You Can’t Be Serious! NBC Fires Tennis’ Bud Collins
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jul 2, 2007 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Just when you thought the networks could not do any worse when it comes to harming tennis in the name of promoting the game, they pull another fast one that leaves you shaking your head and wishing you could pitch the remote control through the TV.
Bud Collins, who has been the face and voice of tennis journalism for decades, has been fired from NBC Sports.
The official reason? Time to go in a new direction.
From Charles Bricker’s blog at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
This had nothing to do with age, NBC is saying. It was (get this) a management decision to save money. That sounds slightly better than, “We decided to go in a new direction.”
But, then, Collins has been doing this for 35 years for NBC. Going in a new direction after going in the right direction for 35 years doesn’t sound too swift, does it?
Putting people out to pasture once they hit a certain age has long been the scourge of corporate American, but in the case of Collins, its equally outrageous. Advanced age in tennis not only lends a touch of distinction, but an unmatched knowledge and understanding of the game.
Who better than Bud Collins knows the ins-and-outs of tennis?
He first covered the US Open almost forty years ago in 1968, when Arthur Ashe made history with his first US Open title. Since then, Collins has been a vocal leader in our sport and a worthy spokesperson for the game. Like tennis, he has managed to evolve with the times and even though he is rapidly pushing eighty, he still is one of the best journalists tennis has ever been fortunate to have.
On a personal note, I’m more than happy to admit that Collins has long been one of my tennis favorites. His meticulous and accurate reporting, most recently for NBC and the Boston Globe, are some of my favorite reading, especially during Grand Slams.
His amiable personality may be the stuff of legends, but believe me it is all true. I’ll never forget sitting next to him in a press conference last summer at the US Open, only to have him turn to me and introduce himself as if he was just another hack with ink stains on his finger, not one of the most recognizable sports journalists in the world.
After telling me how he was going to look into On the Baseline, he followed it up by letting me know that one of the reasons why poor Catalina Castano may have gotten drubbed 6-0, 6-0 by Lindsay Davenport in one of Lindsay’s last US Open matches was that she had just returned from her honeymoon.
Those little anecdotes are what we’ve come to love from Collins, along with his famous nicknames. As Bricker recollects, what would tennis be like without Fraulein Forehand, Barcelona Bumblebee, Chris America - The Ice Maiden, or even, Sisters Sledgehammer?
Hopefully, we’ll still get to enjoy reading his articles at the Boston Globe, but it looks like we’ll be missing Collins after Wimbledon from MSNBC.com and NBC’s sports coverage.
If like me you believe that NBC is making a big mistake by ditching one of the game’s biggest supporters, do what you can voice your opinion. You can do what I did by sending email to NBC Sports. Tell a friend by clicking on the “Share or Email” link above. If you have your own site or MySpace account - blog it! All it takes is five minutes to make a difference.
Regardless, don’t forget to watch the Wimbledon finals this weekend to see Bud Collins cover his fortieth - and final - Championships.
If you enjoyed this tennis article, please sign up for a free subscription!
Nick | Jul 2, 2007 | Reply
I dont understand how much money they are going to save by letting Bud Collins go…
Sad news, but I’ve always think that NBC doesn’t give Bud enough air time.
It will be strange not seeing him interview the players after they win at the French and Wimbledon.
Kathy K | Jul 2, 2007 | Reply
Aye, laddie! Can there be that much money in New York City? I should think that if NBC is that broke, they wouldn’t want to let on. That was probably the only excuse they could have picked that is more lame than “time for a new direction.”
Will.I.Am | Jul 2, 2007 | Reply
I’m not too disappointed. Bud is never in the booth for NBC, so you hardly ever saw him. And I thought his fashion was ridiculous.
But I don’t understand why they fired him. The thing I like (tolerate) about the old-timers (Cliff Drysdale, Dick Enberg, Bud Collins) is that they have been around for so many years and I love to hear their stories of how Wimbledon only had a couple of courts and stories of our legends. It shows total disrespect that they fired him.
Although Bud was not my favorite commentator, I will miss him dearly, and would like to thank him for his contributions to our sport.
Theresa | Jul 7, 2007 | Reply
I guess a lot of people sent E-mails to NBC; the mailbox is full!
Paula Vergara | Jul 8, 2007 | Reply
I can see cutting back his hours a bit, but showing him the door?
No fair. The man has poured his heart and soul into his career. Although, Bud will be able to find work at another station.
I’m also sure that Bud’s friends and colleagues will be there to support him during this time of transition. I don’t think the Boston Globe would be as stupid and careless as NBC. Big corporations like NBC usually don’t have compassion as part of their business plan. It’s all about money and image.
Aaron Gerritz | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
I don’t think that Cliff Drysdale has ever worked for NBC, only ESPN, but let me say that I have never seen a professional tennis commentator make so many factual mistakes while on the air. Mary Carillo has even kidded him “Watch much tennis, Cliff?” because it really doesn’t seem like he keeps up with the game except when he is in the booth. Does ESPN think that the American public is that much in love with his accent that Drysdale can continue to get away with so much ineptness on the air?
Also, Dick Enberg has trouble with on-the-air commentary although he is still a very thoughtful writer. I guess NBC is keeping him because he does other sports besides tennis. It’s sad, because I think that Bud Collins could still do very well working in the booth.
Now I’m wondering who at NBC Bud Collins ****** off, because I can’t see another reason for this.
GaryR | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
It is a shame about NBC’s decision, although Bud has gotten precious little air time in the years since he was bumped out of the booth. Bud Collins brought tennis in an entertaining and informative way to millions of non-tennis watchers, and, in my opinion, was a big factor in the tennis boom of the 70’s.
John McEnroe, who was brought in after his retirement from tennis, is not 1/10th the commentator that Bud is. Bud bursts the stereotype that tennis is a dry, boring sport of the elite. He made it personal and fun.
Wimbledon ratings (and NBC coverage) have declined in recent years - corresponding with the departure of Dick Enberg and the Bud being muscled out of the booth.
Maybe Bud will pick up some independent contracts like Dick Enberg has been able to obtain so he can continue to broadcast tennis with ESPN or other providers. The Tennis Channel could do much worse than hiring Bud to lend commentary to the tournaments it covers.