I'm going to make a generalization and say the majority of people who are posting positively about Russ are under 45, the people who dont like his style are over 45.
Like they said in the 60s - don't trust anyone over 30...
I am over 45 and I thoroughly enjoy the broadcasts. I see them as a vast improvement over the previous broadcasters - particularly Warren, but I also consider him as an improvement over Derek in some areas. I enjoyed Derek, but his being such a 'homer" and constantly (and pretty much immediately) complaining about the officials was distracting. I especially liked it when he called the ref out by his full name on the air - just to make sure listeners knew who to complain to the league about, I suppose. The other thing that bothered me about Derek was that he did not have a color man - or if he did, I never knew it. He seemed to employ some kind of circular-breathing technique that prohibited any other commentary to edge into his broadcast. He was not awful by any means - but those things annoyed me at the time.
I enjoy Russ and Rob. Even though Russ is the main guy - he does a good job of sharing the microphone with Rob. I like the rapport they have built over the years. Whoever made the observation that Rob needs to fight back a little more was right on the money. Also, I think that Russ' focus on himself is more in jest than anything - it might work better if Rob needled him a bit more. Russ works well with his color man and Rob seems to know when to drop in his statistical tidbits.
Russ has his faults, to be sure. (edited critical comments after reconsidering)
Overall I think Russ is growing into a fine broadcaster - when that day comes that he does move on I know that I will miss his description of the game.
By the way, I am wearing my Potato Bowl Champion T-shirt, a pair of worn blue jeans, and tube socks.
that is all...
Last Edited: 12/31/2011 4:44:38 PM by El Gato Roberto