ESPN's Substandard Coverage

[DavidNardolillo]

He couldn’t pronounce at least 4 BC players names and was completely making stuff up about their style of play during the year...It was wild how under prepped they were

Your comment touches on something important. It's really interesting to see how hard the best commentators prep for games. Pages of notes based on research of players and teams, practicing pronunciations, watching old game film so they can better recognize players without spotters. Good production makes it seem effortless, but it is not easy work to do well.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

Bob Norton was solid

Yeah, if you prepped in Woonsocket. Anybody from west of the Massachusetts border didn't exist for that windbag. Or maybe you meant a solid 250 on the scales.

 

[sigx15]

Your comment touches on something important. It's really interesting to see how hard the best commentators prep for games. Pages of notes based on research of players and teams, practicing pronunciations, watching old game film so they can better recognize players without spotters. Good production makes it seem effortless, but it is not easy work to do well.

I could at least rationalize it in my head if it was Bucci mispronouncing games because college hockey is a side thing for him, but Cohen has absolutely nothing going on besides college hockey and specifically hockey east. This is his super bowl and he was atrocious. I could be sympathetic if he didn't have the personality for it but it was like he put in zero effort beforehand. It felt like a kid looking over his notes for 20 minutes on the bus to school to study for a final

 

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Yeah, if you prepped in Woonsocket. Anybody from west of the Massachusetts border didn't exist for that windbag.

Ha. Accurate. Loved to name drop the kid's high school coach. I found that odd as it really wasn't relevant really for the viewer but to him it was super important to do it 20 times a game.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Beyond the broadcasting teams being so so at best, even the production seemed like it was run by students. At one point in the BC v QU game, BC was on a power play and they put up stats for BC's penalty kill vs QU's power play. And if I had a dollar for every time Bucci gave the play by play call of "...and here come the [insert team name] up the ice!" I would be a millionaire. If that phrase was part of a drinking game, I would have been dead before the end first period. Any highly ranked team: "You know the have the ability to win this game..." Any lower ranked team "You know they just want to keep this close and hang with [other team's name] as long as they can..."

But overall, yes, I'm just glad I get to watch the games. I would be nice if they could have some folks local to each team calling the games (they would have way more insights and stuff to talk about) and just let the ESPN celeb of choice for the game chime in once in a while so viewers still sort of feel like ESPN cares about hockey.

 

[Ryecheers]

I could at least rationalize it in my head if it was Bucci mispronouncing games because college hockey is a side thing for him, but Cohen has absolutely nothing going on besides college hockey and specifically hockey east. This is his super bowl and he was atrocious. I could be sympathetic if he didn't have the personality for it but it was like he put in zero effort beforehand. It felt like a kid looking over his notes for 20 minutes on the bus to school to study for a final

I’m just happy to have reasonably produced games even though the broadcasting talent is spread a bit thin.
Colby Homer-Cohen has neither the voice nor the talent for the role he has. He and Bucci appear incapable or can’t be bothered to take a moment to consult the pronunciation guides that are available to them. Colby is always bright eyed and bushy mouthed when BU is on the ice. To his credit, every so often he remembers to give modest praise to BU’s opponents. He should avoid working Beanpots and BC-BU games. Too stressful for him!

 

[joegrav]

What ever happened to Dave Starman being a part of these broadcasts? He is probably the only national analyst I've seen on TV who ever comes to the table with actual full knowledge of the teams, their systems, the players all the way down the role players, and provides analysis of what's going on that isn't dumbed down but is also understandable for the viewer at home.

I remember him tweeting last year about not being invited to be a part of the broadcasts on ESPN, I assume this is because he is a CBS employee through the NCHC deal?

The other person who stands out to me in terms of providing good analysis is Billy Jaffe when he does Hockey East games.

 

[paulfb]

What ever happened to Dave Starman being a part of these broadcasts? He is probably the only national analyst I've seen on TV who ever comes to the table with actual full knowledge of the teams, their systems, the players all the way down the role players, and provides analysis of what's going on that isn't dumbed down but is also understandable for the viewer at home.

