The Changing Environment of NBA Broadcasting

[oldmangrouch]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2807651-the-precarious-perch-of-nba-broadcasters

Before you start the hating on Bleacher Report, be aware that a good chunk of the article deals with the ouster of Barrett and Rice. The article as a whole talks about the deterioration of broadcast quality around the league.

If you want a sunshine-and-butterflies view of present and future NBA coverage, this article isn't for you.

 

[e_blazer]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2807651-the-precarious-perch-of-nba-broadcasters

Before you start the hating on Bleacher Report, be aware that a good chunk of the article deals with the ouster of Barrett and Rice. The article as a whole talks about the deterioration of broadcast quality around the league.

If you want a sunshine-and-butterflies view of present and future NBA coverage, this article isn't for you.

I guess I don’t see the firing of Barret an Rice as fitting with the main narrative of the article. They didn’t get canned because of something they said. I’m of the opinion that it was mainly that Calabro was available and Paul Allen liked him from his days as the Sonics’ announcer. No proof of that, but I think it makes sense.

 

[tlongII]

LOL Bleacher Report.

 

[Chris Craig]

I like Calabro and Hurd but Mike and Mike were better

 

[jlprk]

Years ago, if a player or assistant coach failed to last in the NBA, he had to retire. (For a few years there was the ABA.) Now there are the G-League and worldwide pro leagues.

But when a team broadcaster is out, his career is over. They don't descend to the college level, etc. They just retire from life. When Whitsitt replaced longtime Sonic radio and TV play-by-play man Bob Blackburn with Calabro around 1990, Blackburn disappeared. (He died a little while ago.)

The NBA should organize a path to lesser broadcasting jobs in colleges and the G-League for guys like that, as they did with the G-League.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Years ago, if a player or assistant coach failed to last in the NBA, he had to retire. (For a few years there was the ABA.) Now there are the G-League and worldwide pro leagues.

But when a team broadcaster is out, his career is over. They don't descend to the college level, etc. They just retire from life. When Whitsitt replaced longtime Sonic radio and TV play-by-play man Bob Blackburn with Calabro around 1990, Blackburn disappeared. (He died a little while ago.)

The NBA should organize a path to lesser broadcasting jobs in colleges and the G-League for guys like that, as they did with the G-League.

You make a strong case for an NBA sponsored version of The Lingerie League. Thank you.

BNM

 

[Rozay]

I like Calabro and Hurd but Mike and Mike were better

I love Calabro and Hurd. Barrett and Rice were cool but I still stand that Barrett will return back to the Blazers when Calabro retires

 

[jlprk]

Honey-voiced Bob Blackburn was more talented than baritone Calabro, but Whitsitt had them share the booth for 3 years while Blackburn taught Calabro how to cite statistics fast while talking. See Calabro looking down at sheets of paper without pausing? When he did that at first, he hesitated his speech and slowed his play-by-play. He got 3 years of tutelage from Blackburn, then Blackburn got no gig anywhere.

The League now gives players alternatives with the G-League. Some League Office phone flunkee should be assigned 10% of his work week to negotiate/smooth the re-employment path for top talented people who get booted from NBA jobs. Grooming new and old broadcasters and executives would be far less than 1% the job of doing the same for players and coaches--maintaining the G-League.

 

[jlprk]

In this thread, Ripcityboy posted this about Reddit.

I was on R/NBA...some opposing fan was complaining about Calabro and Hurd...So I mention Mike & Mike and the whole situation behind them being let go and suddenly..."Fuck'n A! I don't mind Calabro, but you're absolutely right about Mike and Mike. They got fucked!" Even other teams fans are commenting about it.

Well, anyway, right after the game is over. One of the top R/NBA articles is somebody posting this commentary of Calabro and Hurd talking about a bent rim during the game. Everybody in the room is like "this is first rate commentary" and "I miss Mike and Mike but these guys ARE better."...I go in R/NBA quite a lot, and had never seen another post like that about our announcers...a few hours later, there was a posting in the r/rip city that was like basically "Guys, Aren't We Lucky To Have Calabro and Hurd?" Almost like somebody is trying to kill a certain narrative with NBA fans and astroturf another one...I wouldn't be surprised if these guys had family and employees on social media who watched their back.

Even on Sports2, sometimes someone who registered years ago, but posts a couple times per year, makes a rare appearance to defend Blazer management or coaches. When one appears, often another rare poster appears soon in the same thread.

...Ripcityboy, I wrote that response to your post, returned to copy and paste it in, and yours had been deleted. Did you delete it...or did THEY?

 

[ripcityboy]

In this thread, Ripcityboy posted this about Reddit.



