Question:
Is Johnny Miller going to join the Senior Tour? I don’t know how old he is but when he turns 50 I hope he will go. He is a terrible golf announcer IMHO. With some players he will never have a good thing to say about them or their game and some players he does nothing but suck up to. Especially with the president. Made me sick to watch it. Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky. He is a much better player than an announcer. Trevor Critch
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Is Johnny Miller going to join the Senior Tour? I don’t know how old he is but when he turns 50 I hope he will go. He is a terrible golf announcer IMHO. With some players he will never have a good thing to say about them or their game and some players he does nothing but suck up to. Especially with the president. Made me sick to watch it. Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky. He is a much better player than an announcer. Trevor Critch
I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch! — <End of Message Seattle, WA
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Yes, he did suck up to the Pres. Why not, he’s a fellow golfer. I like Miller’s comemmentary he’s blunt he will tell you what he thinks in a manner I find refreshing. He may not be the greatest but I like the tourney’s he covers. As a player, wow! —
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Oh dont be so cynical 
It was a good shot and its reassuring to know I can hit a 7-iron further than Tiger hit a 3-wood. As to Miller, its those knowledgeable grunts that annoy me. You In defence of Miller, he did do a lot of "Hmmns" and "Ummns" when Tiger went on his little escapades during the second round. Nobody is immune to his piercing gaze……. Cheers, MikeS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Is Johnny Miller going to join the Senior Tour? I don’t know how old he is but when he turns 50 I hope he will go. He is a terrible golf announcer IMHO. With some players he will never have a good thing to say about them or their game and some players he does nothing but suck up to. Especially with the president. Made me sick to watch it. Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky. He is a much better player than an announcer. Trevor Critch
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Yes, he did suck up to the Pres. Why not, he’s a fellow golfer. I like Miller’s comemmentary he’s blunt he will tell you what he thinks in a manner I find refreshing. He may not be the greatest but I like the tourney’s he covers.
I think Miller was on his "A" game this time out. I’ve been lukewarm on some of his previous coverage, but he was really dead on during the Open. His swing analysis was amazing–he picked up more in a half second of backswing than I could get out of three or four slow-mo replays. -joseph
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Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky.
I’m not sure why the three-wood chip is amazing or unbelievable, or only used by others down on their luck. It’s referenced in books I’ve read as a good way of coping with a ball that’s right against or near the fringe. For instance in "Greg Norman Advanced Golf" (p.176) it says of the three-wood chip: "If you are right up against the fringe, the three-wood — with its longer shaft, larger head and more loft than a putter — is the ideal club for the bladed wedge shot … the wood has the added advantage of pushing the high grass down with its large head when it is placed behind the ball. The higher loft of the three-wood, compared to the putter, barely gets the ball in the air to clear the grass in front of the ball and allows it to run to the hole, just as a putt would." Given the grass length at the US Open, Tiger played a pretty sensible (and by no means unique) shot, right out of Norman’s book! Colin Wilson Remove ** for correct E-mail address "Nothing is impossible for the person who doesn’t have to do it." Weller’s Law
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky. I’m not sure why the three-wood chip is amazing or unbelievable, or only used by others down on their luck. It’s referenced in books I’ve read as a good way of coping with a ball that’s right against or near the fringe. For instance in "Greg Norman Advanced Golf" (p.176) it says of the three-wood chip: "If you are right up against the fringe, the three-wood — with its longer shaft, larger head and more loft than a putter — is the ideal club for the bladed wedge shot … the wood has the added advantage of pushing the high grass down with its large head when it is placed behind the ball. The higher loft of the three-wood, compared to the putter, barely gets the ball in the air to clear the grass in front of the ball and allows it to run to the hole, just as a putt would." Given the grass length at the US Open, Tiger played a pretty sensible (and by no means unique) shot, right out of Norman’s book! Colin Wilson Remove ** for correct E-mail address "Nothing is impossible for the person who doesn’t have to do it." Weller’s Law
Hi Colin: You made a pretty good observation. The only problem with it is that Tiger wasn’t up against the collar or rough. He was in a shaved down area. The lie was really tight. This is all besides the point though. I was using this as an example. Regards Trevor Critch
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I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch!
