06-21-2016, 09:53 AM
OT: Skip Bayless
06-21-2016, 12:15 PM
Unsure whether to view this as a step down for Skip (since he's going to a less visible platform) or a lateral move (since that less visible platform is reportedly paying him ungodly sums of money to come over), but we can all celebrate the fact that he'll be less visible in our lives. Viewing it as a step down because of visibility, I usually don't celebrate folks' professional setbacks, but because Skip (1) has made oodles of money, (2) has made a career off being a contrarian with no discernible sports expertise, journalistic skills, or analytical reasoning, (3) is actively terrible, (4) has deliberately debased sports commentary for as long as he's been doing it, and (5) has already found some media outlet to pay him yet more money, I'll make an exception.
This is a good day for sports commentary in general and ESPN in particular, as the Worldwide Leader sheds some dead weight and Skip shifts to a less visible platform at Fox Sports. He wasn't the only practitioner of sports broadcasting's Dark Arts, merely its most visible and uncompromising.Â
Man. When FS1 first got going, I really liked the two lead anchors they had (Jay and Dan?), and I thought they got some thoughtful commentary from folks like Andy Roddick, but it seems like the network is actively collecting the most strident and unlikeable Hot Take Artists out there now (Cowherd, Whitlock, etc., and now the worst of them all). No thanks. I love what Katie Nolan does on Garbage Time; she sure deserves a bigger/better platform, far away from the "Embrace Debate" crowd that's taken over FS1 after moving on from Bristol.Â
To be clear, I don't mean to compliment ESPN here, as they gave this clown a platform for years and are guiltier than anyone about the decline in the tenor of sports broadcasting (even as they have hired some terrific people and done terrific work on the newsgathering and documentary sides of the business, in addition to doing generally great work on College Gameday, the World Cup in Brazil, and many other sporting events). Skip's greed and FS1's even lower standards just meant that ESPN was saved from its own baser impulses here. But hey--that's better than nothing.Â
This is a good day for sports commentary in general and ESPN in particular, as the Worldwide Leader sheds some dead weight and Skip shifts to a less visible platform at Fox Sports. He wasn't the only practitioner of sports broadcasting's Dark Arts, merely its most visible and uncompromising.Â
Man. When FS1 first got going, I really liked the two lead anchors they had (Jay and Dan?), and I thought they got some thoughtful commentary from folks like Andy Roddick, but it seems like the network is actively collecting the most strident and unlikeable Hot Take Artists out there now (Cowherd, Whitlock, etc., and now the worst of them all). No thanks. I love what Katie Nolan does on Garbage Time; she sure deserves a bigger/better platform, far away from the "Embrace Debate" crowd that's taken over FS1 after moving on from Bristol.Â
To be clear, I don't mean to compliment ESPN here, as they gave this clown a platform for years and are guiltier than anyone about the decline in the tenor of sports broadcasting (even as they have hired some terrific people and done terrific work on the newsgathering and documentary sides of the business, in addition to doing generally great work on College Gameday, the World Cup in Brazil, and many other sporting events). Skip's greed and FS1's even lower standards just meant that ESPN was saved from its own baser impulses here. But hey--that's better than nothing.Â
Unsure whether to view this as a step down for Skip (since he's going to a less visible platform) or a lateral move (since that less visible platform is reportedly paying him ungodly sums of money to come over), but we can all celebrate the fact that he'll be less visible in our lives. Viewing it as a step down because of visibility, I usually don't celebrate folks' professional setbacks, but because Skip (1) has made oodles of money, (2) has made a career off being a contrarian with no discernible sports expertise, journalistic skills, or analytical reasoning, (3) is actively terrible, (4) has deliberately debased sports commentary for as long as he's been doing it, and (5) has already found some media outlet to pay him yet more money, I'll make an exception.
