I Take Back Everything Nice I Said About Musburger And Lavin

Sunday, January 20, 2008


I don't know if it was because they were on ABC instead of ESPN, but Brent Musburger and Steve Lavin were unbearable yesterday. Brent Musburger especially so. I don't know if he was just out of his groove, but he couldn't get anything right and would pause for 20 seconds at time for no reason at all.

It was a terrible broadcast and it didn't get any worse than this exchange during the 2nd Half...



I don't know if you noticed or not, but the time on the clock said 5 minutes. FIVE MINUTES LEFT IN A TIE GAME WITH AN UNRANKED TEAM READY TO UPSET THE #1 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!!!!

Okay sorry, but seriously....what they hell are they even talking about? If ABC
makes you do the thing just get it over with...don't go back to it again!

(What's in a name? Musburger. The word "Mus" comes from the word "Mush" a "kind of porridge," 1671, in the American colonies, variant of mash (v.). Meaning "anything soft and thick" is attested from 1824. First record of mushy "sentimental" is 1870; mush "sentimentality" is attested from 1908. The word Burger comes from a sandwich consisting of a bun, a cooked beef patty, and often other ingredients such as cheese, onion slices, lettuce, or condiments. Often used in combination: a cheeseburger.)

See how annoying that was? And you just had to read it. Add to this nonsense to Musburger's multiple screw ups and about 400 promos for ABC shows and this broadcast was borderline unwatchable. In Lavin's defense he tried to cut him off and say he was "locked in", but you can't stop a moving train like Musburger.

Please save this b.s. from the first half if you have to do it.

Posted by Awful Announcing- at 11:06 AM

57 Comments:

This is every conversation I've ever had with my Uncle Frank.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 11:45:00 AM  

Somebody tell Musburger to shut the hell up. He is terrible. Announce the damn game.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 11:47:00 AM  

I watched the clip and think you are being too critical or maybe it’s that you have absolutely NOTHING else to talk about. Yes, the conversation was a little crazy and strange but it was during a timeout, so who cares. Also you mention 5 minutes left in a game, blah, blah, blah, you of all people, AA, should know that 5 minutes left in a basketball game is a TON of time, geez. They are just trying fill some dead time/space, just like you do with post about the Hills or Britney Spears.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:10:00 PM  

I can't remember the last time I posted on Britney Spears, and the Hills???

They talked about this nonsense for two minutes James...I think you're going to be in the minority on this one friend.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:20:00 PM  

Are you serious James? This was just stupid. Lavin is even trying to get Brent to shut the fuck up.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:21:00 PM  

Broken record time.

Brent was probably ejaculating all over himself because somebody just told him that USC beat UCLA.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:23:00 PM  

You posted about the hills. Some party or something?

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:28:00 PM  

and mention britney from time to time

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:30:00 PM  

Ahh....well that had to do with Sports because they invited Marc Bulger to the party.

I still don't understand what that has to do with anything.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:30:00 PM  

12/27/2007 Marc Bulger Likes To Hang Out With The In-Crowd

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:32:00 PM  

I was trying to show that we all "fill space" sometimes with "off topic" or useless information just for the hell of it.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:34:00 PM  

who cares, don't get panties all in a bunch AA.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:35:00 PM  

Yeah I get that, but I don't stop in the middle of a live-blog and talk to you about my day. Of course you fill time, but with 4 minutes left in a tie game you don't just talk about nonsense. The first mention was just dumb on ABC's part, but Musburger keeps going because he has nothing else to talk about. He just doesn't know what's going on in Basketball (he barely does in Football).

You have every right to disagree with me, but I have every right to think you're out of your mind if you enjoyed that.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:38:00 PM  

I'm with AA on this one. I saw that live and was yelling at the screen. Who the hell cares? It was pointless and a horribly broadcasted game.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:41:00 PM  

Oh I'm cool Anon. I just don't understand how someone couldn't find that annoying. Maybe it was because I'm a MD fan....I don't know.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:42:00 PM  

This little stink-nugget is certainly the brainchild of a producer worried about filling time at the end of another Heels blowout in Chapel Hill...

They should have bagged this in the truck and spared us all...

I'm not defending Gushburger, as he is so bad as to be beyond redemption...His radio call of the BCS title game reached a new level of horrid...

