's not like much pregame office research goes into it either...

posted by Bernreuther at 09:24 AM on June 26, 2003

"I know some women who are huge football fans... and sometimes they can give better insight into the game" jhwoo82 This is basically what they said about Dennis Miller (excluding the woman part). The question here really is "Is she getting the job because of her bosom or her football broadcast brain?" Time will tell, ask Dennis Miller (Although I would have liked to have had heard Miller and John Madden in the booth together).

posted by rl55z at 12:23 PM on June 26, 2003

Somewhere out there Dennis Miller is kicking himself for not getting a tit job.

posted by Samsonov14 at 02:33 PM on June 26, 2003

let us not forget that by putting the camera and mic on her, they are silencing john madden, even if only for a second.

posted by Bernreuther at 03:42 PM on June 26, 2003