Fox baseball's lost weekend in Tampa BAY

Shooting from the Lip
Looking back at a weekend of televised sports ...

Worst camera
So, we had a look at what postseason baseball might look like from the Trop as Fox was in town Saturday for its Game of the Week. Anyone notice how off-center the camera angle was from centerfield? It looked like the camera was set not in center, but in left-center. Home plate was shoved against the right portion of the screen, and it was just unsettling enough to be a distraction for the entire game. And I'm convinced the reason for the off-kilter angle was to get the advertising sign behind home plate into the picture. Let's hope that gets fixed if (when?) Fox does return to St. Petersburg in October.

Poorest choice of words
Fox baseball pregame host Jeanne Zelasko was attempting to be clever when talking about Major League Baseball adding instant replay, but she showed poor judgment or, at the least, proof she hasn't picked up a newspaper or watched a news show in a few days. In a bubbly voice, a smiling Zelasko said, "In the name of progress and disaster preparedness, instant replay has arrived.''

Considering that people were literally fleeing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with a major hurricane barrelling down, the phrase "disaster preparedness'' was an awful choice of words.

More misspeak
Meantime, Zelasko, as she has all season, keeps insisting the Rays play in Tampa. Two more times in Saturday's pregame she called the team the "Tampa Ray'' and in the postgame introduced the highlights from the game "in Tampa.'' Every time she says it, it's like nails on a chalkboard. Her studio partners, Mark Grace and Kevin Kennedy, get it right. Saturday's play-by-play man Kenny Albert got it right. Pretty much everybody gets it right. Why can't she?

Best show
The best part of college football starting again? The return of ESPN's College GameDay -- the best sports show on television. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit are in the zone -- so knowledgeable, quick and incredibly comfortable with each other without flooding the viewers with "inside'' jokes or comments. Even weak-link Desmond Howard seems to be growing into his role and had a strong debut Saturday, speaking with more confidence and authority than in the past.

GameDay ignored USF on Saturday but talked plenty about Florida. Corso had the best point about the Gators, saying: "The one thing that worries me about the Gators, if you're a Gators fan, is this: Only six teams in the nation committed more penalties than they did in 2007. There is no excuse for that. … They will not beat SEC teams if the don’t (commit fewer) penalties.''

Then again, it should be noted that when Florida won the national championship two seasons ago, it was the most penalized team in the country.

Best feature
ESPN's College GameDay recycled an Outside the Lines' piece on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, but every time you see it you can't help but get a tear in your eye. The kid could easily spend the summer at the beach chasing good times, but instead he does missionary work. Even if you hate the Gators, you can't help but respect Tebow.

Best announcers
This needs to be repeated over and over: If there is a better baseball announcing crew than Dewayne Staats and Joe Magrane, I haven't heard them. Here's what I love about them. On Sunday, Jason Bartlett was hit by a pitch that looked intentional in the eighth inning. The first thought in my mind, and I'm betting most who were watching, was: "Hmm, do the Rays retaliate? Should they retaliate?''

And then Staats and Magrane addressed that very issue in the top of the ninth. And it was Magrane coming strong when it was apparent the Rays would not retaliate.

"I'm sorry,'' Magrane said, "you got to protect Bartlett.''
"Yes,'' Staats said, "He's the one guy you don't want anybody messing with.''

Bartlett was Todd Kalas' guest on the postgame show, but wasn't asked about it.

Best and worst tennis news
Tampa had a good news/bad news match over the weekend. Tampa's Mardy Fish won a big third-round match at the U.S. Open. That was good. "Fish played the best match of his life,'' CBS analyst John McEnroe said. "And if he can play like that … look out.''

The bad part was the victory came against Tampa resident James Blake, who continues to fall short in the Grand Slams. Blake will be 29 in December and, unless something drastically changes, he is never going to make a major impact in a major. He has never reached a semifinal of a Grand Slam tournament and, in fact, he has reached the quarters only three times. Not to pick on Blake too much, but even Anna Kournikova reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam once.

Most surprising show
Ch. 13, the local Fox affiliate, produced a half-hour show on the Rays before the national coverage Saturday afternoon. Chip Carter hosted and, though it was nothing more than catching up with the Rays' season, it was a nice idea and well executed. The show included interviews with Evan Longoria, Joe Maddon, Carl Crawford, longtime fan Dick Vitale and TV announcer Dewayne Staats.

