Azinger: ‘My Job As a TV Analyst Is To, Um… Build a Player’s Brand’

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Paul Azinger (L) and Dan Hicks of NBC Sports/Golf Channel appear on set during the second round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on Aug 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

As reported earlier, Paul Azinger was recently named NBC’s new lead golf analyst, replacing its long-time commentator Johnny Miller.

However, if you think Azinger is going to put on Miller’s old headset, saddle up next to Dan Hicks, and start criticizing his fellow Tour pros, think again.

During a press call to promote his new gig at the Peacock Network, the former PGA Champion sounded like a seasoned fake-news virtue-signaler.

“I’m not afraid to use that word, but I’m not going to stick it on somebody because I don’t think that’s fair,” said Azinger, during a media conference call.

You see, according to Azinger, the word “choke” is an “irresponsible” thing to say on television. (Although on NBC’s cable network, calling half the country “nazis,” among other choice words, is, like, totally responsible.)

Apparently, the new job description of NBC’s lead golf analyst – as Azinger envisions it, should be to “build the brand” of the (mostly) millionaire subjects he covers, not tear them down.

Going out on a limb here, but it almost sounds a little bit like propaganda. (I mean, imagine becoming a White House reporter, and saying, “I’m going to build the brand of POTUS, not tear him down.” Check that. They actually did do that for eight years.)

A pathetic-sounding Azinger continued: “It’s irresponsible as a broadcaster to do that. I want to help build their brand, not tear them down.”

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