I'm gone, Leather - ESPN'S Berman retiring

Always on the newsroom TV hovering above us, ESPN provided endless laughs at my first full-time gig (2003-2005).
The network's antics -- the "he got JACKED UP" highlight reels, the Salisbury/John Clayton debates, Tom Berenger playing Bear Bryant -- were going over the top fast, and Berman followed suit. He had a habit my boss called "parachuting," as in appearing at events he never did regularly.
We had the U.S. Open on one June and it didn't take long to figure out ("Ground control to David Toms!") who was in the booth.

 

And the first Berman nickname was? No going to Wikipedia ....

 

It must have been tough in the late 80s-early 90s (and still today, perhaps more so) for ESPN personalities to realize just putting on a professional broadcast might not be enough. That bombast and crafting a wacky persona was the best way to get noticed (and rewarded).

 

Jesus christ, you guys are giving this corpulent bloviator WAY more credit than he deserves.

 

You'd think he was Brad Pitt the way some of these teenage girls are gushing over him.

 

I want to say it was Kirby "Union Gap" Puckett.....but I don't think that's right.......

 

For the life of me, I am still trying to remember who coined the phrase the "Carolina Whaler-Canes".....I can't remember if it was Berman or not......

 

And lest we forget: The NFC Norris.

 

"Funky Cold" Medinah.

I've always been a fan, even in the backlash years. The campiness works for me.

As others have said, nice guy, and actually a bright guy.

I'll enjoy the nostalgia of the farewell tour.

 

I was surprised how old and tired he looked the last time I bothered to watch ESPN's pregame show.
I recognize his contributions and his Rozelle Award in Canton was earned, but he should have shuffled off the stage five or 10 years ago.

 

It seemed like he leaned into the criticism. The more people disliked his schtick, the more he relied upon it. It's totally perception, but evidence of how grating he became.

 

At some point - I don't know when exactly, but let's say the last 10 years - Berman became something close to the to a bot, a collection of sayings and noises that I was always afraid would get stuck on Da Raiders Da Raiders Da Raiders Da Raiders for several minutes while they reset him. I don't know what exactly it was about the guy. A low hum of depression? Low T? I dunno. It became unbearable, though. I found myself watching humorless ass Mike Mayock on NFL Draft night. Mayock would manage to find fault with Marisa Tomei, but he and Eisen are better than Berman and his crew.

ESPN editorial side is hitting some high make. The TV side, not so much. It's been a rough 10 years.