Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Mario & Rod Refusing To Quit

I know there are quite a few Detroit Tigers fans in our class, so I decided to be the first to post about the club and its current status in the wild card race.

I'm nervous, to say the least. After being swept by the Cleveland Indians, I am officially frightened. The Yankees forgot what the word "loss" means in the month of September, posting a 13-4 record as of today, while the Tigers continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Now, some Detroit fans are hanging their heads. However, Mario Impemba and Rod Allen, Fox Sports Net's broadcasters, refuse to keel over and die.

With just 10 games left, the Tigers would essentially have to win 6 more games than the Yankees, as they are 5.5 back. This stressful fact does not have Impemba and Allen worried, as they continue to inform viewers that the game of baseball is tricky and never predictable. Anything can happen, Allen said after the Indians completed the sweep against the Tigers.

Over the years, I have heard many announcers tell it like they see it. "It doesn't look good for the Tigers." However, whether or not the two Tigers broadcasters really have faith or not, they provide a soothing and supportive voice to orange and blue fans across the state. They give scenarios of how the Tigers can pull it off and the weapons that can go off during any at bat.

So, I ask you ... is this good broadcast journalism ... to sugarcoat the severity of the Tigers playoff hopes, simply because they are Tigers fans themselves? Or is this appropriate because they are in deed speaking to an audience that is 95% Tigers fans? Knowing your audience is a big part of what comes out of your mouth or what goes into print ... in my opinion, they are great in what they are doing, because FSN is really the only place where you are going to find positive remarks about the Tigers right now, unless you travel to the club's official site.

I just like their style, and the duo is unlike any other.

They make me want to believe, that a miracle could happen.

1 comment:

Hazen said...

The Tigers gave it a good run.
They'll be back.
And you're on target. Sports journalists sometimes seem to wear two hats -- part journalist, part cheerleader.