Sideline reporters upset that they aren't in the booth

[BeauJangles]

Andrea Kremer?s done nearly everything in sports journalism: produced, directed, and won Emmys for her stories. But come game time, she?like most women sports journalists?are stuck on the sidelines, the Washington Post reports. The play-by-play booth is reserved almost exclusively for men, who will broadcast the Final Four, the Masters, the World Series, and yes, tomorrow?s Super Bowl.

On record, most women journalists say the sidelines are fine, but privately they seethe. ?This is the most misogynist part of society,? said one sideline reporter. ?It?s the last bastion of acceptable sexism.? Worse, an unattractive man?sorry, John Madden?can thrive in sports journalism, while women need to be lookers. But "the industry is changing, and this, too, will change," said an ESPN exec.

source

I think that sideline reporters are completely unnecessary and hardly ever add anything insightful or meaningful to the coverage. Either do away with them entirely or stop encouraging them to ask guys questions like "Now that you've won the Super Bowl, how do you feel?" It's obvious how these guys feel, we don't need sideline reporters to make them spell it out. Other than the 'emotional' questions, most sideline reporters fail to get anything useful out of coaches at halftime, though they are somewhat useful for getting updates on injuries.

There is one woman who covers some college football and it's hard to get used to a female voice doing the play-by-play. I guess I could get used to it, but I'm not sure I really want to. Does that make me sexist? Not really, I'm just used to having things one way.

Anyway, what do you guys think about womens' role in sports broadcasting, the role of sideline reporters, and women being in the booth?

edit: topic summary updated

 

[bunnyfubbles]

they aren't playing in the game, they don't have to be calling it

 

[Killerme33]

I agree with you that sideline reporters are entirely useless.

 

[MotF Bane]

Sideline reporters are useless, and John Madden needs to STFU.

 

[mugs]

Sexism? Sexism is giving so many sideline reporter jobs to women because they're nicer to look at, when there are men who are otherwise more qualified for the jobs.

And yes, sideline reporters are useless.

 

[Brigandier]

If they hate working on the side lines, why are they side line reporters?


I'm sure if they wanted to do commentary they could get a job covering some ESPN Ocho shiz and working their way up.

 

[slayer202]

if you say sideline reporters are useless, then you can make an arguement that the play by play guys are useless too...you dont NEED them, but they do give you some interesting info sometimes

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane
Sideline reporters are useless, and John Madden needs to STFU.

Since Madden left MNF, my opinion of him has completely changed. Yeah, he can go on and on about nothing, but he offers more insightful commentary than most of the other guys out there. Listening to him and Michaels is pretty much better than anyone else out there right now.

 

[spidey07]

The role of women in sports broadcasting is to not cover men's sports at all. I have never heard ANYTHING useful out of them and they lack a fundamental knowledge of competition at that level.

With possibly the exception of Tennis where they seem to add good commentary, mainly because they were legends in the game and know what they are talking about.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: spidey07
The role of women in sports broadcasting is to not cover men's sports at all. I have never heard ANYTHING useful out of them and they lack a fundamental knowledge of competition at that level.

With possibly the exception of Tennis where they seem to add good commentary, mainly because they were legends in the game and know what they are talking about.

I wouldn't say they lack the fundamental knowledge at that competition level, it's just that a lot of the male announcer played in the sport they're covering and can provide a lot more insight because of their personal involvement.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Killerme33
I agree with you that sideline reporters are entirely useless.

Actually they are worse then useless. They detract to the broadcast. I HATE mid game interviews and on-field post game interviews. Reporters and cameramen in the midst of celebration is annoying as all hell.

 

[OUCaptain]

Pissed because I would rather listen to a man who's played the game do the play calling. It's called popular opinion bitches, STFU.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: spidey07
The role of women in sports broadcasting is to not cover men's sports at all. I have never heard ANYTHING useful out of them and they lack a fundamental knowledge of competition at that level.

With possibly the exception of Tennis where they seem to add good commentary, mainly because they were legends in the game and know what they are talking about.

I wouldn't say they lack the fundamental knowledge at that competition level, it's just that a lot of the male announcer played in the sport they're covering and can provide a lot more insight because of their personal involvement.

I guess that was kinda my point. In tennis the female commentators are pretty good - insightful, etc.

But most other mens sports they don't have the background to add much of anything.

 

[GasX]

Sideline reporters useless? C'mon, Tony Siragusa is oozing so much insight it leaves a snail trail. Oh wait, that's the grease drippings from his ribs..

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Sideline reporters useless? C'mon, Tony Siragusa is oozing so much insight it leaves a snail trail. Oh wait, that's the grease drippings from his ribs..

I like goose.

 

[Farang]

Might as well call it sexism that there are no women playing football then. Look, whatever reason, guys like playing football more than women. Guys are the coaches. Guys are the players. By what I would assume is a high ratio, guys are the fans. It makes sense then that the broadcasters, most of whom are former players, are guys. I'm sorry but getting your B.A. in Communications from State U does not qualify you to be in the booth, it takes an intricate knowledge of (and love for) the game. You, Ms. Reporter, are on par with the cheerleaders, a (sometimes) pretty face to put on in between plays.

edit: I should say that some freak woman who was good at football and achieved some level of respect in the sport probably could handle the booth, although admittedly she would have to climb some hurdles just because of how odd it would seem

 

[KK]

Put the women in the booth, and make them naked. Their rating would go up thru the roof.

 

[hdeck]

i'm in favor of anything that would put erin andrews on my tv screen more often.

 

[zzuupp]

In a world without sideline reporters

meh

No different

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Sideline reporters useless? C'mon, Tony Siragusa is oozing so much insight it leaves a snail trail. Oh wait, that's the grease drippings from his ribs..

I like goose.

"Yeah guys, it's raining down here... a wet drizzle."

All I want to know is what adjective other than "wet" could ever be used to describe rain?

 

[TechHead87]

I like Andrea Kramer. That's about it.

They're only useful when reporting injuries in football (which happen more frequently than in most other american sports).

If they want to join the feminist "empowered yet equal but don't hit me" movement, go work in marketing or some other pussified profession.

 

[winnar111]

Most booth commentators are former players.

 

[brxndxn]

After a woman has a long successful career as a linebacker, she can be qualified to announce the game in the booth..

Why the goddamn hell don't some women understand that MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT. A woman does not need to be a fireman.. or a nuclear sub crewmember.. a man does not need to be a homemaker.. or a daycare worker.. or a pharmaceutical sales rep..

 

[dquan97]

Someone let her out of the kitchen?!

 

[Spacehead]

After a brief look, I don't see anything in their histories that any of these guys played any sport professionally, yet are considered, for the most part, good play-by-play announcers:

Al Michaels
Bob Costas
Jack Buck
Joe Buck
Keith Jackson


"Color commentary" on the other hand, yeah it's best to have some one in there whose played the sport.


I wouldn't mind if a woman did play-by-play for a men only type game as long as they know what they're talking about.