Lion Hearted: A Legacy of Greatness

BY IAN TASSO
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS


The first organized basketball game was played in 1891 at Springfield College in Massachusetts.


Since then, the sport has meant many different things to many different people.

To some, it doesn’t mean much at all. To others, it’s just a game.

But to a handful of athletes who have graced the hardwood in their lifetimes, it’s much more than that—the jersey is a part of your skin, your teammates a part of your family and the court a home away from home.

Nothing was more apparent following the Lions’ heart-breaking 85-71 defeat at the hands of Albertus Magnus College in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament final, where the passion and emotion on the Emerson sidelines could be felt for miles as the final minutes ticked off the scoreboard.

It was there that three Lion seniors—Jeremy Shannon, Bryan Rouse and Tim McGhee—sat sinking on the Emerson bench as they watched their final campaign come to a close; the numbers 11, 35 and 15 stitched proudly to the back of their jerseys, the title ‘Emerson’ woven permanently on the front.

But through all the blood, sweat and tears of a valiant and final effort by Emerson’s three seniors in their closing season, one thing is clear: their’s will be a legacy of purple and gold—everything it meant to be a Lion, everything they did to carry that title and so much more.

“Obviously, on the court, they accomplished great things,” said Emerson head coach Hank Smith, who spent all four years with the three seniors. “But I remember way more—every day in practice, how they competed in games, and how they did it the way I would like the team to be represented. You just don’t get three kids of that quality very often.”

THE COURT

Inside the arena, it will be a legacy that has seen over 3,000 points between the three athletes, one first-place regular season finish over four years, three second-place finishes and 76 total wins. And at the end of it all, both Shannon and Rouse find themselves in the top-five of Emerson basketball’s all-time scoring list.

As one, Emerson’s three-headed monster has helped power the Lions’ consistent run at the top of the GNAC, reaching the playoffs every single season since they arrived back in 2006, nearly hoisting the championship trophy twice in four seasons.

Separately, however, they are each unique entities within the game.

Rouse, Emerson’s six-foot-five-inch center, features a solitary skill set that is suited only for dominance—in the paint and under the hoop. The Lions’ 2010 overall scoring leader has wreaked havoc down low on opponents since day one, being named to the GNAC All-Conference team as a rookie back in 2006 and netting a school record 56 points in a single game against Daniel Webster that very same season.

“Rouse is the best skilled low-post player I’ve ever seen,” said Shannon, an entrepreneurship entertainment major, of his co-captain. “I’ve played with Jeff Adrian, who went to UConn, and I’ve played with a couple other guys that have gone big-time Division-1 and some to the NBA. But as far as footwork and touch and moves in the post—I’ve never seen anybody with the type of skills that Rouse has.”

Shannon’s own game, however, centers around his speed and quickness, constantly making plays and creating opportunities from all over the floor. The Emerson standout was heavily recruited by Division-1 schools back in high school, but an injury derailed his hopes of competing at that level.

Instead, the 2010 GNAC assists leader declined a scholarship from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and brought his athletic arsenal to Emerson College, where he nearly led the Lions to two conference titles, reeling in three GNAC defensive player of the year awards along the way since the award’s inception in his sophomore season.

Meanwhile, McGhee has been just as instrumental to the Lions success, proving to be an invaluable scorer off the bench, leading the Lions’ in shooting at a 59 percent clip in the 2010 season.

Set back by countless injuries and other off-court issues, ‘T-Mac,’ described by his coach as “one of the great teammates anyone could ever ask for,” saw his college career culminate on an emotional senior night, where he shot a perfect 5-5 and posted a career best 12 points in 14 minutes.

“He’s like my brother,” said Shannon of the marketing communication major. “What Tim went through with basketball—it just shows what type of person he is. He never really had a chance to consistently play, and he could have quit, but he just fought and fought through it. Taught me a lot. I definitely couldn’t have made it here without him—there’s no way in hell.”

THE CONQUEST

The three wasted no time in making their presence felt in the purple and gold, as they helped assist former Lion greats and ESPN The Magazine’s All-District Team members Ben Chase and Will Dawkins (‘08) post a 16-10 record in the three’s inaugural campaign with the Lions.

