Tom Hammond Needs to Leave

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

"10... 5... Touchdown Irish!"

Love that Tony Roberts voice. Hammond is not knowledgeable and sounds bored most of the time. Mayock is a good football guy but is not a natural in the booth, and it shows. Herbstreit is the best color man (and analyst) around right now. With guys like Lundquist and Musburger getting way, way, way too old, there isn't really a voice that both defines major college football clashes and does a great job. I miss the Dick Enberg days, and the other older gentleman who used to call the games for NBC in the 90s (forgot his name, and I believe he has now passed on).

A little off-topic, but I kept seeing neutral fans complaining about the announcers' pro-ND bias during the UM game. First off, Hammond has seemingly no interest in Notre Dame football. And our last two color commentators have graduated from and played at rival schools!

Charlie Jones.

 

[Tylurrr]

Charlie Jones.

The ghost of Knute Rockne is alive! And he is smiling!

- November 13, 1993

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Hammonds is a joke and Mayock with his "Where's Waldo" comments makes me wish ND never screwed over Tony Roberts.

Though that joke is certainly getting worn now, for my money, Mayock's analysis is superb. He not only understands scheme and personnel (which is more than can be said for most of the as$ hats that mouth off on ESPN), but he's able to explain it in terms that a layman can understand. After watching a big pass play, I love hearing about which technique the DB was using and why it caused him to get beat, etc. That's a rare advantage that we, as ND fans, get to enjoy while Mayock is in the booth.

It goes without saying, but Hammond is among the worst play-by-play guys I've ever listened to. Replace him with Al Michaels and I'd be on Cloud 9.

 

[BGIF]

"10... 5... Touchdown Irish!"

Love that Tony Roberts voice. Hammond is not knowledgeable and sounds bored most of the time. Mayock is a good football guy but is not a natural in the booth, and it shows. Herbstreit is the best color man (and analyst) around right now. With guys like Lundquist and Musburger getting way, way, way too old, there isn't really a voice that both defines major college football clashes and does a great job. I miss the Dick Enberg days, and the other older gentleman who used to call the games for NBC in the 90s (forgot his name, and I believe he has now passed on).

A little off-topic, but I kept seeing neutral fans complaining about the announcers' pro-ND bias during the UM game. First off, Hammond has seemingly no interest in Notre Dame football. And our last two color commentators have graduated from and played at rival schools!

Then they're not very bright sports fans if they think NBC announcers have ever been pro-ND. Most sports fan I know ask why ND tolerated an opponent announcer, USC QB Haden. They find it bizarre that a rival did the play by play for home games.

When ND and NBC signed the initial contract, ND insisted that the announcers be neutral. They did not want ND alumni doing the games. ND did not want a "homer" image and NBC didn't either as they were hoping to get other college football games at the time. it's been an arrangement that has continued for 20 years despite annual complaints from the ND fans.

Personaly I found Haden quite fair (which was the objective) but I like Mayock for the reasons Whiskeyjack noted. He breaks it down explaining Robinson's feet placement and the effect of lack of weight transfer, most announcers discussing DBs only comment on head turns.

One thing I wish they all would do is note the substitutions. It's significant if Cave or Nix is off the field. Or if Brown in on the field. They'd blow less names if they verbally recognized who was on the field.

Years ago I used to turn off the TV and listen to the games on radio. But the radio announcers have gotten just as lazy. Radio announcers used to verbally draw a picture of the field and who was where. Not today. Kmart announcers display more emotion and provide more useful information.

Hammonds has been terrible as long as he's been doing ND games.

 

[clashmore_jon]

Out of curiosity, does NDNation like Tom Hammond because he's the more traditional choice (versus picking a new commentator)?

 

[CarrollVermin]

I know the guy gets a lot of due grief, but his call on the last play of the game yesterday is priceless. Would love to hear the radio call as well, but the emotion with which he called it was awesome.

 

[Damion704]

+1

 

[clashmore_jon]

When ND was losing yesterday, listening to Hammond was really aggravating me.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

When ND was losing yesterday, listening to Hammond was really aggravating me.

Same with me. He sucks

 

[Damion704]

Towards the end of the game you have to give this man credit, he captured the moment.

 

[BGIF]

Out of curiosity, does NDNation like Tom Hammond because he's the more traditional choice (versus picking a new commentator)?

No, every ND fanwebsite has lamented Hammond since his first broadcast. ND and NBC didn't want a homer and Hammond does fits that description. I'm just curious why they stayed with mediocrity so long as both ND and NBC claim to aspire to excellence. But then again, Monk was fine with football mediocrity during his tenure. He assured it.

If Hammond had submitted his resume during a Head Coach Search under Monk's regime, Hammond would now be known as a former ND coach ala Davie, O'Leary, Willingham, and Weis.

