Wow. This summary about Pat O'Brien's on-air performance covering tennis (read, especially, the Miami bit)
Posted by
prayformojo (aka mayhem)
Jul 31 '12, 12:02
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That interview marked one of the better moments for O'Brien, the breezy commentator well remembered for his work on tennis, the NBA and other major events in years past. His work in general, regrettably, has been a catastrophe.
Names have been a puzzler. He introduced SI.com's Jon Wertheim as "Werheim," and about 20 seconds after getting it right, he came back with "Werthum." Similarly, after correct stabs at Roddick and analyst Rennae Stubbs, O'Brien went with "Roggitt" and "Hobbs." Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was boldly announced as "Tonga."
Some of O'Brien's comments were downright baffling. Here's how he introduced the coverage of Serena Williams' first-round match:
"There were 12 Americans in the tennis field, 11, one of the ones still in the field now, it's actually 9, one left, Serena Williams...with...Jelena Jankovic, down on Centre Court."
On the typically bad weather of an England summer:
"If you've never been to London, think Seattle, or Miami." (Three times he said this. It's safe to say that never, over the course of centuries, has London reminded anyone of Miami.)
After engaging Lisa Raymond in a bit of 80s rock-music trivia: "All right, what happened on June 9, 1987?" There was silence, and he snickered, "My son's birthday."
And the topper, regarding Roger Federer's appearance in a red shirt:
"Well, Federer wore the Tiger Woods red, but Tiger Woods has won 75 matches in a row, Federer 74, so he's gotta win one more to be honored with that, uh, red."
I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Whaaat?"
good gravy
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