How long can a newscaster talk without saying anything?

Many years ago when I was a student at the University of Kentucky, and a student broadcaster, I was broadcasting a UK basketball game when a goal broke.

It delayed the game at least 45 minutes. All the while I had to talk. I talked and I talked and I was proud of myself. But when my instructor confronted me he agreed I did talk the whole time, but I said very little.

That is how I would describe the newscasters who broke in early on regular programming Sunday night to tell us what President Obama was going to tell us.

Grant you, it was an important announcement that was about to be made. However, the network bosses showed no respect for those who had been watching regular programming, some as long as one hour and 45 minutes, as in the case of Celebrity Apprentice.

No, as usual the news people couldn’t wait for the president to inform us, they had to do it themselves.

Only one problem, they had no information and rambled for over 30 minutes before the details of what had happened ever became clear. 

Still nothing from the networks as to when and here the final part of what you were watching would take place.

The anchor would say all he could think of saying and then throw it to another correspondent who would ramble a while until they had exhausted their memory. Then back to the anchor for more rambling.

They talked and talked, but had little to say. I felt like I was back at the UK game, but this time I was irritated.

I know the White House had informed them that an important announcement would be forthcoming, but they couldn’t wait.

It would have been more dramatic had the president made the announcement. But no, the talking heads had to speculate and guess what may have taken place. Some had drones making an attack, others had special forces, not Navy Seals attacking. Why can’t they wait?

And about the less important TV you were watching. I still haven’t seen any information on how you can catch up on your show. 

But I can help those of you who have computers. I’ve had to resort to the computer several times when a UK game was scheduled to come on, but the game ahead was going long. 

On a computer you can see the complete program. Since this has become possible my anger level at ESPN has diminished. You know there have been some UK games that over half of the first half was not shown.

So to put everything in perspective what is more important, hearing an announcement from President Obama that Osama bin Laden has been killed or seeing the end of Celebrity Apprentice? That easy, the announcement from President Obama. 

Same question. What’s more important, seeing the end of the show you’re watching or hearing a newscaster ramble? I think the networks should have delayed commenting on what the president was going to say until they had something to say themselves.

Nobody has died at the networks and left me in charge so what happened Sunday night will also happen in the future.

Again, my advice, get a computer. It can lower your anger level.