Dick Endberg and Peter Kessler

[Lloyd_Cole]

Not wanting to sound overly naive but, why does Kessler not have Endberg's job?

[Matt_Ward]

Dick Endberg is literally clueless on golf. He contributed nothing to the game because he's not remotely knowledgeable about golf and must therefore be F-E-D questions from the staff.

I guess -- CBS must have do something to earn the big bucks they're paying him.

Amen -- on the thought of bringing Kessler to the telecast but I hazard Masters officials are wary of his "independent" thoughts. Ditto CBS.

[A.G._Crockett]

Would Kessler have found a way to ask Mickelson if Phil though he had hit "the perfect club" into 18 yesterday?

[Bob_Huntley]

Kessler will never get the job at Augusta as long as Arnold Palmer is around. Remember Kessler's ouster from the Golf Channel?

[Lloyd_Cole]

Bob

Good point

Kessler will never get the job at Augusta as long as Arnold Palmer is around. Remember Kessler's ouster from the Golf Channel?

[Dave_Miller]

Dick Endberg is literally clueless on golf. He contributed nothing to the game because he's not remotely knowledgeable about golf and must therefore be F-E-D questions from the staff.

 

And just think CBS let Sean McDonough go to bring in Enberg.
Best
Dave

[Matt_Ward]

Dave:

Give me people who are knowledgeable about golf and let them be on the tube. I can remember the job that Clive Clark did a few years back and it was well done.

Enberg is there because CBS needs to have him work a big ticket event to justify his salary. This is the same thought process that followed Brent Musberger when he jerked around golf viewers with his stellar commentary during events on ABC.

[tlavin]

Enberg just needs The Perfect Club.

[Robert Kimball]

Since we're talking about it, what is the story behind his leaving the Golf Channel?  Is it as simple as he pissed Arnie off, and that was all it took.  Or was there more to it?  Anyone know?  

[Dave_Miller]

Since we're talking about it, what is the story behind his leaving the Golf Channel?  Is it as simple as he pissed Arnie off, and that was all it took.  Or was there more to it?  Anyone know?  
[/quote/)

Kessler was critical of Arnie for endorsing the Callaway ERC II driver for use by the casual golfer.  A fire storm ensued and next thing you know Kessler was gone.  Word is that Arnie had him dismissed but who will ever really know.
Best
Dave

[Michael Whitaker]

I miss Ben Wright.

[Gerry B]

you cannot use The Masters as an example re:Enberg.

If history is taken into consideration The club does not want any contoversey -ala potential Kesslerisms not to mention Enberg's "Oh My!"

2 examples

Gary McCord  -"Bikini Wax"  -see ya Gary!
Jack Whitaker - "Mob Scene" -( banned in Georgia)his  anecdotes and summations (Jackisms) were fond memories when I watched golf on TV when growing up.Especially during the British Open on those early Sunday mornings.

I tip my hat to Augusta National for standing by its principles  - and despite the Martha fallout, aired 5 hours of some of the most compelling (commercial free) golf I have seen in a long time   -and it was absolutely incredible in HDTV - you really appreciated the elevation changes and the fantastic green complexes.

If Peter " a little too much borrow on that putt" Alliss moved to CBS from ABC -that would be a bonus
Does the BBC have the foreign rights ? as Alliss does work for them most of the time. Would be interesting to hear the British commentary as a comparison

[Robert Thompson]

It is complete hearsay, but when I asked a Golf Channel personality about Kessler's departure, he put it this way: "Why do you think you'd let someone go when you still had them under contract and had to pay them?"
Me: "Ummm.... kinda difficult to work with maybe?"
I think it was at that point the Golf Channel type threw around some not so complimentary phrases, including prima donna and others which are not publishable in a family Internet site like GCA....

Didn't sound like he played well with others.

R

[ForkaB]

Those of you hankering for Peter Alliss should have heard his commentary on BBC this year.  After Mickelson sinks his putt on 18, Peter goes on about how Ernie's ready for the playoff, and how much time will they give Phil to prepare, they're going to go up 18 again, etc. until somebody interrupts his monologue to tell him via earphone--"IT'S ALL OVER, STUPID!"

PS--the BBC showed numero0us replays of the closeup of Els' ball when he was trying to lift the loose impediments, ooops...."greenkeeper's leavings", and the ball moved.  No question, no doubt.

PPS--I think Els got a VERY favo(u)rable drop, once the ruling was made.  So much time had been taken, I think the rules officials rushed through that part of the decision, but I could be wrong.

[Matt_Ward]

Gerry B:

Stick Enberg with Billy Packer for b-ball games or Phil Sims with football. He is not a golfer -- and simply mouths what CBS puts on a 3 by 5 card. He is a bit more prepared than Brent Musberger but that's not saying anything in my book.

Geez -- forgive me  -- what about having people who add something to the telecast -- what a novel thought on my part! I'm sorry -- I forgot -- the whole aspect of the event is to have people on camera mouthing all the syrupy canned statements that the Masters is this and the Masters is that. Puhleeeeeze!

I would hope the Masters folks would be a bit more secure in having people who can provide a balanced element to the overall presentation. Perish the thought in having such a progressive viewpoint.

P.S. Rich -- thanks for mentioning the ball moving with Els and how inane the ruling was for his situation.

[Steve Wilson]

I don't know how well Kessler plays with others, but I do that everytime the Perfect Club ad comes on I reflexively change channel.  I don' relish doing that while watching golf tournaments.

As for Dick Enberg.  I never liked him for those sports about which he was presumably knowledgeable and for golf it's like the return of Brent Musberger who had players chipping out of bunkers.  Of course I can't stand Musberger on any sport either.  In fact, I think it's fair to say that God invented the mute button to make up for allowing the conception of Enberg and Musberger.  And furthermore, any one who hires an announcer with "berg" in his/her name is taking a big chance.  

Damn, I seem to be edging toward the curmudgeon category.