Props: Sterling Sharpe

[Raiders Army]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him do color commentary last night on ESPN's Sunday Night Football. I think he did an outstanding job commenting. There were some things where he stated the obvious, but overall it was excellent. I'd take him over any other color commentator that's doing it now.

[Esquared1]

Funny, I was going to say the opposite.

[kcchief19]

Heh-heh. Funny, because here in Kansas City the general review was that Sterling Sharpe couldn't stop his makeout session with Randy Moss to bother watching most of the game. I didn't think he was that bad, but his Moss worship was out of control. His assessment seemed to suggest that the Raiders didn't get the ball enough to Moss, but the problem seemed to be -- as it always is with Moss -- that they couldn't get the ball to him on plays he took off and didn't run the route and get open.

His bits talking about Trent Green were priceless. When Tirico was running down Green's stats over the last few years and Shannon says, 'I didn't realize he was that good," it shows he's really paying attention.

He might not be horrible with some practice, and he wasn't as bad as some, but I he appeared "fresh" because he had never done it before. He was funny at times, but he seemed much to afraid to criticize and critique the players and much more willing to critize and critique the refs. That's the kind of thing a lot of former players have a problem with, but he needs to learn not to do that doing Bengals preseason games or Detroit/Chicago games with Curt Menefee, not on national televised games.

I think I'll like Theisman a lot better next year with Al Michaels on ESPN sans Al McGuire. I think Theisman and McGuire are both nice analysts, but their folks bickering has never been my cup of tea.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Esquared1

Funny, I was going to say the opposite.

Me too. I actually thought he kinda sucked almost to the point that I was growing uncomfortable listening to him. I don't think I ever figured out what he meant by that whole "special players make special plays when the game dictates they make a special play." I have no idea what that means and he said it a few times.

I will admit though, I wasn't listening/watching the game all that carefully so perhaps I missed some great observations (though what I did hear I was unimpressed with) or perhaps I was so disgusted by the Lions' game earlier in the day that I was just projected my hatred of all things NFL onto Sterling.

[Draft Dodger]

I didn't watch the broadcast, but I can say I'd take Sterling any day of the week over his stupid brother

[Ksyrup]

He seemed to repeat himself too much, but otherwise, he didn't annoy me.

[NoMyths]

Count me among those underwhelmed (to put it mildly) with Sharpe's performance. Didn't add anything of actual analytical value, kept throwing receiver comments in indicating that none could hold a candle to him, fell back on meta-talk about his job and what he was told to do ('so-and-so told me to predict what was happening before it happened, and that's what I would have done there'), and was consistently behind the action & story (including his 'Trent Green's always been underrated, but he won't be after us talking about him tonight' comment after saying nothing about his performance in the game and just talking about his obsession with not being injured and his career passing yards since 2001 (thankfully, since they are impressive). All around a nervous, amateur performance.

[rafini]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I didn't watch the broadcast, but I can say I'd take Sterling any day of the week over his stupid brother

I would take anybody who could speak a sentence of english coherently over his brother.

[NoMyths]

I was also amused by his comments about the Raiders playing "a chess match" with personnel versus KC, since they were getting beat at the time and couldn't stop committing penalties. Actually, it makes sense that RaidersArmy would enjoy the commentary, since it was so heavily Oakland-centric. And overwhelmingly Moss-centric: probably my favorite comment of the night came when he argued that the defense was playing hard specifically because of Randy Moss, and that Moss was basically willing them to victory.

[cuervo72]

I at least thought he was pretty good in the 4th Q, in that he seemed to be into the game and excited about it. Too many analysts seem like they could be just as well off taking a nap, or rambling on about something other than the game. Overall I think he was pretty good (but then, I didn't mind him on countdown, especially as compared to Irvin).

Am I to assume the Sunday night crew is doing the NO/NYG game then?

[Butter]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

That's the kind of thing a lot of former players have a problem with, but he needs to learn not to do that doing Bengals preseason games

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

, fell back on meta-talk about his job and what he was told to do ('so-and-so told me to predict what was happening before it happened, and that's what I would have done there')

I think that's what annoyed me the most about it. The meta-talk, it took me out of the game a few times and felt too much like a guy who was really self-aware that this was his first time in a booth and really desperate for a job.

