C/M Runner wrote:
iowakidscanrun wrote:
Larry Rawson is a disaster as a commentator. With all the articulate former collegiate stars out there it's a total joke to see Rawson continue to get these announcing gigs. If not hiring someone like Chris Derrick, who was an awesome commentator for Nike XC nationals, ESPN would be so much better off putting the mic on Mike Jay who is he best in the business and was announcing to the live crowd.
Probably because a) the people know that working for ESPN or NBC isn't worth it, or b) they get recruited by TV groups, i.e. BBC, who actually know how to broadcast these meets.
Going way out on a limb here, I'm going to suggest that the knowledge and way you should announce a high school xc meet is slightly different than announcing ncaa pole vault, high jump, long jump, hurdles, 60m, shotput, weight throw.
Don't get me wrong, it is possible that Chris Derrick somehow has hidden a background in competing or coaching at a high level in those events, but otherwise, I wouldn't automatically jump to him. Obviously he would likely do well in the distance events, although the prep work to learn a dozen high schooler's names for nike XC is a lot easier than learning the many dozens who will be potentially in the mix in NCAA nationals just for the distance events.