Media Entertainment

--When it comes to the perennial losing Pirates, apparently it's not just fans at PNC Park who'd like some extra entertainment (the fans at the park appear to prefer concerts, fireworks, and races involving people running in stuffed food costumes). While I can't exactly blame them given the product on the field, the Bucco announcing crew likes to have some entertainment, too.


--My favorite pitcher from childhood, Doug Drabek, will apparently be in the broadcast booth for much of the Pittsburgh-Houston game this Friday night. Hmm...I wonder what Drabek will have to say about the current Pirates? Or will there just be reminiscing about those pennant-winning but playoff-losing teams in 90, 91, and 92? And what does it say that while I'm interested in the game, I'm also interested in hearing from a former Cy Young winner? I suppose listening to a former Cy Young winner espouse about a current game or remember the good 'ol days is preferable to wondering when I will ever again have the privilege of watching a Cy Young winner pitch for my team?


--I can see why the broadcasters love Nyjer Morgan. I love hockey, and Morgan used to play hockey. Plus, he's extroverted, always smiling, and he makes flashy plays. Morgan's made some nice plays with his glove. He's also had some ugly looking strikeouts. While I can understand falling in love with a player's "personality," I don't want personality to be how one judges the quality of a ball player.

Don't get me wrong. It's the "personalities" of my favorite players, in any sport, that, along with their talent, endears them to me enough for them to become my favorites. Whether that's a quietly confident or slightly insane pitcher, or a rookie hockey player who plays defense like a veteran, personality, coupled with talent, usually is involved when I find myself saying or writing or blogging, "He's becoming one of my favorites."

But to make a decision solely based on the "personality" of a player? An athlete can have all the confidence in the world that he's ready for the Show, but that confidence doesn't mean squat until that confidence manifests itself in on-field performance. Which means that, like the announcers, I will enjoy Morgan's energy and smiles, but when it comes to judging him as a player, well--let's just say that consistent on-field performance for the rest of the season is going to matter much more than his apparently charming, gregarious personality ever could. Here's to hoping (or dreaming) that the media covering the team actually remember that off-field personality, for better or worse, should mean squat when it comes to evaluating on-field performance.