CBS Sports Makes News Twice In One Day

CBS Sports had some opportunity to make news Saturday and did. During the Duke-Georgetown game at the Verizon Center in DC, President Obama joined Uncle Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg courtside for a brief interview.

President Obama joined CBS Sports’ Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg during CBS Sports’ broadcast of Duke-Georgetown on Saturday, Jan. 30. The President put on the headset and helped breakdown the game and provide commentary. Below are excerpts from the broadcast:
President Obama on CBS Sports’ lead college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg:
Nobody can keep up with Clark. He’s the best color man in college basketball. That’s what I am talking about.
President Obama on his next career:
After retirement I am coming after your job Clark. I am just letting you know. You either have three more years or seven, I am not sure which. But you need to plan accordingly because I am going to do some play-by-play.

Then during CBS’ first PGA Tour broadcast, the Farmers Insurance Open, Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo addressed the Tiger Woods situation and good on them for not avoiding the issue.

OPENING REMARKS ON TIGER WOODS FROM CBS SPORTS’ JIM NANTZ AND SIR NICK FALDO AS CBS SPORTS TEES OFF 2010 GOLF COVERAGE
Jim Nantz, now in his 25th  year covering golf at CBS, serves as anchor of CBS Sports’ golf coverage.  Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six majors and more than 40 tournaments worldwide serves as lead analyst alongside Nantz in the 18th tower. 
Following are Nantz and Faldo comments from today’s broadcast as CBS Sports third-round coverage began at the PGA TOUR’s FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN from La Jolla, Calif.
Jim Nantz: Of course everyone knows one player not here this week, on an indefinite leave of absence is Tiger Woods. That’s no news to anyone, but when he comes back that’s really just a random guess. I am not sure he even knows. I believe he’ll be back for Augusta but we shall see. But once Tiger does return what do you believe it will be like for him?
Sir Nick Faldo: I think very much a difference…what will he be? The most powerful thing Tiger had was his presence, wasn’t it? When he stood on that tee –we used that term “two up” –- he was way more than two up. You look at his lead into win ratio it was outrageous. He had that magnetism using the power from the crowd, from the television, to elevate his game and he must have felt so good that he had the game of golf literally in the palm of his hands. And with all of that, you’ve got to have great self-esteem for that all to happen. Now, when Tiger heads to his tee, wherever that is – maybe in 2010 – he’s going into a totally different environment now.  He doesn’t know what to expect he doesn’t know how people are going to react. He knows how the media world has reacted to him. He knows how the business world has reacted to him. This is a man – he’s the number one gossip in the world and he’s a very sensitive man. He’s very sensitive to even just criticism. No, more than criticism, even just comments. I think this is going to play a very important factor for him because he now has to get back on the golf course and be comfortable with himself with so much going on. He needs to get back on the golf course. This is where his whole career has been created. I think the important thing is can he get out there? When can he get out there? He may have to change team Tiger a little bit to get out there. So for me, he has an awful lot to get through. But the priority as a golfer, chasing Jack Nicklaus’ record, is to get back out there as soon as he can so he can get comfortable in this environment. And then can he have the same self-esteem as before?
Nantz: With all those things now changing, do you think when he does return and given time will he be the same player that he was in the past? Will he win as frequently?
Faldo: That is very difficult. But he has to. But after what has gone on, I feel he has to come back and be a winner again. Then it would probably be a greater comeback then winning here (Torrey Pines) on a broken leg. That’s the most important thing. That’s his life. Golf is his life. It’s almost like he’s starting again as a kid. As we have always said, let your golf club do the talking. Go out there and win and everything will take care of itself.

So CBS giving quotage on a Saturday is very much appreciated.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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