This is a good day for sports commentary in general and ESPN in particular, as the Worldwide Leader sheds some dead weight and Skip shifts to a less visible platform at Fox Sports. He wasn't the only practitioner of sports broadcasting's Dark Arts, merely its most visible and uncompromising.Â
Man. When FS1 first got going, I really liked the two lead anchors they had (Jay and Dan?), and I thought they got some thoughtful commentary from folks like Andy Roddick, but it seems like the network is actively collecting the most strident and unlikeable Hot Take Artists out there now (Cowherd, Whitlock, etc., and now the worst of them all). No thanks. I love what Katie Nolan does on Garbage Time; she sure deserves a bigger/better platform, far away from the "Embrace Debate" crowd that's taken over FS1 after moving on from Bristol.Â
To be clear, I don't mean to compliment ESPN here, as they gave this clown a platform for years and are guiltier than anyone about the decline in the tenor of sports broadcasting (even as they have hired some terrific people and done terrific work on the newsgathering and documentary sides of the business, in addition to doing generally great work on College Gameday, the World Cup in Brazil, and many other sporting events). Skip's greed and FS1's even lower standards just meant that ESPN was saved from its own baser impulses here. But hey--that's better than nothing.Â
This is a good day for sports commentary in general and ESPN in particular, as the Worldwide Leader sheds some dead weight and Skip shifts to a less visible platform at Fox Sports. He wasn't the only practitioner of sports broadcasting's Dark Arts, merely its most visible and uncompromising.Â
Man. When FS1 first got going, I really liked the two lead anchors they had (Jay and Dan?), and I thought they got some thoughtful commentary from folks like Andy Roddick, but it seems like the network is actively collecting the most strident and unlikeable Hot Take Artists out there now (Cowherd, Whitlock, etc., and now the worst of them all). No thanks. I love what Katie Nolan does on Garbage Time; she sure deserves a bigger/better platform, far away from the "Embrace Debate" crowd that's taken over FS1 after moving on from Bristol.Â
To be clear, I don't mean to compliment ESPN here, as they gave this clown a platform for years and are guiltier than anyone about the decline in the tenor of sports broadcasting (even as they have hired some terrific people and done terrific work on the newsgathering and documentary sides of the business, in addition to doing generally great work on College Gameday, the World Cup in Brazil, and many other sporting events). Skip's greed and FS1's even lower standards just meant that ESPN was saved from its own baser impulses here. But hey--that's better than nothing.Â
06-21-2016, 07:55 PM
I also so saw a clip where he argued Irving was the Finals MVP because he made that one shot in the 4th quarter of Game 7 and history says that Lebron would not make that shot. Sure, the guy who led his team in the finals in pts, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks was not the MVP along with being only the third guy with a triple double in game 7 is not the MVP because that one guy made one timely shot.
So dumb.
So dumb.
I also so saw a clip where he argued Irving was the Finals MVP because he made that one shot in the 4th quarter of Game 7 and history says that Lebron would not make that shot. Sure, the guy who led his team in the finals in pts, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks was not the MVP along with being only the third guy with a triple double in game 7 is not the MVP because that one guy made one timely shot.
So dumb.
So dumb.
06-21-2016, 08:57 PM
I will say that Irving was so good that it made me reconsider having laughed at Cavs fans for saying last year that they would have won if healthy. Not that I think they would, but Irving was brobdingnagian this year. Of course Curry not being 100% was big too.
No credit of any kind to the phony controversy monger for whom this thread is titled, of course.
No credit of any kind to the phony controversy monger for whom this thread is titled, of course.
I will say that Irving was so good that it made me reconsider having laughed at Cavs fans for saying last year that they would have won if healthy. Not that I think they would, but Irving was brobdingnagian this year. Of course Curry not being 100% was big too.
No credit of any kind to the phony controversy monger for whom this thread is titled, of course.
No credit of any kind to the phony controversy monger for whom this thread is titled, of course.
06-22-2016, 05:39 AM
Good riddance by ESPN, but let's be clear. They are bleeding $$$ and Disney is tightening the purse strings over there. Doesn't mean I will go watch Fox Sports instead. Too much Joe Buck to change the dial
06-22-2016, 09:05 AM
I feel the same way Winflop, and it makes me wonder: is there ANYONE who likes these guys like Witless and Buck and even Mushberger. I have literally (and I understand the definition) never met someone who spoke highly of any of those three. Or even favorably. And yet they are not just successful, they thrive; they're main guys; they are everywhere. Sheesh, I must simply run in the right crowd.
"It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you think you know that just isn't so."
Mark Twain
I feel the same way Winflop, and it makes me wonder: is there ANYONE who likes these guys like Witless and Buck and even Mushberger. I have literally (and I understand the definition) never met someone who spoke highly of any of those three. Or even favorably. And yet they are not just successful, they thrive; they're main guys; they are everywhere. Sheesh, I must simply run in the right crowd.
"It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you think you know that just isn't so."
Mark Twain
06-22-2016, 09:16 AM
Cowherd left and I didn't follow him to Fox. Kept on listening to LeBatard on ESPN, though not as much. Bayless leaving isn't going to take me to Fox either.Â
Cowherd left and I didn't follow him to Fox. Kept on listening to LeBatard on ESPN, though not as much. Bayless leaving isn't going to take me to Fox either.Â
06-22-2016, 09:37 AM
I don't particularly like Buck, but I've never understood the widespread loathing he inspires. Unlike, say, Chris Berman, hearing him doesn't make me turn off the TV, and unlike Phil Simms he's not a useless moron. Is he the best? Probably not, but he's not bad.
Redrum
Unregistered
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06-22-2016, 09:49 AM
...how little I've missed (actually, came out far, far ahead) by not paying ANY attention to most of the sports talking heads mentioned above. I would rather read whatever mental meanderings one can find on Stanford sports boards than spend ANY time watching ESPN. Well, except for some football games and occasional Game Day shows when I'm in my Saturday a.m. stupor.
Celebrity as a concept is pretty lame. "Celebrities"--who got that way by commenting on other slightly more worthy celebrities-- are the lamest. I am SO glad that I haven't heard of nor watched most of the talking head "celebrities" mentioned above.
