Pop Critics » bryant gumbel http://popcritics.com Reviewing popular culture so you don't have to Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:48:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Bryant Gumbel no longer calling games for NFL Network http://popcritics.com/2008/04/14/bryant-gumbel-no-longer-calling-games-for-nfl-network http://popcritics.com/2008/04/14/bryant-gumbel-no-longer-calling-games-for-nfl-network#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:24:14 +0000 Mike http://www.popcritics.com/?p=2535 Last year in November, I got up on my soapbox and totally blasted Bryant Gumbel and his horrible play-by-play calling for the NFL Network. It sucked for us football fans to have some awesome Thursday night games (Colts vs. Pats, Dallas vs Packers) only to be ruined by listening to Gumbel’s high pitched voice trying to get things right.

Now, let me just add that I’m sure he’s a great guy, and this whole rant has nothing to do with him as a person, but just his abilities as a play-by-play guy, of which he has none.

I wasn’t alone. The resultant hits we got on the site after that with search strings like “Bryant Gumbel sucks” was pretty remarkable. And sort of expected.

Well, there is good news finally for those who just can’t stand watching these NFL Network games because you have to listen to Gumbel. According to Yahoo.com, he’s left playcalling entirely to pursue other options.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me,� Gumbel said in a statement. “But we’ve agreed that we’d all be better served going in different directions.�

Not that I know what the inside scoop is, but I’m sure the feedback the network got from viewers couldn’t be good and this was more of a network decision that one Gumbel made. Again, purely speculative, but likely close to the truth.

The search for a replacement is on. Cris Collinsworth will stick around as the color guy.

What do you think? I know many of you back then still frequent this blog, so are you rejoicing like I am?

]]> http://popcritics.com/2008/04/14/bryant-gumbel-no-longer-calling-games-for-nfl-network/feed 0 Patriots versus Giants to be broadcast on three networks http://popcritics.com/2007/12/26/patriots-versus-giants-to-be-broadcast-on-three-networks http://popcritics.com/2007/12/26/patriots-versus-giants-to-be-broadcast-on-three-networks#comments Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:28:35 +0000 Mike http://www.popcritics.com/2007/12/patriots-versus-giants-to-be-broadcast-on-three-networks/ In an amazing, unprecedented move, the NFL Network has agreed to allow this Saturday’s Week 17 matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants to be broadcast not only on their own network, but also CBS and NBC.

The Patriots have a historic opportunity to go 16-0 for the first time since the Miami Dolphins did it back 1972, although they only went 14-0 since that’s how many games the NFL used to play back then in a regular season.

The NFL Network only reaches 40 million homes with cable/satellite and pressure from a bunch of U.S. Senators and Representatives who have publicly given the NFL Network “crap” over their plans to show it only to a few Americans caused them to cave in and allow the entire nation to tune in.

You can read more about the politics behind this move by checking out Variety.

Being a Direct TV subscriber, I already get the NFL Network, (in high definition as well), but I know a ton of people do not and it’s ridiculous that the NFL Network is now showing two games a week (Thursday and Saturday) that most of the country cannot see.

Not to mention how crappy their booth teams are, especially Bryant Gumbel. You can read more about my hatred for his style in a blog post I wrote a month ago.

]]> http://popcritics.com/2007/12/26/patriots-versus-giants-to-be-broadcast-on-three-networks/feed 0