Consor and Johnson: The Wizards Radio Team

[fishercob]

I've known Glenn for twenty years; he coached my high school team. His on-air demeanor isn't an act. He's a stubborn and opinionated guy who will shout someone down when he feels like he's backed into a corner or put in an awkward position. He grew up in a working class neighborhood in NY (Bronx, I think). Used to tell stories about the hostile environments he'd encounter at road games -- like looking up into the stands and seeing an opposing fan wearing the winter jacket that Glenn had worn to the the game and left in the locker room. Four year starter for Pitino at BU (Brett Brown was his backup when Glenn was a senior), which really shaped his basketball identity. Played pro ball in Israel for a bit. Had a tryout with the Bullets way back. Very glad he has made a living for himself in the world of pro basketball. He has worked his ass off.

He and DJ have done an unbelievable job engaging fans into the broadcast -- first via the insanely labor-intensive "blogcasts, then via twitter. As someone who grew up calling Ken Beatrice and the early years of WTEM (570), I really commend Glenn's patience and kindness with young callers on the postgame show. I'm sure at that hour, he just wants to get home.

I am sure I am in the minority on this, but I have a pretty strong dislike for Buck and Phil in terms of their work product. Firstly, Buck is a whiner -- sort of petulant. I don't know if it's from being beaten down from watching too much losing or what, but the tone he takes often when saying things like "aaand, the Wizards turn it over," drives me nuts. He actually discusses "stats" quite a bit, but it's stats that amount to trivia rather than providing any sort of insight -- things like "double-doubles," noting how many 3's a player has made in a season with little context of shooting percentage, etc.

Phil is a nice man, but his analysis is weak at best. Unlike Glenn, he has the benefit of pictures and video to help him provide analysis. But he does a very poor job describing the action on the floor and what is actually happening. I get better X and O breakdown from Mike Prada, Kyle Weidie, and others on Wizards Twitter during the actual game. For the all the ball Phil and Buck have played and watched, my sense is they have precious little understanding of a lot of what helps win basketball games. I'd love to see them replaced.

[Nivek]

I wonder what it will take to make commonplace the use of more advanced stats
in NBA coverage. Some of this stuff just isn't that complicated if you can take
a stat like say FG% and show how 2 different players with the same number
could potentially be quite dissimilar. Kinda like BA in baseball. More and
more baseball fans are starting to understand OPS as the key/best single
offensive stat.

It was encouraging to read earlier this season that HOU was starting to use
adv stats. I suspect their fans are becoming better informed as a result although
I expect their education is still a slow process.

I've been instigating, but without much success. Dave and Glenn have been receptive, but even basic "advanced" stats haven't really made it on air -- at least not that I've heard. Mike Lee has dipped his toe into on/off numbers and efficiency stats. There are some some bloggers and writers at various outlets who are using advanced numbers. I think it's just going to take some more time. OPS had been around a LONG time before I saw it start showing up occasionally on broadcasts.

[FAH1223]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/572457958132600833[/tweet]

[dobrojim]

Not sure if I knew this once and forgot it but was recently reminded that Glenn is actually
moonlighting as Wiz radio analyst. He also is in the medical device field as a marketing rep
(or something like that). PS- and he is also from Queens. That's the correct borough of NYC for
his origins.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Since I don't own a TV anymore, let alone cable, I don't see that many Wizards games. Instead, I mostly listen to the play-by-play stylings of Dave Johnson and color commentary from Glenn Consor, the Wizards radio team.

I tend to find Johnson very listenable and Consor a bit grating, but I'd be curious to get other Wiz fans' opinions of their work. Additionally, does anyone else have a guess (or inside information) about whether they actually like each other? Usually, they are pretty amiable or the teasing seems affectionate, but on occasion, I get the feeling Johnson thinks Consor is an idiot.

Any ideas?

I like them both. I listen to NBA League Audio Pass. Totally agree on Johnson. He's ever so likeable.

Consor is a Seraphin lover. He gives Kevin a lot of shout outs. I appreciate that Consor wears his heart on his sleeve. When the Wizards are down, he sounds practically inconsolable. He's up when they're up. The rapport between Consor and Johnson is genuinely cordial.

I don't know if Consor is an idiot but I do know he loves Seraphin. He is a former (Big East IIRC) player. I think he certainly brings a bias of having been a player. He's likely not a guy who puts much stock in metrics or analytics.

Overall, I get stoked whenever I listen on radio to the Wizards.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I wonder what it will take to make commonplace the use of more advanced stats
in NBA coverage. Some of this stuff just isn't that complicated if you can take
a stat like say FG% and show how 2 different players with the same number
could potentially be quite dissimilar. Kinda like BA in baseball. More and
more baseball fans are starting to understand OPS as the key/best single
offensive stat.

