I feel sorry for the dude that has to write this article. He has to watch all of these sports so that he can write a stupid article about what the announcers say and what people are wearing. Everyone knows Jillian Barberie looks far better in less clothes than she could all covered up in a blizzard in Philly
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td class="yspsctnhdln">Aikman steps up in NFC Championship, this time in booth</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="7"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> By Rudy Martzke USA TODAY
1/23/2005 11:10:00 PM <table id="ysparticleheadshot" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" hspace="5" vspace="5"> <tbody><tr> <td class="ysptblbdr2"> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>
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In the postseason, the unsung ones often capture most valuable player status.
Enter Troy Aikman, usually the third option in Fox's No. 1 NFL booth with decorated play-by-play man Joe Buck and outspoken co-analyst Cris Collinsworth.
As the Philadelphia Eagles throttled the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Aikman provided more than his share of opinions and observations.
The former Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys quarterback:
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</noscript> </td></tr></tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> ¢ Noted the Eagles had to score in the first quarter with the wind at their backs, which they did.
¢ Reminded viewers that an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty against Atlanta kept Philadelphia's first scoring drive alive.
¢ Pointed out that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick defied his detractors by pacing a scoring drive with throws from the pocket.
¢ Said Eagles coach Andy Reid changed past tactics in the postseason and remained aggressive, a strategy also urged by Fox NFL Sunday analyst Terry Bradshaw.
Buck and Collinsworth contributed to Fox's telecast. But Sunday, the spotlight was deservedly on Aikman.
Tardy at first, Fox's production unit stepped up graphics on individual statistics in the second half, warranted because of the hype over the quarterback matchup of Vick and the Eagles' Donovan McNabb.
Fox, though, like CBS, has to find a way to keep the overhead Sky Cam from annoyingly intruding into live shots from the main cameras used for live coverage. Fox vice president Dan Bell said the Sky Cam is getting into pictures from some of the cameras added for the playoffs.
But Fox needs to get this worked out for its coverage of the Super Bowl.
On the New England Patriots-Pittsburgh Steelers AFC Championship Game, there were few surprises from CBS. The combo of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms meshed well, as they had in the regular season.
Raising his voice above the Pittsburgh crowd and delivering clear points, Simms taught Football 101. He adeptly explained each touchdown play, especially how Patriots quarterback Tom Brady baited Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu into a mistake.
Nantz often offered key information, such as noting that the Patriots' Corey Dillon ran for a touchdown the first time he had a running lane, on the initial play after the third-quarter video-replay challenge allowed New England to retain the ball.
CBS offered a graphic chart of the teams' drives and generally kept solid track of individual statistics.
And the network hustled by capturing a shot of water being poured over Ben Roethlisberger's right (throwing) thumb, leading to an intriguing disagreement. Studio analyst Boomer Esiason said Roethlisberger's thumb hampered his play, and Simms said the fault was poor "decision-making."
Weekend highs and lows
Top tip: ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Sunday that New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington had a torn rotator cuff for the last half of the season.
Dreaded glitches: 1. CBS reporter Bonnie Bernstein's microphone failed to function during the pregame show. 2. Voices of the Fox NFL Sunday pregame analysts were heard as Fox's game announcers spoke.
Strongest comment: New ABC golf co-analyst Paul Azinger said during Saturday's coverage of the fog-plagued Buick Invitational, "Often times common sense does not play out here on the PGA Tour and you'll go to 72 holes even when it's very inconvenient and doesn't make sense."
Best interview: Queried by ABC's Andy North at the Buick Invitational on Saturday, golfer Mark O'Meara displayed the personality and candor that should make him a top candidate for a No. 1 TV analyst role. He said, "Give all the credit to Vijay (Singh). Certainly he (has much to do with) what's happening with Tiger's (Woods) swing."
Best lines: 1. Ian O'Connor of USA TODAY and The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News on ESPN's The Sports Reporters - "The Eagles are the only team in the sport who actually want to score early to take their own fans out of the game." 2. As Chevy Troutman led a Pittsburgh comeback against Connecticut on Saturday night, ESPN's Dick Vitale said, "He's no Chevy. He's ... all-Rolls Royce."