Place the blame where it belongs -- the ESPN production staff...

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:42:00 PM  

not saying I enjoyed it, but just didn't think it was BIG deal like you blow it up to be. Obviously its not something that he probably wanted to talk about, there were graphics pulled on screen, this was planned. I think it maybe be ABC, not necessarily Musburger.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:43:00 PM  

Maybe if brent metioned AA he would be the best. All of a sudden doug mentions AA and he should replace bilas because doug is young and bilas is serious. Don't you bitch because espn chooses style over substance and now you want them to do it.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:48:00 PM  

was it 5 minutes or 4 minutes AA?

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:51:00 PM  

Tarheel fans were upset we lost to MD and exposed our flaws. Flaws will be fixed and heels will be in the championship game. MD will still be making fun of of jj and losing in the 1st round. But they can still make fun of jj.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:56:00 PM  

Pretty sure it was like.. 5:34

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 12:58:00 PM  

Doug Got does provide substance and it has nothing to do with him mentioning the site. We're comparing the Basketball version of Gameday to the Football one. The Football one is light years better because they actually seem like they're having fun and provide insight.

Anon- Was it 4 or 5? Well it was both because they talked about it for 2 damn minutes.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:59:00 PM  

so even more time left in the game, it was even going to even be a for sure "upset" yet.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:00:00 PM  

AA- it was during a freaking timeout, don't think 2 minutes had gone by.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:01:00 PM  

Musberger needs to eat a fucking knife. He's awful at FB and BB.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:03:00 PM  

It starts with 5:34 left in the game, and ends with about 4:42 left in the game. There were parts of this during a timeout and parts while the game was going on.

It's right there during the video. There's about a 30-40 second piece cut out which you can obviously notice. There was a 2nd of stoppage of play and Brett started the convo back up. They miss two free throws during a tie game because of this.

Jan 20, 2008, 1:04:00 PM  

I'm surprised AA doesn't have the you tube clip up yet of espn "name dropping" the site.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:04:00 PM  

so not even a minute, thanks for clearing that up, I enjoyed the play by play.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:06:00 PM  

anon 1:00- whoa a little early to be hitting the bottle, is that even English?

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:10:00 PM  

Do any of you even watch Sports on a regular basis? This was pointless, unnecessary, and asinine. It was a great game between the #1 team in the nation and a team trying to make a run at the Tournament.

I watched it live and AA is right. It went on forever and I remember them missing a free throw by MD at the start of it.

If you can stand Brent Musburger calling any Sport, I feel sorry for you.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:10:00 PM  

Ok, some of the digressions that occur during a game make sense. That one didn't. No one watching the basketball game cares how many people there are with the last name "Williams".

There's a reason most of my friends refer to him as "Mush-for-brains". Sad thing is, there are worse announcers out there.

(Note to those of you viewing this video: it looks like this is spliced, you can see him talking during the free throws at 5:34 and then it looks like the clock says 4:40-something when they call the timeout. Which makes it even less excusable - either he continued through play, or he picked up the same absurd tangent again at the next break. Why not talk to us about ... I dunno, the game?)

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:12:00 PM  

I do watch sports, but for sure not as regular as AA, thank God.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:12:00 PM  

oh, ouch anon 1:12, I agree somewhat with you, sports are like AA's Metamucil.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:14:00 PM  

Metamucil....I don't get it. Was that a joke?

And thanks for summing everything up Spartandan. That's a dead on assessment.

Jan 20, 2008, 1:18:00 PM  

Jay and digger were having fun. Did you see when jay tossed digger off the set. Jay and digger should be like corso. I thought he was the worse. Doug just pimps his brother's team.
You should have seen all of it before judging. A few weeks ago wasn't doug slammed by all because of his computer chat. Everyone said he was not professional and laughed at his past. Now he is the best.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:18:00 PM  

Yes I trashed Gottlieb at the time, but it was during an online chat and I think he just lost his cool.

You all can keep discussing how much you hate me, but I'm moving onto Football. I love you all.

