Katherine Webb poses with boyfriend and Alabama QB AJ McCarron in a photo she posted on her Twitter profile.
I always thought part of a television broadcaster’s job was to react to what viewers were seeing. If the cameras were on a gruesome quarterback sack or an angry coach, the play-by-play person’s role was to explain the scene.
Veteran broadcaster Brent Musburger did this during Monday’s college football national championship, when he elaborated on camera shots of the girlfriend of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, Katherine Webb.
The 73-year-old Musburger, working Alabama’s national championship win over Notre Dame, reacted to a camera shot of Webb, a former Miss Alabama, by saying, “You quarterbacks … You get all the good-looking women. What a beautiful woman.”
Musburger then interjected, “Whoa!”
ESPN spokesperson Mike Soltys later released an apology through Twitter Wednesday, writing, “We always try to capture interesting story lines and the relationship between an Auburn grad who is Miss Alabama and the current Alabama quarterback certainly met that test. However, we apologize that the commentary in this instance went too far and Brent understands that.”
Musburger may not have needed the “Whoa!” In his defense, that was my initial response, too, based on the initial television shot. This was a striking woman.
And he, broadcast partner Kirk Herbstreit and ESPN were trying to fill time in the midst of a game that was no longer competitive.
Whether or not ESPN objectified Webb — who’s stated she certainly didn’t mind — isn’t the point. The point is, this isn’t on Musburger. He wasn’t the producer in a truck choosing to repeatedly show Webb. He was simply reacting to the screen shot. What was he supposed to do, ignore it?
The attractive girlfriend cheering on a the star quarterback is a story as old as the forward pass. That there’s been hubbub about this is ridiculous.
Michigan State journalism professor Sue Carter didn’t think so. She was part of the reaction.
“It’s extraordinarily inappropriate to focus on an individual’s looks,” Carter told the New York Times. “In this instance, the appearance of the quarterback’s girlfriend had no bearing on the outcome of the game. It’s a major personal violation, and it’s so retrograde that it’s embarrassing. I think there’s a generational issue, but it’s incumbent on people practicing in these eras to keep up and this is not a norm.”
I think this is an overreaction by Carter. Either way, her comments shouldn’t be directed at Musburger. ESPN’s production truck controls the view.
What do you think. Did ESPN go to far? How about Musburger? Worth an apology?
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Professor Carter’s text book answer does attack both ESPN’s camera focusing on a spectator and Musburger’s comments being generational IMHO.
Is this incident worthy of an apology? Well, I guess so. One was issued and Ms. Webb graciously dismissed the attention.
Although Musburger followed the producer’s visual cue, ole Brent’s broadcasting style focuses on scripted personal story-lines which he seems to incessantly makes a major topic. For example, during the MSU versus ND game, Musburger made the recent deaths of T’eo’s grand mother and girlfriend a game headline. Musburger is a tool trying to shape opinion, just like ESPN.
He also saw the Billy Packer Seminar, dont call the game in the first half, talk about anything else just dont say its over before halftime.
And both those old dudes have laughed all the way to their banks.
You know Graham we had the same problem, no one was commenting on Spartan Sports people kept saying “Whoa thats a striking sports coloumnist”
Hope Terry Donnellys roomate does not make us apologize
Well played.
I think this story got so big on twitter, ESPN felt it had to do something. ESPN has been pretty good lately at setting its talent up and then throwing that talent under the bus. What Rob Parker did was a lot worse than Brent’s comments, but I think ESPN encouraged Parker’s behavior too, and then when there was a backlash . . . under the bus you go.
I think it is hypocritical to criticize Musberger at all… Anyone who watches sports knows that the cheerleaders and dancers are made up to be as eye candylicious as possible … and Miss Alabama probably always goes out looking her best when she knows she’ll be on TV, too. Women do all these superficial things to get attention… they get attention, and then somehow that is wrong? I never liked listening to Musberger talk… but I am certainly on his side now. Sue Carter must be on the moon…. like she’s never seen a beauty queen or an NFL cheerleader before. She should know full well that being strikingly beautiful is why any of them had any chance to get to their positions. If Webb’s appearance were different, she wouldn’t be dating McCarron. Mberger was speaking true reality.
