Matt Devlin is one of the nicest guys I've ever met

rage2021 · Post #21 » by **rage2021** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:16 pm

I dont think any announcer can please you guys..

Post #22 » by **Yuri Vaultin** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:22 pm

Swirsky4PM wrote:Overall, he's a solid announcer. But he's no Chuck.

Thank God!

Darkseid · Post #23 » by **Darkseid** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:27 pm

He still looks creepy sometimes...

But his Raptor passion is winning me over.

TorontoBaller · Post #24 » by **TorontoBaller** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:29 pm

Devlin does not have good hair.

lolwut · Post #25 » by **lolwut** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:34 pm

double c wrote:
lolwut wrote:Matt Devlin would be better received if he didn't act all creepy every once in a while.

Is it creepy to have a Houston Rocket in a banner touting the 09/10 Raps as the next champs?

No, no it's not.

Are you unaware of where the sig came from?

Yes, yes you are.

xxxSwiZzxxx · Post #26 » by **xxxSwiZzxxx** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:37 pm

he seems like a really nice guy......but the thing that sorta creeps me out about him is when he is doing interviews with ppl, he gets this creepy look in his eyes as he stares at the other person and then this creepy smile and i swear i feel like he`s just going to lean in and kiss the other dude....

im not saying to hate on him......it just feels that way and then i start loling........i like his commentating though, but miss chucks enthusiastic calls.....

sanity · Post #27 » by **sanity** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:46 pm

After watching him commentate with PJ Carlissimo during the playoffs, I really don't mind him at all. If you think Devlin tries hard, Chuck was just on another level - and it was pretty obvious at times a lot of players didn't like him.

As far as their basketball insight goes, I'd give the edge to Devlin. "Will Solomon, what-are-you-doing "

WesWesley · Post #28 » by **WesWesley** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 8:57 pm

Swirsky4PM wrote:Somebody brought up this comparison, and I totally agree.

Overall, he's a solid announcer. But he's no Chuck.

I'm no Devlin fanatic, but I've never met the guy so i'll reserve judgment. He rides players like Kapono pretty hard, and I"m sure he'll have a man crush on Bargnani this year. Chuck was a homer, but he wasn't trying to be as friendly with the players, like Devlin is. He certainly wasn't giving them the "Devlin 3 move hand shake."

I noticed this handshake one day when I saw Devlin actually trying to get Kapono's digits during an interview. He had found Kapono at the bleachers and decided he'd go in for an interview. As he went in, he didn't just shake his hand; he shook his hand kinda did an awkard cross with his thumb, pulled Kapono in for the hug, and then gave him the pound it. Kapono had no idea what was going on, but kinda just went with the flow to look like he's a good guy in the media.

It wasn't long until I started to see him doing it more and more to other players. Although he wouldn't do this 3 move handshake to guys like Bosh, Calderon, Marion, JO, but more towards the dare-I-say "white" players. He made Bargnani uncomfortable with it, but you could see that Devlin wouldn't give up on him, just like his GM Bryan. Look out for this, he does it very discretely but he does it. There is no way he'll ever try it with Bosh, and I think Calderon probably told him to ****off after the first time he tried it. I wonder who he'll ride harder, Belinelli, or DeRozan? They are both fresh meat for him. I can already tell he's trying to go for one on one lunches with Belinelli, but I'm not sure he's ready to become pals and play XBOX with DeRozan and his cousin LeRoy who's only chillin till he finds a job as a chef, because he's in culinary school. Maybe DeRozan is a bit too immature for a guy like Devlin to hang out with. At least Swirskys wife had him by his throat, Devlin probably goes out and gets sh**faced with guys like Armstrong and Sherman Hamilton all the time. Sherman is a bit of a jockey too, but he's looking at it from a different perspective because he was a baller first, and then he became a analyst.

