Ruzious wrote:doclinkin wrote:badinage wrote:I’d like to see broadcasters held to the same standard as the players. Why make allowances for these guys by hiring them and providing them a platform — by allowances, I mean in the form of overlooking their accents, their word use, their mental agility or lacktherof — when comparable flaws or weaknesses (missed rotations, not boxing out, missing open jumpers, turning the ball over) would get them bounced from the league? In awarding them, these networks undermine their work and philosophy.
In the case of Gooden, you rarely even get the kind of observations and insights that supposedly a former player is there to deliver. The other night against the Spurs, in the final minutes, he said it would come down to who wants it more.
Hire on-air people who have the gift, regardless of whether they played. Actually, on second thought — don’t hire anyone who played. Give the broadcasts a little critical distance. Do away with the jockocracy. Anyone with half a passion for the sport can learn the game. It would be SO much more interesting to listen to. SO much more surprising.
Personally I like having a knowledgeable and well connected former player on a broadcast team. They deliver insights to the culture, locker room, coaching thoughts etc. Some part of the game does have to do with the celebrity of the players. If you have a well respected player in your broadcast booth you can get comment from players who might be sticky to talk to. A guy like Brendan Heywood consistently delivers insights, humor, and analysis of the game. That is the part that is missing with a guy like Drew. And the broacast game in general. Gooden is only there for color commentary, he does not breakdown the sets, defenses, counters, etc. He is not Tony Romo'ing the action and predicting what will likely happen out of a time-out. I think broadcasts are better with former coaches like Jack Ramsay, Hubie Brown, Van Gundy who can teach a bit of the game while they are breaking down the action. I think every broadcast teach should have a guy like that providing notes and things to look for. There are players who can do so as well. I wish they had the freedom or encouragement to do so, instead of simply trying to entertain.
But really I think guys like the 'All the Smoke' crew would work well if they were free to work a little blue. Frankly for my taste I wish there was a late-night crew who had a little more latitude to work a little loose and free with the language. Who wouldn't want to sit in a suite with Gil and listen to his uncensored running commentary on the game? You'd be both laughing and learning the whole time. Yeah it might get a little blue, but he would be stirring up controversy and giving background details and the bar/barbershop commentary on the game, only with actual knowledge. Gilbert is sharp as a scalpel when it comes to his understanding of the game. He loves the game and watches it obsessively. If he veered off script a little, that would be fun. So long as it circled back to the action and outcome.
Great idea for a late-night basketball show for Gil. Maybe team him up with Brendan Haywood - someone he's comfortable with and who'd keep the conversation at a high level while still accentuating his sense of humor. How great would that be?
When HBO buys NBA broadcast rights. Saturday night basketball or something. A lesser watched property they can afford to play around with.
Some part of this sorta was done when Gilbert and Mia Khalifa hosted a sports talk show together. But I guess that didn't go very far. And it wasn't play by play.