47 replies to this topic

[Big L]

Did anyone else feel that he was a little more "Johnny" than usual?  Watching the past few days, he just seemed to criticize and complain about shots and slow play more frequently than past tournaments.  I know what to expect when he's in the booth, but this week felt different.

Edited by Big L, 25 February 2013 - 11:00 AM.

[ttm27]

Yeah I kinda thought the same thing.  He was all over Webb about slow play.  And Jason Day.

[C. Freeman]

Yes, but at least he shut down Jacobsen and his absurd comment about someone (I forget who) being able to compete in the Octagon in MMA.  Peter deserved to be made fun of after that.

[Vindog]

Hold on a second.   The Golfwrx bandwith is clogged with complaints about slow play, players who play slow and the tours' indifference to it.

So now, a guy has the means to reach millions of ears and is using it to educate the public by assigning slow play a negative connotation.  What's the problem?

GMac and J Day were atrociously slow, and maybe deserved to be called out.

Edited by Vindog, 24 February 2013 - 09:25 PM.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I cannot stand Miller one bit, but I was really happy to see him call out players for slow play and hope he keeps it up. Maybe it will help finally bring about some change. Yes I know that is doubtful but it is better than ignoring it

[One Putter]

Love the J-Man.  He knows these guys are pros and holds them to that standard.

[MtlJeff]

I've always liked J-Mill. He made golf broadcasting better....and he is controversial without obviously attempting to be controversial. That is what you want in a broadcaster. Someone who adds something to the broadcast....

And yeah, calling people out for slow play....good on him!

[3GWrX09]

Good on Johnny Miller. Refreshing to hear someone call out the brutal slow play.

[wolfpack]

Johnny is the man, plain and simple.   He can say whatever he wants.

[Sean2]

I thought he did a fine job. During the finals he also commented on the fine shots Kuchar and Mahan were hitting under very difficult conditions.

[ttm27]

I agree and am glad he called them out.  Was just making the point that he did so even more than usual, or so it seemed.

[golfpros1]

Go Johnny Go!

Edited by golfpros1, 24 February 2013 - 10:41 PM.

[PuttLeftHitRight]

Jason Day "visualizing" the shot is truly one of the dumbest thing I have ever witnessed. And he still usually hit it into the desert

[Big L]

I'm not getting on him about bringing up the slow play issue (I agree with him), I'm just saying he seemed to be in a mood this week.

[texcrom]

Say what you will, Miller is the best and Dan Hicks is underappreciated as an announcer.

Miller was on track about slow play. The only time I find him a little annoying is when he reflects on his own career and comparisons with Jack...but then again, in fact, he was one of the few who could compete with Jack in his prime.

[Woogie]

Sean2, on 24 February 2013 - 10:25 PM, said:

I thought he did a fine job. During the finals he also commented on the fine shots Kuchar and Mahan were hitting under very difficult conditions.

I agree. I think he did a great job of pointing out the positives as well.

[turtleback]

I'm generally a fan of Johnny's but I was really disappointed that he completely changed his position 180* on the anchoring ban just because he was sitting next to Finchem.  He was pretty clear a couple of days ago on The Golf Channel's State of the Game show that he supported the ban, and then today sitting next to Finchem he said he opposed it.  Bad form, Johnny, you are better than that.

[twoodssc]

turtleback, on 24 February 2013 - 11:36 PM, said:

I'm generally a fan of Johnny's but I was really disappointed that he completely changed his position 180* on the anchoring ban just because he was sitting next to Finchem.  He was pretty clear a couple of days ago on The Golf Channel's State of the Game show that he supported the ban, and then today sitting next to Finchem he said he opposed it.  Bad form, Johnny, you are better than that.

He def seemed a little weird this week.  Speaking of the State of the Game show, did anyone else laugh when talking about equipment that he dropped a "well I don't have a club contract anymore and the technology today doesn't help amatuers..."  maybe he got an offer from a company who makes belly putters in the last few days lol

[Awsi Dooger]

turtleback, on 24 February 2013 - 11:36 PM, said:

I'm generally a fan of Johnny's but I was really disappointed that he completely changed his position 180* on the anchoring ban just because he was sitting next to Finchem.  He was pretty clear a couple of days ago on The Golf Channel's State of the Game show that he supported the ban, and then today sitting next to Finchem he said he opposed it.  Bad form, Johnny, you are better than that.

