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Paul Daugherty
Enquirer columnist files news and observations

Paul Daugherty
Paul Daugherty has been an Enquirer sports columnist since 1994 and has been chronicling Cincinnati sports since 1988. He has covered almost every major sporting event in America, as well as five Summer Olympics. Along the way, he has been named one of the country's top-5 sports columnists four times, and Ohio columnist of the year on seven different occasions. Last year, he was voted 2nd-best sports columnist in the country, by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Deion and Marshall and Bryant

For what it's worth... I'd heard so much about the telecast of Bengals-Niners I decided to hear some of it myself. There's a TV monitor in every press box, Monster Park included, but the sound is down. We'd TiVo'ed the second half. I watched/listened to the 3rd quarter. What I heard set back TV football about half a century.

Did Deion Sanders really say the Bengals defense "sucked"? Why yes, I believe he did. On national TV. He and Faulk seemed to be competing for who could be the bigger critic. Are they auditioning for a job in the booth? Prime's implication that C. Johnson doesnt get many yards-after-catch because he doesnt enjoy contact was laughable. Great corner, maybe best ever. Did he ever hit anyone?

Faulk and Gumbel going off on Marvin for saying the D wasnt his responsibility was irresponsible. Obviously, as head coach you're the CEO, not the coordinator. No one is saying Lewis is blameless, but c'mon, a little common sense would tell you what the coach said was reasonable. Otherwise, why have coordinators? Regardless, any cred Gumbel had leaked all over the microphone when twice he referred to Frank Gore as "Al'' and credited "Shayne Graham'' with kicking the FG that put the Niners up 17-10. He never corrected himself, meaning either he has no one credible talking in his ear, or those doing the talking believed it amusing that Bryant would goof up yet again.

Gumbel is very good on HBO's Real Sports. He is, quite possibly, the worst football play-by-play guy ever. And his two sidekicks in the booth Saturday were abject embarrassments.

A final thought: Any time I think I ask an athlete a stupid question, I think about the ex-jocks doing radio and TV, most of whom seem to take their "journalist'' lessons from people like me. Same dumb questions.


27 Comments:

at 11:56 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone please answer the question:

Why, why, why go for a tough, sidelines/endzone touchdown pass at 4th and 3 with 2 minutes left in the game? Why not go for the first down?

If the answer is "It was a gamble?", then what do you (Paul & others) think of that gamble?

I say you dump it off for the first down. (In fact, they had 2 plays in a row to go for first down, and they didn't.)

 
at 12:35 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bryant Gumbel is in fact the worst play-by-play in the history of sports. His voice has no passion, no excitement and he doesnt even seem to know the game (eventhough i know he does).
Also, every SF game on the NFL Network Gumbel calls Gore "Al" instead of Frank. During the Falcons game after Mike Vick had started his jail term he said,"Pass complete to Jenkins from Vick." Hilarious.
As for Deion and Marshall, Im willing to give them a little slack, for what reason Im not really sure.

 
at 12:38 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Doc-

Agree they were abysmal. The Bengals were worse.

 
at 2:09 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

deon and Faulk deserve a "little slack" because they actually know what the hell they are talking about. i find it funny that Paul didnt mention that Deon actually pointed out why the offense is struggling and it had nothing to do with the crap Dave Lap-man was talking about on bengals Line. To quote deon sanders " Chad and T.J. are running the right routes, Carson palmer is just not getting the ball to them". Where were those quotes since you guys in the media like to qoute every damn thin? Oh thats right, this is about blaming chad and T.J. not the "Golden Boy" who cant get out of his own way when he cant over throw his All pro recievers. Carosn palmer is a joke...i'll take Big ben anyday. Atleast he can scramble and get the hell out of the way.

 
at 5:28 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't stand Gumbel - the only guy that makes me want to hit the mute button while watching the NFL. His commentary and play-by-play are so canned, mistimed, and unoriginal that it makes me cringe. Why doesn't the NFL Network see this and pull the guy?

 
at 5:51 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

bryant gumbel... bad... definitely

worst play by play in football... most assuredly... (does paul mcguire count?)

worst all time in sports history???

Two words my friend...

TIM MCCARVER


bryant gumbel just makes me want to turn down the volume... but being subjected to mccarver's vocal vomit incites violent urges

 
at 6:13 PM Blogger ctrosecrans said...

but the bengals do suck, don't they?

and just because deion never hit anyone, does that mean he was wrong?

 
at 7:02 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fact that Deion Sanders (or "Prime," if we're just shortening nicknames without good reason or precedent) didn't tackle doesn't preclude him from observing the Chad Johnson doesn't like getting hit. Idiot.

 
at 7:17 PM Blogger Paul Daugherty said...

Trent, my friend... deion is somewhat hypocritical, no? And would you use the word "suck'' in the newspaper? I doubt it. At least I hope not. Perhaps I'm giving Deion credit for owning a better vocabulary.

 
at 7:34 PM Blogger Unknown said...

My favorite part was when returning from a break, Gumbel said, "We're back here in Cincinnati." Thank goodness for DVR, I got to skip most of the comments and watch the poor display of football in about an hour or less.

 
at 8:09 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's up with this post? Are you playing kiss a** with Marvin so maybe he'll talk with you one day? Come on Paul, how can you begin to defend this crap that the Bengals put on the field week to week without afixing blame to someone. Isn't the coach responsible for the whole thing? It's this cowardly attitude from the press in this town that lets Marvin GAY Lewis continue to coach this team so poorly without any personal responsibility for their failure. The only media member with any kahunas is Chick Ludwig and even he gets talked down to continually. Every one of you cowards should be ashamed to show your press pass.

 
at 8:25 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Doc on the Deion comment. It is hypocritical. Deion performed at a hall of fame level while not enjoying contact..on Defense. If anything it would be easier to swallow if he were providing insight into why it really isn't that important for a WR to act like Jim Brown after every grab. I'd like Deion to explain to me what other 180lb reciever gets his YAC by barreling through the secondary. If anything YAC is a result of an accurate, well-timed pass. Deion of all people should know that guys who run a 4.3 aren't likely helping themselves by lowering their shoulder on every play. Plus, the way the ball has been sailing on Carson this year, TJ and Chad are getting laid out enought (whether they enjoy the contact or not).

 
at 9:03 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Paul.. seriously... the cynical schtick makes you more predictable than actually having an honest take.

