Brent Musberger

I've never been a fan of announcer Brent Musberger. The guy exaggerates more than my brother, which if you know the guy, is saying something. Many times, after the initial play from scrimmage in a college football game, Musberger will predict the outcome based on that first play. If Florida ran for 5 yards on their first play from scrimmage against rival Tennessee, Musberger may pull this line out of his back-pocket, "Well, it looks like the Vols will not be able to slow down this Florida ground game today." There are things called...adjustments and that's one play out of 50-70.

So, I'm not a fan of the guy anyway, but did anyone hear what he had to say this past Saturday night in the Tennessee/California game?

Lisa: "Well Brent as you were mentioning, about those folks up in the trees, the reason that they're so upset is that, the University of California, has proposed a $125 million dollar project. They want to build a training facility for the athletes here at the University of California, and they want to build it right outside of the stadium.

Well the folks up in those trees say, 'You can build that facility somewhere else. We don't want you cutting down these trees!" So, Berkely being Berkely, they're up there in those trees. And so far, Berkely hasn't gotten them down."

Herbstreit: "Hey Lisa, Brent, what's with the tissue paper? What's that all about?" (describing a scene in which a Bezerkely student in a tie-die climbs a tree clutching a 4-pack of Charmin and some kind of munchie.)

Musberger: "The necessities of life, young man."

Herbstreit: "So when you say livin, you..."

Musberger: "I'm not kidding. Here it is from out behind on the western side of this beautiful stadium (camera pans to show the stadium from hovering blimp.) Now some of these trees have to come down. There's thirteen teams that have to be housed in here. The University has promised, PROMISED, to plant three trees for every one they cut down. Two saplings, and one mature tree. THREE FOR ONE IS A VERY GOOD DEAL IF YOU'RE A TREE-HUGGER!"

(Pause, return to football action.)

Musberger: "So, it will be California's turn..."

Musberger went on a rant previous to that in regard to the "hippies". There was an awkward silence from Herbstriet following these comments by Musberger. I can only imagine what Herby was thinking right then. But, where does Brent Musberger get off on these "hippy" and "tree-hugger" rants during a football game that is nationally broadcast? Viewers are there to watch a football game. It's the announcers' job to give the play-by-play, along with some interesting tidbits of information that their viewers may find interesting, especially if the game is a blow-out. They're not on their to make political statements. If they want to do that, make an appearance on a radio talk show, PTI, Around the Horn, or the O'Reilly Factor. What, if Herbstriet and Musberger do a game down in Texas, Arizona, or southern California and they see some Latino-Americans, will Musberger rant about illegal immigration? Keep the political comments to yourself, Brent, do your job (regardless of how poorly you do that job), and talk football.