The 2006 finish was good enough for second place in the GNAC, but the dream was short-lived, as the Lions were bounced out of the tournament in the first round, blowing a 23-point halftime lead over the Suffolk Rams in a crushing 80-75 loss to their cross-town rivals.

The bitter defeat would serve as determination for the Lions the following year, however, as Emerson rebounded with a 23-win season that saw them lock up the GNAC’s top spot heading into the post-season.

Just as the year before, it was Shannon and Rouse serving as more than able-bodied wingmen for Emerson’s trio of talented then -seniors Chase, Dawkins and Joe Boylan. And thanks to 74 total playoff points from the two Lion sophomores, Emerson soared into the GNAC Championship game for a collision with Lasell College.

But despite a 26-point effort by 2008’s GNAC player of the year Jeremy Shannon, Lasell got the best of the high-flying Lions, who came crashing down with an 86-72 loss that awarded the Lasers the tournament crown.

“It was hard,” said Rouse, a marketing communication major. “For me it was a lot harder than losing this year, because when I got to college, [Chase, Dawkins and Boylan] took me under their wings and did everything for me—so I wanted to see them win it. We thought we had it—but we just fell short.”

For the Lions, it was an opportunity missed.

But for Shannon, Rouse and McGhee, it was a torch that had officially been passed.

With Dawkins, Chase and Boylan all graduating at the close of the 2008 semester, it would be up to Emerson’s trio of juniors to help lead a team that at the time only featured two other upperclassmen, seniors Anthony Remias and Sam Newman-Beck.

“After those three left it was kind of like...it was our team,” said Rouse, a four-time All-Conference first-team member. “We had Ant and Sammy, but it wasn’t the same as having three players and leaders like they were to this team. We knew we had to take a lot more responsibility for ourselves and get it done.”

Before the 2009 season began, Rouse and Shannon received co-captain honors as juniors, and with that led Emerson to yet another top-seeded GNAC finish, locking up the number two spot in the tournament with a 17-8 record in their third year as Lions.

But again, Emerson would slip in the first round, as an injured Rouse and an upstart Albertus Magnus team put an end to Emerson’s season with a 78-50 beat-down in the Lions’ den.

And then came 2010, the final run for Emerson’s heavily decorated seniors.

Much like in 2008, the Lions surged into the GNAC championship game, vindicating their previous season’s early playoff upset with blow-out victories over Lasell College and Norwich University in the first two rounds.

But this year, almost out of the same book as two seasons ago, Emerson would be turned away at the championship gates, their three seniors heading back to Boston empty-handed after a fourth and final fruitless tournament run.

“Sitting there and watching them receive the trophy—it hurt,” said the six-foot-two-inch McGhee of Dover, Del. “First off, you never want to lose. Secondly, you don’t ever want to lose the championship game of your senior year. But the three of us knew, even though we lost, in the end, we were about to do even greater things with our careers after that game.”

THE LEGACY

Some things in sports can’t be quantified with simple numbers and statistics; and the legacy that Shannon, Rouse and McGhee leave behind certainly falls into that category.

Their four years of powerful GNAC championship runs is a testament to their will as players. Their countless records, awards and accolades are a corronation of their perseverance as athletes. And the impact they had on their teammates, their school and each other is a result of their resilliance as men.

“It’s going to be tough to replace them as players, obviously,” said junior guard Tom Messinger, who has spent his entire three-year career with the soon-to-be graduates. “But it’s going to be impossible to replace them as people.”

And while it’s equally impossible to predict how Emerson will fare without the trio of Shannon, Rouse and McGhee, one thing remains clear: when the Emerson basketball team takes to the hardwood in the winter of 2010, it will be without three of their most potent and influential players.

But because of those players, it may not necessarily be for the worse—which is a testament to the three of them that couldn’t have been expressed through any number of victories, league-leading statistics or GNAC championships.

Instead, it’s something that to the players they’ve impacted means so much more; and to the school they leave behind will never be forgotten.

Because while roster spots can be refilled and records can be broken, legacies stand forever.

