regarding the winner? For instance, Mike & Mike from ESPN will be in the booth for the second MNF game. They were making predictions this morning on all of the NFL week 1 games but they wouldn't make a pick on the Arizona vs. San Fran game because "we are calling the game". What is the reason for that? Are they afraid a public pick will influence how they call the game? Is this some sort of NFL rule regarding the broadcasters and predictions? Tony Kornheiser does the same thing when games he does for MNF come up on PTI. What's the deal here?
2007-09-07 07:06:40 · 6 answers · asked by suspendedagain300 6 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
I understand that they want to remain unbiased but I don't see how picking a winner equates to a biased broadcast. It's not like if the team they picked to win is behind that they will somehow call the game differently. If the Patriots are playing the Raiders, everyone in the country, including the people in the booth, are going to think that the Patriots will win. They will even say as much during the pre-game. Thinking that one team is better than the other is a natural part of the game and the broadcast. If the Raiders were to be winning the game, the broadcasters would be talking about how big of an upset it is. I certainly don't see how this can be any sort of liability issue either. What would you sue them for, thinking one team is better than the other? I guess my point is, is that their opinion on who will win is an inate part of the broadcast anyway. One team is usually a favorite and one is an underdog and the broadcasts reflect this already.
2007-09-07 07:32:17 · update #1
Simple answer is that they have to stay neutral. If they pick a team to win, the the team that is supposed to lose will not cooperate with them when the broadcasters prepare for the game.
The broadcasters need to interview players, coaches of both teams prior to kick-off.
2007-09-07 07:39:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because broadcasters must remain "unbiased." There's a letter of the law in broadcasting/reporting that the reporter must maintain a neutral stance on whatever issue they are reporting on. Now we all know that is BS, especially when we're talking about Herbstreit - notably so when a Big 10 team is playing in the game he is covering. They won't make picks on games that they are directly involved in with the network so that they can remain "unbiased" towards either team. For example, if Herbstreit were to pick LSU in their game against Va. Tech (which he will be covering), then Va. Tech officials could watch the game and take anything that he says that goes against the Hokies as a biased opinion, which he and the network can be sued over.
While it is true that Kornheiser makes a pick on PTI for most games, he never picks a winner of the MNF game that he will be in the booth for. It's a liability issue.
2007-09-07 14:15:39 · answer #2 · answered by kitchens68 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think remaining unbiased may be part of it; however, i think the real reason has to do with gambling. The guys who do the games get a lot of behind the scenes interviews and looks that the "normal public" does not. If they were to start giving out their picks it could be possible that they "know" somethign that the "normal public" does not have information to and could sway betting. It's probably one of those things that would rarely happen; but, just to make sure they implement this policy.
2007-09-07 17:02:41 · answer #3 · answered by usc_trojan_1975 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't want to appear biased to one team or another during the game.
2007-09-07 14:09:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Uh...because they would then come across as biased during the game, and that would be unprofessional...
2007-09-07 14:12:46 · answer #5 · answered by Terry C. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
idk
2007-09-07 14:20:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