The Mullet Calls Out New Jersey, The Irony Is Too Funny
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
This is yet another quote that deserves to fall into the "What in the Hell were you thinking?!?!?!" category, and might actually head to the top of the list. ESPN Hockey Analyst (I was unaware ESPN talked about Hockey anymore) Barry Melrose was talking about the New Jersey Devils' new Arena (Prudential Center) when he dropped this bomb on the State of New Jersey (1:30 mark)....
"Don't go outside if you have a wallet or anything else, because the area around the arena is just horrible."New Jersey is rightfully up in arms, and Melrose has already issued a "heart-felt" apology....
"I was trying to be funny and I'm sorry it didn't come through that way," he said by phone from St. Louis. "No excuse. When I talk I don't want to offend anybody. I love hockey and I want Newark to be a success. I certainly never wanted to hurt the feelings of the people of Newark or the people of New Jersey. There was no malice on my part."The key words in that apology "trying to be funny". Sportcasters are not comedians, and this practice of trying to be is ruining the profession. There's a reason why people like myself and others hold people like Al Michaels, Keith Jackson, and Marv Albert up on a pedestal. It's because they are classy (Marv's personal problems aside) when calling a Sporting Event. Sure they can be funny at times, but it never distracts from the sport and puts them above the players and the game.
This is the main reason people like Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser have failed or are failing in the booth. There's no need for humor or entertainment....the game is the entertainment. On the flip side though, no one really even knew the Hockey season had started. Good work by Barry to bring some attention to the Sport. Any news is good news right ESPN?
ESPN's Melrose sorry for remarks about Newark (USA Today)
Barry Melrose Thinks Newark Might Be A Tad Unsafe (The Lefty Call)
11 Comments:
i thought the first time i went through trenton it was a toxic waste dump..and thats the capital of the state..never under estimate the drawing power of the garden state lol
One week ago on WFAN Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts were hammering he same neighborhood for being unsafe and sai that you should stay close to the arena and not wander more than a block from it in any direction. I guess the truth hurts.
Hockey season started already? Why doesn't anyone wake me for this?
Take it from someone who used to work in Newark, if you take the train, walk directly to the arena and back immediately after the game, no lingering. If you decide to drive, drive to the nearest train station and take the train to the game.
Yeah, he's really not too far off on the whole Newark comment. I haven't been to the prudential center (still don't understand what was wrong with the Izod Center, but that's Jersey for you) but from what I've heard, the light rail takes you directly to the Arena and there are cops everywhere. So you can bring your wallets, just don't wonder too far.
Why would you put a team in Newark anyway???
that must be the million dollar question there...the only reason i ever went to newark was to get on a plane and even that could be scary...
I remember reading a book by an ex-cop named David Toma, he worked in Newark. He was a real anti-drug crusader, came to my high school once.
Scared the shit out of us. The stories he tells in his speeches and in that book of what went on in Newark are unreal. Like Thunderdome, but with less down-home appeal.
NJ is weird. We have a house in Avalon. It's beautiful down there, JoePa has a house on the next block.
Never had him yell at me...yet.
I don't know why Melrose apologized and I don't know why he used the lame excuse "I was trying to be funny."
It IS a dangerous area. He was just speaking the truth and for the mayor to demand an apology is ridiculous. He shouldn't worry about what a commentator says and instead try to clean up his city.
I'm not a hockey fan, but I never change the channel when Melrose is on, that guy is legitimately funny
seriously newark is the worst city in america.. melrose was spot on and a coward for retracting his viewpoint. i went to school in newark and know what a horrible city it is.
Newark and Camden are absolute shitholes.
Camden, I believe, is classified as the most dangerous city in the US. He shoulda said Camden.