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Friday, March 23, 2007
Messing with the Masters?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember all the hue and cry a few years ago when Atlanta’s own Ted Turner wanted to colorize some classic old black-and-white films? Well, now the issue has reared its little technicolor head again here in Georgia. And the revered footage in this case involves — brace yourselves, children — the Masters.
Way, way back in 1960, Arnold Palmer birdied the final two holes on Sunday at Augusta National to snatch the green jacket away from Ken Venturi by one stroke. Ardent golf fans know all about that dramatic finish, but it’s never been re-shown on TV. Until now.
On April 8 (aka this year’s Masters Sunday), CBS will air “Jim Nantz Remembers: The 1960 Masters,” at 1:30 p.m. Obviously, we won’t get to see the whole thing all over again — the durn show’s only an hour long, after all — but there will be an interview with Palmer as he watches the broadcast for the first time and recalls all the details of snatching victory from the jaws of Amen Corner.
But wait, there’s more! Unwilling to leave good enough alone, Jim Nantz Productions (working with Legend Films) has colorized the original black-and-white footage of the live event. We’re told by CBS that this represents the first time in TV history that a sporting event that originally aired live in black-and-white has been rebroadcast in color. Ain’t technology grand?
But considering how many folks don’t want anything involving Augusta National to change, ever, (two words: pimiento cheese) one wonders if they’ll take kindly to the carpetbaggers, er, the good folks at CBS and Jim Nantz Productions messing with sacred old footage.
It comes down to this: Tradition? Or the azaleas (not to mention the plaid golf pants) in full technicolor bloom? The Serf is going to say that anything that brings more color to Augusta National is OK by her, and leave it at that.
