I realize it’s dangerous for me to write about football when those of you who are reading this article surely know more about the sport than I do.
In my defense, I became a football fan when I lived in Green Bay during Brett Favre’s glory days. I then followed Aaron Rodgers rise to fame and fall from grace. I’m from Michigan and followed Tom Brady’s career from the time he played at the University of Michigan until his final quarterbacking with Tampa Bay. I was thrilled with the Detroit Lions success this year. And, of course, I’m a huge Lamar Jackson fan. The quarterback I loved the most this season is the Commanders’ Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. I found his grace under pressure during the final minutes of so many games this season to be truly amazing.
But what I want to write about today is how irritating I find Tom Brady and Tony Romo to be as football commentators. I know sports writers claim that Romo has an “uncanny” ability to predict plays. And I have read that it’s “early days” for Brady. In his first commentating game, he said very little. He has improved. And he was given all kinds of kudos for being the first to recognize that the Lions had 12 players on the field when they last played against the Commanders.
But why do I find Romo and Brady so irritating? I think it’s because it is more about them than what’s going on in the field. And they both tend to flaunt their knowledge as opposed to giving true next-level insights.
It’s the same reason President Trump drives me to distraction. Because it’s always about him. Last week at a prayer breakfast, he spoke about the tragic plane crash in DC. Within a nanosecond, he made it about the assassination attempt against him and then proceeded to talk about himself for the next 10 minutes.
Trump was at the Super Bowl yesterday. On Truth Social, he posted that he got cheered while Taylor Swift got booed. Not that different from talking about crowd size at inaugurations, rallies, etc.
Truly great sports commentators provide a soundtrack to the game, enhancing the experience without being consciously noticeable or calling unnecessary attention to themselves or distracting the viewer from the game itself.
That is more difficult than you might realize. Giving the viewer insights and perspectives that widen the aperture to include aspects not yet considered, and when appropriate, adding humor to an ironic turn of events is a skill that requires honing and experience.
We live in a narcissistic society. Narcissism has seven traits: authority, self-sufficiency–belief that you achieved everything on your own–, superiority, exhibitionism, exploitativeness, vanity, and entitlement. Experts say that if you want to become less narcissistic, there are five principles to work on for self-improvement: gratitude, modesty, compassion—for yourself and others–, mindfulness and community.
In the original myth, Narcissus is punished with a terminal fascination for his own reflection in revenge for his treatment of Echo, whom he despises for loving him.
Freud once wrote, “Whoever loves becomes humble. Those who love have, so to speak, pawned a part of their narcissism.” Something to think about.
Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.
Mickey Terrone says
Hi Maria. As I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, I was struck by Brady’s numerous references to his own experiences as a player in ten Super Bowls which he referenced at least once, and then referenced the seven of which he won. He referenced the last Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay as his most satisfying. I actually pictured, for a moment, that Brady was looking in a mirror while making those comments. I suppose its difficult for a person to be particularly humble after winning 7 Super Bowls and being largely acclaimed as the GOAT in the NFL.
As a long time college football fanatic, I knew about Brady at Michigan and the hurdles he overcame just to become the starting QB there. He is clearly a driven person and justly proud of his accomplishments. And of course, that is maybe the biggest reason he was hired by FOX Sports as a color commentator. The bottom line is that he may well have turned many people off with his thinly veiled ego trip this past Sunday.
By stark contrast, Jalen Hurts was described at least once during and after the game as having been “benched” (by Nick Saban) in the 2018 National Championship game as Alabama beat Georgia on the last play in OT on what Woody Hayes would have called a “Mad Dog Pass”. Hurts’ season-long perforfmance as Alabama’s starter and leader through a 14-1 season was utterly forgotten and wiped out by two plays. Tua Tagovailoa comes in for the last two plays in OT, the first of which was a sack and the second was a long Hail Mary for the winning TD, which was probably as much the fault of Georgia’s defensive backs as it was Tua’s arm. Thus, Hurts’ reputation has forever been diminished by those 2 plays – even as he and his teammates closed in on winning Super Bowl LIX.
The irony in the performances by football’s great QBs like Brady, Mahomes, Bradshaw, Namath, Montana, et al, is that they receive the utmost personal recognition with fans’ never ending debates over who is The GOAT. Meanwhile the ten other players on offense, the eleven on defense and those on special teams are all but forgotten. In team sports like football, GOAT-talk is a useless and counterproductive exercise. If it wasn’t for the excellent, dedicated, hard working (and not as well paid) players around all those QBs, all those QBs would be a collection of hobbled mush.
I celebrate Jalen Hurts. Even at the moment of his ultimate vindication and personal triumph on the hackneyed “world’s biggest stage”, he was the essence of modesty, thankful for the efforts of his teammates and grateful to God. Whenever you hear a player talking about himself winning a Super Bowl, he is self-promoting. He was part of a great team. And don’t get me started on Michael Jordan and the NBA……….
Maria Grant says
Mickey, thanks so much for your excellent comments. You make a great point about Jalen Hurts. His countenance was indeed refreshing. Thanks for writing.
Maury Schlesinger says
Kevin Burkhardt, the “play-by-play” man did an admirable job. So happy Joe Buck wasn’t in the booth with Brady. Those two egos couldn’t have fit in the space. And yes, Romo is one to love for his game knowledge and hate for strutting it so much. But no former QB in the booth was as good as Dandy Don Meridith, who with Howard Cosell and Keith Jackson MADE Monday Night Football a destination for millions.
Maria W. Grant says
Maury thanks for writing. And thanks for expressing your admiration for broadcasters who enhanced the viewing experience.
Bruce Jones says
The author might consider that commentators, especially Brady and Romo, are hired because of their celebrity as football players, that their producers want, and instruct, them to talk about their careers because that is what the general audience wants to hear. There is a difference between using one’s career experiences in football to embellish color commentating a football game and being a megalomaniac.
Maria W. Grant says
Bruce, thanks for writing. And you are right. There is a difference between people sharing their experiences and a total megalomaniac. As my mom used to say, that’s why they have chocolate and vanilla. Clearly different styles appeal to different people.
peter b stifel says
Right on Maria,,,, or should I say Write on Maria-
I have had EXACTLY the same feeling and reaction——
I felt essentially the same way about the “Fabled” John Madden,,, who spoke to his audience as if no one he was addressing knew the slightest thing about the game of football,, let alone its nuances, and he had therefore to explain everything in the greatest detail——much to the annoyance of many of those of us who were just trying to “enjoy the game”.
Maria W. Grant says
Peter, thanks for writing. This season really made me appreciate truly great commentators.
Tom McCall says
Tom Brady should forget the word “I.” I don’t want to hear about him during the Super Bowl. Talk about this wonderful game that we love. It is right in front of you.
I would be thrilled if Brady rode off into the sunset and enjoyed his life- quietly.
Maria W. Grant says
Tom, thanks for writing. Just reading the comments, it is interesting how different the points of view are.