April 14, 2008
Caps Briefing: No Respect
If the comments on last Friday's Caps Briefing didn't give it away, the Capitals don't get a lot of respect in other cities around the NHL. We had thought this changed in the last month when Alex Ovechkin led the league in goals and points, led the team into the playoffs, and became the consensus pick as the NHL's MVP. Boy were we wrong.
Friday night the Caps overcame a two goal deficit and beat the Flyers on an Ovechkin goal with three minutes left. Then on Sunday, with the Caps trailing the Flyers by two after two, on national television, NBC commentator Mike Milbury was asked to make believe he was the team's coach and gave his analysis of what the team needed to do to win: "so, I'm in the Washington cra-capaitals dre--ahh. I said Crapitals. That's what it is today. Washington Capitals dressing room..."
Milbury halfway apologized for using the same dumb insult for the Caps that immature fans of teams in cities like Boston and New York have been using for decades. It's understandable. He's worked most of his career for teams in those towns, and at least Milbury doesn't call the play by play. At least he's only on screen between periods. At least the play by play comes from experienced professionals, led by respected veteran announcer Mike Emerick.
Wait, did we say respected? Okay, well, at least he's not Milbury. Anyway, with 12:12 left to play, in a lull, Emerick also called the team the Crapitals. He said it quickly and so smoothly that we wanted to think we had misheard. We didn't believe our ears. We did, however, believe our DVR. We're not sure why he would do that, but we thought it was disrespectful and inappropriate for a supposedly unbiased national broadcast, and we hope Emetick finds an opportunity to apologize to the Capitals before the next time he interviews Donald Brashear.
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Doc likely won't apologize, or even mention it. As you note, he's a veteran broadcaster, and typically slips like this are simply ignored. Plus, since NBC is only doing weekend telecasts, it'll be ancient history by the time next weekend comes around.
What I'm confused about is why this piece is written as if the slips were intentional. Why don't you try doing 2-3 hours of live TV without screwing up, and then get back to us. Seems like you're just bitter that the Caps lost...
@Politburo
While your point about doing live TV is valid, I feel pretty confident that I could do a football broadcast without "mistakenly" calling the 'Skins the DeadSkins, DreadSkins, or ForeSkins.
Those are all different from the slip in question, linguistically.
You tell 'em, Politburo. It's hard to keep them liquid consonants straight--just ask the Chinese. Or Dick Armey. This slipup was clearly of the "Barney Fag" variety. Completely understandable.
As for the permullet on the Flyers' fan behind me at the game? Now that was inexcusable. But also glorious and wonderful, in its own South Philly-redneck-douchebag kind of way.
The Capitals don't get any respect because they're just that not good of a team. If you go back and reread that thread, you'll notice that it's the Caps fan who go around disparaging other teams and players because they're so thin-skinned that they can't bear to have someone disparage the team they have a deep, two month commitment to!
well, when you need a really hot month stretch to win the weakest division in the NHL, you're not going to get a lot of respect. This holds true for any sport: see NBA Eastern Conference, the NFC and the National League.
I'm sick of this we dont get no respect bs from any team. The teams on the ice respect you and that's what matters - not what some commentator says. Get over it.
Everyone knows it's "The Craps", not "The Crapitals". Alas, no more "Bull*@!$s", but the "Wiz" practically mocks itself.
Doesn't touch the late Steeler broadcaster Myron Cope rechristening the Skins the "Wash Redfaces" during a broadcast of a Skins slopfest at the tail end of an under achieving season, and calling out Dan Snyder for trying to silence him, "If that boy billionaire thinks he can shut me up, he should stick his head in a can of paint."
Ces,
The NFC NY Giants won the superbowl....
I know that Big L, but the whole thing is that they kept saying "we dont get any respect" etc etc etc.
That may be the single most reasoned and respectful comment ever made on an internet sports thread.