ABOUT THOSE GAL BROADCASTERS

Alright, now chill, and hear me out before you come to
any erroneous conclusions. This is a subject that I believe
many others have thought about, talked about, and maybe
even have complained about, BUT I'M GOING PUBLIC!

Yes, I am a "closet chauvanist". When it comes to men's
sports, I am of the belief that only those who have had
some experience coaching, playing, or officiating a
sport are BEST at giving either play-by-play or color
analysis.

Recently, over the past 2 or 3 years in particular, I've
noticed an influx of females adding their talents and
skills to the coverage of athletic events, especially on
the tube. I OBJECT.

Don't get me wrong, I love women. Why, some of the
most important people in my life have been and are
women. Women have made major contributions to
our society and civilization. For example, take Madame
Currie, Helen Keller, Mother Theresa, and the list goes
on and on. "They" say "behind every successful man is
a successful woman". TRUE.

I can't, and don't want to imagine what this life would be
like without those of the "softer, gentler sex".

BUT I do take issue with Beth, Holly, Doris, and the rest
of their contigent filling the seats of more qualified men
at the football and basketball games especially. I LOVE
what the gals do during the fastpitch softball playoffs,
and the volleyball tournament, as well as women's soccer,
but I do not feel comfortable hearing a lady's voice trying
to describe the action of men's sports. Huh.

THERE, I'VE SAID IT.

You may feel differently, and you may write your own
blog or respond to this one. Fine. I said what I meant,
and I meant what I said.

No, this is not a diatribe against the abilities of those
"lovelies' who are working the microphones. No doubt
many, if not most, if not all of them have excellent
skills, complemented, of course, by the stat sheets,
programs, pre-broadcast info spreads, and the "buzzes"
they get in their headphones during the games, as the
men who are doing the same task also have "aids" to
make them interesting to listen to and to make the
contest more enjoyable to watch and listen to.

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT A "NON-JOCK" AT
THE TABLE THAT MAKES ME FEEL QUEASY. Know
what I mean? I'm sure somebody out there gets my
point and agrees with me.

No doubt the networks are hoping that they will get
more of the distaff side to watch their shows, and I
can understand their reasoning somewhat, but would
it work if the reverse were the situation? Would you
ladies "out there in TV-land" want more men doing
the play-by-play and color analysis of women's sports?

Would I "disemploy" (is that a word?) those gals from
their jobs? Not necessarily. In fact, sometimes some of
them are easier to listen to (as well as "easier on the eye")
than some of the men. In fact, I sometimes wonder where
"they" are getting some of the new faces and voices that
have broken onto the scene, male-wise, that is.

IS THERE A "QUOTA" THAT THE NETWORKS HAVE TO FILL?
ARE THERE NOT ENOUGH "QUALIFIED" MEN?
ARE THERE THOSE WHO PREFER HEARING A WOMAN
DESCRIBE A MAN'S SPORTING EVENT? Huh.
Please explain this one.
CAN SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A
PARTICULAR SPORT REALLY RELATE TO WHAT
SHE IS ASSIGNED TO REPORT ON/BROADCAST?

Okay, there I've said it. Let the barbs and arrows fly.
If you're asking what are my qualifications, I do have a
few. Played basketball as a high-schooler. Played
basketball in college. Played slow-pitch, fast-pitch and
"pumpkinball" softball. Play some football. Played
tennis and raquetball a lot. Reported on high-school
sports for a couple of years for a local weekly paper.
Officiated Little League baseball. Coached Little League
baseball. Umpired fast-pitch softball. Coached
college basketball. Was an athletic director. Refereed
basketball at many levels for years, in six states.

Add to that various athletic events that I witnessed,
broadcast, or did public address announcing for, and
I have some (however limited) qualifications.

AM I LOOKING TO REPLACE THE GALS? NO.
I just want to be able to enjoy a game by feeling an
appreciable level of confidence in the voices that
I'm hearing trying to make the event more enjoyable.

LADIES, I LOVE YOU, in your element that is. Sorry.