I remember him tweeting last year about not being invited to be a part of the broadcasts on ESPN, I assume this is because he is a CBS employee through the NCHC deal?

The other person who stands out to me in terms of providing good analysis is Billy Jaffe when he does Hockey East games.

When Starman worked World Juniors, he could recite chapter and verse about Latvia's third line. Did his homework to the max.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Jaffe is an idiot. Not as bad as Cohen, but close.

 

[bruinsfan11]

Completely disagree on Jaffe- I think he’s good; Starman does a GREAT job w the WJC’s every year

 

[Seacaptim]

I could at least rationalize it in my head if it was Bucci mispronouncing games because college hockey is a side thing for him, but Cohen has absolutely nothing going on besides college hockey and specifically hockey east. This is his super bowl and he was atrocious. I could be sympathetic if he didn't have the personality for it but it was like he put in zero effort beforehand. It felt like a kid looking over his notes for 20 minutes on the bus to school to study for a final

Cohen lacking in preparation is obvious, but he also struggles with vision or comprehension. After the minor penalty called on Q for the blind side hit on Ryan Leonard-Colby goes on an impassioned explanation of how the refs were going to dare Brown to challenge the call, seeking a 5 minute major. (BC has already lost a challenge earlier on Malone high stick no-goal, and would have been assessed a penalty for a failed second challenge)
This analysis would have made sense as a hypothetical, except the refs were already reviewing the penalty right in front of Bucci, Cohen and tv viewers.. There was no sign of Brown talking to the refs, but there was a meeting of the referees, prior to “their” review. Neither broadcaster seemed to note this fact, but maybe I had already turned the sound off…anyone catch this?

 

[Darius]

Cohen lacking in preparation is obvious, but he also struggles with vision or comprehension. After the minor penalty called on Q for the blind side hit on Ryan Leonard-Colby goes on an impassioned explanation of how the refs were going to dare Brown to challenge the call, seeking a 5 minute major. (BC has already lost a challenge earlier on Malone high stick no-goal, and would have been assessed a penalty for a failed second challenge)
This analysis would have made sense as a hypothetical, except the refs were already reviewing the penalty right in front of Bucci, Cohen and tv viewers.. There was no sign of Brown talking to the refs, but there was a meeting of the referees, prior to “their” review. Neither broadcaster seemed to note this fact, but maybe I had already turned the sound off…anyone catch this?

I don’t pay close attention to the announcers which is a big part of why I don’t mind them all that much, but I distinctly remember turning up the volume because I wasn’t following what they were saying. It didn’t help.

 

[ticapnews]

What will get better ratings: the Frozen Four games​​​ or the women's basketball practice currently airing on ESPN2?

 

[sshablak]

I'm with you. Simply being able to watch every game is such a treat compared to the old days. And I find the announcers easy to ignore.

I'm totally in agreement with you. I've taken it one step forward, I bought a "Jailbroken Firestick" , do yourself a favor and check them out ! On Amazon site !

 

[sigx15]

Colby Cohen on the call. Over/under on stuff he gets wrong or names he mispronounces over 3 games is 37

 

[ticapnews]

Colby Cohen on the call. Over/under on stuff he gets wrong or names he mispronounces over 3 games is 37

Give me the over every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

No tennis tournament or a 6OT lacrosse game preempting coverage is a plus.

 

[joecct]

The alternative call:
https://westwoodonesports.com/

 

[DNAEagle]

It would be nice if they would give up on mentioning the player's draft status every time they touch the puck. We get it there are a lot of drafted players on the ice but we don't need to reminded on every shift.

 

[SJHovey]

I obviously have no rooting interest for any team in this Frozen Four, and I appreciate the fact the ESPN is broadcasting the games, it got a bit old yesterday with Bucci and Cohen screaming, from about the end of the first period on, WHEN IS BU GOING TO GET A POWER PLAY?!?!

 

[J.D.]

It would be nice if they would give up on mentioning the player's draft status every time they touch the puck. We get it there are a lot of drafted players on the ice but we don't need to reminded on every shift.

This is my biggest problem with Buccigross. He's more interested in telling you when each star player will be moving on to the NHL. Just let it breathe man. They are playing for their schools at the moment.