It’s not hypocritical to criticize Musburger’s for his remark like “whoa”. Practically a cat call whistle and the lowest form of a compliment. His comments were over the top.
As for women’s place at sporting events, you are making a lot of assumptions. Assuming all viewers of ESPN appreciate every provocative camera angles the producer chooses to show of the cheerleaders leading cheers, or the cheering coeds in the stands, sometimes the video borders on sophomoric and does not enhance the game IMHO.
Although Prof. Carter is taking it to an extreme, she’s correct in principal.
I’m just saying that it is clear from what is on TV all the time that the general culture accepts the objectification of women. From the crude commercials during the Superbowl to the women’s beach volleyball team (that we’re just supposed to watch like it’s just any good ol’ sport… my husband’s fave olympic sport, btw). It is everywhere… and the words that Musberger used are so tame in contrast with the “visuals” that are hitting us over the head all the time. The PC (BS) way of looking at it is that it is professionally acceptable to keep showing and seeing it…as long as ya keep your comments to yourself. Prof. Carter is fighting a lost battle because women are the ones who accept the objectification and use it to their advantage.
Good points, but Musburger is tiresome IMO.
IMO, this whole thing is way overblown, and frankly I’m embarrassed by Prof. Carter’s reaction. To criticized someone for commenting on the appearance of a model is asinine. Also, Musberger apparently mentioned that she had her degree and was enrolling in grad school, so complimenting her academic achievements, yet I haven’t heard a peep about that.
Prof. Carter has every right to her opinion. And I have every right to be embarrassed that her opinion seems to reflect that of MSU, and I have every right to believe she blew this way out of proportion.
What a drunken Joe Namath said to Suzy Kibler was out of line and worthy of an apology. This isn’t even remotely close.
Do you have a link of Broadway Joe’s comments Suzy Kibler?
No sorry, but you can Google it and surely find plenty about it. It was very uncomfortable, to say the least. Also, my auto correct misspelled her name, it’s Suzy Kobler.
Mayo, see the links I put up below.
Thanks! Joe’s got a problem and needs help. Apologies should have been given by all involved, even Suzy should have been able to see what was coming here and could have avoided it.
There was once a time when journalists and the news in general would leave an old pro alone if they were in a compromised state… today, the producers are looking for controversy. And that means free publicity = future higher ratings = more revenue.
One comment: ever see Prof. Sue Carter ? Google it. Nuff said.
Seriously, when Mushmouth was going on about the young lady, I said out loud to no one on particular, “OK, enough Brent.” And basically, he moved on until the producer showed her once again, invoking another reaction from Brent and Herbie.
exactly, typical feminist answer from carter, these women get all decked out and want attention, they get it, and someone who likes like carter gets offended
Don’t we have bigger fish to fry? This overshadowed ESPN dumping Rob Parker (same day) who made flat out racist remarks about RGIII.
If she’s (Webb) not offended, why should anyone else be?
Next story.
Exactly. Parker called RG3 an Uncle Tom, and was appropriately punished IMO. And on this one, ESPN shouldn’t be bending over to accommodate people pushing a political agenda.
Again I reference Joe Namath /Suzy Kobler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzje597rVyw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Or this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpRry07QP9s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Second one is NSFW, and both clips are examples of crossing the line.
ESPN’s as guilty as anyone else for pushing agendas.
I still have those Oregon State golfballs with your name on it.
Yep, it’s not what he said as much as the way he said it. Although let’s face it, he’s old, and the game was getting boring, and his mind probably had a lot of stuff running through it, and he forgot himself for a moment.