Should networks stop using former players as analysts for their former teams' games? (eg, Troy)

[_sturt_]

I'm always mystified by this, and last night's Orange Bowl brought it front and center. I'm not a Florida State fan, but I immediately thought, "what the hell" when ex-Michigan QB Brian Griese showed up as analyst.

With all of the decent-to-good analysts on TV that any given network employs, why isn't it just a rule of thumb that networks never ... or, at least, almost never... assign a former player to be an analyst for a game for their former team?

You understand why I ask, right? I mean, if you're a Giants fan, and your team is playing the Cowboys in the featured game on Fox, you're going to be extra sensitive to everything that comes out of Troy's mouth.

But that's not all. If you're a Cowboys fan, you also are drawn to be extra sensitive to everything he says because you're prone to be listening to see if you can detect him over-compensating.

It doesn't even really bother me like it bothers some of my Cowboy fan friends. But still it compels me to wonder, "why not just not even go there... it's not like there aren't others who can do nearly as good, if not just as good, if not an even better job... ?"

Am I missing something?

 

[Silver Surfer]

Am I missing something?

You're over-thinking it..... really.

 

[Hardline]

I wouldn't hurt my feelings to never hear Aikman broadcasting a Cowboys game ever again.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I love Aikman and Buck. I don't get why everyone hates Buck. They have great chemistry, and they make games feel important by the way they call them.

 

[noshame]

Only guy I can't stand this Al Michaels I could care less about everybody else they don't bother me

 

[_sturt_]

Let me try to re-phrase, b/c I'm not really meaning to learn opinions on any specific individuals... even Troy... but rather, as a principle, if you were in-charge, would you be inclined to make game assignments in a way that avoids having a former player or coach of a given team being in the booth for that team's games? Obviously, to me, this is just the natural thing to do, but clearly, the decision makers don't really seem to be influenced by it.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

You assume that the broadcast networks don't want to stoke fan emotions.

You'd assume wrong.

 

[cityochamps]

no, Ex players have the best perspective of the game and it would be a logistical nightmare for a network to try and shuffle broadcasters just because of an ex player of a certain team........ if the broadcaster cant be fair and balanced chuck him out the door, the world needs plenty of bartenders!

 

[cityochamps]

I'm always mystified by this, and last night's Orange Bowl brought it front and center. I'm not a Florida State fan, but I immediately thought, "what the hell" when ex-Michigan QB Brian Griese showed up as analyst.

With all of the decent-to-good analysts on TV that any given network employs, why isn't it just a rule of thumb that networks never ... or, at least, almost never... assign a former player to be an analyst for a game for their former team?

You understand why I ask, right? I mean, if you're a Giants fan, and your team is playing the Cowboys in the featured game on Fox, you're going to be extra sensitive to everything that comes out of Troy's mouth.

But that's not all. If you're a Cowboys fan, you also are drawn to be extra sensitive to everything he says because you're prone to be listening to see if you can detect him over-compensating.

It doesn't even really bother me like it bothers some of my Cowboy fan friends. But still it compels me to wonder, "why not just not even go there... it's not like there aren't others who can do nearly as good, if not just as good, if not an even better job... ?"

Am I missing something?

Speaking of the Orange bowl..man what a fantastic game, not a big fan of either team (The OSU for me) but that was a good one...

 

[LocimusPrime]

I like Aikman too! He's great! Just had to sound unbiased kinda like Jimmy Johnson does now adays.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Troy is great, if they scrambled his voice during Cowboys games to where you didn't know who it was, no one would think anything of it. He does his job, which is to analyze and comment.

 

[cityochamps]

I've whined about Aikman and Buck over the years but Troy tells it like it is most of the time I guess I was more pissed because he didn't take our side more, which is kinda the point to this thread and what you should not do as a broadcaster...Buck is in the box so Troy can go to the bathroom when he needs to and someone can keep talking.

 

[tyke1doe]

I believe it used to be policy that if you played for a certain team you couldn't broadcast their game. But that was in the days where fairness and objectivity were more cherished than today.
Nowadays, you're encouraged to be a cheerleader, which is why Skip Bayless now talks about "my Cowboys" when years ago he said he wasn't a Cowboys fan.
Newspaper reporters, commentators, etc., are encouraged now to engage the fans/readers/public, etc.

 

[tyke1doe]

I've whined about Aikman and Buck over the years but Troy tells it like it is most of the time I guess I was more pissed because he didn't take our side more, which is kinda the point to this thread and what you should not do as a broadcaster...Buck is in the box so Troy can go to the bathroom when he needs to and someone can keep talking.

Thank you for your honesty.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Thank you for your honesty.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I've whined about Aikman and Buck over the years but Troy tells it like it is most of the time I guess I was more pissed because he didn't take our side more, which is kinda the point to this thread and what you should not do as a broadcaster...Buck is in the box so Troy can go to the bathroom when he needs to and someone can keep talking.

 

[Redball Express]

I'm always mystified by this, and last night's Orange Bowl brought it front and center. I'm not a Florida State fan, but I immediately thought, "what the hell" when ex-Michigan QB Brian Griese showed up as analyst.

With all of the decent-to-good analysts on TV that any given network employs, why isn't it just a rule of thumb that networks never ... or, at least, almost never... assign a former player to be an analyst for a game for their former team?

You understand why I ask, right? I mean, if you're a Giants fan, and your team is playing the Cowboys in the featured game on Fox, you're going to be extra sensitive to everything that comes out of Troy's mouth.

But that's not all. If you're a Cowboys fan, you also are drawn to be extra sensitive to everything he says because you're prone to be listening to see if you can detect him over-compensating.

It doesn't even really bother me like it bothers some of my Cowboy fan friends. But still it compels me to wonder, "why not just not even go there... it's not like there aren't others who can do nearly as good, if not just as good, if not an even better job... ?"

Am I missing something?

I have not so much concern about your topic but..

I think the networks do it metely for the ratings guys like Griese bring..

especially with both on the broadcast..

son and father.

Those guys are the only other football family except for the Mannings.

So I'm tolerent to a point.

 

[KJJ]

I've whined about Aikman and Buck over the years but Troy tells it like it is most of the time I guess I was more pissed because he didn't take our side more, which is kinda the point to this thread and what you should not do as a broadcaster...Buck is in the box so Troy can go to the bathroom when he needs to and someone can keep talking.

This is why Troy receives a lot of hate on this board he's too honest an objective for Cowboy FANS. They want him to take our side all the time and feel he should since he's a former player and in the teams ROH.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Only if they can make Buck an honorary Cowboy.

 

[Redball Express]

Only if they can make Buck an honorary Cowboy.

Maybe we can hire him to replace Babe Laufenberg?