Radio Broadcasters

[gmartin]

I really love that our women's game is broadcasted by WBGU 88.1 Radio but I do have a gripe. Maybe it is just me but I think it is an embarrassment. I understand the broadcatsers of the game are students but before the even broadcast the game they should know the rules of the game and for heavens sake, know how to pronounce the athletes name.

I understand if they miss a call from time to time or have an incorrect stat as the game is fast paced but certain things are unacceptable. They constantly botched the Miami coaches name the other time. In fact, they had 5 different pronunciations. I guess I can let that one slide but they should been able to look at a media guide or listen to the PA announcer to see how it is pronounced when the line ups are introduced.

However certain things just irritated me when listening to the game. First up, THERE IS A 30 SECOND SHOT CLOCK IN THE WOMENS GAME NOT A 24 SECOND CLOCK. This is not the NBA. Also, THERE IS NO 10 SECOND BACKCOURT VIOLATION. YOU DO NOT SHOOT FT'S ON A PLAYER CONTROLLED CHARGING CALL. AND THERE IS NO OVER AND BACK ON IN INBOUNDS PASS THROWN FROM BEHIND YOUR BASKET.

Okay those were the rules issues I noticed in the Miami game alone. I bet most of us know these rules so why can't the broadcasters???

But what irritated me the most was that our radio guys numerously pronounced Prochaska incorrectly. In fact many times they just said Lauren yet they said Pontius, Steffen, Uhl. And then when Papenfus and Giese got in the game they mispronounced their names. Come on Guys!!

Like I said I understand these guys are young and inexperienced but before you call a game you should know the rules and for heavens sake know how to correctly pronounce your own players names.

On a funny note, they had a trivia question. The question was, BG is currently on a 20 game home winning streak. Who was the last team to hand BG a loss here at Anderson Arena. Not even two minutes later the color guy said 'And before that less to INDIANA BG had a 19 game winning streak. Doh!!!! Moron! You just gave away the answer! That was funny.

[Falcon Commander]

+ 1

[factman]

I don't disagree, but..........look it as these broadcasts are these kids tests, and I don't think I would have had the intestinal fortitude to have my "tests" aired or published when I was in school. I give them a lot of credit and am sure there will be another Keith Jackson among them soon!

[BGDrew]

I'll say it again: I'd love to hear how some of you would do if you ever got on the air.

[Redwingtom]

But, we are not on the air and we are not pursuing that profession. So we are allowed to sit back and complain all we want

I think gmartin is just asking for a little more attention to detail. I would be willing to bet the announcers welcome the criticism and critique so to better their performance.

[TG1996]

I'll say it again: I'd love to hear how some of you would do if you ever got on the air.

You would?

Where did I put those tapes??

[Rollo83]

I have a tape somewhere deep in my basement that I should pull out. I spent my freshman fall semester at Findlay College before transferring into BG in the Spring of 1980.

I was the voice of the Findlay Oilers football team that won the NAIA Championship in 1979. I remember one game my broadcast partner asking me what I thought of that last play, to which I replied..."I am sorry I ddin't see that last play, I was watching the cheerleaders."

Honesty was worth something, right?

[Falcon Commander]

"I am sorry I ddin't see that last play, I was watching the cheerleaders."

hahahahahaha - at least you're honest !! - That's funny.

[transfer2BGSU]

I was the voice of the Findlay Oilers football team that won the NAIA Championship in 1979. I remember one game my broadcast partner asking me what I thought of that last play, to which I replied..."I am sorry I ddin't see that last play, I was watching the cheerleaders."

So you were doing the Color Commentary and not the Play-by-Play

[gmartin]

I just don't think it is too hard to ask to know the rules. Come on it is a 30 second shot clock not 24 seconds, no 10 second violation, no over and back, and you don't shoot FTs on charging fouls. Is it that hard to ask for them to know the rules. And please learn how to pronounce the BG players names. Some of these girls have been here for 2 to 4 years and they still can't get them right. As I said, basketball is hard to broadcast with all the quick passes and it can be a tongue twister and I understand that. They will get better with experience but when family members who can't come to the games listen to the broadcast and here their daughters name not pronounced correctly they must feel slighted. I know I would.

How would Drew like being called Draw, or Freak being called Frake, etc.

[fish87]

Being a part of BGRSO and the crew that calls these games, I can assure you these issues will be resolved. Mispronunciations of Falcon players' names is a bad mistake and it will be taken care of. PM me if any of you would like to discuss these issues more in depth, since I do not want air them out where everyone can see them.

Just remember, all of us our students, and we are working on improving ourselves as broadcasters. We have never claimed to be perfect, but we do the best we can. Thanks for your time and thanks for listening and supporting the Falcons.

GO BG!

[gmartin]

You guys do an amazing job! I love the fact the 88.1 and BGRSO broadcasts so many games and yes errors and mistakes will be made during the games. Mis-pronounced names of the opponents is obviously normal and happens in all sports across all campuses. Kep up the great work. I just thought this was an issue that need be addressed. Rules and players names of our Falcons should never be mistaken. Once again thank you for all your wonderful work broadcasting Falcon athletics.

[FalconTurf]

Agreed. When all else fails I can turn on 88.1. It may be a little rough around the edges but I sincerely believe the more students participating from media row to scorer's table to the band is the best thing about our athletic program. It's a big university and getting the regular students involved in some way makes a world of difference for those students.

Thanks to all the students who make BGSU special.

[MarkL]

One thing for sure - I greatly appreciate having the audio for these games streaming online. I often will listen to the games at my apartment as I live over in Indiana out of range of any Falcon sports radio stations. It's a way to reconnect with BG sports and that's something I intend to keep up once I move to Baltimore this summer.

And funny stories on bad radio broadcasters ... we've got pretty good broadcasters on the whole. I was streaming the BG-Miami football game at Miami in 2009. The Miami commentators were bad. Bad actually doesn't quite do it. I was on the AZZ chat while the game was going on and everybody agreed ... these guys were bad. Todd Walker is amazing to have around. At one point, the commentators said that for each Miami touchdown, some local company would donate six turkeys to a local Thanksgiving dinner for the underprivileged. Someone, don't remember who, commented on the chat that he'd donate six turkeys to get these announcers to shut up. I'd certainly have joined in on that!

[h2oville rocket]

I love the enthusiasm (sometimes) of the students. Again my favorite call was one from a bout ten years ago and it went something like this (can't remember the running back's name so I'll use Smith):

"Handoff to Smith on the left side and HE'S GOT AN OPENING. Great blocking and he's STILL GOING, dragging defenders along. FINALLY brought down by the outside linebacker. Second and eight Bowling Green!"

And no, there was not a penalty or anything that affected the yardage prior to this play.