While we aren’t like Ralphie Parker, wishing for a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model, we at Awful Announcing do have some Christmas wishes of our own. It’s time to present our wishes for the sports media world for 2016. Before we continue, we at Awful Announcing wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very safe New Year’s.
These are not in any particular order. Now let’s get to our Christmas wishes:
CBS signs for two more years of Thursday Night Football
CBS has done a good job in making Thursday Night Football a viable option to watch. Granted some of the games haven’t been great, but CBS has given the package a big game feel. Here’s hoping they sign a new contract for another two seasons.
Ian Eagle gets to call more Thursday Night Football games
Just last week, the Bird called his first TNF game on TV. He’s been calling them on radio for Westwood One. We are lobbying CBS to allow Ian and his partner Dan Fouts to call selected TNF games next season.
A more uniform ESPN suspension policy
We have no idea what calls for a suspension at the Worldwide Leader. Some personalities can say what they want without repercussion. Others say something that rubs an executive the wrong way and “bang!” they’re suspended for a week. Doesn’t make sense. This is like making a football move in what constitutes a catch in the NFL.
Mike Carey says something that actually makes sense
Mike Carey has become the Steve Harvey of rules analysts. It’s come to the point where whatever he says on the NFL on CBS/Thursday Night Football, you believe it will be called the other way. If CBS brings him back next season, we hope that he’ll actually get a few calls right.
Harold Reynolds gets replaced on the MLB on Fox
Oh, that actually happened! An early Christmas present for the American viewing public.
Less trolling on social media
This is probably asking for too much, but for those who have to deal with this every day, a respite would be nice.
A ratings fall for First Take
Again, this is probably asking for too much, but we can dream!
A ratings increase for MLS Cup
One day MLS will find the right time for its championship game and not schedule it opposite the NFL’s late Sunday afternoon window.
More Rebecca Lowe
This isn’t too much to ask for. Having her on Football Night in America or even Sunday Night Football would bring her to a larger audience. We will likely see her on the 2016 Rio Olympics in a hosting role.
Have Brent Musburger call more important college football games
2016 will get off to a great start with Brent calling the Rose Bowl on ESPN. We wish that ESPN will give Brent some more high-profile assignments in the 2016 season. He deserves it.
Bring heavy metal to the Super Bowl halftime show
This is an offbeat wish, but after Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Coldplay coming in Super Bowl 50, why not allow bands like Metallica or Motörhead to play in Super Bowl LI? It won’t happen, but again we can dream.
The HBO Sports documentary rises again
When Bill Simmons was at ESPN, he made the 30 for 30 brand the preeminent documentary in sports media now. With him long departed and heading to HBO, we hope that its documentary unit will rise to the point where it was the most respected before 30 for 30.
More exposure for Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole
Jay and Dan are the Little Engine That Could on Fox Sports Live. They do yeoman’s work on the highlights show. In 2016, we hope that they get some more exposure on the Fox Mothership on some of their bigger properties. Why not?
All regular season games are streamed in-market
We’re getting there. MLB signed a deal with Fox for its FSN regional networks for 2016, the NBA allows it and so does the NHL to a limited extent. We hope that the NFL and all of its partners will bring this to fruition in 2016.
You get everything you wish for
And with Christmas on the way, we hope that your significant others, mom’s, dad’s, siblings, cousins, neighbors and kids give you everything you want and not another pair of socks or a silly Kohl’s gift card.
Have a very Merry Christmas and have safe travels if you’re heading out.
