An Open Letter to ESPN
From: “sharky h. towers”
Date: March 2, 2008 7:47:37 PM PST
To: espnpr@espn.com
Subject: Doris Burke
If I have not written this to the right spot, would you please forward it to the appropriate parties? Thanks in advance.
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Dear ESPN Producers and Executives-
I am writing to let ESPN know how very pleased I was to listen to Doris Burke during the Rockets vs. Nuggets telecast this evening. I am extremely critical of ESPN’s (and other networks) announcers. I find myself wishing that I could eliminate them altogether and listen to the raw sounds of the arena and court (a feature I hope ESPN will consider providing as technology allows it in the future). However, Doris Burke and her partner on tonight’s telecast were EXCELLENT. She and her partner stayed on topic and talked ABOUT THE GAME. Seems like a pretty basic complement, but one that is warranted.
NBA fans are a pretty astute bunch. We like to hear about the game. We don’t need to hear people bang on and on about topics that have little to do with the game being shown. Many announcers these days are borderline incoherent and seem to enjoy the sound of their own voices far too much for the taste of most of your audience.
Doris Burke’s work was fantastic. It was a radical contrast from the asinine work of the broadcasting team that did the Lakers vs. Mavericks game earlier in the day.
I hope this finds its way to the appropriate parties. As your network moves into the future and alternative forms of media consumption threaten it, you would be wise to heed voices like mine that will let you know how to keep yourselves competitive. Today’s audience is smart. We’re finding ways of getting the coverage we know we deserve.
We deserve Doris Burke and more like her.
Sincerely,
Sharky H. Towers
