I know it’s fashionable nowadays to hate Jim Lampley (and uncool to defend him), but I thought I’d post some positive things about him.
Jim Lampley has been a boxing sportscaster for as long as many of us can remember. His face and voice immediately bring to mind HBO boxing and championship fights. Alongside Larry Merchant, and a host of other commentators on the other side, Lampley has been at ringside for many, many important fights.
Putting aside his tendency to be biased for or against certain fighters, and putting aside his sometimes inaccurate and ill-timed calling of the action itself… Lampley, like him or not, puts that stamp of “major event” on fights. He also has the responsibility to orchestrate the comments and efforts of the people beside him. Can you imagine Larry Merchant with free rein to say whatever he wants whenever he wants? They each have their role, but Lampley is the main dude, if you will.
His are the opening comments to the event… his are the closing comments. It is his responsibility to wrap up the telecast with specific comments designed to keep the interest of the TV audience and keep them coming back. It can’t be an easy job.
It’s easy for us to sit back in our sofas and recliners and judge Lampley based on his mistakes, both at ringside, and in his private life. Yeah, the guy was arrested for domestic violence. He’s no saint, same as just about every other TV personality out there. But once in front of the camera, he has always comported himself in a fashion befitting someone in his position.
He has had to handle difficult situations on the fly. He’s not afraid to criticize refs, judges, or corners when he sees the need. He’s been sensitive to situations that require sensitivity, like when a major boxing figure has died or has fallen gravely ill. He’s shown the ability to defuse a situation when things become tense.
Let’s face it. We all love to throw dirt on Lampley, and talk about how much better his colleagues are. The Bernsteins, the Kellermans, etc, etc. But deep inside, at least some of us appreciate the job he does and consider him as much an integral part of boxing, as Michael Buffer and his “let’s get ready to rumble” signature line. And like Buffer himself, Lampley may not give us the expert insight into boxing that only an ex-boxer can, like a Roy Jones Jr. or a George Foreman. But that’s why there is a team standing in front of the camera. Each one has a specific job. Lampley does the announcing, the intros and the wrap-ups…. Merchant does his philosophical ramblings…. and Manny Stewart (or whoever is standing alongside Lampley) does his boxing insights and comments. But the guy that ties it all together in one neat bundle so we can enjoy the telecast is Lampley.
Popular with the boxing crowd or not, I for one will miss Lampley when he’s done his last telecast. Now Harold Lederman….. that’s another matter altogether.
