Boomer Esiason takes potshot at Troy Aikman on bias in favor of the Cowboys
Michigan
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in Sports Talk
Dueling sportscasters here.
While it's common for fans to hear bias in sportscasters' game calls — even on national TV, where nobody has a home team — it's virtually unheard of for one TV analyst to charge that another is rooting for any specific team.
And national announcers, if not local-team announcers, should be motivated to stay neutral: Appearing partisan could anger viewers — and cost announcers their jobs.
So it was unusual for CBS studio analyst Boomer Esiason on Wednesday to charge Fox's Troy Aikman with being an on-air backer of his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, who were upset by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Esiason, on Boston radio station WEEI, said he was "taken aback" by the "bias" from Aikman. "You would have thought the Arizona Cardinals weren't even in the building … The bias that was coming from him was actually stunning, listening to it."
Said Aikman: "I've never gone into a game with a rooting interest. I take great pride in being unbiased, no matter what team I cover. I hear from Cowboys fans I'm too critical of the team."
Aikman, who last played in Dallas in 2000, is resigned to viewers having theories about announcers having ulterior motives. "People hear what they want to hear, and there's nothing you can do. And, if anybody would understand that, I'd think it would be Boomer. He obviously didn't watch the game — the full 60 minutes."
While it's common for fans to hear bias in sportscasters' game calls — even on national TV, where nobody has a home team — it's virtually unheard of for one TV analyst to charge that another is rooting for any specific team.
And national announcers, if not local-team announcers, should be motivated to stay neutral: Appearing partisan could anger viewers — and cost announcers their jobs.
So it was unusual for CBS studio analyst Boomer Esiason on Wednesday to charge Fox's Troy Aikman with being an on-air backer of his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, who were upset by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Esiason, on Boston radio station WEEI, said he was "taken aback" by the "bias" from Aikman. "You would have thought the Arizona Cardinals weren't even in the building … The bias that was coming from him was actually stunning, listening to it."
Said Aikman: "I've never gone into a game with a rooting interest. I take great pride in being unbiased, no matter what team I cover. I hear from Cowboys fans I'm too critical of the team."
Aikman, who last played in Dallas in 2000, is resigned to viewers having theories about announcers having ulterior motives. "People hear what they want to hear, and there's nothing you can do. And, if anybody would understand that, I'd think it would be Boomer. He obviously didn't watch the game — the full 60 minutes."
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Comments
1. Grade school;
2. High school;
3. College;
4. Playing days; and
5. Retirement days (if applicable).
And then they sign an employment contract with ESPN, CNNSi.com, a television station, radio station, etc., and then the rooting interest they had for their entire lives in suddenly gone?
For example, based on Michigan's avatar, I suspect that he may root for the Green Bay Packers and/or New York Jets. If ESPN hired Mchigan to announce Monday Night Football, would the X number of years that Michigan have been rooting for Team X suddenly disappear? Would Michigan no longer be a fan of Team X? It makes me wonder if commentators are CONTRACTUALLY PRECLUDED from rooting for any team.
/s/ JackWESQ
connection with it no matter how hard you tried to be completely objective.
I agree that Boomer is a mediocre at best TV personality/announcer and may just be envious of Aikman's quick rise to the #1 cover guy.
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John
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
bah, boomer.
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