Five things we learned in the first weekend of college football
1. Either Clemson is really bad or Alabama is really good. It's probably a little of both, but if I'm an SEC coach, I'm suddenly a little worried about the Crimson Tide, especially if QB John Parker Wilson is going to play like that.
2. Missouri better fix its defense if it hopes to contend for a national title.
3.Told you Pitt was overrated.
4. With Clemson and Virginia Tech looking so bad, Florida State might actually have a chance in the ACC.
5. Georgia might be ranked No. 1, but Southern Cal is the best team in the country … right now.

Best line
The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan, on Sports Reporters: "Haley Joel Osment isn't the only one claiming to see dead people. I think I just saw Carl Pavano win two games for the Yankees.''

Strongest line
College GameDay's Chris Fowler, who is good for one I-don't-care-who-I-tick-off zinger a week, took a sledgehammer to LSU, saying, "LSU has the softest nonconference schedule of any SEC team, and that's an embarrassment for a defending national champion.''
Fowler is right. LSU's nonconference schedule: home against Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas and Tulane.

Three things that popped into my head
1. Wonder who enjoyed Utah's victory over Michigan more, Utah fans or West Virginia fans?
2. Many complained when the Rays did not make a move at the trade deadline. Turns out, they did get a key late-season acquisition -- Rocco Baldelli.
3. Who would've thought before the season that this week's three-game series between the Rays and Yankees would feature a first-place team and another team 12 1/2 games back, and that the Yankees would be the team 12 1/2 back?

Best Olympics ever

And I'm baaack.

Vacation is over. I finally got bored with sleeping in and staying up late and taking naps and ... actually, I didn't get tired of that. But I'm also not tired of drawing a paycheck and so I'm back at work. Here's a look back at NBC's coverage of the Olympics, as well as a couple of odds and ends from the weekend.

The Olympics
The Olympics came to a close Sunday, and NBC's coverage was worthy of a gold medal. The network set the standard for all future Olympics broadcasts.

The coverage wasn't perfect. Yes, the network did tend to concentrate on American athletes, then again, the last time I checked, this is America. Maybe NBC could've shed more light on the political issues of these Games, but those topics are the responsibility of all media, not just NBC, and it's a topic that has been, generally, well covered. There were issues with the 12-hour time difference, yet NBC did the best it could with those and cannot be blamed for any complications because of it. In fact, whittling down a long night of track and field and/or gymnastics into a tight hour segment made it more enjoyable. There was no standing around, so to speak.

So, in the end, NBC gets an A-plus. Here were some of the best parts of NBC's coverage.

Bob Costas
The late Jim McKay will always be known as the pre-eminent Olympics host, but Costas' performance, particularly during interviews, was outstanding, and Costas deserves to have his name mentioned right alongside the legendary McKay. There is no better sports broadcaster on the planet right now than Costas.

Best announcers
Gold medal: The track-and-field trio of Tom Hammond, Ato Bolden and Lewis Johnson were, by far, the stars of NBC's event coverage, especially Bolden. It also helped that Hammond proved he wasn't just some polished broadcaster who brushed up on track and field on the plane ride to Beijing. Hammond showed throughout the Games that he knew as much about the sport as his two broadcast partners.
Silver medal: Doug Collins' work on the U.S. basketball team's redemption was not biased in the least even though his son was a member of Team USA's management and many of the players dedicated the gold to Collins. (Collins was a member of the 1972 team that was robbed of a gold medal. In fact, after Sunday's gold-medal victory, many players raced over to shake hands with Collins.) Collins was critical of the team during Sunday's title game against Spain, and his analysis through the tournament was spot-on.
Bronze medal: Gymnastics color analyst Tim Daggett did a splendid job breaking down how routines are judged, pointing out where deductions occurred and even took the judges to task on more than one occasion for fishy scores.

All events coverage
In most Olympics, we are flooded with coverage of swimming, track and gymnastics. Certainly, those events were the highlights of NBC's prime-time coverage, but thanks to additional coverage on USA, MSNBC and CNBC, we were exposed to heavy coverage of all sports, including table tennis, water polo, field hockey and, still the coolest event in the Olympics -- team handball. No event was left out in the cold. In addition, sports such as beach volleyball, regular volleyball and softball got the best rides they've ever been given in coverage.

Profiles
The "Up Close and Personal'' features have long been a staple of Olympics coverage, going back to the days when ABC showed the Games. NBC took the microwave approach -- limiting most such features to only a couple of minutes. The profiles remained effective without chewing up large chunks of time.

