Very OT: Favorite "This is Sportscenter" commercial?

Submitted by othernel on August 8th, 2022 at 9:31 AM

It's a Monday, so why not throw out something to distract us from work.

The "This is Sportscenter" commercial series is iconic, so I figured I'd see what the MGoNation's favorite commercial is, and include some of my own.

 

Sportscenter calls up the rookie:

 

Y2K Test:

 

Posada & Ortiz switch caps:

 

And of course, the hands down greatest commercial, metalhead John Clayton (RIP):

XM - Mt 1822

August 8th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^

1.  keeping us mgobloggers on-task and on-topic is like herding cats.  nobody should express frustration or surprise at that.

2.  it is also an undeniable mgotruism that some of the very best threads of all time are the ones that either start with very funny presuppositions - case in point is the lloyd brady threads which are all-time classics, or that begin in one direction and take hilarious turns in another.   this thread has that possibility and is already enjoyable for those reasons. 

 

Joined: 12/21/2011

MGoPoints: 103369

1974

August 8th, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^

Maybe just me, but I think on many of those ads (and SportsCenter itself) ESPN goes just a little too far.

I would've found the Clayton ad (which is still good) funnier without the part where he shouts at his mom. It would've been fine (and better) if he'd just flopped on the bed and turned up some metal. Chinese takeout container? Not much of an impact either way ...

Similarly, when Chris Berman delivered all his wordplay he used a little too much emphasis, as if his non-Ivy audience wouldn't otherwise get it.

Joined: 04/17/2011

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Mercury Hayes

August 8th, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^

Before "This is Sportscenter" commercials were a thing, I distinctly remember there was a series of SportsCenter commercials with athletes humming or singing the SportsCenter theme. I vividly remember the Fab 5 being featured in one of those bits so this must have been 30 years ago. If you search now, all you will find is the documentary trailers for their 30 for 30 special.

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Sambojangles

August 8th, 2022 at 10:27 AM ^

Also, the early ones (from early-mid 90s) that were focused on the SC hosts instead of athletes were pretty great. They had a good theme of bringing a sports subject into the TV studio in a funny way: Steiner trade, SVP performance enhancers, and the Dan Patrick Perfect Show.

Joined: 12/15/2008

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othernel

August 8th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^

Agreed.

Also, early on in the ESPN days, the anchors were allowed to be personalities and became must see TV. Eventually Olberman/Kilbourne/Patrick/etc (and later Stuart Scott) became more recognizable than the show, and some became divas about things like pay and contracts, so ESPN decided to basically always rotate anchors and not let anyone get too big for a long time on the main SC flagship. 

Eventually, they reversed that when they got to the heart of the PTI/ATH and Steven A Smith era.

If you ever have a lot of time to read the book "Those guys have all the fun", it's a super interesting read about how ESPN changed sports and broadcasting.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/9476510-those-guys-have-all-the-fun

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Twitch

August 8th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^

Several come to mind.  The mannings on a tour of the campus.  Drew brees cant get in, the gate is narrow!  Bedwetter.  Svp watching film of himself with Jimmy Rollins.  John Clayton, metalhead.

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