 

[BGIF]

Towards the end of the game you have to give this man credit, he captured the moment.

Which one, the excitement of the goal line stand win or the pregnant pause while everybody waited around for the officals to make a call and then for the replay official to rule if the game was over and who the winner was and the fans who jubilantly rushed the field would have to vacate the field in tears?

 

[BMT]

For the record, I feel Mayock is awesome, totally knows the game and has passion for it. Hammond on the other hand, I just dont get why he is there at all, just sayn.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I was simply referring to the actual call on the last play. Great call, IMO. The rest, well, that is always debatable.

 

[TheChosen1]

When ND was losing yesterday, listening to Hammond was really aggravating me.

Funny how that works doesn't it

 

[Riddickulous]

Yesterday he said "playcock" and I'm still laughing about it.

 

[irishtrain]

To me Hammond almost seems anti-Notre Dame trying to show objectivity by pumping up or telling stories about players on the other team.

I want more Notre Dame and less about the other teams.

This has spoken for itself for many years-or should say Hammond has spoken for himself and its not good. But credit NBC for the nice piece on the Irish thru NFL films. It was good to see some positive. Hammond must know where the bodies are buried.

 

[dshans]

... Hammond must know where the bodies are buried.

Because he sleeps among them between games?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Because he sleeps among them between games?

Nice

 

[irishog77]

Interesting factoid-- Tom Hammond actually died in 2003.

 

[hack15]

I've resisted the urge to post on this thread but after reading the comments today in the SF Chronicle and hearing virtually the same thing from a buddy of mine say how they feel Hammond is a homer announcer I just had to post. I cannot for the life of me see how people can say this about Mrs. Doubtfire! I absolutely dislike Hammond as much as I hate watching SF Giant games because of their announcing teams. This could possibly be a dream season except for the little annoyance droning on about how he felt that last 15 yard penalty called on a ND player was totally deserved as he has done before with a hint of joy in his voice, or so it seems.

 

[KPENN]

Davaris Neal back to receive the punt.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

This guy drives me nuts... and he looks a little draggy.

 

[KPENN]

This guy drives me nuts... and he looks a little draggy.

Pretty sure he's a dead tranny. At least that's my take.

 

[BGIF]

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead.
[a man puts a body on the cart]
Mike Mayock: Here's one.
The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.
Tom Hammond: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: What?
Mike Mayock: Nothing. There's your ninepence.
Tom Hammond: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Mike Mayock: Yes he is.
Tom Hammond: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Mike Mayock: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
Tom Hammond: I'm getting better.
Mike Mayock: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
Tom Hammond: I don't want to go on the cart.
Mike Mayock: Oh, don't be such a baby.
The Dead Collector: I can't take him.
Tom Hammond: I feel fine.
Mike Mayock: Oh, do me a favor.
The Dead Collector: I can't.
Mike Mayock: Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
The Dead Collector: I promised I'd be at the Mendenhall's. They've lost nine today.
Mike Mayock: Well, when's your next round?
The Dead Collector: Thursday.
Tom Hammond: I think I'll go for a walk.
Mike Mayock: You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?
Tom Hammond: I feel happy. I feel happy.
[the Dead Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the Body with his a whack of his club]
Mike Mayock: Ah, thank you very much.
The Dead Collector: Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Mike Mayock: Right.

 

[dshans]

The 8th annual Zombie Pub Crawl was just held in the Twin Cities. I'd say that all the participants looked more alive than Hammond. Many of them were drunk enough that I didn't have to pay for a single beer all night. They were impressed that I looked so dead without any makeup and were happy to buy one for the old-fart-walking-dead.

 

[Teomonsternd]

The 8th annual Zombie Pub Crawl was just held in the Twin Cities. I'd say that all the participants looked more alive than Hammond. Many of them were drunk enough that I didn't have to pay for a single beer all night. They were impressed that I looked so dead without any makeup and were happy to buy one for the old-fart-walking-dead.

Hamond is so bad. Sickening to listen, ND shoulf be ashamed, a true travesty

 

[tadman95]

Davaris Neal back to receive the punt.

It's one thing to misspeak it once, but to continually do it in the 7th game of the season is so unprofessional. Jay Leno must be serious when he cracks on NBC.

What really stinks is that Mayok doesn't appear to notice it either.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

It's one thing to misspeak it once, but to continually do it in the 7th game of the season is so unprofessional. Jay Leno must be serious when he cracks on NBC.

What really stinks is that Mayok doesn't appear to notice it either.

it'd be bad form to bag on your partner in the booth.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Dy-no-mite!

@BobWienekeNDI
Dan Hicks will handle the play-by-play for NBC's broadcast of #ND game this weekend