I’m all for sportswriters appearing on television. Exposure is a good thing. It speaks well for the entire fraternity.
That’s why we sportswriters are taking some pride in the success of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption.” If Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon do well, we do well.
ESPN felt so strongly about “PTI,” it did what any good network does: It created a spinoff. As spinoffs go, however, “Around the Horn” seems more like one of those post-“Seinfeld” disasters than “Frasier” from “Cheers.”
The show, which debuted Monday, featured four sportswriters from around the country. Included is Jay Mariotti, speaking from the Sun-Times newsroom.
Now I know what you’re saying: Doesn’t ESPN already have a show like that called “The Sports Reporters?” Of course it does, so “Around the Horn” came up with a hitch.
They signed on boxing analyst Max Kellerman to be the moderator. Let’s just say Kellerman is a far cry from the more sedate John Saunders, who leads the discussion in “The Sports Reporters.”
Kellerman’s strength seems to be his ability to yell at his panelists. That’s the maddening trend in television. Nobody talks anymore. Everything is an 11 on the “Spinal Tap” scale.
Then for another twist, Kellerman serves as the referee, awarding points to the panelists for their insights. Exactly what they are playing for is a mystery. Supposedly, it is for the number of seconds they get to talk at the end of the show. Better they play for charity–or the number of whacks they get to take at Kellerman.
It also seems ridiculous for Kellerman to judge these writers. The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan and the Denver Post’s Woody Paige were winning writing awards long before Kellerman uttered his first shout. As a baby, that is.
