Perhaps the only thing more disheartening than watching the National League lose its 10th straight All Star Game (though the late comeback attempt was exciting) was the attitude by the Fox broadcasters who assumed its audience wasn’t actually interested in the baseball playing part of the game. Instead of the action on the field, we were treated to such interesting side shows such as a life-jacketed “journalist” on a boat in the bay who sent his likewise life-jacketed bulldog into the water to fetch a baseball.
Or, instead of watching the pitcher’s wind-up, we’re treated to a clip of a microphoned Tony LaRussa uninterestingly reviewing the inning’s lineup with the umpire. During another player’s at-bat, we were forced to endure an interview with Jimmy Leyland about his feelings toward Barry Bonds. Anything to keep from having to show the game.
Baseball isn’t the only sport that suffers from what I like to call “sideshow syndrome.” If you’ve ever been to a minor league hockey game, you’ll know what I mean. It’s as if sports producers naturally assume that 90% of their audience has ADHD. After all, many do have HDTVs, so ADHD couldn’t be far behind.
Just let me watch the game.