[RendeR]

Wait, you'd all like THEISMANN and company better?????


Sterling seemed like a god among broadcasters compared to the normal shit team.

[Kodos]

He should go back to ESPN's pregame show and oust Michael Irvin.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I wasn't intending it as an intentional slam of the Bengals as I was as an intentional slam against preseason games and the idiots who work them. Jayice Pearson -- who I think is now working the bottom-rung broadcast team on CBS -- has done Chiefs preseason the last few years and is an absolute trainwreck. There was a game this preseason where the officials were reviewing a fumble and not only did he not realize there was a fumble but he thought that the officials were reviewing an illegal block -- which of course is not reviewable.

Listening to Sterling was a lot like watching a preseason game.

[wade moore]

Imagine George Michaels and Jeff Bostic together...

Imagine...

Ok.. you can stop now, I won't torture you anymore...

[cuervo72]

Better Bostic than to put Joe Jacoby in the booth...

[NoMyths]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Wait, you'd all like THEISMANN and company better?????


Sterling seemed like a god among broadcasters compared to the normal shit team.

I guess I missed the part in either of my posts where I indicated such a position.

However, I find your concept of a god among broadcasters...disturbing.

[BrianD]

Sharpe could use a few grammar lessons.

[Ajaxab]

I thought he was tolerable. His best observation came when explaining why Moss was not the best receiver in the game. Sharpe commented that TO was the better receiver because he demands that the corner cover every inch of the field on every route by comparison to Moss who doesn't run every route with the necessary intensity.

[sterlingice]

Sounds like I'm glad I listened to the Mitch Holtis call on the radio while watching the game.

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Sharpe was absolutely brutal. For some reason, I was a bit irked when he initially said 'I really like what the Raiders are doing right now' very early in the game after they had just handed the Chiefs an early touchdown. By the end of the night, he had used that phrase 7 times. Funny, the Raiders were not ahead even one time when he used that phrase. All I could think was, 'you keep thinking you like what the Raiders are doing and I'll keep watching the scoreboard to find out who is doing the better job'. The Chiefs had several injuries to key personnel, yet they still found a way to beat a team that Sterling 'really liked what they we're doing'. If winning a game is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Jayice Pearson -- who I think is now working the bottom-rung broadcast team on CBS -- has done Chiefs preseason the last few years and is an absolute trainwreck. There was a game this preseason where the officials were reviewing a fumble and not only did he not realize there was a fumble but he thought that the officials were reviewing an illegal block -- which of course is not reviewable.

Pearson is doing bottom-rung FOX games. Him and Menefee did the opening Vikings game. I can't wait until they play an AFC game and get a CBS game.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Better Bostic than to put Joe Jacoby in the booth...

too true.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Pearson is doing bottom-rung FOX games. Him and Menefee did the opening Vikings game. I can't wait until they play an AFC game and get a CBS game.

Oh ... dear ... god. That is a brutal pairing. There are announcers I don't like but I understand why they get jobs. Pearson and Menefee baffle me. I'm assuming that pay Menefee in crumbs found underneath Terry Bradshaw's chair. I'd quit watching football if I had to listen to those two every week.

[DaddyTorgo]

hilarious cuz here in Boston the WEEI guys were saying they'd take Joe Morgan (yes the baseball announcer Joe Morgan, who is also regarded by them as horrible) over Sterling Sharpe anyday of the week. I honestly didn't watch much of the whole game, but if what I hear is true, seems like he was pretty horrible. I think they probably didn't want him doing the game, it was just forced on them by the "two MNF games" scenario

[Huckleberry]

Can someone remind me if the situation will dictate that someone be special?

He was awful.

[Ragone]

Sterling sharpe even struggled with the english language..

"Moss plays football very good"

"Norm turner is a hell of a coach trying to fit these pieces together"

what the hell.. seriously.. he said that at least THREE TIMES about moss..

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Article from this morning's Kansas City Star addressing this very topic......


Nothing Sterling or Sharpe about this analysis of game

JEFFREY FLANAGAN


Just so you know, I really like what I’m seeing.

