Chris Berman wins Pro Football Hall of Fame's Rozelle Award

Release the hounds ...

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/07/pro-football-hall-of-fame-will-honor-espns-chris-berman-with-pete-rozelle-award/1

 

Yeah, we're all tired of his schtick now. But the guy has been National Sportscaster of the Year six times and he's been the face of the NFL on ESPN for nearly three decades.

I do not have a problem with this selection.

As I told a friend who's heavily into college hoopes, he's basically to the NFL what Dick Vitale is to college hoops. And no one would have a problem with Dick Vitale getting a college hoops hall of fame media citation.

 

Dick Vitale has the sense to largely restrict his commentary to college
basketball (I know, there have been VERY isolated exceptions, but very, very few).

The other guy? Not so much.

I don't hate CB like the vast majority of this board, but the guy has overplayed his hand, and it's hurt his legacy.

 

The selection will cause the usual amoung of teeth gnashing around here. But it's deserved. Impossible to argue otherwise.

 

You're with me, Leather Helmet.

 

Berman deserves his spot, despite the fact he's become a parody of the parody that used to be himself.

 

I think the kneecap fund is about $500.....

 

Vitale has only commented on college hoops, except for a baseball game or two. Chris Berman, on the other hand, "Back, back, back, back, gone!" He is one of the more annoying commentators at ESPN. I'd rather see a John Clayton, Adam Schefter, or Chris Mortensen get this award.

 

Pretty sure Clayton has already won it.

Clarification: Clayton won the Dick McCann Award, which goes to writers. Peter King and Len Pasquarelli have also won the McCann award.

 

The only way I'll defend Berman at all is that early in his career he was great. He was such a breath of fresh air compared to other broadcasters and back when I was in college, I would have definitely claimed him as my favorite broadcaster.

Granted, back then I would have said Rick Reilly was the best print journalist out there by several miles.

Right now, that seems like a long, long time ago.