Opposing Announcers
by Oppy on Dec 2, 2008 7:02 PM PST
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Like many other unfortunate Blazer fans stuck outside of Portland, I watch all the Blazer games on NBA League Pass. As a result, I get to watch a good number of our road games from the opposing team's TV feed. A lot of times, I enjoy the break from the Mikes just because it gives me a good chance to hear what other commentators have to say about our team. And even though it can be a mixed bag in terms of quality, I've found it pretty gratifying to hear so much praised heaped on our team by so many of these commentators.
With that said, I've also had the misfortune to listen to some absolutely terrible crews. Tonight was one of those nights. Walt Frazier has to be one of the most annoying commentators I've heard in a long time. It's like he sits there with a dictionary and a thesaurus, blindly opens to a page, points at a word, and then tries to get that word into his next sentence, no matter how idiotic he sounds.
So this all got me thinking, and for all you other League Passers out there, which opposing commentating crews do you like, dislike, despise, etc.?
I've seen a ton of crews over the past few years, but even though I despise their team, I have to say the Celtics crew do a pretty good job of calling the games evenly. Detroit also has a solid crew, and when Seattle had Kevin Calabro, they were always easy on the ears.
On the other hand, I've found the Denver commentators to be pretty ignorant, the New Orleans guys have been hit or miss, and of course the LA guys couldn't be bigger homers if they paraded around in Kobe jerseys during the broadcast. Just painful to listen to.
Anyone else?
Oppy
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I remember the Suns/Blazers game and
I didn’t particular think they were too homer, but they were really… dorkish. They sounded like they didn’t belong on TV. Sorry Suns announcers.
Los Angeles is the worst I’ve ever heard, and I’m not talking about the Clippers. And yes I know really well since I live down here right now. That Kobe love doesn’t seem just platonic. And the best young player in the League according to them is Ariza. No town deserves a championship less than these fathead announcers. Not sorry to rub you in the mud Lakers announcers.
On a side note their are some local TV sports announcers that are quite reasonable. Still homers, but in a nice way.
Mychal the TRAITOR Thompson
had the balls to say last night that Ariza is the best defender in the league hands down. sigh
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Dec 3, 2008 1:51 PM PST up reply actions
Thanks for posting this...
I’ve had similar thoughts about these matters…
However, I’m shocked at how much opposing teams credit the Blazers – whether through interviews (like tonight in NYC – B Roy was interviewed at the end of the game) or “positive” highlights of our players…. the Blazer media crew never interviews or shows positive highlights of other teams… so, when I watch a game on the opposing team’s network, i actually don’t mind it as much…
My personal opinion is that Barrett doesn’t really understand the X’s and O’s of the game – he seems a bit slow and distracted… I think Mike Rice is just along for the ride – our crew isn’t terrible, but it’s not great
Yeah...they mentioned comparisons of Roy to Oscar Robertson and Walt Frazier...
HOF top 50 players of all time.
To Roy’s credit he showed humility He’s one classy dude.
They used to interview opponents on the radio
I never listen to Blazers on the radio anymore, but I remember in the days of Bill Schonely, they would usually interview a coach, scout, or similar kind of person from the opposing team before the game. Then, afterwards, especially if the Blazers had lost, they would try to get an opposing player who’d had a good game. Maybe I’m mis-remembering this, however. Wouldn’t be the first time …
Our announcers
To be fair to other announcers. Many people around the league and other fans think Mike Rice is possibly one of the worst announcers and a huge homer also.
It also happens to be true.
But I like Rice anyways. :p
Poor grammar is poor communication.
Poor communication causes misunderstanding.
Misunderstanding causes fighting.
Fighting causes war.
War causes death.
Therefore, your poor grammar may just kill us all.
(One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season)
WIthout League Pass I Never Would've Known It
But I have to agree. After hearing the even-handedness of other team’s announcers, I suddenly find myself embarassed by the Blazer crew. Particularly Mike Rice. I would absolutely freak out if I were an opposing team and had to listen to them broadcast and comment about my team. Save that kind of homerism for the radio feed… that’s where it belongs. Don’t mind it at all from Wheels… though I could do without the squeals.
Buck Williams for the hall of fame
Rice is a LUDICROUS homer. But that's what makes him awesome!
There is something to be said for going over-the-top with it. Mild homerism is annoying, KOOKY homerism, that has you scratching your head and wondering if the man is raving drunk, is GREAT.
I can totally understand how this doesn’t play well outside the Portland market (and it does not). But if you’re a Blazer fan, how can you NOT love that goofball?
"Now with a non-provocative footer!"
by timbo on Dec 3, 2008 11:03 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
what even-handedness have you heard
i rarely hear any
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Dec 3, 2008 1:52 PM PST up reply actions
New Orleans! Just terrible!
And the first game in Pheonix was by far the worst of the year. The second game though they had another person doing the play by play (an older guy) and it was much better.
C'mon ...
Walt is an icon. I love listening to his smooth cadence. He talks just like he played. I loved the crew tonight. Especially when the drooled all over Brandon.
"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez
Walt is a childhood hero
so I’m defensive…but he’s no intellect, so expanding his vocabulary is laudable if not annoying…
He does have good game insights and he is on the players side always looking for positives with them…on both teams
His counterpart called Roy mini-Clyde at least once last night…It’s a suitable comparison and quite a compliment …well deserved & earned by Roy…Walt was comparing to Oscar Robertson and he would know…
Don't get me wrong
I love hearing these guys fawn over Brandon and the rest of the team. And it’s not like Walt is an overwhelming homer (And yes, I realize the Mikes are not exactly objective), I just got annoyed with the constant repetition of little catch phrases and words that were unnecessary. That has nothing to do with him as a player obviously.