No, seriously, I really, really like what I’m seeing.

Whoa! Can you believe how bad Sterling Sharpe was on ESPN’s Sunday night telecast?

Normally, we take fan complaints about biased announcers with a cautious approach. After all, how can a biased fan be objective about anything?

But Sharpe clearly was tilted toward the Raider perspective.

Sharpe, making his game analyst debut for the cable network, had a decent start, relating what he knows best — the mechanics of playing wide receiver in the NFL and the importance of making catches over the middle. He should have stuck with what he knows.

But somewhere along the line, Sharpe’s analytical work turned into an obsession with Randy Moss and the Oakland defense. Sharpe must have told listeners two dozen times that he “really liked what he was seeing from the Raiders’ defense.” Wonder how much he’d have liked that defense if Willie Roaf had been blasting open massive holes on the left side all night?

The Moss thing we get. Moss is the attraction for the national audience, and that’s what a national broadcast has to be concerned about.

But the Moss obsession came at the expense of another developing story — the Chiefs are 2-0, alone atop the AFC West. No matter how much Sharpe likes the Raiders’ defense, the truth is the Raiders are just another amusing sideshow with quarterback issues and coaching issues. End of story.

My favorite Sharpe utterance, though, came when Raiders fans became impatient with the offense and began booing. Sharpe said he understood the booing because he agreed that the Raiders’ receivers “weren’t working hard enough to get open.”

Huh?

You really think that’s why the Raiders fans were booing? Might it have had something to do with offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s inept play-calling? Or the feeble Kerry Collins?

Of course, if that one had you scratching your head, you probably fell off the couch trying to figure out what point Sharpe was making when he said, “It’s like my mom used to say about the cat tail caught in the washing machine: It won’t be long.”

Actually, it won’t be long before we forget that debut.

[Raiders Army]

I'm not surprised it was in a Kansas City newspaper.

[TRO]

Hell, he thought Moss was doing a good job when he caught a pass on 3rd down, a yard and a half short of the sticks, and walked out of bounds. The defender was currently a couple of yards off and Moss didn't even bother trying to move upfield.

Granted, I'm in KC too, but Flanagan hit the nail on the head.

[Ragone]

Yea.. My girlfriend and i looked at each other when he made that cat reference with a "I can't believe what i just heard" expression.

I Live in kc, Am more of a Bengals fan since i was Born/raised in Louisville.. but kinda like the Chiefs(just as long as they don't play Cincy).. So i really don't have any allegiance to either team in that game

But.. Sterling Sharpe made me wish Ian Eagle/Jaycee Pearson was doing the game.. thats all i'm going to say about that

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

I'm not surprised it was in a Kansas City newspaper.

I'm not surprised a Raiders fan would note that to avoid the point.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I'm not surprised a Raiders fan would note that to avoid the point.

LOL

[Vinatieri for Prez]

The real point being missed here is that, Ok Sharpe was bad, he really was, but Tirico was awesome! He should be a regular. I don't know what the lineups are next year at the various networks, but he needs to be in there every week.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Wait, you'd all like THEISMANN and company better?????

Yes . Well at least I do. I consider the ESPN Sunday Night crew to be highly entertaining. They aren't there to provide some amazing insight into the game, so don't look for it. I think the bickering can be absolutely hilarious... especially when they lay into each other for getting something wrong.

[rkmsuf]

Dick Enberg is pretty bad now. I guess it's poor form picking on the old guy but he has no idea what's going on out there. 90% of the time he has no idea who just caught the ball.

[NoMyths]

And the word from Dr. Z, from the new Power Rankings:

"Oakland Raiders (0-2)
Sterling Sharpe did the game on TV. Hey, Al, was this guy on your payroll? All we heard was that the defense was playing better because of Randy Moss, and it looks like Randy is getting comfortable in this offense ... yes, there it is, the sign that he's comfortable. I thought I was listening to a Serta mattress commercial. Note to Sterling -- most people don't like Randy. Most people are rooting for him not to be comfortable."