“They’ve always said that when they leave, it’s going to be my team to lead,” said Messinger, a marketing major. “And they’ve definitely done that by showing me what it takes to truly lead a team. Now it’s on us to carry the success they’ve built on and maintain their legacy after they leave.”

this article was also published in the Berkeley Beacon

Olympics in Review: Team America

by Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

America is usually not known for its domination of the Winter Olympics. In fact, most of the time we’re pretty awful in the final medal count.

But this year was a different story, with the US ending up with the most medals (37), seven more than our hat (Canada).

However, though it may seem as such, we didn’t win every event - far from it in fact. With that in mind, here goes my final review of the 2010 Olympics: complete with my take on the performance of the US in each event - I skipped the uneventful ones - and how we could hope to improve for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia in the form of “expert” tips from myself.

Alpine Skiing:

US Finish: Bode Miller (1 G, 1S, 1B), Lindsey Vonn (1G, 1B), Julia Mancuso (2S)

What went right: Bode came back from his gloating, drinking ways to earn three medals and show kids everywhere what kind of Americans win medals. Vonn came back from injury to get her gold, and Mancuso came out of nowhere to grab some bling of her own.

What went wrong: Vonn disappointed by not finished three out of her five events. I get that it was snowy out and visibility was bad - but you’re a skier and really should be ready for all circumstances. I didn’t expect five golds, but not even finishing 60% of your events is a fail in my book.

Tips from the expert: Both Vonn and Miller have aggressive styles of play, but while Miller was able to stay upright (surprisingly) Vonn wasn’t, and the crashes and resulting injuries slowed her down.

Biathlon:

Best US Finish: Sgt. Jeremy Teela (9^th in 10k Spring)

What went right: An army man recorded the best finish in US Olympic history in the biathlon.

What went wrong: Apparently we’re not very good at combining skiing and shooting - shocking, huh?

Tips from the expert: Not really an area of expertise per say-but I would suspect we would hit more targets if we used automatic weapons. Just saying'.

Bobsleigh:

Best US Finish: Four Man Bobsleigh (Gold), Women’s Bobsleigh (Bronze)

What went right: The highly touted US team, led by veteran Steve Holcomb, manages a gold in their four man event, edging out Germany by .38 seconds on the fast Whistler track.

What went wrong: Holcomb ends up at a disappointing 6^th in the two man.

Tips from the expert: The US could have been faster off the push in the two man, and Holcomb took some of the corners poorly. Perhaps consulting the Jamaican bobsled team would have yielded some useful hints. They count as American, right?

Curling:

US Finish: Men 2-7, Women 2-7

The Good: We did manage to win four games total, which is four more than zero, ironically also the same amount of medals we received.

The Bad: The US is eons behind these other nations at curling, with both a lackluster strategy and poor play across the board. We were repeatedly smashed by arch-rival Canada, a bad sign for the popularity of curling in the US.

Tips from the expert: The US was often unable to score more than one point even with the hammer stone, which is a hallmark of an amateur curling squad. Their guards were often not as tight as they needed to be, and when they really needed some curl towards the house they usually got little to none.

Figure Skating:

US Finish: Evan Lysacek (Gold), Davis/White (Silver in Ice Dance)

The Good: Lysacek toppled the reigning champion Evgeni Plushenko, possibly restarting the Cold War. The Russian’s acrobatic jumps were no match for the American’s signature and catchy dance moves.

The Bad: Mirai Nagasu finished one spot out of the medals, rounding out a disappointing year for the US women. Also, is it just me or does Plushenko look like a possible villain from 24?

Tips from the expert: Lysacek had a great program, but he could run into trouble in the future if he cannot begin to master the complex jumps that Plushenko brought to the ice. Luckily the Russian couldn’t dance to save his life, which gave Lysacek the edge. Plushenko should also consider losing the 1960’s blonde Beatles mop-head look, the judges are looking for something more modern.

