|
'Let's
Send It Back By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--NFL Today host Jim Nantz, in an act that millions of NFL fans are familiar with, just interrupted one game to give an update of another game in progress. "All right, Ian, let the record show that the first rushing touchdown for the new Browns belongs to Phil Dawson - the kicker! - on the fake. The Browns are in. They added another short touchdown run by Terry Kirby. Up 14-6, let's go back to Ian and Mark." But what millions don't see is that Nantz delivers those lines as if he was updating a friend who had just left the room - with his feet up on the NFL Today desk or even reclining on the front of the show's set, leaning back on his two arms. "He's uptight, ain't he?" NFL Today analyst Jerry Glanville joked. Nantz actually lives the dream of every football fan. The 40-year-old host of The NFL Today stays on the set all day and watches every game from a "Hollywood Squares wall" of televisions, which is moved closer to The NFL Today desk or away from it, depending on if the crew is on air or not. A digital scoreboard giving each game's time and score is underneath each of the nine televisions, which are arranged like a tic-tac-toe board. "I have perfected the art of watching nine games at once," Nantz told me Sunday during my daylong visit to the set of The NFL Today. "I may miss something once in a while, but I see just about every play." "I find it just exhilarating to be able to see the full landscape of the NFL." "Did he just say he can see the 'landscape of the NFL'?" CBS studio analyst Randy Cross said sarcastically, overhearing the conversation. "That wouldn't be the panoramic view of the league?" "I'll put it in lay man's terms for you: I can sit here and watch nine games at one time," Nantz responded in jest. When Nantz and coordinating producer Eric Mann decide on a play to highlight, they work on swinging it around the other games. Mann and his crew tell the game's producer to go to New York at the next chance, i.e. after the next play that doesn't require a replay or a commercial break. Nantz, meanwhile, checks with the network's researchers and statisticians, those denim-shirt-wearing young men and women sitting behind the desk, to make sure he knows all the particulars of the play - the players involved, the yardage, game totals, etc. - before he ad libs the audio over the highlight. Most of the time, Nantz appears to already know the answers - he's just checking facts or getting the latest stats. "That was Marcus Pollard, right?" Nantz asked before showing the Colts back-up tight end catching a touchdown. "Yep, nine yards to Marcus Pollard" was the response. Nantz then watches and waits to hear his cue from the game's announcers. After which, it's whatever comes into Nantz's head. "Well, Kevin, Peyton Manning has done it again - to the end zone. The second-year quarterback flushed out of the pocket. Marcus Pollard snares it, and the Colts are up eight now on the Dolphins in the third quarter. Let's go back to Kevin and Sam." Minutes later, Nantz alters his description for the viewers of the Baltimore-Tennessee game, who presumably are big Manning fans from the quarterback's college days. "Well, Bill Macatee, Tennessee fans will like this one because Peyton Manning out of the pocket, throws to the end zone and finds the back-up tight end Marcus Pollard. For Manning, his second touchdown toss of the day. The Colts are up eight on the Dolphins. Let's go back to Bill and Beasley." Not only does Nantz have to think on the run - as Manning did on that touchdown pass - but he also has to watch the clock. "I'm watching the highlight here [on a monitor separate from the wall of televisions], but I also have to watch the real feed over here [in the wall of televisions] to make sure we get back. Plus, Eric's all over it," Nantz said, referring to his coordinating producer. Doing the highlights all day - as well as the pregame, halftime and post-game shows - makes for a very enjoyable but a very long day for Nantz, who gets in around 7 a.m. and doesn't leave until after 8 p.m. "I'm a vegetable on Mondays," he said. |
|
Today's Lineup | Sports
Pages | Features | Newsstand
| Sports Links
Speak Out | Mailing
List | Spotters | About
Us | Home
