Gus Johnson might get excited calling mixed martial arts
Well, this should be interesting . . . CBS announced Monday that Gus Johnson would serve as the play-by-play announcer May 31 when mixed martial arts comes to the network for the first time.
This might be too much overall agitation for your TV set to absorb. Please make sure to watch from at least 15 feet back.
Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo will be the analysts. Karyn Bryant will be the "cageside" reporter.
"Gus Johnson delivers great energy and storytelling to every sports event he calls," Kelly Kahl, senior executive VP for CBS Primetime, said in a news release, establishing an early leader in the running for TV executive understatement of the year.
By the way, Gus has studied Kung Fu, boxing and most recently Jiu-Jitsu.
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Comments (7)
This ... is ... awesome.
It's been almost 3 hours since Mike and the Mad Dog ripped Newsday (well really the Daily News, but they threw a shot at Newsday in there as well) for thier coverage of yesterday's Game 7... and no retort from Best? Scary.
We travel less than we used to for events that do not involve a local team (or horse). I don't think that's any secret.
First, why is Johnson even necessary with veteran MMA man Mauro Ranallo cage/ringside? Despite Best (or is it CBS?) describing Ranallo as an "analyst," he is not. He is a play-by-play man, assuming that title applies to boxing/MMA/combat sports.
Second, what a shame that Elite XC is given a platform on CBS to put on the first ever non-PPV/non-Cable MMA event, and they choose Kimbo Slice as its headliner. This is a guy whose claim to fame is knocking out a few street hobos in backyards and putting videos of this on YouTube. He only has two pro MMA bouts. For fans hoping for mainstream acceptance and general credibility, this has the potential to set the sport back 10 years.
i think frank shamrock will be the most interesting commentator if CBS lets him talk...but i doubt they will.
i want to hear CBS let frank shamrock yak away...but they will probably muzzle him.
JoeC,
Contrary to what you believe, EliteXC is being extremely smart by headlining Kimbo Slice for it's first CBS card. Like it or not, Kimbo Slice is as close to a household name as it gets, especially for the younger, more internet-saavy generation (of which I am a part of). They are taking a page straight out of good boxing/pro-wrestling booking. You headline your show with a name that will get people to watch, and then you blow them away with the quality of your undercard so they keep coming back for more.