Memo to Suzyn Waldman:

[PowerCow106]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spwald1011,0,35887.story

You are terrible and all of us in the New York media know it. It has nothing to do with you being a woman. If Phil Rizzuto had talked the way you do on air, he would have been mocked as well.

Colin Cowherd had it right on Tuesday when he called you a "Schilly Schill." You're so busy listing off the sponsors every five minutes that if John had a heart attack and clutched at your blouse begging for help, you'd be so busy informing us that the American League Scoreboard is brought to us by Foxwoods Casino in Mystic, Connecticut "in the heart of it all" that you wouldn't notice.

How the hell Charlie Steiner gets run out of town after making fun of the Devil Rays for being late to Yankees Stadium after they got caught in a hurricane, yet Suzyn keeps her job after the Clemens Returns fiacso is beyond me.

 

[traficstud]

Sorry- but I do not have a problem with Suzyn showing some emotion. She is human. She has covered the Yankees for over 20 years. There is a lot to love about Torre- and this is coming from a Met fan. He is a class act. I am sure there are beat writers and reporters that have grown to love Joe over his 12 years as manager. The difference is that Suzyn gets to talk about it right after the fact- not sit in front of a computer or record a package for radio or TV.

I will agree about Steiner. I think he and Sterling made a great team. But I think Waldman has done a good job- can't be easy working with Sterling.

This needs to be a non story...

 

[Ron Smith Williams]

I think that the media needs to give Suzyn Wladman a break. Come on this is such a non story its unbelievable.

 

[froggiesmother]

The thing I don't understand is when did it become such a sin to show an attachment to the team you work for?.....yes, WORK for...if it was a FOX announcer or an ESPN announcer I could understand the whole impartial approach, but this is a YANKEE announcer....The reason Phil Rizzuto was so beloved is that he was a fan too....He certainly wasn't your prototypical deep voiced whitebread announcer.....Listen to Whitesox games on WGN and you'd think Hawk Harrelson was part of the freakin roster....he refers to the Whitesox as "We" about 100 times a broadcast...Waldman has been attached to this team forever, part of what sets her apart is the emotion she shows...What the hell is wrong with being a human being?...Yankee announcers on WCBS and YES are announcing for YANKEE fans...Why is this a problem?

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

The thing I don't understand is when did it become such a sin to show an attachment to the team you work for?.....yes, WORK for...if it was a FOX announcer or an ESPN announcer I could understand the whole impartial approach, but this is a YANKEE announcer....The reason Phil Rizzuto was so beloved is that he was a fan too....He certainly wasn't your prototypical deep voiced whitebread announcer.....Listen to Whitesox games on WGN and you'd think Hawk Harrelson was part of the freakin roster....he refers to the Whitesox as "We" about 100 times a broadcast...Waldman has been attached to this team forever, part of what sets her apart is the emotion she shows...What the hell is wrong with being a human being?...Yankee announcers on WCBS and YES are announcing for YANKEE fans...Why is this a problem?

I see no problem whatsoever with the way Suzyn Waldman conducted herself in the wake of the Yankees' elemimation. In a way, she served as a mirror, reflecting what Yankee fans were feeling, both on the topic of Joe Torre, and the uncertain future of the club in general. After all, Johnny Most and Phil Rizzuto made wonderful careers for themselves as the true voices of "the fans in the stands".

I've loved Suzyn's work, both at WFAN, and with the Yankees, for more years than I care to admit...(this coming from a die-hard Red Sox fan).

As for John Sterling's work......let's just say that his work has suffered quite a bit since leaving WTBS's Braves broadcast booth.

 

[pdwips]

It's funny: I hear people compain so often that radio has no heart anymore, that it's just so much pre-programmed corporate BS, that there's no more sponteneity. Then when someone lets her heart hang out, she's villified.

I like Suzyn's work. Not always, but almost. She's being herself, and if that dovetails with management's expectations/desires, why condemn her for it?

As for reading billboards, that's her job. Why blame her because everything but the air we breathe (soon to be brought to you by Nasonex) has been sold?

I heard the Clemens Returns broadcast live, and while in retrospect it might seem overblown, it was good radio. Riveting, really. Was it much to-do about nothing? Sure, but we're talking about sports here. Everything is really much to-do about nothing. They're games, not wars or elections.

So my memo to Suzyn Waldman would read: You go girl. Let your freak flag fly. Be yourself.

 

[nhradiochild]

Although I haven't listened to her, the complaints mentioned by the original poster sound like the "all-professional, all-the-time" response you would get from someone who has trained himself for so long (because the industry told him to) not to show "undue" emotion, that he can't fathom why someone else can do it.

Could it be jealousy? Or can we not make room for personality?

Anyhoo, it would be cool to hear the cuts if there's a link to them.

It seems to me she handled herself the best she could, and within the realm of professionalism.

 

[dmargalotti]

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Yankees fan but not a Suzyn Waldman fan. While I think she is extremely smart when it comes to baseball and the Yankees, I just don't find her to be pleasing to listen to on the radio. The comment from the original poster about how she's too busy blurting out sponsor tags is a bunch of crap. That has nothing to do w/ Suzyn...she's paid to read those ads. Obviously the original poster knows nothing about broadcasting. As for the knock on Suzyn showing emotion...again, even though I'm not personally a fan of her work, I see nothing wrong with it. The coaches and some of the players were all crying...she got choked up a bit because these are people she's been very close with for a very long time. Yes, she showed some emotion...but she kept her composure and got through the broadcast. I say, give it a rest and leave her alone. Suzyn Waldman letting her emotions show is the LEAST of the problems with NY Yankees radio broadcasts these days.