I noted that. My impression was Johnny didn't get enough time to speak during the segment. Dan Hicks confidently directed the questioning to Finchem. And did a fine job, I might add. But once Johnny was asked to comment it was almost like a throw in, so he wouldn't be left hanging. By that point Finchem had been allowed to make all his points and the conversation had trended in favor of avoiding the ban. Johnny wasn't going to swing it wildly in the opposite direction with no time left to debate, not when he's talking to someone he respects and during an ongoing live event. Situational influence was involved. I've read enough psychology books to understand that. Before Johnny addressed Finchem I sensed he would back away from his remarks during State of the Game, the three aspects he said were fixed via anchored putting.

If Johnny had been allowed to initiate the topic with Finchem, or if it were done during a weather delay or some period allowing plenty of time, I suspect the segment would have evolved quite differently.

Regardless, Johnny was indeed more forceful this week during the live commentary. I think he realizes he played it overly safe the past year or two. With his career winding down he's determined to find a late breeze at his back, and the perceived comparison to Faldo probably contributes to pride in raising his game. Also, Golf Channel is on the rise, as Johnny emphasized this weekend. The NBC broadcasts are replayed during prime time. Only natural to want to stand out, when suddenly you're more or less competing against everyone on the specialized network.

NBC has a long stretch of events. I think it's six in a row. Is Johnny really going to stay away from home for that duration? It would be unprecedented. I suspect he'll quietly stay home for an event or two, perhaps Tampa or Valero, with Hicks and Koch manning the booth.

[SurfinTurf]

golfpros1, on 24 February 2013 - 10:31 PM, said:

Go Johnny Go!

Johnny was more entertaining than the actual play these last few days.  He and Maltbie have got a real bromance going which is kinda funny. Jacobsen got punked. Simpson got his just desserts. Actually Simpsons got more criticism coming for being slow AND having an ugly swing.  How about  "Ben Hogan would puke!"  HaHa! Legendary..  Hope Johnny keeps speaking his mind.

[Outlier]

Big L, on 24 February 2013 - 08:28 PM, said:

Did anyone else feel that he was a little more "Johnny" than usual?  Watching the past few days, he just seemed to criticize and complain about shots and slow play more frequently than past tournaments.  I know ehat to expect when he's in the booth, but this week felt different.

...and this was a good thing!  Slow players need to be called out; early and often!

[esketores]

Tournaments running over the alloted time is costly to the networks. (There have been subtle remarks on other broadcasts this year from other announcers.)
Slow play affects viewership numbers. In a negative manner.
Mr. Miller simply has the intestinal fortitude to straight up call a spade a spade.
Yes he is a bit arrogant but all in all good for the game.

[mwkbmw]

I have no problem with JM calling out pros for horrible shots. Heck, I can hit a 30 - 40 yard hook with a 3 wood. My buddies sure never hesitate to let me know just how bad it was.

[Bad9]

Johnny and all the other announcers should harp slow play way more than they do. It should become a constant point of criticism for them all. Slow play is a much more pressing issue for golf than anchoring of a putter and it starts with the pros.

[MileHighClub]

wolfpack, on 24 February 2013 - 10:07 PM, said:

Johnny is the man, plain and simple.   He can say whatever he wants.

Yes he is.

[Lefty94]

The best was I think on Sat when the guy webb was playing putted. Then webb went through all this non-sense, had the guy move his marker like 5 times because he couldn't decide which side he wanted it moved to. Miller goes by my watch it's been a minute 30 and counting since his opponent struck his putt and webb hasn't even addressed his ball yet. Love when slow players get called out.....

[GoogleMe]

Comments about slow play was fine and didn't mind it all.

But

When Tim. F came into the booth and Johnny needs to mention that he was probably the first on the PGA tour to win with the putter shaft up his arm makes no sense to me as what he did still will be legal.

[Huskypride28]

I think it was also the format of match play and less players in the field than a normal weekend.  When you only have a few players in the field, there's more opportunity for him to gripe about something.  But I did agree with his comments on slow play.  I think the more it's talked about the more the PGA will do somehting about it.

[ej002]

Vindog, on 24 February 2013 - 09:00 PM, said:

Hold on a second.   The Golfwrx bandwith is clogged with complaints about slow play, players who play slow and the tours' indifference to it.

So now, a guy has the means to reach millions of ears and is using it to educate the public by assigning slow play a negative connotation.  What's the problem?

You cannot make logical statements like that on this board...

[shortstop20]

I like Johnny when he's providing golf commentary.

I hate Johnny when he's providing swing commentary.