Spike's Premiere of PBC,Berto stops Lopez

Photo Credit-PBC

Spike's debut with the PBC was a mixed bag and we'll look at what I liked and disliked about the show shortly,but first the fights and the boxing challenge results.

In the main event that should have been hyped as "loser leaves boxing" Andre Berto knocked Josesito Lopez down twice in the sixth round and finished the show when the referee stopped the bout.
I thought the stoppage was a bit premature and had Lopez winning four of the first five rounds.
The win will likely keep Berto on the periphery of title contention,but I have a feeling that Berto might be overmatched against the best of the division.
In the better than expected co-feature,former IBF 147 pound champion Shawn Porter stopped Erick Bone in the fifth round.
The last minute replacement Bone fought hard and kept things competitive for four rounds until a body shot stunned Bone in the fifth.
Not sure what this proved for Porter on the rebound against a smaller,outgunned opponent,but Bone did try hard in a very difficult situation,

The boxing challenge saw me gain a point and snip the lead of R.L.Malpica to one point at 23-22.
We both earned four points for the Berto and Porter wins and knockouts.but I snared a bonus point for picking Porter's round correctly in the fifth.
The challenge continues tonight with two (maybe three) bouts on HBO...

We move on to the Spike production of their first card for Premiere Boxing Champions and a a few words on that.
When I saw the names involved with the Spike cards,I must admit to rolling my eyes a bit.
Dana Jacobson,who I had never been a fan of going back years to her days on the ill-fated Cold Pizza on ESPN, as host?
Scott Hanson from NFL Red Zone as the blow by blow man?
I admit to thinking,where is their boxing background? Are they fans or is this another example of television networks thinking anyone can cover boxing without even a minimal background?
Well,both were at least well-prepared for this one.
Hanson needs more experience on blow by blow and there was an occasional hiccup,but for a first try,he was more than acceptable,but the real surprise came with Jacobson.
I'm big enough (literally) to admit when I was wrong and I was on this night.
I had been very critical of Dana Jacobson in her ESPN days,but she was prepared,knew her stuff,didn't stumble over name pronunciation  (like happened all night on NBC's PBC telecast) and came across as classy and yes,even charming in her role as host.
Jacobson walked Thomas Hearns through their discussions with kindness and care and for that, I am grateful.
You see the "Hitman" is one of my favorite fighters ever,but the long career and punches taken have left the "Motor City Cobra" more than a bit hard to understand and his thoughts can sometime wander off point.
Dana Jacobson got the needed perspective out of Hearns and did it in a way that allowed Hearns to have his dignity.
Very well done and I'm glad to say I was wrong about Jacobson being the wrong hire for the position.

Not all was smooth though as I still had a few issues.

After two PBC shows,I'm still not a fan of the ring announcer.
I'm not a fan of him being outside the ring and he doesn't really build drama either..

I know Spike is trying to brand their Friday nights as a combat sports block with Boxing,kick-boxing and MMA,but it seemed like PBC's broadcast was more MMA than boxing.
The arena seemed more like a large television studio than a live venue and it didn't standout from the other Spike sports.

The sound was really off.
It was often hard to hear the announcers and in ring interviews and that needs to be addressed before the next show..

I think PBC made an error by keeping Spike's MMA commentator Jimmy Smith with this venture.
Not that Smith is bad,but I think Antonio Tarver is quite good and Smith's (or anyone else's) presence reduces Tarver's analysis time.
Considering that Scott Hanson will be learning on the fly,Spike might be better suited to go with a basic two man booth for now.
Smith may be a boxing fan (I don't know),but he clearly is more suited for MMA.

I give this a solid B+ with the surprises and in simple presentation,I liked Spike's performance better than I liked NBC's.
Sometimes bigger names does not mean better performance

Hey,it's Franklin!!

No,this isn't about the cartoon turtle that most of you with pre-schoolers know so well,but about the firing of ESPN play by play announcer Ron Franklin for comments towards colleague Jeannine Edwards.
Now I am not going to touch the harassment in the workplace issue,but what has been absolutely hilarious has been the back and forth on this issue on ESPN's own site.
It seems like Edwards looks (she isn't unattractive) are being attacked as well the job she does as sideline reporter.
I haven't seen Edwards doing very many football games,but I do remember her often on ESPN's Horse Racing coverage and found her to be quite knowledgeable and more than competent in that role.
What seems to be a bigger deal to many is women covering football games.
Here is my issue with that-women doing play by play? No problem with that.
ESPN has two women doing football play by play,one that I would say was pretty good (Beth Mowins) and another that I rank among the worst (Pam Ward).
Women being the color analyst on a football (note,not all sports) game? Bigger issue as the color analyst should be someone that can bring some experienced insight to the job such as being a player or coach and on that part,a female would be lacking a bit.

The biggest topic to me is this-sideline reporters in general are a waste of time-male or female.
Put the gender issue aside and tell me what this job brings to the broadcast?
The same coaches interviews at halftime occur whomever the person is goes through this gig-
Reporter-"Coach,you are down 36-0 at the half,what do you think you can do to turn things around in the second half"?
Coach-" Well,obviously (Reporters name) we have some adjustments to make,but we'll get out there and do our best in the second half.
Reporter-"What will you say to your players in the locker room"?
Coach-"We need to play better"
Reporter-"Thanks coach".
Now,some of these reporters I like better than others,but the job really is more of an annoyance than anything else and that is regardless of gender.
I think if networks smartened up and eliminated this job that they would not only improve the quality of the broadcasts,but would lose of much of the dialogue that goes about female sports announcers.
This job will make anyone look less than adequate with the obligatory boneheaded questions that "must" be asked and taking that away will allow the person doing that job to show their sports knowledge in a different job-one that can prove their credentials.

As far as Ron Franklin goes,I always liked his work,but he is reaching his late 60's and comes from the final generation that didn't have to deal with everyone as equals.
One must step lightly in the workplace and I cannot believe this is the first time this has happened or Franklin would have likely gotten off lighter.
ESPN has a sketchy track record in this area between Dana Jacobsen's drunken ramblings,Mike Tirico's 1990's incidents etc (Read this book for more),so they are likely a bit touchy at this particular time on any misdeeds.

This seems also gives me an excuse to re-use what I have been told by three readers is their all time favorite photo blog as well!