The Celtics Broadcaster

greenbeans · Post #41 » by **greenbeans** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:00 pm

2 facts:
Tommy's history in the nba is greater than most franchises.
I have a Tommy bobblehead prominently displayed in my bedroom.

campybatman · Post #42 » by **campybatman** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 11:32 pm

That's Heighson's shtick, apparently. I dislike it. It got old a long time ago. Nothing against him personally, but I'm not a fan of him or Mike Adams. Now he's the definition of a Boston homer. Man, it's hard to listen to him when he's goofy when you prefer to listen to an intelligent and objective voice. Conversely, I don't mind listening to a Ted Sarandis, for example.

But then, Heighson is no more irksome to listen to than Cedric Maxwell on the radio. He's intelligent but he speaks differently as a color commentator. It's like he goes into this character of himself. Quack, quack? Or, someone give me a napkin so I can swipe my mouth. Huh? It's funny, but it can become nonsensical and random at times that you feel bad for Sean Grande. The man needs new material.

The best thing Maxwell said was, "Go in there and make me some bacon and eggs, would you?" That caught on like the once famous, "Wasssup?!"

floyd · Post #43 » by **floyd** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:23 am

Insulting Tommy is like insulting family. I've been watching games with him and Mike my whole life. I love his passion. It's real and not contrived. The man lives and dies on every play. Outsiders don't understand and i really don't care, but respect a legend.

Ricky_is_god · Post #44 » by **Ricky_is_god** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:56 am

Random Thought-

I love tommy, but that should go without saying. Somewhere earlier in the thread I read about "the guy that is going to follow Tommy" and I've always assumed that was going to be Donny. He's alright, but I think we would all prefer someone who has been a Celtic. reading this thread made me realize why I appreciate Tommy, and why I was legitmately happy when I heard that NBA tv was just carrying our broadcast.

So the question is, would you want to get Kevin McHale as the Color guy to replace Tommy instead of Donny? He is the only guy I could think of who would fit the bill. From what I've heard of him, he was pretty good. Definitely better than I was expecting. I wonder if he would want to keep broadcasting, and take over for a guy who is a legend, instead of sitting trying to understand what Charles Barkley is talking about. This is a big hypothetical of course, but I think it would be a pretty good idea.

Fencer reregistered · Post #45 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:59 am

bonsaiflipflops wrote:That's Heighson's shtick, apparently. I dislike it. It got old a long time ago. Nothing against him personally, but I'm not a fan of him or Mike Adams.

Who are they?

Fencer reregistered · Post #46 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:01 am

Ricky_is_god wrote:Random Thought-

I love tommy, but that should go without saying. Somewhere earlier in the thread I read about "the guy that is going to follow Tommy" and I've always assumed that was going to be Donny. He's alright, but I think we would all prefer someone who has been a Celtic. reading this thread made me realize why I appreciate Tommy, and why I was legitmately happy when I heard that NBA tv was just carrying our broadcast.

So the question is, would you want to get Kevin McHale as the Color guy to replace Tommy instead of Donny? He is the only guy I could think of who would fit the bill. From what I've heard of him, he was pretty good. Definitely better than I was expecting. I wonder if he would want to keep broadcasting, and take over for a guy who is a legend, instead of sitting trying to understand what Charles Barkley is talking about. This is a big hypothetical of course, but I think it would be a pretty good idea.

I'd love having McHale here, I think.

I certainly know I want Marshall to be replaced by somebody.

campybatman · Post #47 » by **campybatman** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:43 am

Fencer reregistered wrote:
bonsaiflipflops wrote:That's Heighson's shtick, apparently. I dislike it. It got old a long time ago. Nothing against him personally, but I'm not a fan of him or Mike Adams.

Who are they?

I misspelled his name, I mean Heinsohn. Mike Adams is the host of the "Planet Mikey Show" on WEEI.

DelMonte West · Post #48 » by **DelMonte West** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:31 pm

darrendaye wrote:It is unfortunate that Mike Gorman gets lumped in via guilt by association.

This, this, 100 times this. Gorman's the best PBP man I've ever heard, and as sad as it's going to be when Tommy hangs 'em up, it'll be much, much worse when Gorman isn't calling the action anymore.

Back on topic, though, Tommy's as politically incorrect a broadcaster as you'll find. In other words, he doesn't mince what he's thinking. It's refreshing, but I'm sure it's perceived as obnoxious by others. At least he has the charisma to back it up. I'd absolutely love for Bill Walton to take over on color if and when Heinsohn leaves, though. He's the only suitable replacement I can think of as far as entertainment value and respect for the game and franchise is concerned. Plus, his tongue-in-cheek commentary is priceless for those that don't "get it".

Post #49 » by **sully00** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:10 pm

Objectivity is overrated and usually phony especially in pro sports.

Fencer reregistered · Post #50 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:00 pm

DelMonte West wrote:
darrendaye wrote:It is unfortunate that Mike Gorman gets lumped in via guilt by association.

This, this, 100 times this. Gorman's the best PBP man I've ever heard, and as sad as it's going to be when Tommy hangs 'em up, it'll be much, much worse when Gorman isn't calling the action anymore.