I can't wait until you explain why the Pats going 16-0 was "no big deal"...

Do us a favor - take a stand on an obviously popular point and quit playing Monday morning contrarian quarterback with every story. Your readers aren't as dumb as you try to make them think they are.

 
at 10:44 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Paul,
Agree, awful. Bryant Gumbele is the whitest black guy ever.

 
at 3:37 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

They were defintly awful but they somehow found the ability to call our plays before they happened. I would rather listen to them call a game then watch Marvin coach a game. He has lost control of the team and has no idea what is going on anymore. We will not get over 500 again until we get a real game coach. That is more important then how bad those idiots called the game.

 
at 3:58 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Deion has Super Bowl ring and Hall of Fame stats. He can say whatever he wants about Chad, T.O., Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, or any other wideout in the league.
Bryant Gumbel: terrible on "Today Show", even worse at play-by-play.
Maybe Trumpy can join Bryant in the booth; that would be an event !

 
at 6:06 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll make a difficult admission...I felt a little racist for HATING that announcing crew because it consisted of 3 African-Americans. I know that's not right, but I did.

THAT WAS THE SINGLE WORST SPORTS BROADCAST I'VE EVER HEARD. It was, to steal Doc's word, "unlistenable."

Deion was trying to be cute and funny. It made me think that I don't really want NFL Network. The NFL needs a more credible team in the booth...and I do NOT mean white guys.

Mike Tirico is GREAT. Solomon Wilcots, wonderful. Greg Gumbel is a million times better than his brother...

But, they need a change!!

 
at 8:08 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Agree whole-heartedly. Thought it was just me. I tunred the sound off on the TV and put the radio on. One additional benefit, you hear what's about to happen before it does, since TV has a few second time delay.

 
at 10:52 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe Nuxall was an "ex-jock."

 
at 11:05 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll agree that Gumbel was terrible. But you have to admit that Pat Summerall's performance calling the Bengals/Rams game was equally abysmal.

 
at 11:51 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

11:05 - agree on Summerall - it was painful to watch - like his mind was somewhere else.

I've enjoyed him lots over the years but, it's obvious, his time has passed.

Hope he isn't doing it because he needs the money.

 
at 12:07 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did anyone notice Gumbel's attempt to "act black" with Deion and Marshall versus being in the booth with Collinsworth?

 
at 1:11 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Doc, I agree. Gumbel is the worst. Announcer. Ever. And it's not even close.

About Deion and Marshall, it was refreshing to hear them be analytical and critical of the Bengals, sans the "sucked" part. They were right on with their analysis of how bad the Bengals are, and they did not lay off of the criticism. The Bengals deserve all of the criticism.

But why do you have to be a Marvin and C. Johnson apologist in this post? Marvin is solely responsible for this defense, b/c he's been here for five years and it hasn't gotten any better. He needs to take ownership of it, or it's his face. To pass the buck is spineless. Per Johnson, he hates contact. The next time he breaks a tackle will the be first. His run-after-catch yards have to be horrendous, compared to other top receivers in the league. Yes, he'll go over the middle, but that's about it. He shies away from contact, end of story.

Here's hoping for 5-11, and a top 10 draft pick.

 
at 1:42 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gumbel is an idiot in everything he ever does. However, ML not taking responsibility for his defense is like a CEO not taking responsibility for a huge accounting error that results in the complete destruction of his company. It's not like saying he didn't catch someone stealing office supplies.

 
at 2:23 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why are you moron Cincinnati people obsessed with play by play people ON TV? You can't see what's happening? You people are always complaining about the TV play by play. One must assume you're too stupid to figure out that was an incomplete pass or a ground out to the second baseman without someone spelling it out for you. You should hate yourselves for buying the snake oil the Bengals sold, don't hate the play by play guys.

And oh yea, the Bengals do suck and CJ85 doesn't like to be hit.

 
at 6:20 PM Blogger oldtimer said...

Couple quick comments/ If I read your comment right, Doc, you only watched the third quarter, no?

I only watched the second half. The third quater work was uneven, but the forth quarter work by Dieon and Marshall was great. I felt like I was hearing what a couple of players would be saying on the sideline during a game. No punches pulled. And I thought Gumbel tried hard to set them up with topics to weigh in on. Frankly it was the most candid asessment of the Bengals' problems I've heard anywhere all year.

When Dandy Don and Howard first kstarted working together, they were very uneven. But their candidness and clear enjoyment of being honest captured the audience's imagination until the games becames special. Quite honestly, I felt a little of the same. Most honest commentary I'd heard in a long long time.

With Deion one thing is sure. You'll get some candid reactions. Beat Steve Tasker and Reggie Rucker any day. Oh, and I hear the word 'suck' on kids TV shows these day. Fail to see what the big deal is. Seemed 110% appropo. I kinda dug it, actually.

 
at 11:15 PM Blogger Mr. Gann said...

Second-rate football matchups, third-rate announcers. This is the NFL Network.

Fire Marvin!

 
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