The ESPN Ombudsman's latest article - What's a good TV broadcasting team and what can the Little League World Series teach us about life?

I probably should break up this article into two, but I'm not.

I love ESPN.com. It's probably my main connection to the sports world. But as a sporting conglomerate, an 800 pound gorrilla as it were, it has its issues, of course. Enter stage left, The ESPN Ombudsman.

ESPN seems to have 2 year terms for ombudsmen, and I've been reading the monthly articles faithfully since ESPN hired its first ombudsman. I find the articles address issues drive me crazy about ESPN, and also gives insight into why ESPN made the decisions it did in those cases, right or wrong.

This month's article touches 2 major topics:

1. The chemistry of and fan reaction to the 3 man Monday Night Football team, with the exit of Tony Kornheiser and the addition of John Gruden.
2. The fan reaction to the broadcast of the Little League World Series.

1. Monday Night Football
Overall, I am in agreement with the fans... the chemistry is good, and I'm enjoying listening to the broadcast. Tony Kornheiser used to drive me nuts.

The Ombudsman also talks about the preparation and production hula-hoops the broadcasters and producers must jump through to create a clean seamless broadcast for the viewers. I thought this was fascinating as I know nothing about TV production so it was neat insight.

But also during this discussion, he also points out that good broadcasters know when to be quiet vs. when to talk because "they recognize that most of the audience tuned in for one basic purpose -- to watch the game -- and not to listen to wall-to-wall commentary." Having watched both Monday night football games this week, the following example he cites is absolutely perfect.

A classic case in point was this week's opening-night double-header on MNF -- two exciting finishes handled in totally different ways. Coming from behind, the Chargers scored a TD in the final minute to beat the Raiders. The final dramatic drive was covered by non-stop hyperkinetic chattering in the booth, filled with more opinion than relevant information. The announcers excitedly talked over the top of each other at times, leaving no room for the climactic moments to breathe.

On the other hand, Tirico, Jaworski and Gruden's [the primary Monday Night Football broadcast team] handling of the dramatic finish of the Buffalo-New England game was first-rate. The play-by-play was totally controlled, hitting the key points. Both analysts, judicious in their comments, never strayed from the intensity of the moment. All were enthusiastic, yet restrained -- a tough order when the adrenalin is flowing as strongly in the booth as it is on the field. The trio let the drama build and unfold with intentional moments of silence that enhanced the tension. When the Patriots scored the winning touchdown, there was a long pause in the booth -- allowing the audience to enjoy the pandemonium around the stadium. This doesn't happen by accident. It was a conscious choice made by the booth and the truck, and it was excellently executed.

The Ombudsman uses the word "pandemonium", which is an absolutely dead on description, to describe the reaction of the Pats fans when the Pats scored the game winning touchdown. The camera panned around the stadium, and the TV viewers got to watch and listen to the crowd going bonkers for a full 30 seconds. Had the broadcasters been talking over that, I never would have gotten that sensation and frankly, that was the best part of the whole game.... watching the fans go completely and utterly nuts.

2. Little League World Series
The article also talks about fan reaction to the broadcast of the Little League World Series which was unanimously positive. The Ombudsman takes a look at this unanimous response rate, and offers this analysis:

...perhaps there's a lesson here for ESPN and the sports world it covers. Can it be that the fans crave events contested by "sportsmen" regardless of their age or the level of their performance? No, it wasn't "big league ball," but the competition was intense and the players were talented and passionate. Each home run captured the unbridled joy of the hitter, the deep anguish of the pitcher, and the viewer could revel in both.

One moment exemplified what viewers found so enthralling. As a young Californian circled the bases after hitting a game-tying home run, one of the Georgia infielders gave him a smile and a congratulatory tap on the shoulder. A brief but touching reminder of what true sportsmanship is. But it wasn't the only example. There were no glares from players questioning balls and strikes. There was no arguing the tag at home. There was no showboating or taunting.

Contrast this with what's seen on "SportsCenter" or any local newscast -- the look-at-me egocentrism, bench-clearing brawls, DUI crashes, sexual assaults, paternity suits, drug infractions, union disputes, near-bankrupt cities building billion-dollar stadiums for teams that can afford $200 million payrolls.

There is no question that all these things need to be covered along with the scores and incredible feats that make up today's world of competition. Sports have always been popular because they encompass the incredible highs and lows of triumph and tragedy. But today's ever-increasing curse of a dark underbelly that reflects the seamier side of our culture is real, and it's part of life.

The Little League World Series was a pleasant reminder that, at their core, sports can be about the dreams of the players, their teammates, their coaches, their parents and their towns. And watching 12- and 13-year-old kids play a game for the sheer joy of doing it can teach us all valuable lessons about life.

Amen.