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

And the word from Dr. Z, from the new Power Rankings:

"Oakland Raiders (0-2)
Sterling Sharpe did the game on TV. Hey, Al, was this guy on your payroll? All we heard was that the defense was playing better because of Randy Moss, and it looks like Randy is getting comfortable in this offense ... yes, there it is, the sign that he's comfortable. I thought I was listening to a Serta mattress commercial. Note to Sterling -- most people don't like Randy. Most people are rooting for him not to be comfortable."

Dr. Z is an idiot...but I see what you guys are saying. Bias for the Raiders notwithstanding, Dr. Z's still an idiot.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

The real point being missed here is that, Ok Sharpe was bad, he really was, but Tirico was awesome! He should be a regular. I don't know what the lineups are next year at the various networks, but he needs to be in there every week.

He's brilliant isn't he? No matter what he deos - host for golf, play by play, news, he is just the best sports broadcaster right now.

[Dblbogey31]

I could not stand Sterling's commentary although I did enjoy hearing Terico call a game. It was comical to hear Sterling say things like "I'm protecting my seat" and then hear Terico almost laugh at him saying that's Joe and Paul's seat. If I heard Sterling say that "Special players are special when the moment determines that they be special" line one more time I was going to scream. Can someone tell me how the addition of Moss and the second string back for any other team in football make the Raiders contenders? They will still be last in the west with the talent in that division.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Dblbogey31

Can someone tell me how the addition of Moss and the second string back for any other team in football make the Raiders contenders? They will still be last in the west with the talent in that division.

Dude, if you think Lamont Jordan would be a second string back for any other team in football, then you need to watch some football on Sundays.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Dude, if you think Lamont Jordan would be a second string back for any other team in football, then you need to watch some football on Sundays.

He was second string on the Jets!

I'm fairly certain he isn't beating out Tomlinson either.

HAR!

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

He was second string on the Jets!

I'm fairly certain he isn't beating out Tomlinson either.

HAR!

any other team, not all the teams.

HAR!

[sterlingice]

He's 3rd string in Kansas City.

SI

[rkmsuf]

I'm lost.

if you think Lamont Jordan would be a second string back for any other team in football

doesn't that sound like he would not be 2nd string on any of them?

Who would he start for besides Oak?

NE - no
BUF - no
MIA - maybe
JETS - no

Bengals - no
Clev - YES
Pit - no
Balt - no

KC - no
SD - no
Den - who knows

Giants - no
Wash - no
Dal - no
Phil - I'll give you a tepid YES

GB - no
Det - probably not
CHI- no
Min - I'll give you a YES

Sea - no
Rams - no
Ariz - YES
SF - YES

He could start for 5 other teams.

HAR!

edit

Oops

Indy - no
Jax - no
Ten - maybe
Hou - no

still 5.

[Raiders Army]

Dblbogey31 said this:

Originally Posted by Dblbogey31

ICan someone tell me how the addition of Moss and the second string back for any other team in football make the Raiders contenders? They will still be last in the west with the talent in that division.

I don't dispute the fact that there are more talented backs. I do dispute the fact that he would be second string on any other team in football.

[rkmsuf]

It has been definatively proven that there are 5 teams he could start for.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wow.......a salvo now fired by the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.......he didn't mince words either.

BASHING SHARPE

Count coach Dick Vermeil as among those critical of Sterling Sharpe’s analysis on Sunday’s ESPN telecast of the Chiefs-Raiders game.

Sharpe, whose broadcasting had mainly been limited to studio commentary, was effusive in his praise of Oakland wide receiver Randy Moss.

“When you’re in that spotlight like that and play big-time football, they shouldn’t use an apprentice,” said Vermeil, who also indicated he hadn’t seen the broadcast. “I’ve just had a ton of people tell me it was beginners.”

[sterlingice]

I thought Vermeil was above this kind of crap. Dick, get ready for the Broncos and stop worrying about the announcers.

I'm curious to see how Sharpe does. There was some good in his broadcast. It was just overshadowed by the steaming pile of poo that was his Randy Moss love-in. That said, I'm guessing he's heard all the criticism if I were in his shoes, I bet he'll be a little gunshy the next couple of times, in general. But if he sticks with what he knows (what receivers do) and avoids what he doesn't (how the receivers help inspire the defense), he'll get better.

SI