Broadcasters' Language

(Letter to the Sports Editor, todays DMNews)

I spent some 40 years off and on teaching young men and women the profession of radio play-by-play. There was a word I wrote on the board to start the class: GET. I told them I never wanted to hear that word again in their recorded football, baseball or basketball games. Use real verbs!

It is a simple word in a language of beautiful verbs. Verbs can add excitement and charm to a game and a broadcaster.

Get is the only verb some broadcasters seem to know today. My fight against the word started one day when I heard two network broadcasters use GET seven times in one play.

Now comes a new set of overused and abused words: "will" and "going to be."

The action is occurring now, not later. So why the words: Jones will score ... as he crosses the goal line. No: Jones scores.

Or Jones is going to third ... as "He runs to third" or "Goes to third." Lately, a network broadcaster carried it to the extreme, "Jones will walk." "Smith will come to bat." Jones walks, and Smith bats. These guys make it sound like everything happens later. Broadcasters, study the English language and improve your vocabulary. A lot of young folks listen to you and fail to learn the language also.

Bill Mercer, Richardson


Note: the author is a former Rangers and Cowboys broadcaster and taught broadcasting at the University of North Texas.