PB1 Defining Sports Broadcasting

PB1 Defining Sports Broadcasting

“Booyah.” This word and many other energizing phrases often accompany the many fans who sit in front of the television every Sunday morning. These fans gaze upon the near impossible catch made by a rookie wide receiver from LSU or the miraculous hook shot made by a 6’9 point guard from Michigan State. However, these incredible feats wouldn’t be as impressive if not for how sports broadcasting and reporting has changed over the past 20 years. One of the revolutionary leaders of sports broadcasting ‘s transformation happened to be the recent Stuart Scott, who recently passed away from cancer. His attitude about sports transformed what it originally was into what it is today; flair, personality and entertainment. Sports reporting has transcended the average news report and has evolved into something that allows viewers and readers to connect personally to the reporters or writers. However, in order to do so, these broadcasters and writers have to use a wide range of rhetorical techniques throughout their works in order to appeal to a variety of fans.

                Sports broadcasting, today, has become all about personality and style. However, what actually leads to a personality or a style? Scott certainly defined his style with phrases like “Booyah” and “Cooler than the other side of the pillow.” Many upcoming and current sportscasters established their own catch phrases as well. Mark Jackson, former NBA point guard and current ESPN NBA broadcaster, often accompanies amazing feats of athleticism with the phrase “Mama, there goes that man.” These phrases add a certain relaxed and humorous style to somewhat intense games. Same goes for sports articles where writers also add their own flair to their articles. Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN broadcaster/writer, brings his personality from the TV screen to his computer screen as he talks about issues involved in the sports realm. Often considered as a brutally honest analyst who is criticized for his views on certain issues, Smith’s personality plays a huge part both on the TV screen and on the computer screen. After reading his article about Phil Jackson coming to the New York Knicks to become their president, readers can see his sassy attitude come around full swing. At one point he says “If you closed your eyes, prayed, then blinked, you wouldn’t believe these are the same Knicks we’ve been suffering with for decades.” Not only does he address the readers directly, which establishes his ethos and makes it seem like he’s as comfortable with the readers as he is with his friends, but he also goes on to admit that the fans had to “suffer” through the Knicks the last couple of years. Personalities and styles like Scott, Jackson, and Smith are what truly define the world of sports. Had these personalities been absent, then sports news would lose its individuality and simply be like listening to the 12 o’ clock news, simply informative and on the borderline of boring.

Another rhetorical device that accompanies articles is the manner in which articles are titled and written. In today’s world, people often take titles for granted as they simply give the article a name. Take for example the title, “Please God, give us Wayne.” Not only does this title raise the question “Why do people want Wayne,” but it also adds a touch of humor to the article as many people know that simply praying to God for something to happen won’t actually make it happen. Another example is “Wade’s 41 pushes Heat past Pacers.” Readers know that Dwyane Wade didn’t literally use 41 to push his entire team past another team, but this title does give Wade a somewhat of a superhuman demeanor as his 41 points helped his team beat another team. These particular sports articles are highlighted by 2 things, simplicity and powerful verbs. A simple title, like “Please God, give us Wayne,” allows ordinary people to have a chance at reading about the latest trades in the NFL or the most controversial issues in the NBA. Powerful verbs, like push, help create vivid images. Accompanying these vivid images with a dynamic headline leads to an exciting narrative that fans can enjoy reading.

                The world of sports would not be the same if not for sports broadcasting. Modern sports broadcasting now emphasizes reporters’ and writers’ styles and personalities. Rather than speaking or writing about news just to inform the audience, sports broadcasting provides an entertaining way of informing the audience, in which honest and controversial opinions are expected. In addition to the personalities, the use of various rhetorical devices in the article title and the article itself defines how sports writing captivates its audience countless times. Overall, however, sports always boils down to having a personal style. Stuart Scott paved the road for others like Mark Jackson and Stephen A. Smith to create and display their own kind of flair on their broadcasting session. If not for these eccentric broadcasters and writers, every pregame show and postgame show would end up like the 12 o’ clock news; boring and “Booyah”less.