Is Doris Burke the best commentator in sports right now?

[DonaldSanders]

It needed to happen.

Doris used to be great. She put in the work, knew every team in detail and was very objective. She used to remind me of a younger Hubie Brown. She was legit terrific.

Then as her profile and gigs got bigger and bigger, she became a mouthpiece for whoever the league was pushing, praised everyone and stopped caring about the smaller market teams.

Nailed it. I liked her at the start, then she became an unsufferable fluffer for big stars/narratives.

Glad she has been replaced with Legler. Even my 75 year old mother (former kindergarten teacher) who likes everyone didn't like Doris.

[Doranku]

This is like when the Warriors replaced Harrison Barnes with KD

[Celts17Pride]

Doris used to be fantastic. Maybe 5 or 6 years ago. She reminded me a bit of a young Hubie in that she was really prepared, added interesting insight and you could actually learn a thing or two.

When she got promoted to a bigger crew, she became a shill for whoever the league was pushing. Now she's mostly unlistenable.

Couldn't have said it better!

[Slimjimzv]

It's hard to believe ESPN made this move. They've been idiots for so long, that I've come to expect it. Brilliant (if obvious) switch from Doris to Legs. I can't wait to hear someone talking about teams and players they've actually watched and studied, instead of only reading opinions about them on Twitter.

[Lalouie]

once you hire a female in a traditionally male's role you run the risk of being stuck with her because you CANNOT fire her. we're in a woke society, man

people get hired and fired all the time but if you noticed people are defending her legacy. espn is always moving pieces because they have become all about entertainment and not sports. doris being replaced makes waves because she is the first FEMALE analyst

even though legler is better and has more "excitement" in his timbre etc etc etc the rancor is just greater because doris is a female. it would be no different than replacing vitale or corso except with the added layer of doris's gender

doris's tone is just wrong. she talks like my aunt and she's too syrupy in a vocation where announcers are ALREADY too generous

[wade44]

This is like when the Warriors replaced Harrison Barnes with KD

More like the Heat replacing Micheal Beasley with prime Lebron

[Lalouie]

i'm surprised the woke community hasn't raised a ruckus

Please avoid derailing the thread into a discussion of political "wokeness." Stuff like this just starts off-topic arguments and gets thread locked. Thx. -b

[sfernald]

We are so lucky.i like DB but legler is my absolute favorite commentator right now. This is no knock on Doris but legs is just a star. Such a great sense of humor and his love of the game is almost madden-esque. Someone at ESPN knows what they're doing at least.

[Anticon]

Don't know about Legler (or keeping RJ). But Burke needs some time out of the spotlight to refine her style.

I don't agree it was all pro big market / stars, but it was so fawning as to be unlistenable. Paired with the need to constantly refer to players by their first name and constantly referencing inspiring life events when commenting on an offensive rebound or assist, it was worse than being stuck with a more mediocre announcer.

She has been great in the past. She just needs to go back to the drawing board and revisit her style.

[Infinite Llamas]

Now get rid of Jefferson next.

[ForeverTFC]

Doris just didn't work in that seat. I'm very happy that Legs is getting the chance. He's the best color guy at ESPN.

[BigGargamel]

Appreciate the walls she helped to break down, and the work she put in to get to where she was. Couldn't have been easy. But she was very very bad at her job the past couple of years. You know she had to be bad for ESPN to actually do this. Plus, Legler is awesome. He's really wasted at ESPN. The rare great move by that clown show network.

[mastermixer]

They should just do an Ai Bill Walton

[Bank Shot]

Good swap. Burke knows ball, but she is way too much of a company woman. Her commentary felt like an extension of whatever slop ESPN was pushing out during their Perk-based shows. Good to see ESPN is replacing her with someone serious instead of a Mark Jackson type.

[right between the eyes]

This is honestly great news! Legs is so insightful and well thought out. Doris was like nails on a chalkboard these last few years. Can we somehow get her off of NBA2K too?

[Karate Diop]

Nah this ain't right. I fux with DB. She was a real one.

[deck]

I find Doris Burke to be awful.

So many times she will make a call on a play in real-time that then goes to a challenge review, and even though the challenge review shows definitely that her real-time call was wrong, she will continue to hold to her original position.

I have no problem with someone making the wrong call in real-time; the game is fast and the commentators don't always have a good perspective on the play. But when it goes to video review, and you get to see 5 different camera angles in slow motion showing your call was wrong, just say you were wrong.

[bonita_the_frog]

Doris is one of the only commentators whom i MUTE the moment i hear her coming.
I also mute the BANG(!) and PUTS-IT-IN(!) commentator.
Doris has the worst voice i've ever heard, while that guy has the worst words.

[KyRo23]

Doris is one of the only commentators whom i MUTE the moment i hear her coming.
I also mute the BANG(!) and PUTS-IT-IN(!) commentator.
Doris has the worst voice i've ever heard, while that guy has the worst words.

You mute Mike Breen? Whaaaaaaaaaat

[bonita_the_frog]

Doris is one of the only commentators whom i MUTE the moment i hear her coming.
I also mute the BANG(!) and PUTS-IT-IN(!) commentator.
Doris has the worst voice i've ever heard, while that guy has the worst words.

You mute Mike Breen? Whaaaaaaaaaat

Anyone who yells BANG, basically toddler speech.
But i don't mind yelling overall, because Chris Mad Dog Russo is my favorite person whom i can listen to forever.