Shannon Briggs Makes Boxing Announcing Debut
May 17, 2008 by Michael Sedor
Filed under MMA-UFC
Something was different about ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. I was relaxed. I was soothed. I wasn’t stressed. I didn’t change the channel. I wasn’t yelling “please stop talking” at the television. The mute button was not engaged. What was the difference? The increasingly annoying team of Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas was replaced last night with the always excellent Brian Kenny and ex-heavyweight champ and Transporter 2 actor Shannon Briggs.
I’m not denying Teddy Atlas’ extensive knowledge or his boxing acumen. He’s a likable guy who every five minutes forgets more about boxing than I’ll ever know. My main problem is that during his broadcasts he reminds you how much he knows during every second of every match. Sometimes I just want to watch, and take in both the ringside noise and the sounds of the fight. Atlas never allows for personal reflection; the fight always becomes only what he thinks.
Despite Friday Night Fights being Shannon Briggs’ first announcing attempt he sounded relaxed and comfortable. His biggest asset is his very calming pleasantly-toned voice. He’s just nice to listen to. He’s never whiny and never over-the-top. He’s understated but not overwhelmed by the experience, clever without being obnoxious, and jocular with Kenny without excluding to the viewing audience. Sure, he said a lot of banal “wows” “nices” and “definitelys” and his analysis rarely approached the technical smarts of Atlas but I sure hope he gets another color commentary chance.
As for Brian Kenny, he’s the best ESPN has to offer. He’s a straight announcer who neither plays for laughs nor takes the sports he covers too seriously. His world perspective reaches further than sports and Bristol, Conn; he’s not a cookie cutter Syracuse U. broadcast journalist. His on-air presence is always commanding despite the fact that he (thankfully) never yells or raises his voice. If more ESPN sports announcers brought Kenny’s studied approach, pleasant, curmudgeon-free attitude, and irony-free personality then maybe I’d start watching SportsCenter again.
Oh, and ESPN, would you please start broadcasting the Wednesday and Friday Night Fights fights in HD? That would be very much appreciated. And please bring back the Kenny-Briggs team. They were great.
Photo Source: Newscom.com
Shannon Briggs was pathetic. Are you on his payroll? If he ever gets back on TV it’s a joke
I wish I were his payroll. I have to agree with you though. The second time I watched the fight I wondered what I was thinking. Maybe I was just excited to hear Brian Kenny on play-by-play.
No, now I’m remembering. It wasn’t so much that I liked what Briggs was saying. It was moreso that he didn’t say much and I was able to just watch the fight.