Unlike the Complimentary Spouse, I’m something of a passive sports fan. I enjoy soccer, football, hockey, baseball, and more, but I don’t follow every single goal, touchdown, and home run. It’s not surprising to find me playing with my phone, only partially paying attention, while a game is on teevee.
Tonight, I saw a sports revelation. The Bears-Saints game was broadcast on Nickelodeon — yes, the kids’ channel best known for Spongebob Squarepants — and I loved every second. The announcers didn’t dumb the game down, but they made sure everyone could follow the action. That made the game fun and engaging for everyone, not just the die-hard sports fans who memorize every stat, know every rule, and remember every player’s name. The commentary was entertaining and the graphics were amusing. It was refreshing. It was a blast.
Based on what I’ve seen on Twitter, a lot of people agree with me. I hope someone at ViacomCBS (Nickelodeon’s parent company) pays attention to all the positive feedback. I want some of the fun elements I saw today to make their way into mainstream football broadcasts.