Celebrity as a concept is pretty lame. "Celebrities"--who got that way by commenting on other slightly more worthy celebrities-- are the lamest. I am SO glad that I haven't heard of nor watched most of the talking head "celebrities" mentioned above.
...how little I've missed (actually, came out far, far ahead) by not paying ANY attention to most of the sports talking heads mentioned above. I would rather read whatever mental meanderings one can find on Stanford sports boards than spend ANY time watching ESPN. Well, except for some football games and occasional Game Day shows when I'm in my Saturday a.m. stupor.
Celebrity as a concept is pretty lame. "Celebrities"--who got that way by commenting on other slightly more worthy celebrities-- are the lamest. I am SO glad that I haven't heard of nor watched most of the talking head "celebrities" mentioned above.
Celebrity as a concept is pretty lame. "Celebrities"--who got that way by commenting on other slightly more worthy celebrities-- are the lamest. I am SO glad that I haven't heard of nor watched most of the talking head "celebrities" mentioned above.
06-22-2016, 11:05 AM
(06-22-2016, 09:37 AM)stupac2 link Wrote:I don't particularly like Buck, but I've never understood the widespread loathing he inspires. Unlike, say, Chris Berman, hearing him doesn't make me turn off the TV, and unlike Phil Simms he's not a useless moron. Is he the best? Probably not, but he's not bad.
I can't stand Buck. I just can't stand him. He doesn't care for California, California teams or Californians in general, and his overall manner is irritating as heck.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(06-22-2016, 09:37 AM)stupac2 link Wrote:I don't particularly like Buck, but I've never understood the widespread loathing he inspires. Unlike, say, Chris Berman, hearing him doesn't make me turn off the TV, and unlike Phil Simms he's not a useless moron. Is he the best? Probably not, but he's not bad.
I can't stand Buck. I just can't stand him. He doesn't care for California, California teams or Californians in general, and his overall manner is irritating as heck.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
06-22-2016, 12:39 PM
I think when he starting using baseball metaphors at the U.S.Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay last year it was the final straw for me. His St. Louis Cardinal-phelia when they aren't even involved in the game he is covering, for example, nauseates me. He's probably a great guy in private. He can't possibly be any more trite in private, right?
"It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you think you know that just isn't so."
Mark Twain
I think when he starting using baseball metaphors at the U.S.Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay last year it was the final straw for me. His St. Louis Cardinal-phelia when they aren't even involved in the game he is covering, for example, nauseates me. He's probably a great guy in private. He can't possibly be any more trite in private, right?
"It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you think you know that just isn't so."
Mark Twain
06-22-2016, 01:18 PM
(06-22-2016, 12:39 PM)CornFed link Wrote:I think when he starting using baseball metaphors at the U.S.Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay last year it was the final straw for me. His St. Louis Cardinal-phelia when they aren't even involved in the game he is covering, for example, nauseates me. He's probably a great guy in private. He can't possibly be any more trite in private, right?
[
Audaces fortuna iuvat
(06-22-2016, 12:39 PM)CornFed link Wrote:I think when he starting using baseball metaphors at the U.S.Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay last year it was the final straw for me. His St. Louis Cardinal-phelia when they aren't even involved in the game he is covering, for example, nauseates me. He's probably a great guy in private. He can't possibly be any more trite in private, right?
[
Audaces fortuna iuvat
06-22-2016, 02:35 PM
If I saw Chris Collinworth in person, I'd kick him in the shins. Well maybe not but I might bump into him so he drops his drink or something. Can't stand his smugness.
I'm ok with Buck.
I'm ok with Buck.
06-23-2016, 02:21 PM
One problem with Buck is that he's boring. He can make game 7 of the World Series sound like a mid-July game between the Twins and the Rays.
06-23-2016, 03:07 PM
(06-22-2016, 09:37 AM)stupac2 link Wrote:I don't particularly like Buck, but I've never understood the widespread loathing he inspires. Unlike, say, Chris Berman, hearing him doesn't make me turn off the TV, and unlike Phil Simms he's not a useless moron. Is he the best? Probably not, but he's not bad.
Simms is flat-out unwatchable. Why he continues to work on this business is beyond me. He provides no "insider" information which is what we normally like to get from former players in the booth. Instead, he rests on platitudes, eschews any kind of advanced statistical analysis, and barely seems to keep up with the action on the field. Combine that with his seemingly inflated sense of his own quality and I'll watch games on mute before I'll listen to him.Â
(06-22-2016, 09:37 AM)stupac2 link Wrote:I don't particularly like Buck, but I've never understood the widespread loathing he inspires. Unlike, say, Chris Berman, hearing him doesn't make me turn off the TV, and unlike Phil Simms he's not a useless moron. Is he the best? Probably not, but he's not bad.
Simms is flat-out unwatchable. Why he continues to work on this business is beyond me. He provides no "insider" information which is what we normally like to get from former players in the booth. Instead, he rests on platitudes, eschews any kind of advanced statistical analysis, and barely seems to keep up with the action on the field. Combine that with his seemingly inflated sense of his own quality and I'll watch games on mute before I'll listen to him.Â
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