Watching the NBA draft on the Entertainment Sports Programming Network would've been mildly entertaining if it wasn't so painful to watch. Normally, I tend to have more disdain for the 'NOT ready for PRIME TIME' reporters interviewing the teams after their picks, but this group broadcasting from the WAMU center in Madison Square Garden needs an injection of chemistry.
Before I start my rant, let me just say that Mark Jackson and Jay Bilas have done a great job with their overall analysis and their ability to inject a little bit of life into the evening, but neither seem to know the other is even in the room. It's really not their fault so much as it is about the poor chemistry between all of them.
I try to limit my ESPN watching if I can, so would someone please tell me how long it's been since Stuart Scott has been even a little amusing? His cracks throughout the night haven't even stirred snickers from his co-panelists. Stu Scott is still a great anchor, so don't get me wrong about that, but maybe he should go back to SportsCenter, because as the NBA Draft host, he's not cutting it.
Not being funny has only been half of Stu's problem. He hasn't even tried to pretend that anyone else that he's working with has been amusing. Well, he tried to with an already off-camera Dick Vitale, but he's already off-camera Stu.
As the anchor of the telecast, Scott has got to be much better, or else they need to bring back Chris Berman. Yes, folks, it's pretty bad when I'm saying to bring "BACK, BACK, BACK" Berman.
The major culprit is Jeff Van Gundy. Never has a man made more off of hanging from another grown man's leg...in public, at least. Following Mark Jackson and preceding Jay Bilas doesn't help, either. His knowledge has been general and weak, and all of his comments seem to have caught the rest of the panel off-guard with how quickly they've ended.
Stu: Jeff, what do you think of the pick?
VG'dy: ((pause)) Well, this is, this is a guy who is a big man that can be tough in the paint. ((pause))
Jay: ((slowly to full speed)) This guy....((long thorough analysis))
Another problem with the telecast has been Mr. Front Runner himself, Stephen A. Smith. I always thought he signaled the end of Fox Sports competing with ESPN, but to now be on ESPN has helped to lower NBA ratings in my household. How this guy is still working on TV is beyond me, because he's horrible.
The first 15 picks they went to the front runner, sitting in fantastically over-sized chairs with the latest draft pick. The first five picks, he tried to make mention of how he'd already talked to them the day before as if he and the pick were longtime friends. Does anyone else see through this hack? Is it just me?
After those five, it was evident he didn't have a clue who he was talking to.
Front Runner: So how does it feel to have been picked by [insert team here]?
Draft Pick: [Insert politically correct statement]
FR: What do you bring to [insert team here]?
Draft Pick: [Insert politically correct statement]
FR: Are you saying you're going to [win/start, you pick]? Hahaha!
Yeah, FR, what have you brought to the telecast? Weight-control I suppose, because after every time you were on, I felt the sudden urge to regurgitate my dinner.
From the network that invented the televised NFL Draft, I expect better. I also expect better from the network that invented 24-hour sports coverage, but I especially expect more from a league that makes billions of dollars every year selling a game built around teamwork.
Rob Calonge is a writer for Bleacher Report and MVN.com. Normally, you'll find him writing about the Raiders, Warriors, and Sharks. You can usually find him on Thoughts from the Darkside, an Oakland Raiders independent media site.
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3 months ago
Great article, Rob. I agree with you completely. *Insert politically correct statement*
3 months ago
Van Gundy might not be great in this kind of setting, but he was excellent as an analyst during games all season. His knowledge was hardly general. In fact, he seemed to have an inside tip on every guy in the league, something only an ex-coach would know.
One reason he was good for the coverage tonight was for the chemistry he brings. Him and Jackson work well together, as they did games with Mike Breen all season. If you want the chemistry, you might have to sacrifice a little analysis.
3 months ago
Thanks Andrew!
Dan, I don't disagree with you about Van Gundy during games. I thought he was very good when doing the color commentary, but tonight he just looked like he was a deer in headlights. I'll tell you what, get me some guys that know nothing, but are entertaining and add chemistry to Jackson and Bilas and I think we'd be doing just fine.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
3 months ago
good call on Screamin' A. Smith. He's awful at everything he does.
3 months ago
I was going to write an article about how bad the draft coverage was. Thanks for doing it. I can not believe how bad it was. Stu Scott adds nothing. He just has his few standard lines that someone told him that he repeats throughout the night. Stu we get it, there were a lot of freshmen drafted. Van Gundy and Jackson are both NBA guys. They know nothing about college players. Why were they there? Maybe one NBA guy is needed to discuss need, but that should be secondary. instead, van Gundy and Jackson dominated the coverage, and they knew nothing about college players. Jay Bilas was the only one, and Stu Scott never really let him talk. I just don't understand where the draft experts were and where the college guys were - it would be like having the NFL draft without Mel Kiper.
from 3 months ago
I'd love the NFL draft without Kiper... in fact that's the very reason that I payed for NFL Network. I know what you're trying to say but Kiper is among the most annoying analysts I've ever heard, also, he should never ever make a projection relating to the draft. He knows his prospects well but he doesn't know much about the NFL that isn't general knowledge. Dead on about Jackson and Van Gundy, one of them was expendable, Bilas should have had more time to talk as you said. Stuart Scott has always been annoying and relatively useless for any type of sports coverage so his ineptitude is not all that surprising.
3 months ago
Good Article Rob. I completely agree. I will say that Dan & Stew made some valid points as well.
3 months ago
I honestly don't think there would be anyone good at this. You are limited in what you can say. Plus, you're on national television. You really can't blame these guys. In fact, they provide for some good entertainment.
3 months ago
I think the major culprit was Stephen A. Smith. He still thinks that he is an expert in NBA Analysis, but after the debacle of last year's playoffs, why is he still with ESPN?
3 months ago
Hey guys!
Thanks for stopping by and giving the article a read. I will admit that the telecast did pick up from pick 25 on. I don't know if that's because Front Runner wasn't being shown anymore or what, but they did get a little better.
I will say this in response to Sam. You might be right, but let me just pose this question to you. What if they'd had Bilas, Bobby Knight, Jackson, and say Patrick/Berman/Reece Davis/Chris Fowler (you pick). Heck, let Lou Holtz conduct the interviews with the just drafted rookie. He probably knows as much as Front Runner. I still think that the major problem with the telecast was that the chemistry between everyone was shaky at best.
3 months ago
good read.
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