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But for two titans of sports broadcasting, getting their thoughts on the current industry seemed like a natural topic to discuss. So Simmons asked the two whether a 23-year-old out of college might find welcome territory in sports media. Obviously, the landscape has changed drastically with so many more channels and outlets available via cable television and the internet.
“There are a lot more jobs out there, but now, it’s sort of diffused and fragmented a little bit more,” said Michaels. “So it’s tough. I don’t think you’ll ever see another situation where you have someone like Curt Gowdy, who did all of these great events. I’m lucky enough to have been there early enough to have done all of the great events.”
Once Michaels and Costas retire from broadcasting, will there be anyone else who can do different sports like the NFL, Major League Baseball, basketball, hockey and the Olympics? Simmons mentions Joe Buck as perhaps the last one who can do more than one sport at the top level. Mike Tirico is another, though he might not have the same profile as a No. 1 network voice like Buck.
Nowadays, it does seem like broadcasters are pigeonholed into being a football guy or a baseball guy. We do still see some jumping back and forth between sports, especially when a baseball broadcaster, for example, fills the offseason time with calling basketball games. But the signature face and voice who can do multiple sports and indicate that something is an event with his or her very presence has become increasingly rare.
Another issue, Costas points out, is that broadcasters don’t have the long tenures to build up goodwill and cherished memories. What would happen if a Vin Scully was coming up now and became Fox’s top baseball voice, but fans didn’t know who he was because he was largely known as a regional broadcaster?
“The criticism would be stupid,” said Costas. “But he’d still get it. In the Twitterverse, the very things that are his virtues… there would be some clowns out there making fun of him. Jim McKay would not escape what has inevitably come my way hosting the Olympics. People think the host of the Olympics programs the Olympics.”
Maybe Costas shouldn’t read the comments? He does bring up a good point about younger audiences perhaps not holding the reverence for long-time broadcasters that older fans do. For instance, some fans didn’t care for Scully’s penchant for storytelling and an informative anecdote. Just give us the balls and strikes, and tell us the score. Oh, but have a witty catchphrase on a double play or home run.
The greater point is that broadcasters coming up through the industry now might have to develop a far thicker skin than their predecessors because criticism is instant. Mistakes are quickly recorded for posterity online and circulated around the internet. Obviously, this very website has benefited in part from that, though we had to grow beyond that to avoid getting trapped in a niche. But criticism is also a very real part of media, not just sports media, these days.
Costas went on to say that fans don’t express appreciation for a broadcaster until a long career is over. But broadcasting can often be something that shouldn’t be noticed if it’s being done well, kind of like the old saying about offensive linemen. Sure, there’s something to be said for capturing a moment in words or accentuating the images on screen. The great ones do that. But if you watch a game, enjoy it, and don’t remember anything in particular about the announcing crew, is that a bad thing? Especially when a broadcaster hasn’t yet attained the status of an Al Michaels or Bob Costas?
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