The best analyst in football is Chris Spielman for ESPN. He is an educator of football fundamentals to us fans. He mentions terminologies such as "eight in the box" and "closing the gate" but unlike other former player-turned-analyst, he simply explains his view without killing the game's moment. I admire his zeal of being the best and expecting the same from others. Sometimes it leads to issues but in a good way. However, I resent his lack of warmth to his own school's football history concerning players before him.
In his playing days, Chris rode guys who didn't play to their potential or who didn't have in confidence in what they did. Likewise, he does the same to himself and expects himself to be the best whether then as a football player or now as an analyst. He rode Pam Ward hard due to her awkwardness. Though he said he was honored to be part of the first woman doing play-by-play in college football, he kept interrupting her and second-guessing her analysis during action.
It doesn't matter if it's a man or woman, he does the same thing to his current broadcasting partner, Bob Griese. Unlike Pam, Bob will fight back, but sometimes to his detriment. The Juan Pablo Montoya comment was due to the fact that Chris was riding him hard and Bob wanted to get him back. Before you get on Bob's comment (he deserved the suspension), I want you to consider what Chris and fellow announcer Sean McDonough said some two years back.
Chris and Sean have great chemistry and mutual love for each other's work (on the lines of Conrad Dobler and Dan Dierdorf). Though great at what they did, they made a "jerk comment" to ESPN studio broadcaster Dari Nowkhah. Dari is Iranian-American. During a Division I-AA playoff game between Richmond University and Appalachian State, Chris and Sean made comments about the expensive tuition at Richmond. Meanwhile, Dari was studio host of that game, doing updates of other I-AA games and news. When Dari finished his highlight, the two asked him if his parents could afford a school like Richmond in a sarcastic tone. Dari said, "I don't know what you meant by that."
Chris dedicates himself to his faith, family, and Ohio State football. He is biased when Ohio State plays and is honest about. My issue is that he talks as if he invented the linebacker position at Ohio State. He doesn't exactly embrace Ohio State history concerning players who wore his No. 36, like Tom Cousineau and Marcus Marek, with the same passion as his game analysis. As for other linebackers, such as Randy Gradishar, Ike Kelley, Mark Stier, Dirk Worden, and Stan White, he treats them like kryptonite as he does Woody Hayes and that 1968 Ohio State team. But Earle Bruce to the current Buckeyes, that's a different story.
Now, Spielman knows a lot of players and facts. He embraces Ohio State traditions such as jumping off the lake before a Michigan game and singing fight songs. Yet when it comes to past players, he doesn't embrace it like fellow analyst and friend Matt Millen does for his alumni school, Penn State, or college football in general. Matt wishes he played with leather helmets, no face masks, and played two-way football. He may not know everything, but he wants to. He will mention names of the past without force or being pushed. Simply put, Matt wishes he was there when Jack Ham or Dave Robinson played and shares that passion with the audience.
Chris, I'm glad you're back. Football fans need you to bring the truth and the education of fundamental football. I appreciate your passion and your candor towards anyone who doesn't bring out their best. Sometimes I think you take it too far, but I understand your zeal. However, I want you to appreciate others who made you what you are today and give them reverence with the same passion as your game analysis of fundamental football.
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