What didn't work
NBC did have a few hiccups on its coverage.
Cris Collinsworth is one of the better football analysts around, but his "Gosh, golly, shucks, ain't the Olympics great?'' routines in studio grew tiresome.
Bela Karolyi seemed cute at the start of the Games, but his outright cheering -- as well as NBC's bizarre decision to play up his cheerleading -- quickly became annoying.
Andrea Joyce should be ashamed for her interview with U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone, whose subpar performance cost the women's team a gold medal. Asking a question or two about Sacramone's failure is Joyce's job. Pestering Sacramone until she teared up seemed sadistic.

And now for sports other than the Olympics ...

Most annoying announcer
Someone please tell Fox pregame baseball host Jeanne Zelasko that the Rays go by Tampa Bay, not Tampa. Zelasko said "Tampa'' three times in a 15-minute pregame show. Hey, it isn't the "Los Dodgers'' or "New Yankees,'' and it isn't the "Tampa Rays.'' It's "Tampa Bay Rays.” How hard is that? Even partner Mark Grace mentioned the team played in St. Petersburg, yet that didn't stop Zelasko from continuing to refer to the team as "Tampa.''

Best analysis
The Rays certainly got some nice play on Fox's Game of the Week on Saturday. Announcers Josh Lewin and Eric Karros seemed to have a pretty good grasp of the Rays and the afternoon was a proud moment for local baseball fans, especially after the Rays rallied to win. Anyway, in talking about the Rays out-of-nowhere season and how they don't appear to be going away, Lewin had a nice line: "What was, initially, just kind of thought of as a novelty act, like 'Oh, isn't that nice? They're off to a good little start.' Now, they are absolutely the gum on your shoe.''

Best anger
The Rays announcing team didn't hold back tearing into Doug Eddings after the umpire's controversial interference call helped the White Sox beat the Rays on Sunday. Kudos to the Rays TV production team for showing several replays, and one would have to agree with the Rays broadcasters that Eddings blew the call, although postgame host Todd Kalas seemed to let some anger show, calling it "the worst call that has gone against the Rays in their 11-year history.'' (Based on reaction from the booth last week, I thought B.J. Upton being called out at first against the Angels was the "worst call'' ever.) Announcer Dewayne Staats also deserves credit for pointing out that the Rays had a chance to close the game out in the ninth and that the controversial play should've never happened in the first place.

Chipping away
The Tampa Bay region didn't get TBS' Game of the Week coverage of Sunday's Rays-White Sox game, but here's what announcer Chip Carey said about the controversial call that went against the Rays: "Here is the spot where you really do wish you have replay so the umpires could see the unbelievable acting job that A.J. Pierzynski just turned in. I mean you talk about Academy Award-winning. Polish the statue and mail it to 35th and Shields because A.J. Pierzynski just stole 90 feet on the base paths and may end up stealing a win in this 10th inning.''

Little League World Series
Don't ask me what I thought because I didn't watch it. It's my own little personal boycott. I've beaten this drum before so no need to repeat myself. Bottom line is I don't think Little League games should be on television because these kids are too little to have that kind of pressure put upon them.

What bugs you

This week, Times sports writer Tom Jones listed things in sports that had his goat, crawled under his skin, got on his very last nerve. Like how the Rays never bunt and that stupid AFLAC duck that quacks and wakes him from his Saturday afternoon baseball naps, and the Red Sox's Kevin Youkillis, for no particular reason.

Then he gave readers their chance to vent. What bugs you?

Some answers were funny. Julie Upman of Clearwater, for example, hates watching ballplayers spit ("Maybe it's a girl thing).

Some answers made perfect sense. Reader Frank Harrell pointed out that it's impossible for a player to give 110 percent ("100 percent is the maximum!'' he practically shouted through his e-mail.)

And one answer was funny and made sense, depending on your point of view. Joe Montemarano of Tampa wrote, "You want to know what bugs me? You!!! Tom Jones!!!'' And, Joe from Tampa? You're off the Christmas card list!