Back on topic, though, Tommy's as politically incorrect a broadcaster as you'll find. In other words, he doesn't mince what he's thinking. It's refreshing, but I'm sure it's perceived as obnoxious by others. At least he has the charisma to back it up. I'd absolutely love for Bill Walton to take over on color if and when Heinsohn leaves, though. He's the only suitable replacement I can think of as far as entertainment value and respect for the game and franchise is concerned. Plus, his tongue-in-cheek commentary is priceless for those that don't "get it".

Bill Walton currently claims to be through with broadcasting, as a side effect of yet more skeletal problems (back) that also had him contemplating suicide.

I think I saw a link to that in the general NBA forum.

grantlongforpresident · Post #51 » by **grantlongforpresident** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:14 pm

Anyone claiming to be a Celts fan that doesn't love tommy is not a true Celtics fan.

SeizeCoup · Post #52 » by **SeizeCoup** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:20 pm

As an aside, does anyone else dislike Donny Marshall as much as I do? What is up with him continuously mispronouncing Rondo's name? It's not Ray-jon, it's Rah-jon!

greenbeans · Post #53 » by **greenbeans** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:13 pm

The better question is, who actually likes Donny? I don't think I've ever seen a positive thing written about him here.

campybatman · Post #54 » by **campybatman** » Sat May 1, 2010 12:23 am

grantlongforpresident wrote:Anyone claiming to be a Celts fan that doesn't love tommy is not a true Celtics fan.

This is such a cliché and one-sided comment. Just because you like something or someone doesn't give you the right to expect or demand from someone else to feel the same way. Here, you're clearly being closed-minded.

Any Celtics fans or NBA fans have a right to like and dislike who they please. Who are you to say such a thing? What authority do you have? You don't think or speak for me. You don't know me as a fan or as a person, and nor do I of you. But then, I'm not making an asinine comment like that.

Not liking Heinsohn as a broadcaster has nothing to do with being a Boston fan. This is about a personal preference like an acquired taste for something. Let's say, you dig Howard Stern or Don Imus. Does that mean everyone has to like him. Of course not.

DelMonte West · Post #55 » by **DelMonte West** » Sat May 1, 2010 1:18 am

greenbeans wrote:The better question is, who actually likes Donny? I don't think I've ever seen a positive thing written about him here.

I think the problem with Donny lies at the crux of this entire argument. He's the modern-day color guy, calling everything down the middle for the most part. He doesn't say anything that could possibly be interpreted as offensive or controversial, or anything of note for that matter aside from his idiotic UConn "insider" information. I don't have a problem with him per se (and he's nowhere near the level of Gary Tanguay, for instance, who teeter-totters between being "so bad he's funny" and "so bad he's intolerable"); it's just the fact that his material lacks the "color" in "color commentary". It's also strange to hear a guy act as a representative of the Celtics when he has no real connection to Boston or even New England, aside from going to UConn. It's like he just showed up one day and we were all supposed to know who he was. He's fine for what he is, but I'd like someone that brings more to the table.

One guy I really enjoyed on commentary was (no kidding) Donny Wahlberg, who has always been a big Celtics fan through thick and thin. He's the only NBA celeb fan that can talk hoops without coming off as a frontrunner or no-nothing; I loved hearing him give Stephen A. Shaddup a verbal beatdown when describing how Ainge was able to turn the team around in '08 while Smith stood there slack-jawed on ESPN's Cold Pizza (now First Take, I believe). The guy really knows his Celtics. I also like McHale for the job but I don't know if I'd want to hear him for every game. It seems like he tries to cram in too much information and observation in his broadcasts. Then again, I've only heard him a few times.

SichtingLives · Post #56 » by **SichtingLives** » Sat May 1, 2010 5:18 am

Donny will be fine once he learns how to stfu once in a while. He offers some sharp insight from time to time, but he's still a noob at the moment.

And please stop talking about Ray Allen like you're boys. I bet he doesn't even like you.

Cyclical · Post #57 » by **Cyclical** » Sat May 1, 2010 5:23 am

I don't mind Donny at all. No one's going to be like Tommy but I think Donny is knowledgeable and can be very good at this with a couple of years under his belt. I'm all for him taking over.

grantlongforpresident · Post #58 » by **grantlongforpresident** » Sat May 1, 2010 11:13 am

bonsaiflipflops wrote:
grantlongforpresident wrote:Anyone claiming to be a Celts fan that doesn't love tommy is not a true Celtics fan.

This is such a cliché and one-sided comment. Just because you like something or someone doesn't give you the right to expect or demand from someone else to feel the same way. Here, you're clearly being closed-minded.

Like it or not, I'm right.

DorfonCeltics · Post #59 » by **DorfonCeltics** » Sat May 1, 2010 4:28 pm

Darth Celtic wrote:
JVG is probably the best national announcer i have heard.

+1

JVG has the perfect mix of dropping knowledge and cracking jokes. I love that NBA on ESPN commercial with him from a few years ago. Dude has great comedic timing.

gocelts · Post #60 » by **gocelts** » Sat May 1, 2010 5:54 pm

Celtic games just arent the same without him calling them. To be honest, im suprised some of his comments hasnt gotten him plugged into an electric chair by now...

That said, in all fairness the rest of the NBA fans, they should not be hostage to his antics during a nationaly televised game. Tommy actually likes and roots for MANY players in this league that arent Celtics, however his diehard homerism takes over during the games....I dont mind it, but I can completely see where another teams fans wouldnt appreciate it.