Boomer Esiason voices concern about Troy Aikman
Oh, snap. I was hoping to avoid getting sucked into this matter of Boomer Esiason calling out Troy Aikman on WFAN and later WEEI for an alleged pro-Cowboys slant while calling Sunday's game.
I have asked Troy about this so many times I can recite his answers myself, and the entire issue of slanted announcers on national broadcasts is ancient and tedious.
In this case, though, Boomer was not the only normally level-headed person I've heard from who felt Aikman leaned too heavily the Cowboys' way. Then the story became a matter of national interest when it landed on the Awful Announcing blog.
I knew it had reached alarming levels when Sports Business Daily waded through my live chat from this morning and unearthed a comment from ME on the issue.
Meanwhile, Dallas Morning News sports media maven Barry Horn - who has known Aikman for years and who recently started a blog - asked for and got a response from Troy, who mostly chose not to fire back.
(UPDATE: I just spoke to Fox Sports president Ed Goren on another matter and asked him about the Troy-Boomer dustup. "There are people in Dallas who say just the opposite [about Aikman],'' he said. "It's ridiculous. He's a professional.")
By the way . . . Aikman is working Sunday's Giants game, alas, not against the Cowboys.
That will come Nov. 2. Can't wait to ask Troy about his pro-Cowboys bias that week. He just loves that!
This is as good a place as any to leave things for today. Troy's bias or lack thereof always is a popular blog and message board topic, so feel free to discuss it among yourselves.
And enjoy Obama vs. McCain tonight at Weeb Ewbank Hall. Why was the (Gang) Green Party nominee not invited?
(I'm just kidding. The debate is not actually at Weeb Ewbank Hall. Don't anyone go there on my account and miss the big event. Sheesh.)
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Comments (12)
Norm should stick to his Chick of the Week morning show and leave this stuff to the big boys.
neil,is it me,or has wfan become monotonus and stale?
neil,be honest,do you know anybody who listens to hockey on the radio? who says, put the hockey game on so i can listen to it while we drive.
Neil:
Speaking of blond quarterbacks and morning radio programs, what do you make of Phil Simms telling Mike & Mike that he knew about Peyton Manning's second surgery but decided not to say anything publicly "because breaking news isn't my thing?"
Chris: He did? Oy. That's weird.
Wasnt this a Troy Aikman blog entry? Anyway, I don' think Aikman is horrible, but he has a definite slant or tone towards the Cowboys. It's not like a homer announcer, but a definite slant. The worst I heard this year was when the Giants played the Rams in St. Louis and Aikman and his boy Buck (Mr St.Louis). when Bradshaw ran in a 30 yard or so TD at the end of the game it sounded like Buck was going to cry. Buck so hates the New York teams and is majorly over rated.
Fishler:
I listen to Islander games when i'm driving and they are on. Or when I get on a bus on my way home at night. Of course, now that they moved to WMJC, I won't be doing that anymore. I live in central Queens and can't get the station.
Neil,
Yup, I also heard Simms say today on Boxes and Cartons that he knew Manning had 2 surgeries but "decided not to report it." His rationale? "It's not my job to break news." Huh? Is he still playing QB or is he a National TV broadcaster? If a player has a serious injury during a game he is announcing, would he also say it's not his job to "break news" about the player's injury. I'm a huge Simms guy, but like you said, his comment was very, very odd.
On Aikman? I am a huuuuuuuuuge Giants Fan. Huge. And I've always felt that Aikman was extremely unbiased and even-handed. He consistently praises the Giants when they deserve it and hammers them when they deserve that. And as for picking Romo over Eli? You've not been watching football for the past 2.5 years if you think that's a "CRAZY" thing to say. Romo is a great, great talent and has proven it. Those comparing Eli to Peyton have been incredibly premature in that assessment. At worst, you can call Romo bad in the "big game" as he has yet to prove that. But Aikman's not nuts to say that he will one day. Just as those saying David Wright will do the same one day wouldn't be crazy for saying that. Even Francesa always adds the word "yet" at the end of his "David Wright hasn't produce in big spots" nonsense statements.
Best,
Jeff
I'm not an Aikman fan, but you have to say that if people outside Dallas say he's a homer, and people in Dallas say he's a turncoat, then he must be doing something right!
Chris,
It wasn't Mike & Mike who Simms was on with. It was Boomer & Carton.
Thanks, Prof. A co-worker had told me M&M. I can honestly say that I've never heard 1 second of M&M in my lifetime, even though Mr. Golic and I share an alma mater. I've never ever worn a denim jacket, either. I did deliver Newsday circa 1983, though.
aikman has always been a homer. but what do people expect. he lives in dallas. won 3 rings in dallas. he is dallas.