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Tom Jones, The St.Petersburg Times, published 13 October 2008
"Just another day at the beach in Tampa,'' said Fox announcer Matt Vasgersian as Fox showed a clip of the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach. This after Vasgersian talked about someone wearing a "Tampa Rays'' shirt, even though the team is called "Tampa Bay'' and plays in St. Petersburg. This is just going to be a lifelong fight St. Petersburg will never win, don't you think?
Best scoop
Wow, someone give Fox sideline reporter Laura Okmin, below, a raise. For the first time in recent memory, a sideline reporter broke a little news. Okmin did a little digging, asked the extra question and found out that Carmella Garcia, wife of Bucs quarterback Jeff, is pregnant with the couple's second child. Okmin was solid all afternoon, more so than the typical do-little sideline reporters we're used to seeing on all networks. Her good work included nice pieces on Bucs backs Warrick Dunn and Earnest Graham.
Worst promoting
Sometimes networks are so eager to get in their little promos that they miss action. Example: Fox just could not wait to tell viewers (again) that Game 3 of the National League Championship Series was on at 8 p.m., so it pulled away from a pretty good pushing-and-shoving match that had broken out late in the third quarter. I would tell you which two players were involved, but I couldn't see them behind the big Phillies vs. Dodgers graphic that was covering the screen. This isn't to pick on that one ill-timed misstep, but to point out the habit that all networks have of telling viewers what's coming on later instead of showing them what's happening right now.
Worst calls
Come on, throwing a penalty flag for doing a cartwheel after a big interception? That's what Bucs lineman Jovan Haye, left, was penalized for after a Jermaine Phillips interception late in the first half. NFL officials need to lighten up. These are big boys out there. If a team is offended by someone doing cartwheels after it throws an interception, then don't throw an interception. Fox announcer Matt Vasgersian, however, did have a good line about the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Haye. "I question whether Jovan Haye can actually do a cartwheel,'' he cracked. And kudos to Fox for digging through all its tapes and finding that Haye indeed did a cartwheel.
Best use of replay
Great job by Fox to break out the replay showing that cornerback Ronde Barber didn't do a thing to warrant a personal-foul penalty after a Tanard Jackson interception in the first quarter.
Funniest line
Fox analyst Brian Baldinger, relaying what Jon Gruden thinks about Panthers monster end Julius Peppers, who went into Sunday's game with 11 sacks in 11 career games against the Bucs. "(Gruden's) kids? They're not even allowed to drink Dr Pepper,'' Baldinger said. "For breakfast they can't put salt and pepper on their eggs. No pepper. Just salt.''
Worst feature
Fox's football coverage is the best on television. But occasionally it misses the mark. That little halftime thing where they showed snapshots of the first half? Missed the mark.
Most tired shot
Does someone at Fox get a bonus every time there's a shot of a thermometer showing the temperature on the field in Tampa Bay in September and October, and Green Bay in December and January?
Best shot of the day
Hands down, a shot of one of coach Jon Gruden's sons wearing a Jeff Garcia jersey. "I would've loved if one (of Gruden's sons) had shown up in a Jeff Garcia jersey and another had shown up in a Brian Griese jersey,'' Fox announcer Matt Vasgersian said.
Worst use of showboating
Anyone notice Carolina defensive back Charles Godfrey pounding his chest after a hit on Bucs running back Warrick Dunn in the fourth quarter? Probably wouldn't have looked so silly if Dunn hadn't just ripped off a 9-yard run with the Bucs leading 27-3.
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