Best-dressed: Both Fox weather woman Jillian Barberie and ESPN's Andrea Kremer dressed smartly in frigid conditions in pink coats, but Barberie's white hat matched her outfit better than Kremer's black hat.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td class="yspsctnhdln">Aikman steps up in NFC Championship, this time in booth</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="7"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> By Rudy Martzke USA TODAY
1/23/2005 11:10:00 PM <table id="ysparticleheadshot" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" hspace="5" vspace="5"> <tbody><tr> <td class="ysptblbdr2"> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> In the postseason, the unsung ones often capture most valuable player status.
Enter Troy Aikman, usually the third option in Fox's No. 1 NFL booth with decorated play-by-play man Joe Buck and outspoken co-analyst Cris Collinsworth.
As the Philadelphia Eagles throttled the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Aikman provided more than his share of opinions and observations.
The former Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys quarterback:
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</noscript> </td></tr></tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> ¢ Noted the Eagles had to score in the first quarter with the wind at their backs, which they did.¢ Reminded viewers that an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty against Atlanta kept Philadelphia's first scoring drive alive.
¢ Pointed out that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick defied his detractors by pacing a scoring drive with throws from the pocket.
¢ Said Eagles coach Andy Reid changed past tactics in the postseason and remained aggressive, a strategy also urged by Fox NFL Sunday analyst Terry Bradshaw.
Buck and Collinsworth contributed to Fox's telecast. But Sunday, the spotlight was deservedly on Aikman.
Tardy at first, Fox's production unit stepped up graphics on individual statistics in the second half, warranted because of the hype over the quarterback matchup of Vick and the Eagles' Donovan McNabb.
Fox, though, like CBS, has to find a way to keep the overhead Sky Cam from annoyingly intruding into live shots from the main cameras used for live coverage. Fox vice president Dan Bell said the Sky Cam is getting into pictures from some of the cameras added for the playoffs.
But Fox needs to get this worked out for its coverage of the Super Bowl.
On the New England Patriots-Pittsburgh Steelers AFC Championship Game, there were few surprises from CBS. The combo of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms meshed well, as they had in the regular season.
Raising his voice above the Pittsburgh crowd and delivering clear points, Simms taught Football 101. He adeptly explained each touchdown play, especially how Patriots quarterback Tom Brady baited Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu into a mistake.
Nantz often offered key information, such as noting that the Patriots' Corey Dillon ran for a touchdown the first time he had a running lane, on the initial play after the third-quarter video-replay challenge allowed New England to retain the ball.
CBS offered a graphic chart of the teams' drives and generally kept solid track of individual statistics.
And the network hustled by capturing a shot of water being poured over Ben Roethlisberger's right (throwing) thumb, leading to an intriguing disagreement. Studio analyst Boomer Esiason said Roethlisberger's thumb hampered his play, and Simms said the fault was poor "decision-making."
Weekend highs and lows
Top tip: ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Sunday that New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington had a torn rotator cuff for the last half of the season.
Dreaded glitches: 1. CBS reporter Bonnie Bernstein's microphone failed to function during the pregame show. 2. Voices of the Fox NFL Sunday pregame analysts were heard as Fox's game announcers spoke.
Strongest comment: New ABC golf co-analyst Paul Azinger said during Saturday's coverage of the fog-plagued Buick Invitational, "Often times common sense does not play out here on the PGA Tour and you'll go to 72 holes even when it's very inconvenient and doesn't make sense."
Best interview: Queried by ABC's Andy North at the Buick Invitational on Saturday, golfer Mark O'Meara displayed the personality and candor that should make him a top candidate for a No. 1 TV analyst role. He said, "Give all the credit to Vijay (Singh). Certainly he (has much to do with) what's happening with Tiger's (Woods) swing."
Best lines: 1. Ian O'Connor of USA TODAY and The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News on ESPN's The Sports Reporters - "The Eagles are the only team in the sport who actually want to score early to take their own fans out of the game." 2. As Chevy Troutman led a Pittsburgh comeback against Connecticut on Saturday night, ESPN's Dick Vitale said, "He's no Chevy. He's ... all-Rolls Royce."
Best-dressed: Both Fox weather woman Jillian Barberie and ESPN's Andrea Kremer dressed smartly in frigid conditions in pink coats, but Barberie's white hat matched her outfit better than Kremer's black hat.
