Chicago Announcer Bias Exists, And I Don't Really Care

Earlier this week, Troy Aikman and Boomer Esiason got into a bit of a catfight about Boomer's perception of Aikman as biased towards the Cowboys in his (Aikman's) football commentary on Fox. Boomer said the following:

"It was the first time that I heard a legitimate bias from one Troy Aikman towards the Dallas Cowboys. You would've thought that the Arizona Cardinals weren't even in the building. I was taken back by some of the things that Troy was saying, and I like Troy. I really do. He's a very bright broadcaster, but the bias that was coming from him yesterday was actually stunning."

Of course, Aikman wasn't very happy about this. I would include his response, but it was basically: I'm not biased, so shut your stupid mouth, you big meanie. And that was that.

But here's the thing: Why do people even care? Troy Aikman has been calling football games for a long time, and I've never really detected a pro-Cowboys bias from him, but even if he was slightly predisoposed to the Cowboys ... I mean, that's forgiveable, right? What's so wrong with that?

Take Chicago's sports scene. Local sports broadcasts are a different flavor, sure, but we tolerate blatant homerism in our fine city. White Sox play-by-play man Hawk Harrelson is perhaps the most egregious example; Hawk never saw a corner strike call against the Sox that he thought was legitimate, and he makes it clear in every single broadcast. So it goes with Bulls broadcasters.

Perhaps the least obvious of these broadcasts are the Cubs team of Len Kasper and Bob Brenly. The two are clearly invested in the Cubs success, but they rarely reveal it. They're placid and reserved. They're like the anti-Hawk.

But the point of all this is that it's a fine line to tread. I expect objectivity from a New York Times political reporter; I don't expect it from former NFL players gabbing about football on Sundays. Nor do I care. As long as the broadcaster conveys some sort of honesty, some idea that he or she is not blinded by their loyalties, them I'm cool. We don't care, Troy. Trust us. We really don't.

Well, except for Hawk. Dude really has lost it.

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