And I’ve heard the NY crew before when it wasn’t as noticeable, but tonight just seemed really glaring.
Sac announcers are pretty good. Also
also Knicks announcers kept saying that Knicks are continuing to fight against one of teh best teams in the league
"All our holes," says shooting guard Brandon Roy, a surprise All-Star last year in his second season, "are holes that Greg is going to plug."
Bad teams
I’ve noticed that teams that have been lousy for a while (NY, and especially the Clips) tend to talk their opponents up more than teams that have a shot at winning anything. Tonight, the Blazer compliments seemed like they were setting up the Knicks to have it be a bigger story if they pulled it out.
by samuelleejackson on Dec 2, 2008 8:25 PM PST up reply actions
You're probably right,
but we can’t really know the why. If someone is kind to you, you probably shouldn’t jump to conclusions that their motivation is spiteful selfishness.
Does not apply to the Bucks and Grizzlies
But the Bobcats announcers did a good job, considering also that they have to create atmosphere from an arena where none exists.
I like
Mark Price and JVG.
I also like the Shonz and Steve the Snapper Jones
The Mikes are HILARIOUS, but not really fair and biased, but when I am watching the Blazers, I don’t want fair and balanced, I want the Mikes! If the Blazers are sucking it up, I can see that, I don’t need announcers to point it out, I’m already feeling ticked off.
I’m already knocking over the chair next to me as I jump up screaming at the monitor “DRIVE TO THE FIDDLE STICKIN’ HOLE GOSH DARN IT!” (the aforementioned has been a dramatic reproduction of real events but with less blood, like Rescue 911 with William Shatner). At that point, I need happy, peaceful, positive announcers, or God help me if I see Magette flop again I will find him and break his face… gulps down my xanax and horse tranquilizers bleh meh, blazers win riiip ciiiity… drool
Blazer's fan since '84, Currently exiled in San Antonio
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A
Come here (holding out my hand)
You still need you thorazine……and put these electrodes on your temples
On drowning my daughter before she becomes a teenager (to my son)-"You know how when you want to drown someone, you first tie something heavy to the their foot?" My Son: "Yeah?" Me:"You're the something heavy"
i thi nk it has hurt walt frazier's reputation as a great player
that hes been such a dummy as an announcer for so long. he was known to do a lot of heavy partying and drinking…..maybe that just continued and the alcohol just did what it can do (to the braincells).
he seemed such an intelligent player, too.
ignacio
He's an intelligent announcer ...
he just sounds funny. I loved him tonight.
"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez
The consensus
over at my place was that Walt Frazier sounds like a Muppet. That makes it hard to take him seriously.
—Dave
That's one muppet who knows what he's talking about, though.
"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez
he adds no insight whatsoever
he might be a good guy, but uhhhh not much to contribute
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Dec 3, 2008 1:53 PM PST up reply actions
Had to look his announcing up
…good clip of Walt here (playing the Blazers, no less):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwNr-0UJKmY
What a silly silly man.
Maybe some vocal teacher told him to smile all the time to make his voice sound friendlier
And now he can’t get that dumb grin out of his face :)
"It's like he sits there with a dictionary and a thesaurus"
Now you know why they call the Knicks’ blog “Posting and Toasting.”
As a 21-year NY/NJ resident, I think people here just kind of like Walt in spite of (because of?) the goofy way with words. A few times a year he makes a really astute basketball observation, and it makes you wonder how good he could be if he focused on that.
The word of the day to put in the comments must have been "bonafide". They used it three times tonight
And unfortunately he forgot his pronunciation guide. It’s Nick-O-las Ba-TOOM, not Bay-tum.
The Mikes are the best!!!
i love it how Rice is always happy go lucky for the Blazers. Barret is steady and always a rock. THat combined with Holton at half-time, we have the best “local” crew around!
I'm not sure of his name
but the Golden State radio guy is terrific. I listened to his call of the game that was decided by some controversial calls, and he sounded like a guy sitting next to you watching the game – no homerism, no blatantly calling out the refs, just smoothness…
The inbound to McGinnis, drives, stops, pumps, shoots, short, no good...AND THE GAME IS OVER! ~ Bill Schonely
by SandbergOnSports on Dec 2, 2008 10:11 PM PST reply actions
I like Walt Frazier
as an analyst (thought that he was an overrated player though). He just has weird voice inflections. He knows the game well and is reasonably objective. I also like how he often tells states the height of the players, which I don’t always know. And I think his broadcast partner does a terrific job.
I also like the Kings announcers.
IIRC
I liked the Boston crew too. Knowledgeable, not too homeristical, and with heavy Boston accents so you don’t forget who’s crew you’re listening to.
And yeah, I like the Mikes
but I cringe when I think of other team’s fans listening to them. Especially when Rice is spewing his Oden love despite GO not really having a hot game (which has been often enough).
mike barrett gets too hung up on the refs
for my taste. yes, sometimes there are really bad calls. there’s no point in dwelling on them. he suspects too many and hes not always correct.
ignacio
The last LA game I caught
I thought they announcers were pretty fair and balanced. I thought Boston had the biggest homers. If you don’t like homers, just be happy you’re not listening to the Blazers radio broadcaster.
you must mean the clips right TIH
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Dec 3, 2008 1:54 PM PST up reply actions
Boston?! You choose the Boston announcers as an example of "fair and balanced" officiating?!
Wow. I agree, Denver’s are awful. My vote is for the Golden State Warriors’ announcers.
The Laker guys are the best I've heard. The guy that calls the play-by-play is the best announcer in the NBA, any network.
"Now with a non-provocative footer!"
your kidding right?
Spiro Didas (sp?) is great. Stu Lantz is Mike Rice with a lobotomy
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Dec 3, 2008 1:55 PM PST up reply actions
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