Short Track:

US Finish: Apolo Ohno (1S, 1B), Katherine Reutter (1S), J.R. Celski (1B), Men’s Relay (Bronze), Women’s Relay (Bronze)

The Good: Speed skating star Apolo Ohno wins his eighth medal, setting the record for the most in US Winter Olympic History. Ohno remains a dynamic skater, and is one of the few reasons that speed skating is kno

wn to the American public.

The Bad: We got blanked on the golds. Ohno did well, but he would have missed a medal in the 1500 had it not been for a greedy move by a Korean that led to a 2-skater fall. He did get hit with some bad luck resulting from a push by one of those damn Canadians as well, but still no gold for a star of the sport is unacceptable by American

standards.

Tips from the expert: Apolo loves sitting near the back of the pack, and from a strategic standpoint it allows Ohno to size up the race and decide when to make a move for the front. He is adept at passing and is very fast, but the world is starting to catch up with him. If he does again compete in the next Olympics, he need to consider moving towards the front of the pack earlier and taking charge of the race. He also might consider shaving off his signature goatee - that drag cost him big time.

Speed Skating:

US Finish: Shani Davis (1G, 1S), Chad Hedrick (1B), Men’s Relay (Silver)

The Good: Shani Davis defended his gold medal, becoming the athlete to do so in the 1000m. The win and the silver cement his as one of the best long track skaters in the world.

The Bad: The US is a whole lot of Davis and not much else. Shani was absent from the relay, and only one of the men in the relay medaled in another event. Had Davis been in the relay we could have won it, and why he was not we do not know. He’s got to be a part of the team.

Tips from the expert: Davis took the corners nice and tight, but slowed down on his last lap in his silver medal race. He’s got to work not only on his endurance, but also on being a team player.

Snowboard:

US Finish: Shaun White (Gold), Seth Wescott (Gold), Teter Hannah (Silver), Kelly Clark (Bronz

e), Scott Lago (Bronze)

The Good: The US dominates snowboarding, especially in the half-pipe. No one else in the world can even come close to doing the things that Shaun White does, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be catching up anytime soon.

The Bad: It’s a shame that Shaun White only does half-pipe. Even so, he should win two medals for the things that he does. Lindsey Jacobellis also managed to crash again (after her gloating-mishap four years ago that cost her the gold)

Tips from the expert: Shaun White is actually perfect in snowboarding terms. Jacobellis needs to work on not crashing so often.

Hockey:

US Finish: Men (Silver), Women (Silver)

The Good: Both the men and women got much farther than anyone expected them to, which is a huge plus. Zach Parise went a long way to making a name for himself as one of the better players in the NHL. Goalie Ryan Miller also amazed us with his historic play, and won the MVP of the tournament. Also, Russia didn’t even medal - ha.

The Bad: Both the men and the women lost in the gold medal game. To make it even worse, both were to Canada. And to make it even worser(er), the men lost to those pesky Canucks in overtime on a goal by the golden-boy of hockey Sidney Crosby.

The men managed to tie up the game with seconds left, but unfortunately the weight on the shoulder of Ryan Miller was too much and the entire country stood still when he let up that OT goal.

Tips from the expert: The US was ineffective at keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and the relative lack of skill of the US team as exposed as the tournament rolled on. Miller was able to hold his own in goal throughout, but the younger players of the US were no match for the experienced Canadian team.

I would recommend that the US start using NFL linebackers as defenseman to gain a size advantage over other teams, and possibly put Joe Mauer in goal and allow him to play on offense as well.

Overall, a very good showing for the Americans. Obviously we're the best at everything - but it's nice to get a little refresher once in a while.

Silver Medal, Golden Memory

by Jesse Liebman and Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News

The Americans may have to settle for silver, but when you think about it, they were supposed to go home empty-handed.

Yes, there were a few proven NHL stars donning the red, white and blue, unlike thirty years back where the stars and stripes were carried by a bunch of college students.

But still, overall, the American hockey team was pretty much an afterthought. This year's games was about the Canadians, the Russians and the plethera of All Stars each of those teams trotted onto the ice.

But perhaps that’s what motivated and pushed Team USA to unexpected heights. In such a short tournament, anything can happen - especially when a goalie gets hot at the right time.