His commentary is better than most IMHO and makes golf worth watching on TV.
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I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch! His commentary is better than most IMHO and makes golf worth watching on TV.
Johnny is honest. He’s not afraid to criticize. I enjoy his swing analysis.
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Is Johnny Miller going to join the Senior Tour? I don’t know how old he is but when he turns 50 I hope he will go. He is a terrible golf announcer IMHO.
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion. Who DO you like? With some players he will never have a good thing to say about them or their game and some players he does nothing but suck up to.
And your point is……? Especially with the president. Made me sick to watch it.
And you would treat the President of the United States differently if you were sitting next to him on national television? I think not. Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVEABLE.
No, he said the shot was "amazing" or "unbelievable" because it was amazing and unbelievable. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky.
I disagree completely. He would show the same enthusiasm for ANY player who executes an "amazing" or "unbelievable" shot. Go back and watch the tape again. He did on numerous occasions. (Or is that what you call "sucking up?") He is a much better player than an announcer.
It’s easy to criticize. Let’s hear some SPECIFIC suggestions as to how he might do it differently. IMHO, Miller is fine. He’s candid and insightful. He shows genuine enthusiasm/excitement when players (any player) execute terrific shots. As for how he "sucked up" (your words) to the president, how do you suppose he’d have been received by an American public viewing the United States Open if he’d acted in a less than respectful manner to the man? Whether you agree with his politics or not, he’s still the president. If it were George Bush sitting there, would you have objected to Miller "sucking up?" Randy
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I think Miller was on his "A" game this time out. I’ve been lukewarm on some of his previous coverage, but he was really dead on during the Open. His swing analysis was amazing–he picked up more in a half second of backswing than I could get out of three or four slow-mo replays.
I agree completely. He also gets a lot from the sound, even though he hears it through electronics (he’s in the booth). It’s amazing to me how he can hear a "thin" or a "chunky". He was doing such a good job of it on Saturday that everyone in my house was wondering if he was announcing over a 30-second tape delay. At one hole, while Lehman was lining up a shot, Miller pointed out that the back left of the green slants, so a shot hole-high but left will slide off the green and down the hill. Lehman was in a late group, so he had lots of opportunity to point that out before — but he didn’t. Lehman’s shot was hole-high, left, and off the green down the hill !!! (Either he was working on a tape delay, or… he knew Lehman’s tendencies; yeah, that’s the ticket. :-) BTW, I think that the USGA may be as strict a taskmaster for NBC as the Masters is for CBS. Did anybody catch how often the announcers said "tournament", then corrected themselves to "championship"? Cheers! Dave
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I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch! His commentary is better than most IMHO and makes golf worth watching on TV.
Ron: Get real bye. Gary McCord is much more entertaining, And he doesn’t put down other golfers. With Gary if a person is playing badly it doesn’t mean he is a bad player. I can’t say this about Miller. Miller’s profound statements are laid on a bit thick during the big tournaments as well. They are playing golf and getting paid for it. They arn’t saving the planet. Miller should stick to what he is good at. He is a great player. Just my 2 cents worth. Trevor
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Youv’e got to be kidding. Give me Gary McCord anyday. At least he has a sense of humor and tells it like it is. I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch! His commentary is better than most IMHO and makes golf worth watching on TV.
When ancient man screamed and yelled and beat the ground with sticks; it was called " WITCH CRAFT " When modern man does the same it is called " GOLF " BK SLOAN (Bruce) Surrey, BC. Canada
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I really didn’t enjoy his commentary much either… Nonetheless, it was a great tournament to watch! His commentary is better than most IMHO and makes golf worth watching on TV.
I’ll take a Johnny Miller over a Peter Kostis any day. David Golf Homepage http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/3580/ "Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say whatever they like, but if anybody say’s anything back, that is an outrage" Winston Churchill
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Is Johnny Miller going to join the Senior Tour? I don’t know how old he is but when he turns 50 I hope he will go. He is a terrible golf announcer IMHO. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion. Who DO you like?
I can’t believe how positive everybody is toward Johnny Miller. He drive me freakin nuts. With some players he will never have a good thing to say about them or their game and some players he does nothing but suck up to. And your point is……?