Even on Sports2, sometimes someone who registered years ago, but posts a couple times per year, makes a rare appearance to defend Blazer management or coaches. When one appears, often another rare poster appears soon in the same thread.

...Ripcityboy, I wrote that response to your post, returned to copy and paste it in, and yours had been deleted. Did you delete it...or did THEY?

I just realized my post had a 'tin foil hat" aspect to it. Thst's all. All those posts were probably just coinidence. People publish the weirdest takes on Reddit. Who gives a shit if somebody mentions Mike and Mike got canned on social media? It means about as much as a fart in the wind.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Honey-voiced Bob Blackburn was more talented than baritone Calabro, but Whitsitt had them share the booth for 3 years while Blackburn taught Calabro how to cite statistics fast while talking. See Calabro looking down at sheets of paper without pausing? When he did that at first, he hesitated his speech and slowed his play-by-play. He got 3 years of tutelage from Blackburn, then Blackburn got no gig anywhere.

The League now gives players alternatives with the G-League. Some League Office phone flunkee should be assigned 10% of his work week to negotiate/smooth the re-employment path for top talented people who get booted from NBA jobs. Grooming new and old broadcasters and executives would be far less than 1% the job of doing the same for players and coaches--maintaining the G-League.

I'm hurt. You didn't like my Lingerie League - NBA Edition idea?

We could even name it in honor of Bob Blackburn (is that a microphone in your hand, or are you just happy to see me?):



BNM

 

[Hoopguru]

Honey-voiced Bob Blackburn was more talented than baritone Calabro, but Whitsitt had them share the booth for 3 years while Blackburn taught Calabro how to cite statistics fast while talking. See Calabro looking down at sheets of paper without pausing? When he did that at first, he hesitated his speech and slowed his play-by-play. He got 3 years of tutelage from Blackburn, then Blackburn got no gig anywhere.

The League now gives players alternatives with the G-League. Some League Office phone flunkee should be assigned 10% of his work week to negotiate/smooth the re-employment path for top talented people who get booted from NBA jobs. Grooming new and old broadcasters and executives would be far less than 1% the job of doing the same for players and coaches--maintaining the G-League.

I remember Bob doing the OSU beaver games way back! He was great!

 

[jlprk]

I finally read the article.

You make a strong case for an NBA sponsored version of The Lingerie League. Thank you.

NOW I know what you were talking about.
-----------
From the article:

Barrett, meanwhile, never left the Northwest. Today, he is spearheading the Portland Diamond Project, which aims to bring pro baseball to the City of Roses. Barrett says he had a chance to stay in the NBA but opted instead to move on.

I wonder what the job offer was.

 

[jlprk]

I guess I don’t see the firing of Barret an Rice as fitting with the main narrative of the article. They didn’t get canned because of something they said. I’m of the opinion that it was mainly that Calabro was available and Paul Allen liked him from his days as the Sonics’ announcer.

I agree. The writer stretched to find examples for his theme.

Before you start the hating on Bleacher Report...

LOL Bleacher Report.

It was well-written. If the Bleacher Report were renamed Colbert Report, people would stop making fun of it.

I'm hurt. You didn't like my Lingerie League - NBA Edition idea?

I looked it up. I should read the football message boards more!

https://lflus.com/seattlemist

 

[illmatic99]

I can't stand Calabro. He makes so many mistakes even now and is so far behind on key things to point out in a game like fouls to give or the number of fouls a guy has, etc, etc. Also, he does TV broadcasts like radio, which is incredibly annoying. Then again, I didn't care for MB's whining when we were losing either, and he was more of a homer than Rice.

Lamar is getting better. I wish he'd be more critical of our team when shit goes wrong, but it's clear that he's afraid of stepping on toes. The best broadcast combo for me was listening to Wheels and the Wild One on radio. That, and their candid Courtside shows were awesome.

 

[dviss1]

I can't stand Calabro. He makes so many mistakes even now and is so far behind on key things to point out in a game like fouls to give or the number of fouls a guy has, etc, etc. Also, he does TV broadcasts like radio, which is incredibly annoying. Then again, I didn't care for MB's whining when we were losing either, and he was more of a homer than Rice.

Lamar is getting better. I wish he'd be more critical of our team when shit goes wrong, but it's clear that he's afraid of stepping on toes. The best broadcast combo for me was listening to Wheels and the Wild One on radio. That, and their candid Courtside shows were awesome.

My thoughts exactly.

Calabro...

I can't stand his voice...

He says dumb shit...

He does WAY too much color and to little play by play...

I miss The Snapper...