Because make no mistake about it: if it weren’t for Ryan Miller, the Americans wouldn’t have even sniffed the medal round. But combine his strong play with the efforts of young guns Zach Parise, Dustin Brown and Erik Johnson, and you have the keys to unlocking the potential of a team that’s destined for greatness - just not now. And maybe not ever.

Because if NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has his way, this may be the last time we or anyone else see's the National Hockey League's stars competing in the Winter Olympics.

In the grand scheme of things, we wish this team would join the history books along with the 1960 and 1980 teams. We thought the stars were aligned for another seat atop the podium. Instead, we're left with a sense of pride. A sense of pride that our nation hasn't felt on the ice since 1980.


And a sense that we got to witness what could very well be a last hurrah for our boys.

Assuming that the NHL sends its players to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Games, this truly was a coming out party for USA hockey. Even so, politics and scheduling, along with dozens of other logistical nightmares threaten to put a stopper on NHL participation in the Olympics.

But there are still a number of years before a decision must be made; we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we can focus on what was ultimately an exciting and enjoyable tournament, capped by one of the most thrilling gold medal games in history.

The Americans gave it their all, forcing overtime with less than half a minute to go in regulation. Perhaps Team U.S.A can take some solace in that fact. Still, it must hurt a lot to see your rivals from north of the border revel in the ecstasy of victory. Especially after a fluky goal by hockey’s golden boy, Sidney Crosby.

In a few months, it won’t even matter. Because the prize on everyone’s mind will be silver. You know the one - big, bulky, ‘bout 40 pounds, 117 years old?

Yes, soon, Lord Stanley’s Cup will be waiting.

Until then though, whether you're a fan of the Devils from New Jersey, the Rangers from New York or the Bruins from the Hub, the entire nation of America can take solace in one thing - our boys put on one hell of a show this winter.

And while they may not have recreated the magic of 1980, they did the next best thing - instilled an icy passion that hasn't been felt between the blue lines since Eruzione lit the lamp.

And that is something we can all be proud of, regardless of whether you wear red and black or black and gold. Because the red, white and blue runs deeper than all of that.

Beckett a BoSox Priority

by Gabe Souza

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Starting pitching in baseball can be elusive.

Just when you think you have it, it’s gone.

Flash back to last year at this team when things seemed honky-dory in the bullpens of Fort Myers. Theo Epstein admired his offseason handiwork, which had landed two veteran righties, completing what looked to be a daunting rotation.

In addition to the regulars of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield, the wonder-boy general manager had high hopes for his foreign acquisition, Daisuke Matsuzaka who was coming off an 18 win sophomore season. And the addition of veteran hurlers Brad Penny and John Smoltz excited not only the front office, but also many across Red Sox Nation.

Heck, they had so much pitching that young fireballer Clay Bucholz was relegated to twiddling his thumbs at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Early predictions pegged the Sox as having the best rotation in baseball, even edging out the evil empire, despite its catch of ex-Blue Jay A.J. Burnett.

With the exception of Matsuzaka – whose catastrophic collapse following the World Baseball Classic is still being analyzed – the majority of Sox starters showed early promise.

Beckett and Lester breezed through the first few months and even veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield slid onto the American League All-star roster. Penny wasn’t anything special, but could bear down on most lineups through at least five innings.

But then the holes developed and the rotation began to sink.

Fast.

Penny started giving out walks and hits like candy, Smoltz’s fastball resembled that of an adult league softballer’s toss and Wakefield’s back knuckled more than his pitches.

Despite Big Papi’s improved second half production and former leftfielder Jason Bay’s ridiculous RBI tear, no amount of offense could offset continual shortcomings from the Sox starters.

It was bad. So bad, the BoSox had to turn to the rubber arm of Paul Byrd for help.

Fast-forward to October and the Sox watched Burnett carry his new team to its 27^th world championship in franchise history while Epstein was left scratching his head.

While only one year removed from these nightmares, they seem to be forgotten by most in this year’s camp. Theo and Tito can be seen smiling and laughing among the palm trees as they face another “manager’s dream dilemma” of six starting-quality pitchers.

