Factual accuracy.

This phrase sounds like something you would hear in school. Perhaps while sitting in a history class, discussing a historic event and it's impact on society. A teacher talking to a class, wanting to convey the message of why this particular event was important and the lasting effects it had. Teachers are supposed to be the "experts" after all, and we would listen with eager anticipation to each word, hoping to get a better insight into the impact of said event had on our modern day lives.

While not on the same historical persepctive as a professor talking to a class, the same holds true for sports broadcasters.

Professionals who are the broadcasting face of a particular sport and seen every week as the so called expert in that sport are expected to have some degree of knowledge of the teams they are watching. At least that is what we would expect from them.

Sadly, this is more often than not the case, and it was evident again Sunday during the Packers/Vikings broadcast.

During the broadcast Sunday, Thom Brenneman made a statement that Mike McCarthy took over as Packers coach from Mike Holmgren.

Let that sink in for a second...

A professional broadcaster from a major network made the statement that Mike McCarthy took over for Mike Holmgren.

This is, of course, a case of complete factual INACCURACY from someone who we all listen to as a so called expert. And that is what the problem is with so many broadcasts now a days. They sacrifice quality.

It is impossible for every announcer to know every fact about every team. One would need an encyclopedic memory to know who the leading rusher for the Packers was in 1983 (Eddie Lee Ivery if you are interested), but this is a relatively  insignificant stat, especially when talking about the rebirth of the Packers in the 90's and their success since. One should know a little modern history about the Packers, especially if you are going to try and talk about the Packers.

Announcers are not the ones solely responsible for this gross negligence in accuracy. Every major network has to have some sort of research department/interns to do this kind of work. Gather the facts for the announcers so they are informed enough that they are reading the correct information off a piece of paper or teleprompter so that they do not sound like they do not know what they are talking about. They should know that not everyone watching the game is as well informed as Packers fans, and may have a water cooler discussion the next day based on the information they are given during a game. I have to believe that there is someone doing research, and if not shame on Fox for letting their announcers go out there on a wing and a prayer and hope they get the information correct.

When Brenneman said what he said, I had to ask if my hearing was going because I could not believe he had made such a misinformed statement. As my mentions filled up verifying that he indeed said what I thought he did, it verified, at least in my mind, that announcers without correct facts are like those teachers in school you tended to ignore. Sure, they knew their stuff, but you always kind of knew they were full of crap.

Announcers have a role. They are there to keep the flow of the game moving, while providing some insight and analysis into the game at hand. What is missing from so many is the factual accuracy of the teams they are announcing, relying so much on the so-called research they are given that they misinform the audience and in turn, sound like they do not have a clue what they are talking about. If nonsense is what is going to be spewed from my TV week after week by these talking heads, pretty certain I'll turn down the sound going forward. That way, I won't have to listen to them make statements that make me want to cringe in the process.