Jan 20, 2008, 1:24:00 PM  

He does this all the time and now it is bad, because MD didn't get respect. Waaaa waaaaa go make fun of jj and his poetry.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:24:00 PM  

The #1 team is on the ropes, and they pull this shit out? I can't believe how well defended this is by some of the people on here - this felt very much like something that was planned for this late in the game because UNC was supposed to be up big late, and instead of adapting to a change in the script, they went ahead.

And then they continued it! Amazing.

Oh yeah, anon 12:56 - we're having a shit season, but at least know your facts. We've lost twice in the first round - ever. The last time was 11 years ago. If you really want to bring up pointless things from forever ago, I'll gladly mention the words Weber State.

Willmott said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:27:00 PM  

This was without a doubt the most annoying two minutes in the history of ncaa hoops broadcasting. Based solely on this exchange, I now hate Musburger and his stupid face.

Hey, Brent, Lavin CLEARLY DOESN'T KNOW THE ANSWER. FUCKING TELL HIM ALREADY SO WE CAN WATCH THE BASKETBALL GAME.

/rant

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:29:00 PM  

"Me and Frostillicus go back a long way. I used to share a bathroom with
Frostillicus. In fact, I got a real funny story about that! Actually, it's not so much funny as it is long."
-- Grandpa Simpson

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:31:00 PM  

sorry AA but the Metamucil thing was funny, do you not know what Metamucil is? I cannot imagine you without sports, can you? "it keeps you regular"

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:34:00 PM  

Oh okay. I get jokes. Yes...yes they do. Not bad.

Jan 20, 2008, 1:36:00 PM  

www.metamucil.com/

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:37:00 PM  

This was pointless and with 5 minutes in the game, I would rather have the announcers talk about the game. Save the Fluff pieces for the first half.

Mac G said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:40:00 PM  

Forget Brent and his tangents...shouldn't the real issue be how God awful his tie was???

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:52:00 PM  

I noticed that too, oh my god!

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 1:54:00 PM  

Gary's tie was even worse- It was forest green and paisley. For some reason in big games he usually pulls out some tie that is in no way team colors.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 3:15:00 PM  

Musberger was awful. When Lawson picked up his fourth foul with three minutes left Musberger was wondering if Roy would pull him.

Brent, there are three mins left. I think you chance it at that point.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 4:50:00 PM  

To be fair to Brent and Lavin, I think the Williams statistic thing was pushed on them by the producer. It was obvious though that they were willing role with it.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 5:11:00 PM  

Didn't really bother me. Better that than more commercials.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 7:28:00 PM  

Lay off Awful Announcing, people. He is clueless. He thought that the NFC title game was moved to the late time slot bc it was Green Bay and the NFL wanted conditions. Not that it is rotated every year, AFC and NFC. Brent rules.

Jan 20, 2008, 10:45:00 PM  

Say what you will about Musberger, I'll take him over Nantz anyday. He calls every game like he's at the Masters.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 11:16:00 PM  

Most announcers think what they do is bigger than the game.musberger is god awful.Never played a sport. Just likes to hang with the jocks.Same with Joe Buck, who is extremely dreadful. Another one who is non-athletic,living on his father's name. Then there is Aikman who kisses everybody's butt. Just turn off the sound and you will enjoy the so much more.

Anonymous said...
Jan 20, 2008, 11:50:00 PM  

In defense of the announcers, this was clearly a segment that they were instructed to do. Had Musburger done this off-the-cuff it would be different, but with the graphics and the information included, it had to be something that came from the producer(s) of the program.

And, yes, it was utterly ridiculous to run this with five minutes to go in a tie game involving the #1 team in the country -- no argument on that.

Anonymous said...
Jan 21, 2008, 12:54:00 AM  

It's not war, AA. It's a game. A regular season game. If you're a Terp fan who has to hear Musburger tell you what you just saw--Milbourne hit the foul shot!!!--then you need to dial up Johnny Holliday. I, for one, found it hilarious that Lavin didn't know Hank Williams Sr.

Anonymous said...
Jan 21, 2008, 6:38:00 AM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bodjo said...
Jan 21, 2008, 11:16:00 PM  

College basketball on ESPN, presented by Ancestry.com[LOL]

BTW, I am quitting Ancestry.com on March 5 because it is overpriced and because the server has gone to hell in a handbasket. Just thought you wanted to know that.

Anonymous said...
Jan 24, 2008, 1:49:00 PM  

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