Post #29 » by **YogiStewart** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:00 pm

Raptors Board:

"Where Devlin vs Swirsky threads are started weekly!"

bingolong · Post #30 » by **bingolong** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:20 pm

inrapscity wrote:however nice he may be, he can't compare to chuck. chuck was there for ya 18/7 and you could also go and have lunch with him.

That's because Chuck had no friends. Just the folks at DQ.
Completely forgot about John Saunders, he did a great job in his time with us. When Devlin goes,people around here will be whining about his replacement.

RapsBulls4evr · Post #31 » by **RapsBulls4evr** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:21 pm

LOL!

Post #32 » by **gojoorange** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:30 pm

I love watching Big 10 football when Devlin is calling the games, he's a great commentator and his passion for sports is obvious.

infernoskull · Post #33 » by **infernoskull** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:37 pm

I like him, his character and demeanour brings back memories of my childhood, when my guidance councellor introduced me to Mr.peepee.

Indiana Jones · Post #34 » by **Indiana Jones** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:45 pm

i'm one of the biggest chuck swirsky haters out there, but i admit that he certainly did his job passionately and made an effort to involve the fans. devlin seems to be picking up right where swirsky left off.

as a commentator, devlin is far beyond swirsky, and his job during the playoffs on tnt was a testament to his respect around nba broadcasting circles.

what really hurts our game watching experience is not so much the quality of commentators, but the overall production. i hate the ridiculous amount of replays that they show. i don't know how many times they've played a replay of a stupid foul or violation over the live game and we miss seeing a bucket. i much prefer the american network broadcasts, and if i could watch the visitors feed, i would do it every time...unless it's boston

tecumseh18 · Post #35 » by **tecumseh18** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:55 pm

Indiana Jones wrote:...and if i could watch the visitors feed, i would do it every time... especially if it's boston and Raps win

Fixed

If I had to relive one (non-sexual) moment of my life over and over, it would be watching Jose getting the and 1 in the last minute and listening to Tommy's reaction.

Anyway, Swirk was some weird guy who may never work on TV again. Devlin's a pro's pro.

junot111 · Post #36 » by **junot111** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:55 pm

overtime...

no, raptors win.

Indiana Jones · Post #37 » by **Indiana Jones** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 9:59 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:
Indiana Jones wrote:...and if i could watch the visitors feed, i would do it every time... especially if it's boston and Raps win

Fixed

If I had to relive one (non-sexual) moment of my life over and over, it would be watching Jose getting the and 1 in the last minute and listening to Tommy's reaction.

Anyway, Swirk was some weird guy who may never work on TV again. Devlin's a pro's pro.

do you have a link to that? i'd love to see it again and again

Basketball_Jones · Post #38 » by **Basketball_Jones** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 10:05 pm

Yuri Vaultin wrote:
Swirsky4PM wrote:Overall, he's a solid announcer. But he's no Chuck.

Thank God!

This....I liked Chuck at first, but man was he awkward. Took things way too personally. Also, the blatant homerism killed me. I will say this, he was naturally excited when he called the game. Devlin seems a little too try hard at times, but that is kind of what makes it funny. J Killa!

kloair23 · Post #39 » by **kloair23** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 10:10 pm

I seriously miss chuck...
sigh.. overtime...

Post #40 » by **TheDoctor** » Mon Oct 5, 2009 11:33 pm

Again I'll back up skinnyP here - I've met both a number of times. I like aspects of Chuck - he's good in studio, on the radio, on the air (unless battling with Leo) - and is good with fans over the phone or by e-mail, where he's in his comfort zone.

But in person with fans, Matt is WAY better. And his style is a lot more professional, and works well whether you team is good or bad - Chuck did not work well for a bad team, and the homerism became a lot more obvious and painful.

I wish Chuck the best, but I'm very happy with Matt going forward, and look forward to meeting him at future team events.

And we can't talk announcers without giving Jack a shout out - he's EXACTLY the same in person and on air - which is a very good thing. Classic RGM moment was when Harry Palmer BOUGHT Jack a beer at the draft party one year. Good times.