We all know that it's a cluster and pretty much the worst pre-game/halftime show in sports television. It just doesn't work, The personalities have no chemistry and just don't mesh well. Jalen can't speak. I love Jalen, but this is not the right format for him. He's best doing the podcasts with Jacoby. Magic *really* can't speak. There's no doubt Magic is one of the best players ever, but I don't need to see him on television doing analysis. He's not offering much. Wilbon isn't showing a compelling personality on the show. I can't put my finger on it, but he's too bland I suppose. Simmons has encyclopedic knowledge of basketball, but it doesn't translate well to television. Especially when he's cracking jokes and the rest of the panel falls silent because they don't get it.
My idea is that they blow the whole thing up. Replace the entire panel. Although I like Simmons and think he would get better on television with time, he's dropped hints that he might not do it next year. So assuming he leaves on his own, get rid of everyone else and start off fresh.
I suggest they add Michael Smith as host, Bomani Jones, Sheed, and Grant Hill. I think that's a nice mix of personalities to inject some spark into this lame show. I don't know how Sheed would play on TV but we know dude has a great personality in post game interviews and quite frankly has a high basketball IQ. Grant Hill would play great on television and some underlying tension between a Dukie and a Tar Heel could make for some interesting moments. I'm a fan of Bomani Jones and think he would bring some humor and critical analysis to the show. I think Michael Smith could do a good job as a straight man and host. He's a personable guy and think he would do a good job being a "ring master" to the show.
Those are my thoughts. What do you think? How would you fix this mess of a show?
1. "Start over Lord. It is SO bad" In response to Reply # 0
Simmons tweeted a couple shots a the network last night I wonder if we'll see him on there next season. He is simply not made for tv (or hell podcasts I just can't stand his voice)
Idk....I dont watch many ESPN shows bcause I think most of the ppl suck.
2. "It's ironic how fake the show feels" In response to Reply # 1
Since Simmons has been going in on pre shows forever. But the stuff he and jalen mention going on in the green room always sound way more interesting than what goes on during the show. This is also te first show in a longtime I can remember that feels hostless. Who's supposed to be in charge on that set?
I think not having an actual post game show hurts them too, because that's when you really get to know the TNT/football crews. The ABC/ESPN basketball team always feels way less important than the commercials, and I feel like I've barely heard what they have to say by the end of the day.
“@BillSimmons: Wow, SportsCenter edited my joke out about Wade going to Germany before Game 4 - I should have just ripped people to shreds like SAS did.”
“@BillSimmons: The rigidity of studio TV is really discouraging. Let's just say that A LOT makes sense after these past 8 months.”
Seems he's fed up with the format as well. But it doesn't seem like it's ALL studio tv
35. "Jalen's cool, Magic is fine, Wilbon's actually the biggest problem" In response to Reply # 2
even more so than how awkward Simmons looks/sounds on TV.
However it's important to remember that the show sucked long before Sports Guy & Bat Man got to the set.
The Bald Berry & Unnamed Sources on there last year was way worse.
Mike Wilbon is a columnist who got big nationally by bringing his Post debates with Tony K to ESPN.
He is not, however, a veteran studio-host/straight-man who can set up the analysts like EJ does on TNT.
He's there as an analyst with no chops to be one.
If it's just gonna be two old jocks & two former writers kicking opinions around in a circle without guidance I'd much rather they swap out Wilbon for Screamin A.
He's far more insightful on the topic of the NBA & entertaining speaking on it.
37. "True it used to be even worse" In response to Reply # 35
ESPN's NBA show is at least at "leave on as background noise while I make dinner/clean the apartment" status this year as opposed to "hurry up and change the channel" like it was when Unnamed Sources and that crew was on there.
3. "Make it an actual SHOW." In response to Reply # 0
It's more important to ESPN for them to fill in Sportscenter segments than for it to function as it's own entity.
Give them 30 minutes before the game, Halftime and 30 minutes after the game. Let them produce their own segments. Have players join them on the set after games. Let Simmons and Jalen be themselves.
4. "ESPN is too coporate. They like to play things safe..." In response to Reply # 0
and try to cyse certain talking points that they think will get them views. If they don't change, then it won't really matter what personalities they put together imo.
7. "dump simmons and wilbon" In response to Reply # 0
i like the idea of adding micheal smith iono about bomani jones he seems like the toure of sports journalism or something to me not so much his content but just the vibe of his analysis not sure i want that in a 15-30 minute pre game show is chris webber available?
------------------------- “Floyd Mayweather should be taking fights up to 157 or 160 pounds...His frame can hold the weight..it's not even a lot of weight....Go to the gym and lift weights man..lol.”-- Warren Coolidge
11. "Outsource it to TNT" In response to Reply # 0
But really the only sport I enjoy broadcast on ESPN/ABC is college football. It helps that college football is more regional, so when ESPN rolls into town, it makes it seem like a bigger deal and you get big ESPN production values to go with it. Gameday isn't as good as NBA on TNT but probably the closest equivalent on ESPN and they have similar formats - strong host who knows how to get out of the way and strong talking heads who aren't afraid to piss people off (in fact pissing people off is practically Corso's whole shtick). You think you could go on ESPN and start talking about how San Antonio got some big ol' women like Chuck did? Or even burn up precious airtime with Shaq going "Birdman Birdman!"? It's pretty obvious the ESPN guys are stifled or even censored in what they say.
14. "Hell just take the TNT B team/NBATV squad" In response to Reply # 11
Scoop up Matt Winer or Rick Kamla as your host, make C-Webb your star analyst, bring over GP (OK I have no idea how ESPN would ever hire him) and Dennis Scott/random 90s Magic player. Instant improvement and they'd probably like the raise.
