For the first time Fox Sports will be broadcasting a major golf tournament, when they televise the US Open from Chambers Bay in the State of Washington next week. We're used to Fox doing the Super Bowl, World Series, NASCAR and other major sporting events, but this is golf, and golf is different. If I was the person running Fox Sports, I might have practiced at a few other golf tournaments before aiming my sights on the US Open for my inaugural broadcast.
I hope Fox will provide us with a straight forward broadcast, without the cartoonish visuals. Are we going to see some mechanical golfer come on and flex its muscles? Or silly broadcasters like Terry Bradshaw, over caffeinated, blabbering nothing at top speed, describing a 34 foot putt. My guess is Fox will attempt to respect the seriousness of the US Open, and play it down the middle. But I'll bet they won't be able to help themselves, and they'll make the broadcast more about Fox Sports, and less about the competition on the course.
No doubt they'll slip in some saccharine segment with Holly Sonders strutting her stuff while telling the story of some golfer that "overcame the overcome able to qualify for the Open." Queue tears down Holly's blush red cheeks, pan the waving American flag, and a last shot of Grandpa watching little Bobby at the US Open from his rocking chair. Fox Sports has trade marked this story line, and plays it to the hilt.
In the broadcast booth will be Joe Buck, whom we are accustomed to calling balls and strikes during baseball games, along with Greg Norman. Norman has promised to "call it as he sees it," and isn't worried if he ruffles a few feathers. I expect that will be the case with Norman, but if he overdoes it and tries to out "Johnny" Johnny Miller, he'll come across as disingenuous, and simply trying to be controversial. Norman isn't the warmest of personalities, and to me, takes a "I'm rich, successful and Greg Norman, and you're not, so I can say anything I want" approach to his commentary. We'll see how much he grates everyone by the social media comments throughout the course of the tournament.
Also in the broadcasting booth will be Julie Inkster and Brad Faxon, so they've selected some experienced and knowledgeable pro golfers for a player's perspective. That should help a bit.
As for Joe Buck, well, there has been more written about him than he actually deserves. His baseball broadcasting is sometimes brilliant, often cringe worthy and always biased in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals.
And now we have to hear his voice over the last putt at the US Open. If it's a must make putt to win, how do you suppose he'll handle it? Will he talk over the putt, or will he let the moment inform the viewer? This is part of the intrigue of the US Open this year, as we're not just wondering if Phil will win his first US Open, or will Rory clean the field. All are interesting story lines. But this year, the television broadcast itself will be part of the story line. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.
It takes years of experience to successfully pull off a golf broadcast, to know how to frame and present on course drama, while feeding the viewer the right amount of emotion to draw us into the round. NBC, CBS and ABC all have considerable experience, and serve a public good with their ability to tell the story without being the story. But it's never about the game only with Fox Sports, it's about them, and how they deliver the story and add their personality to the show. Fox Sports approaches other major sports broadcasts like they are part of the story, so I don't expect them to handle the US Open any differently.
Just for the fun of it, what do you suppose the over/under will be for live shots from Afghanistan of members of the military holding a golf club, while saying hello to their mother? Six, seven, more? You can count on a shot from Afghanistan, with Joe Buck, voice tone correct, reminding us of the sacrifice our military makes for us. Just as sure as Phil Michelson placing 2nd again this year.
Depressed yet? Well, Fox Sports signed a multi-year deal with the USGA, so we're stuck with them, probably for the rest of our lives. Sigh.
