Why does Chris Berman REFUSE to breathe?

[Adamski47]

Drives me nuts. Take a breathe you sound like a moron.

[Lorena]

Drives me nuts. Take a breathe you sound like a moron.

Heh, I thought I was the only one. I don't think he's a moron, but the sound his voice makes when he finishes a sentence almost seems like he's gonna pass out.

Sounds like he might be smoking 1 too many cigarettes.

[terpkristin]

*cough* Dick Vitale *cough*

[Ramzavail]

is this when he's doing the "fastest 3 minutes"?

what do you expect? the micro machine man?

I think its funny when he says "wap" on shake and bake moves by running backs, but I'm sure I'm in the minority here.

[Lorena]

is this when he's doing the "fastest 3 minutes"?

Nah, he does it all the time, "fastest 3 minutes" or not. Check it out next time you watch PrimeTime.

[Adamski47]

I like Berman too, all I am asking is that he takes a breathe now and then like every other professional broadcaster in the business. The worst part, is that he know's he's doing it he just thinks it sounds cool/manly.

[MikeVick7]

Maybe if he came up with a new schtick, it might allow him to breathe better.

[Ksyrup]

Lay off Berman.

Just because the guy was so good at such an early age doesn't mean you can rip him now in middle age, when typical guys who have a "schtick" are so old we give them a free pass. If cable TV had been what it is now 25 years earlier, would Harry Caray have grown into a loveable old man whose drinking and bumbling with names was considered endearing, or just a 40-something year old idiot with a drinking problem? Berman's allowed to have his schtick just like the rest of them. Just because he's not wearing depends yet doesn't mean he should be a bigger target than the rest.

[MikeVick7]

He annoys me to the point that I can no longer watch Primetime or Countdown. Sorry, I wish I could lay off him, but I just can't watch him anymore.

[Ksyrup]

I don't love the guy, but I enjoyed him for years and don't get all the hate that's been heaped on him after he's essentially retired (or working limited engagements). It seems to me the only difference between him and all the old coots out there is that he was one of the first of the younger generation to be on the air when cable exploded and televising sports became a 24/7 experience, and people have gotten sick of him. But in reality, he's no different than anyone else in sports.

It's not like we're demanding Vin Scully or Dick Enberg or Keith Jackson to "get a new schtick." Shit, I got sick of Jackson's folksy delivery 20 years ago, but I lay off of him because that's his schtick and he's earned the right to be free from criticism. I think the same applies to Berman - after 25 years, he's in semi-retirement and should be forced to reinvent himself just because we've seen more of him than our own mothers over the past decade - notwithstanding the fact that he's more than a couple of steps from a retirement home.

That's my only point. I just find the whole anti-Berman phenomenon, when compared with the way we treat other, long-serving commentators, to be interesting.

[MikeVick7]

Oh I definitely agree with what you're saying, as far as other older guys having schtick...etc. I guess he just annoys more than a Keith Jackson would or a Dick Enberg would. Although Enberg is not far behind Berman for me.

[Shkspr]

Just for the record, what proof do we have that Chris Berman is NOT incontinent?

[Adamski47]

Woah, I just want the guy to breathe. Basic broadcast journalism principle. He never used to be that bad.