If you have watched Sportscenter in the last week, you've probably seen the latest feature on ESPN - The Greatest Highlight. It seemed like a pretty promising idea when it began and undoubtedly set to become more popular than Who's Now. However, watching the first two rounds leaves us with no interest in seeing how it finishes. Why? Chris Berman.We have no problem him hosting the segment. He does a good job with that. It's just when he intrudes on some of the greatest plays in sports history that almost makes us flip to The View. Think about what makes these plays stand out from every other highlight you've seen: the significance of the moment, the memories associated with that play, and, just as importantly, the announcer's call. Who did you prefer hearing make the Hank Aaron 715 call? Berman or........Vin Scully?
It seems far too often that Berman becomes bigger than the play or game itself. It's clearly evident in the title of the segment - The Greatest Highlight with Chris Berman. This means they are featuring the anchor just as much as the highlight, which defeats the entire purpose of the idea.
It's hard to decide which highlight has been the most frustrating to this point. Viewers shouldn't have to hear the same "back, back, back" call on both Aaron's and Carlton Fisk's homeruns. Nor should any college football fan have to sit and listen to "whoop!" everytime a Cal player tosses a lateral before the band runs onto the field. It causes you to lose complete sight of the greatness of the play, and the frame of reference in which it takes place. Are we alone in our feelings about this feature?
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