I think this is a valid point. Johnny seems to be in love with certain players and I personally get sick of hearing him talk about them as if they were a deity. Especially with the president. Made me sick to watch it. And you would treat the President of the United States differently if you were sitting next to him on national television? I think not.
Both announcers sucked up, but I wouldn’t really expect anything different. Neither is a political commentator, nor should they try to be. Take Tigers 3 wood chip shot. Because it was Tiger the shot was AMAZING or UNBELIEVABLE. No, he said the shot was "amazing" or "unbelievable" because it was amazing and unbelievable.
That was a nifty shot, but Johnny made a big deal of every shot Tiger made that was anywhere near the flag. Several times he made statement to the effect that Tiger was the only player on tour that could make such a shot. IMO, Johnny, and the rest of the world at this point, suffers form Tiger worship. Johnny just has a real bad case of it. If Daly or some other golfer down on his luck did it he would say it was a careless shot that got lucky. I disagree completely. He would show the same enthusiasm for ANY player who executes an "amazing" or "unbelievable" shot. Go back and watch the tape again. He did on numerous occasions. (Or is that what you call "sucking up?")
Ehhhh, to a point. He is a much better player than an announcer.
He can’t even play anymore. It’s easy to criticize. Let’s hear some SPECIFIC suggestions as to how he might do it differently.
I don’t know what the original poster had in mind, but here are a few things about JM that drive me up the wall 1. Well if I had that lie I’d ….. but I don’t know if he has that shot in his bag. 2. When I was at Oakmont in 1973 …. 3. He has several expressions that he has made up that I think just sound stupid. I’d give an example, but to tell the truth I got to where I could tune the man out and I don’t remember any off hand. The worst part was when other announcers ask Johnny about what it was like at Oakmont. This guy will talk about himself without end if he isn’t prompted, but these idiots ask him for more. I was sick of hearing about JM’s 63 last year and it only carried over to this year. I wish to hell he’d turn 50 and hit the SPGA, and at this point I hope he gets pounded so some announcer can sit up there and rake him over the coals. If Johnny can do it so much better than the guys on the course he ought to get his ass out of the booth and qualify for the Open. Well I am going to quit now before I get worked up into a lather. Suffice it to say I think JM is an awful announcer. IMHO, Miller is fine. He’s candid and insightful. He shows genuine enthusiasm/excitement when players (any player) execute terrific shots.
It was either snip the comment about the president or go off on an tangent that wouldn’t stop so… <snip Randy
Children need encouragemnet. So if a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way, he develops a good, lucky feeling. -Jack Handey Walter A. Danker (803) 777-7101
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Trevor and Walter all over Johnny, saying he worships Tiger.. Um, didn’t you guys see it on Saturday when Tiger tried to hit a high cut shot over a tree after hooking his approach? Johnny said before Tiger hit the shot that he thought it was the wrong play, and when Tiger hit it over the green into the tough rough, Johnny said again that going high was wrong and that he should have gone low. Later in the round, Jeff Maggert had roughly the same shot, punched it under the tree, and ended up five or ten feet from the flag. Johnny praised Maggert, and made some reference as to "Tiger’s got to learn all the shots", or something along those lines (sorry, don’t have videotape memory). Kevin
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As for how he "sucked up" (your words) to the president, how do you suppose he’d have been received by an American public viewing the United States Open if he’d acted in a less than respectful manner to the man?
One of the differences between the Queen of England and the President is that a golf commentator can pat the President on the shoulder on national TV. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Clinton so starry-eyed. Now if he can only figure out how to get a PGA Tour event named after himself, his place in history will be secure. ;-) -joseph
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I must disagree. He is interesting and knowledgeble. He anticipates problems with putts, bad lies, spike marks, etc. He can read players better than other announcers. I do not think he sucks up. When Ernie Els hit a pitching wedge into the right rough during the final round of the US Open, he said "That was a bad shot—a terrible shot." (even though the shot was maybe 10 feet from the cup) When David Ogrin laid up from 220 yards on Saturday, Miller chastised him for being a pussy (in so many words, of course). As for his deferential approach to the President, I don’t know what you expect. It would have been interesting for Miller to call him a lying, spineless, philandering piece of dog doo doo. Perhaps a snide remark about Paula Jones. Perhaps a comment about Hillary’s fat legs. I would have fallen out of my chair had he done any of this. But he is a professional, and he likes his paycheck. There was no choice. In conclusion—-I think Miller is excellent.