It was encouraging to read earlier this season that HOU was starting to use
adv stats. I suspect their fans are becoming better informed as a result although
I expect their education is still a slow process.

I've been instigating, but without much success. Dave and Glenn have been receptive, but even basic "advanced" stats haven't really made it on air -- at least not that I've heard. Mike Lee has dipped his toe into on/off numbers and efficiency stats. There are some some bloggers and writers at various outlets who are using advanced numbers. I think it's just going to take some more time. OPS had been around a LONG time before I saw it start showing up occasionally on broadcasts.

Kevin, I'll be at BWI tomorrow. Will PM once I know what's up with my family.

Glenn is way receptive. I hear about you here in Hawaii and so does anyone else who listens to NBA League Audio Pass.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kevin, I am getting pretty friendly with local radio announcers Chris Hart and Gary Dickman (HUGE Terp fan) out here on ESPN 1420. I call in from time to time.

If you're ever in the mood to move forward the argument for analytics, they'll probably pay you a nominal amount to talk to fans if you can impress them with high muckety muck credentials.... They have a RealGM guy (escapes me right now) and Steve Kyler and others on their show.

What's needed is someone who can make a challenging concept something easy to understand. If you understand what and how Budenholzer's doing or others are doing VS what Wittman coaches; and you can break it down in 4-6 minutes, they'd love to have you.

LAST: I really want to help Benjy Taylor, University of Hawaii Men's Basketball Coach, with some sort of freebie advanced scouting report. UH can make it to the NCAAs (and brother can keep his job/get a fat contract offer to stay) IF AND ONLY IF Hawaii wins their conference tourney. I haven't really had time to watch their games or peruse individual stats; but if I had three to five outliers on Benjy's teams I could forward him some dos and don'ts--If I can get his ear before the season ends.

Either way, that's not a biggie. I just feel like giving coaches a little clue hear and there is a nice thing to do if they're receptive.

[FAH1223]

Watch on YouTube

Since Glenn has been doing TV lately, I've heard Meghan McPeak. She's good!

Read on Twitter

[badinage]

I feel bad for Glen Consor. This social media uproar is, predictably, knee-jerk and uninformed. And demanding of action, and perhaps vengeance.

It wasn’t malicious. There was nothing to it.

At most, it reflects laziness — thinking that this KP is related to the KP who ran point here in the ‘70s.

But if we’re going to indict sports broadcasters for laziness or poor usage of the language, then 90 percent of the people on TV are gonna have to go. I mean, Jesus — Drew Gooden? Oof.

I am particularly disappointed in Quinton Mayo in all of this.

He shouldn’t be piling on. It’s unbecoming. Especially from someone who does broadcasts.

[FAH1223]

I feel bad for Glen Consor. This social media uproar is, predictably, knee-jerk and uninformed. And demanding of action, and perhaps vengeance.

It wasn’t malicious. There was nothing to it.

At most, it reflects laziness — thinking that this KP is related to the KP who ran point here in the ‘70s.

But if we’re going to indict sports broadcasters for laziness or poor usage of the language, then 90 percent of the people on TV are gonna have to go. I mean, Jesus — Drew Gooden? Oof.

I am particularly disappointed in Quinton Mayo in all of this.

He shouldn’t be piling on. It’s unbecoming. Especially from someone who does broadcasts.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Q loves to stir the pot. Shows his age

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=PYqohxjBc0GVUf-AXrBfzQ

[dobrojim]

Wow, a thread so old posts from TSW and Fishercob are on the most recent page!

I like Dave and Glen although sometimes Glen can be annoyingly opinionated and too much
of a homer. He has been with the Bullets/zards forever so his approach has produced
a certain level of job security. He was also very kind to my son when he was much
younger and even let him join he and Dave on the air once. At heart, he is a genuinely
nice guy, as is Dave.

[FAH1223]

Wow, a thread so old posts from TSW and Fishercob are on the most recent page!

I like Dave and Glen although sometimes Glen can be annoyingly opinionated and too much
of a homer. He has been with the Bullets/zards forever so his approach has produced
a certain level of job security. He was also very kind to my son when he was much
younger and even let him join he and Dave on the air once. At heart, he is a genuinely
nice guy, as is Dave.

Both very nice guys. Every time I see them both at the games, they ask me how I'm doing, how's work, etc. Like uncles!

[dobrojim]

Dave Johnson keeping busy
He was the stadium announcer at Audi field last night for the NWSL championship game

[FAH1223]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Dave was at WTOP since 1989. Wow!

[FAH1223]

Watch on YouTube