Fire Michael Holton

You raise a legit point, Earl, though I think you are too harsh on the fella. Mr. Holton can be described as having a certain measure of talent. He turns a phrase and breaks down a play without garbling everything the way Antonio Harvey does sometimes. So I cut him some slack. Both Holton and his cheeseball sidekick could be replaced with more seasoned and sober commentators, I'll admit that. I wouldn't complain.

Holton has tried to avoid that running joke since the first week of the season.  I think its that Prompter Reading deadhead Tony (whatever) that should go.  Holton at least has the basketball background to offer some sort of relevant commentary to the conversation.  

They should move Shonz to the halftime desk or maybe another Blazer guy that can have something original to offer.  

It could be Michael *B*olton.

but I'm still working on liking Mike and Mike. I think in general that commentating is a lost art in America. I mean, Doug Collins was killing me last night. Why don't you just show everybody watching your Bulls undershirt, Doug?

not being able to get Comcast, I guess. I'd gladly sit through innane blather if that meant I could see the game.

Also the fact that the post-game comments feel like they are explaining the game of basketball to the viewer. The only people who are watching the postgame are die-hard NBA fans, lets bring up some interesting topics, such as different defense adjustments and what exactly the opposing coaches were thinking, instead of just 'Jones did a good job because he got a block here'.

but at the same time, would he really want to do it? Maybe he is enjoying the lighter work load he has now.
What bugs me most about Holton is  when Tony pitches him a topic, Holton will look straight into the camera and give his answer, instead of looking back and forth between the camera and Tony. It doesn't seem like a real conversation, just his scripted answers.
Like fisheyes mentioned above, I prefer Holton's diction over Antonio Harvey's garbling. The guy sounds like Porky Pig.
Also, in regards to the halftime show set, if you see it from different angles it is actually much bigger, like it was intended for a 4 person crew. Let's stick some more guys in there!
By the way, does anyone know where that halftime show is shot at? Is it inside the Rose Garden? The Blazer offices? Where?

You guys don't like Holton?  The guy is unintentionally hilarious!  

I almost lost it when he was analyzing Outlaw's dunk on Carney and said, "Candyman, droppin' treats on 'em"

C'mon! That's gold!

I am furious...how could there be so much hatred for Michael Holton?  As if Blazer games weren't entertaining in their own right, we get the best of both worlds with Holton's half-time/post-game extravaganza.

Holton doesn't have any basketball knowledge?  He has enough experience to garner knowledge - certainly moreso than many announcers out there:

College: In his UCLA career, Holton was captain his senior season (1983) under coach Larry Farmer; twice (1981-82) was awarded the J. D. Morgan Memorial Award for the outstanding team player; garnered the Bob "Ace" Calkins Memorial Trophy (1983) as team free throw champion (85.3) and the Irv Pohlmeyer Memorial Trophy (1980) for outstanding first year player. He also earned Scholastic All-American honors.

NBA: Holton was a third-round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors. In all, he spent six years in the NBA with Phoenix (1984-85), Chicago (1985-86), where he was a teammate with Michael Jordan, Portland (1986-88) and Charlotte (1988-90). During his NBA career, he appeared in 325 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds, while shooting 44.1 from the field and 80.7 from the foul line.  Are you telling me we're going to rag a former Blazer about announcing skills not meeting personal expectations?  Can't our energy be directed elsewhere?  Try kickboxing.

Holton also coached college basketball at University of Portland for 5 seasons - he's a fixture in the Pacific Northwest and he has an ARSENAL of witticisms!

At any rate - the aforementioned basketball experience surely gives him grounds for announcing and probably more knowledge of the game than many of us.

Let's be honest, TV personalities - namely sports commentators - carry a brand.  Peter Gammons, for example, is a no-nonsense baseball encyclopedia.  His commentary could take place at the circus and still offer hard-facts, indisputable knowledge with little personality and minimal flair.  That's all we want from him - we don't even care that he has a turkey gobbler hanging from his flacid face - it's just the facts we want.

Barkley is another guy to look at - has this man endured a lifetime of the sport?  Yes.  Can he break down statistics and hoops insight with the best of them?  Who knows.  TNT surely doesn't know, neither do the national viewers, because they tune in to listen to him talk about gambling, prep for racing referees, and more recently, lambasting the "dwarf community."

Holton's brand is delivered as "one liners with a smile."  And smile you should.  Next time you watch the half-time report, take a deep breath, relax in your chair, and exercise your ability to find joy in life.

Thanks, Michael.

honestly i thought bill walton was bad until i heard holton.  

Some of us are excepting that Holton really isn't very good, but saything, "Oh well, were just the Blazers.  I guess that's the best we can get."  NO!  We're the freakin' Blazers!  We deserve the best!  Anyone who thinks differently I would ask where's your faith in our team?  I hold our team and town in high regard and think we could do better than someone who's never been on camera before and doesn't know how to be.  

To clarify I don't have a problem with the other guy whos name I can't recall right now, and if Holton could buck up and start having conversations instead of trying to sound cool I'd be happy.  I just want good game analysis.  That's all I ask.  

Am I asking too much?