Smarmy Night Football
The Associated Press is reporting that MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann has been named the new host of NBC’s “Football Night in America” telecast before it’s Sunday night football games.
This hire, of course, begs the question: Who would win a smug-off: Olbermann or the ever-smarmy Cris Collinsworth, with whom Olbermann will now share the stage.
I’m really neither here nor there on Olbermann’s political standing. Ideologically, I’m not terribly opposed to what Olbermann does on his Countdown show but I’m not horribly impressed with Olbermann’s condescending and borderline insufferable brand of “humor”, smarminess and self-importance. I fear he’ll do the same thing to Football Night in America (shameless Canadian rip-off by the way), which is mildly enjoyable in the abscence of NFL Primetime, which for me was an American institution despite Chris Berman’s irritating schtick.
In honor of this hire, I’ve assembled a list of the top 5 most self-important people in all of sports.
1. Dan Patrick – just listen to his radio show for 15 minutes — no one thinks Dan Patrick is more cool than Dan Patrick. See if he can go 4 seconds without name-dropping Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell.
2. Keith Olbermann – the savior of democracy
3. Skip Bayless – what does he know about sports? He wrote in Sacramento.
4. Jim Rome – I believe he and WWE wrestling have similar fan bases.
5. Bob Ryan – wins the award for crotchiest sports writer.
Honorable Mention: Billy Packer, Colin Cowherd, Jim Nantz (a tool unlike any other — I had to), Chris Berman, Joe Theisman, Stephen A. Smith, Dan Shaugnessy, Jay Mariotti, Mike Lupica, Jason Whitlock, Tom Tolbert.
Vote here
Olberman is the #6 most influential news guy? He and Dan Patrick were discussing today.
Bayless is a Vandy Screamer. Behind Stu Scott, the most hated man on TV
Bob Ryan=old, pudgy Irish flake
Stu Scott was omitted because his “boo-yah” act is so played out, tired and dated that mentioning him on the list almost seems like a given.
I thought that his lazy eye had taken control of your brain
Good list, although I’d put Schrutebag in the Top 5, and after his last couple of columns about the Imus situation, I now like Jason Whitlock.
I agree Whitlock’s stuff on Imus has been refreshing but such insight has been the exception rather than the rule with Whitlock. I kind of think he’s a blow hard.
How could you have forgotten to put Dan LeBatard on your honorable mention list?
Why Doug? LeBastard spent days slamming Nick Saban’s morals. I think he is winner
I think putting LeBatard on the list is unfair. He clearly grew up near power lines. He can’t help but be an idiot. I used to get really annoyed by LeBatard but now I find him slightly tolerable as I’ve accepted his obvious mental handicap.
Bill Simmons not being on this list just made him throw up in his own mouth.
And, um, I know you were keeping this at broadcasters, but….
Terrell Owens
Randy Moss
Chad Johnson
32 NFL Head Coaches
and Hundreds of NCAA Football and Basketball Coaches
would all like a word. (That word being “me.”)
Olbermann is a hack who claims to be a journalist, he makes me want to vomit
Olbermann credentials as a journalist (the correct term for him should be newsreader) coming from sports is akin to someone claiming to be a singer because they were on American Idol.
Mr. Olbermann, it says here you came from the Sports Department. And your peers are Mike Golic, Chris Berman, Stuart Scott, Bob Ley, Dan Patrick etc? And you want to be called a journalist. Go stand in the corner with Tiki Barber.
Even though “crotchy” isn’t a word, I think it describes Bob Ryan perfectly.
I’m not so put off by Olbermann’s smarminess as I am by his obvious derangement. That dude keeps a weird look in his eye. I guess I’d compare it to rabies more than anything.
Nice hire, NBC.
What’s the over/under on “Number of missed field goals blamed on Halliburton” this season, in light of this announcement?
Fifty, maybe?
sean salisbury is the biggest douche on tv
You say: “Ideologically, I’m not terribly opposed to what Olbermann does on his Countdown show but I’m not horribly impressed with Olbermann’s condescending and borderline insufferable brand of “humor”, smarminess and self-importance.”
Listen to yourself. In a smug-off, you’d give KO a run for his money .
And while you’re busy being smarmy and self-important, look up the phrase “begging the question.” You’re misusing it in your blog. Start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question (See esp. para 2)