Here are some of the comments we received:

When a star pitcher states he is almost where he needs to be physically and mentally to be at peak performance when the season is more than half completed. What does he do in the offseason, play Nintendo and eat bonbons?
Carl Decanini
via e-mail

The unforgivable greed ballplayers have when negotiating a contract. Bad enough that free agency makes players loyal to dollars and not to teams goes along with their lackadaisical effort. Also teams wanting to build new stadiums when the current ones suffice. This all leads to high ticket prices.
Dick Smith
Spring Hill

The lack of hustle by the Rays, especially B.J. Upton.
Rich Tron
via e-mail

Maybe it’s a girl thing, but does anybody else think watching baseball players spit on TV is gross and disgusting? They spit constantly during the game and the TV crews get lots of closeups. And given the Rays have an indoor field where the rain never falls, where does all this stuff go? Carry that thought one step further: What’s it like in the dugout? No wonder manager Joe Maddon  stands up by the railing during the game and so many of the players sit up on the back of the bench with their feet off the floor. They probably need knee-high waders to walk around in there.
Julie Upman
Clearwater

Chris Simms claiming to be held hostage. I would give up my spleen to be paid millions of dollars. When people call NASCAR and horse racing a sport. And Bob Costas, left. Just the sight of this guy makes me want to do something illegal.
Anthony Saylor
Tampa

It’s one thing to have a corporate sponsor but quite another to completely change the name of a sporting event. I was dismayed that the coverage of NASCAR’s 15-year-old 400-mile race on Sunday  omitted its traditional name, the Brickyard 400. Instead (as in the Times) it was referred to as the Allstate 400. What’s next? The State Farm 500 at Indianapolis?
Carolyn Cotton
Tampa

Athletes who  say they’re insulted or disrespected by a club’s offer of millions of dollars. Please, someone disrespect me.
Bob Beninati
Tampa

How come every time you watch baseball, the players and coaches have to spit? It literally makes me want to hurl!  Jeanne Zelasko — who taught her how to dress?  Manny Ramirez and that smirky look on his face!
Polly Stamp
Largo
Joe Maddon quotes in Tuesday’s paper after the Rays lost to Toronto, like, “I really liked the way we played tonight a lot” and “If we keep doing what we did tonight … we are going to the playoffs.” Sorry, but in my opinion that is a LOSER speaking, and if they continue to play like they did last night, they won’t even get close to making the playoffs.
Don Hill
via e-mail

Listening to radio or TV broadcasters who feel they must get so in depth analyzing each pitch — four-seam, two-seam, cutter, sinker, heavy sinker. Hey, they are all variations of a fastball, okay; let’s move on. Having to step out of the batter’s box and re-Velcro batting gloves after having just done it 10 seconds ago, then simply standing there and taking the pitch.
Nick Quartaro
via e-mail
Joe Maddon’s “Loved the way we played” after losing to Toronto on Monday night. He is a good loser. All I can say is a good loser is still a loser! The idea of attending a Rays home game in anything other than a 74 degree, dry dome. Jonathan Papelbon — his lip is better than his grip, either on the ball or reality. The Indianapolis Colts have Tony Dungy and we don’t.
Timmy Kitchen
via e-mail

Golf announcers who continue to prattle inanely when we, the viewers, have a chance to hear dialogue between caddie and player or player and rules official. Golf announcers who say, after a player hits a good shot from a bad lie that lands close to the pin, “He couldn’t have hit it any better than that!” Well, if it went in the hole, wouldn’t that be better?
Tom Shille
Temple Terrace

You want to know what really bugs me? YOU!!! Tom Jones!!!
Why is it that you badmouth most professional franchises that are actually good, especially NEW YORK!? You’re always bellyaching about Northeastern teams being on the tube. That’s because they are good!
Joe Montemarano
Tampa

The angle sports networks choose to show the pitches from the mound to the batter’s box. Since the advent of the electronic ad behind home plate, the angle has been increased to always include the ad visible behind and to the right of the batter’s box. Used to be the camera angle was over the pitcher’s shoulder and the viewer could better appreciate the balls and strikes called by the umpire. Not anymore; money has defined how the TV viewer sees the game.
Tom Goodrich
via e-mail
Enjoying the Rays on TV from the Trop, and then having to watch people act like idiots while yakking on a cell phone and waving to the camera, usually from seats they didn’t pay for.
Jim Jackson
Apollo Beach

A coach or sports announcer enthusing about an athlete who “always gives 110 (120, 150, 200) percent effort on the field/court/ice.” A hundred percent should be the MAXIMUM! How can an athlete give more than the maximum?
Frank Harrel
via e-mail

I have a grinding, growling, desperate complaint — the artificial, fake noise on Fox Sports Net that is so loud, I cannot hear what Joe Magrane and Dewayne Staats are saying. Grrrrr. What can we do ?
Libby Lockhart
via e-mail

Those women tennis players who scream each time they hit the ball at Wimbledon. That Pete Rose isn’t in the Hall of Fame. And the designated hitter.
Paul Wyness
St. Petersburg