> >The other Harvard announcer most decorously explained to her broadcast
> >partner that, from her perspective, he was smoking crayons.  Her attitude
> >towards the PP was that RPI was putting their best guys out there.  In
> >fact, she cited it as evidence of what she had been saying about once every
> >three minutes up to then -- that RPI's defense looked terrible, and only
> >Harvard forward incompetence and bad luck was stopping the Crimson from
> >waltzing in unmolested.
> >
> Maybe you underestimate  her hockey knowledge. During the 3rd period
> the RPI defense did indeed look terrible. She was visibly upset.
> It was the first time I've ever seen a radio announcer talk so much with
> her hands. I was afraid she was going to lose her balance and go over
> the catwalk railing.
 
Becky Blaeser does the broadcasts ... her three brothers played college hockey
and she writes for USCHO, among other places.
 
 
> >Both partners were incredibly negative about their own team throughout the
> >night -- it apparently galled them that they should have to broadcast a
> >losing team.  They pointed out at the end that it is the first time in
> >Harvard history that the Crimson have gone 7 games into the RS without a
> >win, and rather gloomily predicted that it wasn't going to get better next
> >weekend "without a miracle."  All in all, not exactly the old college try.
> >
> That's too bad! Having lived through some horrible RPI seasons, I
> know how difficult it is to root for a team that has little chance of winning.
> It can be difficult to keep getting psyched to go the games. It must
> be even more difficult for radio announcers who not only go to
> the home games but the away games also. In addition, while they're
> working at the games, they don't get a chance to socialize to
> at least make the experience more enjoyable.
> However, that it the job they've chosen to do. While they should be
> honest, and state that their team is playing poorly (the WRPI
> announcers sure do), they should also look for and report on the positive
> aspects of their teams's play (which, to their credit, the WRPI announcers
> also do).
 
They should be honest, period ... don't worry, there will be the inevitable
haranguing for them to be kicked off the air, by angry parents and
administrators, for being too negative.  Blah, blah, blah ... I've gotten
accused of that during situations when I've gone out of my way NOT to be
negative.  So the fact they're getting away with any negativity - i.e. honesty -
is pretty refreshing ... especially even further considering how many ridiculous
HOMERS are out there - mostly forced into being that way by administrators and
parents.
 
No one looks for negatives (if they are, it's wrong too) ... everyone wants to
say nice things ... but when the team stinks, and you're frustrated, then it
stinks.
 
Ah, don't get me started. Complicated subject.
 
AW
 
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