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I’m sick and tired of all the Johnny Miller bashing … When I was 14 years old, I met Johnny Miller. It was at the Andy Williams San Diego Open. He couldn’t find his caddy or the guy with the keys to drive a golf cart to the driving range, so I offered to carry his clubs for him. He thanked me, but said the driver would be along shortly. He noticed the San Francisco State jacket I was wearing and asked me if I lived in the Bay Area. I explain that the jacket belonged to my brother. We chatted a minute longer and then when the driver arrived, he reached into his bag and gave me his old golf glove. Miller was my hero before I ever met him, but his kindness really impressed me. Everything I’ve ever read about him indicates that he is always a gentleman. I think he’s a fine announcer on another wise lackluster team (CBS is much better). He knows more about the game than any other NBC announcer (including the other former golfers). I can’t wait until he joins the Senior Tour so I can see him play again. Best, H. — Howard Owens Correct Address Looks Something Like This: <howard&hbo3.com (figure it out) DO NOT TRY USING REPLY-TO THE "NOSPAM" ADDRESS DOES NOT WORK
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sick and tired of all the Johnny Miller bashing … When I was 14 years old, I met Johnny Miller. It was at the Andy Williams San Diego Open. He couldn’t find his caddy or the guy with the keys to drive a golf cart to the driving range, so I offered to carry his clubs for him. He thanked me, but said the driver would be along shortly. He noticed the San Francisco State jacket I was wearing and asked me if I lived in the Bay Area. I explain that the jacket belonged to my brother. We chatted a minute longer and then when the driver arrived, he reached into his bag and gave me his old golf glove. Miller was my hero before I ever met him, but his kindness really impressed me. Everything I’ve ever read about him indicates that he is always a gentleman. I think he’s a fine announcer on another wise lackluster team (CBS is much better). He knows more about the game than any other NBC announcer (including the other former golfers).
I also feel that Johnny Miller is excellent at what he does (as color commentator and golfer). My take on his visit with President Clinton was that they were personal friends and had played together in the past. How the heck was that sucking up? Tim L.
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At last, know why his whiny, condescending voice is on network tv. — http://www.geocities.com/MadisonAvenue/1488
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I must disagree. He is interesting and knowledgeble. He anticipates problems with putts, bad lies, spike marks, etc. He can read players better than other announcers. I do not think he sucks up. When Ernie Els hit a pitching wedge into the right rough during the final round of the US Open, he said "That was a bad shot—a terrible shot." (even though the shot was maybe 10 feet from the cup) When David Ogrin laid up from 220 yards on Saturday, Miller chastised him for being a pussy (in so many words, of course). As for his deferential approach to the President, I don’t know what you expect. It would have been interesting for Miller to call him a lying, spineless, philandering piece of dog doo doo. Perhaps a snide remark about Paula Jones. Perhaps a comment about Hillary’s fat legs. I would have fallen out of my chair had he done any of this. But he is a professional, and he likes his paycheck. There was no choice. In conclusion—-I think Miller is excellent.
Agreed, none of them are perfect or right all the time (are all of us), but Miller is better than most.
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He is a much better player than an announcer.
Duh … Of course he is. Because he was/is a GREAT player and no former player is a great golf announcer. Gary McCord is a better announcer than a player.
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Now if he can only figure out how to get a PGA Tour event named after himself, his place in history will be secure. ;-)
The Whitewater Classic, surely 
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This attempts to agree with Trevor completely: This sort of swing analysis and subjective commentary, is completely self-aggrandizing. We could easily get along [would prefer] a narrative of the progress of the tournament. Gary McCord is a tour pro himself. Yet never states a condescending or egocentric remark. Great for the old boys network, that these people receive ten thousand a pop, for criticizing sweating, working pros. Guess that spread amoungst fifty million viewers/consumers, its not that great a deal:( mitch central NJ — http://www.geocities.com/MadisonAvenue/1488