But if the Sox don’t play their cards right, that promising rotation could elude them again in the future.

To prevent this, they must sign Beckett to a contract extension before his current deal expires after this season.

Down the stretch last year, the only two constants on the mound were Beckett and Lester. And while Lester had the better numbers, and I’m sure some of you will comment on Beckett’s seven outings in which he allowed five earned runs or more, he was still one of the more dominant pitchers in the AL.

The nine-year veteran finished second in the AL in win-loss percentage, third in complete games, fourth in wins and sixth in strikeouts.

When it comes to the postseason, Beckett is the Tom Brady of baseball. He is 7-3 lifetime with a 3.07 ERA and 99 strikeouts through 14 games in the playoffs.

But most important to Sox fans, Beckett has proved he can shut down the Yankees. He did it twice against Brian Cashman’s squad in the 2003 World Series as a young stud for the Marlins, including a clinching game six victory in the Bronx. To top it off, he compiled a miniscule 2.08 ERA last year at the new hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium against a modern day version of murderer’s row.

Beckett is set to make just over $11 million this season. With fellow Texan John Lackey earning a cool $15.25 million per year in his new deal with the hometown team, some argue Beckett isn’t worth that kind of cash when the Sox have other free agents to handle.

But let’s face it. Papelbon is going to walk for big money and the aging David Ortiz will gracefully exit the scene at Fenway. The only other notable free agent after 2010 is Victor Martinez, who, even if he commands a slight bump in pay over his current $7 million salary, is obtainable with John Henry’s relatively deep pockets.

It’s time to throw some money Beckett’s way. He’s earned it with his performance in a Sox uniform and if nothing else, let’s learn from history. The last time Boston let a big name pitcher walk in his contract year, Roger Clemens didn’t let the door hit him on the way out.

“Rocket” compiled 162 wins, four Cy Young awards and two world series rings in his post-Sox years after former GM Dan Duquette declared the future hall-of-famer was “in the twilight of his career” after the 1996 season.

Beckett certainly isn’t in the twilight of his career. Neither is Lester. Neither is Lackey and neither is Bucholz.

If the Sox lock up the guy who has been one of their best pitchers in recent memory, those wins, Cy Young awards, and dare I say world series rings that Clemens managed elsewhere, could stay in Beantown with Beckett.

Celebrate Good Times?

by Ian Tasso

Photos by AP News.

To celebrate, or not to celebrate. That is the question.

But, before you tackle that, it’s important to remember what football really is, boiled down to its core.

It’s a game.

It’s a game that’s played by children, high-school kids, college kids, and a handful adults. But at its core, it’s exactly that – a game.

No aspect of the game is ruined by post-touchdown celebrations. Why? Because it’s a game. It’s all about having fun.

And that’s why people love guys like Chad Ocho-Cinco – because they have fun with it. Don’t believe me? The man has over 800,000 followers on Twitter.

That’s more than Steven Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald Kevin Garnett AND Chris Paul combined. With about 300,000 to spare.

Is it because he’s a better athlete than those guys? Could certainly be argued. But one thing is for sure - it’s because he’s entertaining.

It’s because he’s fun. It’s because he has fun playing the GAME that he plays.

Nobody gets hurt when he uses an end zone pylon to putt a football after scoring a touchdown. Nobody gets offended. But you can be damn sure people tune in when 85 says he’s going to wear a sombrero after he scores a TD on Sunday.

And isn’t that what the NFL’s all about? In a world full of PacMans, Vicks and Plaxico Burresses, guys like Ocho are the least of the NFL’s worries.

Soccer athletes rip off their shirts when they score. Hockey players pile on top of each other on the ice.

I mean, come on now. These guys put weeks of practice – years of training – into playing football. And why? To win. To score.

Teams prepare all week to stop them. All offseason trying to defend against them. And when they succeed – something that happens maybe 10 times a year for the best football athletes. Damnit, let the men enjoy themselves.

Let them enjoy the game they play. The game they love. Because the fans -- They love it too.

And that is the most important part.

I get it – they’re distracting. They evoke costly penalties. But it’s all part of the game. Just because you make a rule against holding doesn’t mean the guys aren’t going to hold. Go ahead – outlaw celebrating entirely.

