"Come on people, we can do better than this..." is what I used to bellow into the headset at Milwaukee County Stadium when we were doing something on the scoreboard that didn't come off as planned. I'm sure it was the same scenario in the broadcast compound for both ESPN and NBC as first day coverage commenced at the US Open from Bethpage Black Golf Course.

Following a fine lead-in from The Golf Channel's "Live From" show, ESPN opened with unique shots of Bethpage only to have NO audio whatsoever. No natural sound, no narration, no music, until about 45 seconds into the open, then it popped in. Trust me when I tell you this, having been in the situation, someone was screaming in the truck. You only get to open the 2009 US Open once and when it's wrong, there is a producer screaming somewhere at someone and or everyone.

At the US Open, when you're ESPN and you're trying to demonstrate what a wonderful job you can do broadcasting the first two days of a major, you have meeting after meeting making sure that all is in place and will go well. That said, I like Chris Berman. I had the chance to meet him when he was involved in the pro-am at the Quail Hollow Championship earlier this PGA Tour season and I was on site hosting the coverage for the PGA Tour Network on Sirius 209 and XM 146.

The players seem to like him, he is a very nice fellow indeed, however, he should not be hosting the opening round live coverage of the United States Open. ESPN has several very capable fellows who could fill in nicely sitting next to Roger Maltbie, but Boomer isn't one of them. I would suggest, if not Scott Van Pelt, who at one time worked for The Golf Channel, then how about bringing in someone who just happens to be on site working for another company associated with the Open, like Peter Jacobsen? He's media friendly, he knows the game and he's won an Open. Sure, the Open he won was in the movie "Tin Cup," but he's closer to winning an Open than Chris Berman.

Poor ESPN, they went on the air at 8:55 a.m. Central and then play was suspended at 9:15 a.m. The only thing going through my mind is, "Please, not a rain delay filled with Chris Berman filling time..." Fortunately, ESPN is a brand that has "SportsCenter" behind it, so it was a morning filled with updates on top of updates, occasionally with a little Berman sprinkled in.

Then, in flipping back and forth between "coverage" from Wetpage Black on ESPN and the "True Hollywood Story" of "Full House" on E! Entertainment, came word that the round was going to be postponed for the day. And who brought us that news? Mike Tirico and Curtis Strange.

It's the GMO all over again and we're bringing the band back together. Oh, I could tell you some Curtis Strange stories where you nod your head appreciatively, being able to picture the scenario in your head. I guess my question would be, where were Tirico and Strange earlier? If there was any hint that this thing was going to have weather issues, and there were, as early as last week, why not have the Dynamic Duo of T and C-Strange ready to go? I would much rather hear Curtis talk about the anniversary of his winning two consecutive Opens than listen to Boomer riff on Bob Dylan lyrics.

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