Hi, my IQ is 43 - Well, sir, you're qualified to be a sports commentator!

Is it just me, or did anyone else have to watch all the BCS bowl games with their television on mute? Sports commentators are supposed to be impartial observers who relay the game's details and occasionally comment on the facets of the game the typical layman may not pick up. Today's sports commentators are imbeciles.

Exhibit A: Mike Tirico (who is usually outstanding) complaining that a college coach should have challenged a call. Mike, college coaches can't challenge calls. That's the NFL, big guy.

Exhibit B: Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts complaining that a Texas catch and fumble was incorrectly called an incomplete pass. Guys, I know he had 2 feet down but he was standing still. The guy must make some sort of football move if he's stationary in order to exhibit possession. And it's not like he was standing still for 5 seconds, this all happened within a tenth of a second. Yet Jackson and Fouts still went on and on about how it was a fumble, even after the replays (and officials) clearly proved otherwise.

Exhibit C: After Texas defended a USC pass, Jackson and Fouts complained it should have been an interception. The defender caught the ball in mid-air but lost control when he hit the ground. Yes, the ground cannot cause a fumble, but a receiver must maintain possession upon impact for a catch to be legit.

Now, I can understand if the announcers get the initial call incorrect, because they're watching the game live. But they see the same replays we do and they're supposed to be experts. So when they refuse to admit they were incorrect, it's one of two things: 1) megalomania or 2) gross incompetance. I lean towards the latter.

It's not so much that these guys are egotistical airheads who enjoy nothing more than hearing their own voices, it's that they don't even know the rules of the sport they're announcing! You'd think there would be some sort of football literacy test that one must pass in order to demostrate a rudimentary knowledge of the game. This is basic stuff.

And I haven't even touched on the the fact that every announcer is ridiculously biased. Musberger praising OSU for racking up so many yards through 3 quarters. Here's the thing, Brent - it's a 7 point game, still a long way to go. Jackson and Fouts fawning over USC (or any other Pac 10 team for that matter). By the way, didn't Keith Jackson retire, like, 8 years ago?! Can't someone hand that guy his AARP card, give him a thank you card, and throw his ass out of the booth? He used to be fun, what with his 'Whoa, Nelly' and all that, but now the guy talks so much ABC will cut to a commercial while he's mid-sentence. They guy won't shut-up and it's all complete gibberish to boot. He doesn't even know the names of the players.

The worst part is that these guys aren't doing their job of delivering the play-by-play and talking about the game. Here's what I want to know:

1) What just happened and/or is happening now?
2) Some insight, culling from your years of experience, into why you think that happened and/or what your think they may do next.

A good announcing team should be able to be followed by a blind person. If a blind person tried to follow any of the announcers during the BCS games, not only would he not have a clue about a) the teams involved, b) the current score, or c) the game's status (quarter, time, etc) but he would probably think it was a cricket test.

Time to go back to the basics. Time to stop hiring the latest former NFL star who's been hit one too many times and has a hard enough time tying his shoes, not to mention providing color commentary to a game. Yeah, we know you used to play. Yeah, we know you guys did things differently back in your day. Whatever, any insight into why that jackass just went for a two-point conversion to go up by 5, Brainiac? Time to sunset crotchety old announcers who are well past their prime. Give those guys the Blue Bonnett bowl, not the BCS title game. Time to start hiring competant, well-spoken people who can comment on and add insight to the games. Until then, I'll continue with my practice of muting the tv and listening to the radio.