They’ll still do it: flags or no flags. There will be balls spiked. There will be chests bumped. And there will be number one’s in the air.

There can be limits – thirty, forty seconds maybe. There can be guidelines – don’t taunt individuals, don’t break anything, no from-home props.

But what’s going on right now, you can’t completely cut that out.

Because sports are all about memories.

And the greatest memories of all are synonymous with their celebrations.

The mob on the ice after the miracle of 1980. The Tiger fist pump. Kissing the ground at the Brick-Yard. The Gatorade dump. Even Drew Brees after the Super Bowl with his one-year old son.

You can’t take that away. You can’t take away Ruth calling his own shot. You can’t take away the Band on the field. You just can’t

Celebrating is just as woven into the fabric of the game as four balls, three strikes and nine innings.

And that’s just the way it has to be. That’s the way it will always be.

Last Call on WEEI 850AM

February 19, 2009

Tasso, Dennis, Callahan, Meterparel

Broadcast Review: Mike "Doc" Emrick

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News.

For all the planning that goes into the Olympics, there are few things that actually go according to plan.

However, it is a virtual certainty that if you get Mike "Doc" Emrick to call a hockey game, viewers at home are going to be in for a treat.

Emrick has been broadcasting since 1973, when he got his start in minor league hockey. Since then, Emrick has established himself as arguably the greatest hockey announcer -- maybe the best in all of sports -- of the modern era. When he's not calling games for the New Jersey Devils, he's NBC's go-to guy for nationally televised games and the Olympics.

This year is no different -- Emrick was once again tapped to call the games on the world's biggest stage -- and Emrick has been at the forefront of these Vancouver Games.

Sunday evening's game between Canada and the United States may have been the single-most hyped hockey event leading up to the opening. And there couldn't have been a better man for the job. From the opening faceoff, Emrick waxed poetic, yet called the game with a brilliance and objectivity that is seldom seen in today's sports world.

His knowledge and understanding of the sport is encyclopedic, and although he has an impressive vocabulary, viewers never get the sense that he is talking down to them. Through it all, Emrick remains erudite, but never pedantic.

While some broadcasters would be content or pressured to appeal to the lowest common denominator, Emrick doesn't seem to worry, and he still manages to find a way to communicate the action to a variety of viewers.

The game itself was perhaps the most thrilling of the Olympic tournament thus far; Emrick's presence certainly helped elevate the attention the game received. For instance, Emrick took what seemed to be an errant play of the puck by Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur, and instead identified it as the cause of a subsequent goal scored by the Americans. Replays showed to the casual observer that what ordinarily would be a simple clearing attempt was in fact a major miscue in Brodeur's judgment, leaving him out of position and exposed in several spots.

Additionally, Emrick possesses a keen eye in highlighting the contributions of players that otherwise would go overlooked without being given a second glance. During the dying minutes of the third period, U.S. center Ryan Kesler made several subtle plays that saved his team from surrendering a precious two-goal lead. After Kesler capped off the night with an empty-net goal to seal it, Emrick was quick to point out that not all contributions necessarily make their way onto the score sheet.

In doing so, Emrick is able to give the viewer a greater appreciation for the subtle nuances of the game that often are ignored: forechecking, on-ice vision and shot-blocking.

When Ryan Miller made a sprawling goal line save, or Sidney Crosby closed the gap for Canada, Emrick's stunned exclamation on both calls was just the icing on the cake.

In terms of evaluating how Emrick could stand to improve his broadcasting abilities, the only apparent issue that seemed glaring was that Emrick may have come off perhaps a little too passionate. Remember, the game is still part of the round robin part of the tournament to determine seeding for the elimination round.

Perhaps Emrick could be accused of artificially creating a heightened sense of emotion. However, when you consider that there are only so many times the U.S. faces Canada, compounded with the four-year frequency of the Olympics, and it is perhaps understandable why Emrick would feel obligated to call the game the way he did.

Call it confidence, call it panache, call it swagger. No one does it quite like "Doc"; no one can back it up like him either.