15. "This is the difference." In response to Reply # 11
>strong host who knows how to get out of the way and strong >talking heads who aren't afraid to piss people off (in fact >pissing people off is practically Corso's whole shtick). You >think you could go on ESPN and start talking about how San >Antonio got some big ol' women like Chuck did? Or even burn up >precious airtime with Shaq going "Birdman Birdman!"? It's >pretty obvious the ESPN guys are stifled or even censored in >what they say.
23. "RE: Bill Walton Would Be IDEAL" In response to Reply # 16
>I will never forget those NBC broadcasts with him, Dick >Enberg and Steve "Snapper" Jones...Jones would just go off on >him for saying something stupid > >The greatest line Walton ever said: >After Karl Malone hit a bucket, dude said the Jazz are on a >2-0 run
Aside from Peter Vescey, that NBA on NBC broadcasting crew was like manna from heaven, to envoke the Bill Walton-isms. Wasn't Dr. J part of the pre-game/post-game crew as well at one point?
dula dibiasi Member since Apr 05th 2004 21925 posts
Fri Jun-14-13 01:23 PM
21. "yeah i can't stand that pencil neck nigga. fuck anybody that love him." In response to Reply # 18
___
it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
27. "you must have alot of patience and self control" In response to Reply # 24
just seeing him rolling his neck on tv makes me want to stomp that nigga's ears together. hopefully that is just for tv and twitter, can't imagine being around a dude who always acts like that.
31. "I started out as a fan when I listened to his show on The Score" In response to Reply # 29
after Max Kellerman and Stephen A Smith both left ESPN Radio within a short time period he provided an alternative from the WFAN NYC shows that only act as if just the NFL and MLB exist across the sports lanscape. It was good to hear consistent NBA and CBB talk and also references that made sense to a 20 something year old, but after the TV appearances and his behavior on twitter I just can't really mess with dude anymore.
46. "I'm not about to sit here and let you slander Bomani Jones." In response to Reply # 18
I been a fan since the morning jones and dude is not a fuckboy.
He gets slandered hourly on twitter from racist fuckboys.
He's one of the more articulate black voices in the media. I like him on TV because balances out the monotony of everyone else. He provides a perspective with facts on issues. Plus, by all accounts he keeps it 1hunnid. Only internet niggas hate Bomani.
No empathy for white misery (c) BDot
"root for everybody black haters say that's crazy, wow..."
dula dibiasi Member since Apr 05th 2004 21925 posts
Fri Jun-14-13 01:22 PM
19. "i can't even lie..." In response to Reply # 0
listening to jalen and earv butcher the fucking english language on natl tv really gets on my nerves at times.
"the spurs is doing blah blah blah", "lebron don't do xyz", "bosh need to box out", etc
basic shit. i mean, damn.
___
it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
25. "Get some real, well spoken and/or funny analysts" In response to Reply # 0
At least one of the two.
Jalen and Magic ride their basketball ethos without any other leg to stand on. Bill is too nerdy to enjoy and Wilbon is invisible.
There's gotta be guys available who can entertain like Chuck or pull off the straight act like EJ. I'm thinking Stan Van Gundy or Karl Malone or something along those lines... I don't have a definitive group in mind though.
What about shows like PTI & Around The Horn? While they're not on the level of TNT, it's definitely not as stuffy. I don't even feel the ABC crew gets to those levels.
39. "I'm not sure about Around The Horn" In response to Reply # 36
But PTI isn't produced by ESPN. And that's the reason it's the best show on ESPN. An outside production company came up with the idea for PTI and produced it. They license it to ESPN. ESPN is involved with the production of PTI, but not too much.
>What about shows like PTI & Around The Horn? While they're >not on the level of TNT, it's definitely not as stuffy. I >don't even feel the ABC crew gets to those levels.
47. "Around the Horn is VERY loose these days" In response to Reply # 39
I don't watch it but I podcast it (sometimes I'll skip if it was a slow sports day of the panelists don't intrigue me) and there are a lot of inside jokes, ribbing, plain old wrongness and pop culture references. A couple months ago Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News did an entire show as Al Davis.
30. "i dont need another show to be like tnt's" In response to Reply # 0
and i cant understand why anyone would want a water down version of the show. i'd keep jalen and bill. i think they work, but i'd wilbon and magic. add host (i like the idea of mike smith, but isn't most of his knowledge football?), and someone like stan van gundy for analysis and what not.
also, while i like bomani jones, he has a tough time showing his bias about things if he doesnt like it. i'd love to see him get his own daily show-esqe sports show though.
33. "There just needs to be a host" In response to Reply # 0
I wouldn't get rid of either Magic or Jalen, because they add player expertise to the broadcast
Who you gonna sub 'em with, Tim Legler and Kurt Rambis? Jon Barry? Really?
No, the show just needs someone to anchor it, to steer the discussions in certain directions. Maybe you bring in Van Pelt. Maybe you bring in Tirico, who I'd take off of games. Maybe you bring in Jonathan Coachman (WWE bias). Maybe NOT Jay Crawford. But someone from the anchor desk could easily run the show and keep everyone on point.
________________________________________________________________________________________ Im not posting in PTP
48. "on the podcast, but he gets caught a lot on the show." In response to Reply # 43
you'll hear him hop and skip around the words instead of just saying them. I notice dead air with him more than any of the other three, which is super strange to me because there's anything BUT dead air on the podcast.
49. "scrap everyone, build around walton." In response to Reply # 0
wilbon is tolerable but i am looking for a total teardown.
give us bill for sure, and a guy like jalen rose that isn't jalen rose. a younger guy for bill to play off of. then an ernie johnson-like moderator guy. i like the three-man format.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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