How many here have ever used a golf tournament on the TV as free broadcast Sominex? Do they practice that perfectly soporific muted semi-monotone? Learn it at a school or something?
Seriously, the affected hushed voice of the golf announcers makes no sense whenever I let myself think about it. They all talk as though they are standing on the green behind the guy with the putter and don't want to disturb him, despite the fact that they're in a booth and can no more break the golfer's concentration than could the viewer at home.
I want to beat a golf announcer with a sock full of nickels just to see if he'd go "Ow. She... ow... appears to be beating me... yes, to my knees. I... believe this is the first time... ow... yes, it is the first time a golf announcer has been beaten unconscious on the air."
Not unlike retailers of phone accessories thinking iPhones are the only phones in existence, golf announcers think Tiger is the only guy on the course. (I have to suffer through TV golf at my brother's house.)
ReplyDeleteGolf = willful misuse of a perfectly good rifle range.
ReplyDeleteAnd good morning to you Miss Tam.
What Scott J said, I can't look at a golf course without seeing a nice 600yd plus rifle range with a nice place to BBQ after the match is complete.
ReplyDeleteI have called highpower matches with good turnouts, even with the PA system you will be croaking like a frog from all the near screaming you have to do all day.
You won't want miss this video of Brian Blessed doing snooker commentary.
ReplyDeleteWorse: had a 'teacher' in college who 'taught' by reading from the book in a monotone voice, with even less excitement at the high points.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in Dallas, my dad worked for a major sponsor of the Byron Nelson, so he always got free saturday passes.
ReplyDeleteIt was 30 years ago, but back then the announcer's mic was attached to a shoebox sized FM-transmitter that he lugged around with him. And yes, he was speaking in hushed sotto voce right from the edge of the green. During putting, he's the only one talking.
I don't know if they still do it that way, but that's where the golf announcer voice comes from -- they used to broadcast each stroke live from the grassy knoll.
They learn it from the same school NPR broadcasters do.
ReplyDeleteHow people DRIVE with that station on, and keep their eyes open is beyond me!
I'll provide the nickels...
ReplyDeleteWhere'd when they cover news and. Start to see red due to their idea of fair and balanced.
ReplyDelete"Today on Fresh Air were going to have an in depth discussion on gun rights with Paul Helmke..."
Wheer'd when they cover newsroom politics and I start to see red due to their idea of fair and balanced, I have little trouble staying awake. Then I scream at the radio for 5 minutes and then change the channel.
ReplyDelete"Today on Fresh Air were going to have an in depth discussion on gun rights with Paul Helmke..."
There, that's more clear and not mangled by auto correct.
So it would be sort of like the murder scene from Silence of the Lambs when Lecter beat his two guards to death while Bach's Goldberg Variations plays in the background?
ReplyDeleteDad was an avid golfer for more than 60 years, but I think in his later years this is precisely what he used TV golf for...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2013/09/22#.UlBshxCbBpk
ReplyDeleteBaseball voice is similarly idiosyncratic and unique to the game - makes you wonder if baseball announcers talk that way at home.
ReplyDeletegvi
WV eatmeA - swear to Ganesha.
I thnk the last word on golf, teeveed and otherwise, was Dan Jenkins' "Dead Solid Perfect." (ISBN-10: 0385498853). He's to sports what P.J. O'Rourke is to politics.
ReplyDeleteIn my family, golf was the 1970's version of a screen saver. Not much to watch, but it looked nice in the living room, like a fire I guess. Especially during the grey of winter.
ReplyDeleteMetric football games with the sound off (guaranteed either Telemundo or Univision are playing one at any given time) is the best hangover television there is.
ReplyDeletegvi
Bill Cosby on golf, and on the telecasting of golf:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzjYGhcaz5A
The first three minutes, after which he drifts into football.
@Tasso I don't know if they still do it that way
ReplyDeleteYes, the on course guys still do it like that but they have helpers to schlep the heavy stuff. The guys in the 'towers' greenside are also talking close to those who are putting.
I'm the only golfer that visits here?
The announcers don't want to wake up the audience.
ReplyDelete