That familiar Super Bowl adagethe better the game, the better the telecast — was in evidence for fans Sunday night.
The Saints’ 31-17 victory didn’t indicate the intensity of this on-the- field drama, reported in the CBS broadcasting booth but really captured by the network’s production crew.
It used to be that the success of a Super Sunday event was measured by the play-by-play and commentary of broadcasters.
But in today’s world of electronic magic, the work of cameras and skilled operators can provide the dramatic zest.
While Phil Simms and Jim Nantz turned in journeyman jobs, director Mike Arnold and producer Lance Barrow were the MVPs, utilizing what CBS referred to as “Super Vision” — state-of-the-art, up-close replay cameras that provided viewers with a you-are-there feeling, particularly in key situations.
The major example: the Saints’ two-point conversion that gave them a 24-17 lead with 5:42 left.
New Orleans appealed the initial no-score ruling before booth officials (and viewers) seemingly were on the goal line to see what really happened.
The CBS cameras also wisely covered Peyton Manning on the Colts’ bench as his facial expressions became more negative as the game wore on.
Although I’m not a card-carrying member of the Simms fan club, the veteran analyst provided decent commentary while cutting back on his overused comments such as “I talk all the time about . . . “
Simms even admitted, late in the game, he was wrong saying that the Saints shouldn’t be blitzing Manning. This came immediately after defensive back Tracy Porter returned an interception 74 yards to give New Orleans a 14-point lead. The Saints blitzed Manning on the play.
Nantz turned in his usual, smooth play-by-play performance picking up nuances on both sides of the ball.
I was a bit surprised that neither mentioned Matt Stover’s missed 51-yard field goal with 10:39 left should give the Saints momentum.
And neither stressed that the lack of turnovers — until Porter’s interception — added to the well-played game.
Meanwhile, there’s a major nit to pick about the halftime show featuring a noisy 14-minute performance by The Who.
The show meant that CBS’s five- member “NFL Today” crew, all with strong, sometimes differing opinions, had less than five minutes to sum up what happened in the first half.
This lack of time reduced their commentary to a disconnected shouting match.
They didn’t have time to knowledgeably discuss the highlights of how, when, where, why — or even who.
Networks and Super Bowl officials should realize that football should come first — even at halftime.
More football.
ESPN used Super Bowl week to inform fans that its 2010 college season begins on Labor Day with a doubleheader in two NFL stadiums. Navy meets Maryland in M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the Baltimore Ravens; and Boise State takes on Virginia Tech in FedEx Field, where the Washington Redskins play.
Olympics preview.
Ever wonder how a bunch of people sliding rocks across the ice and sweeping with brooms became an Olympic sport?
The latest edition of “HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel” (7 p.m. Tuesday) explores this phenomenon during an hour devoted to the upcoming Vancouver Games.
Included is a profile of controversial U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir and a study of how Olympics officials are enforcing drug testing.
Willie’s time.
Studio 42, Bob Costas’ normally excellent interview series on the MLB Network, looks at the life and career of Willie Mays at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The right rival draws attention
ESPN’s Bill Raftery and Ron Franklin, two of the network’s best, covered the Colorado-Kansas overtime game Wednesday night.
So here’s a trivia question. When was the last time the network was in Boulder for a prime time college basketball game?
The answer is never, because CU’s recent mediocre teams haven’t drawn ESPN’s national attention. The TV draw, of course, was No. 1-rated Kansas.
Still, Raftery and Franklin praised the Buffs’ rebuilding process and the rowdy support from the fans.
Longtime Denver journalist Dusty Saunders writes about sports media each Monday in The Denver Post. Reach him at tvtime@comcast.net.