 

[calstymes]

dmargalotti did hereby proclaim:

Suzyn Waldman letting her emotions show is the LEAST of the problems with NY Yankees radio broadcasts these days.

And what would you say the LARGEST problem is with NY Yankees radio broadcasts these days? Just curious.

 

[chuckydoll]

The largest problem? Sterling & Suzyn

"The Voice of the Yankees" is the worst sports broadcaster ever. He places his shtick at the expense of an accurate call. At least he was competent when he did Braves games on SuperStation WTBS.

Ms. Waldman got her current gig on one condition -- that she would not have to do play-by-play. God forbid what should happen if her partner is out sick or gets called on the carpet by Major League Baseball.

Charley Steiner is glad he got out of New York when he did. He's in line to become the primary voice of the Dodgers, something that may happen sooner than later.

 

[DToTheJ]

"Memo to Suzyn Waldman"

Is this a dejected Jim Rome fan who started this thread? The title just reeks of "clone take"...

 

[dmargalotti]

And what would you say the LARGEST problem is with NY Yankees radio broadcasts these days? Just curious.

As a guy who used to love listening to baseball on the radio, I think the two biggest problems with the Yankees broadcasts are:

1) The constant bombardment of sponsorships during the play-by-play broadcast. It completely ruins the flow and pacing of the broadcast and distracts the listeners from the game. I've been in this industry long enough to know it's all about driving revenue. But when it impacts the quality of your product, you're doing it wrong. Increase your spot rates...make more local commercial avails. But stop with the "if you think that pitch was fast, try road runner" or "that was the 15th out of the game and a 15-second phone call to Geico...". It's too much.

2) John Sterling. As chuckydoll and some others have pointed out...he just isn't a good play-by-play guy. He used to be. Now he's more concerned with those silly word play things he does than with getting the call of the game right. He's a smart guy with a good voice...but he makes himself be the center of attention and not the game. It's not about JS...he is not and shouldn't be the star. Legendary announcers of the past came across as your friends...JS comes across as being arrogant, and conceited. Plus, he doesn't do a great job of painting the picture for the radio listeners. Not enough specifics...not enough details. Accurately describe the game to me so I can see it in my mind. JS does not do that.

 

[humwing]

i agree that suzyn should do some play by play calls.big john wants all the glory anymore.not fair to suze at all!!! DIG THIS.....if joe torre is out.....I'M OUT! no more yankees for me! way to go MO! leave if joe is gone.AND NO....i won't become a red sox fan! yukk....maybe phillies.i was before torrie joined the yanks.one more thing.....i think suzyn did go overboard with the fizzed out rocket coming back.will suze and big john learn from this season??? i hope joe comes back.i don't wanna burn all my yankees stuff at a weenie roast.

 

[That Anonymous Nerd]

let me tell you...they've done nothing but BASH Suzyn all week up here in Providence...aka SOX NATION and it's completely unfair! So she was emotional. So frickin' what? HONESTLY, I'll take a crying Suzyn Waldman broadcasting an entire game in tears over Don Orsillo & Jerry Remy any day of the week! Have you ever heard Orsillo call a home run? GAAAAWWWDDD!!!

TRUST ME! Living away from The Yankee Empire where they don't have YES and you can only get Yankee games on the radio, I had to buy the MLB TV on the Internet and more than half the time, the feeds I get are from THE OTHER Broadcast teams...not YES. The guys in Philli, Baltimore and especially Boston make me want to take a .45 to my temple! At least when the Yanks play the Devil Rays I can hear Dwayne Stats who USED to be a Yankee broadcaster. Sorry, I got a bit off topic...had to vent.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

There is no problem being a homer announcer if you are good. The problem is that she has no talent and a grating voice. You can add John Sterling to the list of no talents. When I think about homer baseball announcers that had talent, I think about Bob Prince, Harry Caray (in his days with the Cardinals), Mel Allen, Bob Elson, Russ Hodges and Ernie Harwell among others.

 

[Sell the numbers]

She is the hardest working broadcaster in sports, one of the most talented and the most repectful to her collegues. Keep fighting them Suzyn!

 

[chuckydoll]

No she ain't

Awful Announcing broke this story on Tuesday. Only then did Ms. Waldman cry to the Liberal Media.

Now we get the follow-up, complete with photo goodness of Ms. Waldman and "The Voice of the Yankees" himself. No wonder Charley Steiner left for L.A.

BTW, if Don Orsillo is so awful how come TBS asked him to work the playoffs?

 

[fang39]

Re: The largest problem? Sterling & Suzyn

Charley Steiner is glad he got out of New York when he did. He's in line to become the primary voice of the Dodgers, something that may happen sooner than later.

That's a scary thought. I've been listening to Charlie since his days at 99X back in the 70's, through his years at ESPN and his short stint in the Bronx. Calling Baseball is not his strong suit. His best sport is Boxing. Mike & The Mad Dog had a field day a couple of years back when they played back the calls of both Steiner and Scully for the same play, a come from behing game winning hit for the Dodgers against the Giants. It clearly illustrated Charlie being out of his league as a Baseball play-by-play announcer when compared to Scully, who is possibly the best I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

 

[chacha]

Suzyn Waldman: Simply the worst radio announcer in NY baseball history.
Somebody needs to hold the title.

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

I fell asleep listening to the Yankee game -- wanted to make sure they lost.

When I woke up it was the end of the game and Suzyn sounded like she was sniffling. I thought maybe it could be someone else? The the crying got louder and she was bantering with Sterling.

First thing that comes to my mind is: "She's crying?????? There's no crying in BASEBALL!!!"

Sheesh. One of those no-no's in my book: You don't cry in front of a hot mike. EVER.