Jim Simpson and Warner Wolf

[ImissHoyaParanoia]

Was it just me, or did those guys just call one of the most horrific games in recent memory. Simpson was consistently calling players by the wrong name and making mistakes on the play by play. I know there is a thread complaining about the likes of Patrick and Vitale and I know these guys are old, but I could barely listen to these guys. They made Fred Brown sound like a seasoned veteran in the booth. I thought Brown did a great job - made some good comments regarding Reed's FT shooting technique and was impartial throughout the game.

[Cambridge]

They definitely did not do their homework as they refused to talk about the current teams, made no note of Bowman's historic acheivement and didn't even know where the freshmen were from--- IF THAT INFO ISN'T IN THE PRE-GAME PRESS PACKET WHAT IS?

They tried to turn it into an intervention about Browns errant pass and even went out of their way to complement MD!!!

It was the worst, and I mean the worst, announcing job I've heard in a while...they knew nothing about the teams and didn't care that they didn't know anything either.

[ShimmyJr]

a couple points...

First Brown had some nice input, but he was consistently getting drowned out by the others - it was like he was fading out at the end of ever sentence, so it was hard to hear his comments all the way through...

Best line of the night:

WW: Now Fred, let me ask you something...I mean, can you teach young players to box-out? Is that a teachable skill?

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Grandpa]

Couldn't agree more with the assessments regarding the broadcast crew. At times, it seemed as though Wolf and Simpson were almost perturbed that they had to cover the game - you'd think both of them would be a little more excited to have an opportunity to do something that they don't normally do on a regular basis (I'm assuming that Simpson doesn't have a regular play-by-play gig, but don't know this for sure). Another frustrating thing was the "crotchety old man's view of the game" angle that they kept working regarding the more liberal way in which certain rules are being called in college basketball these days (i.e., # of steps, etc.) While there is certainly validity to the point, it just comes off as tired blathering to me when they could be talking about more specifics in the game.

One other somewhat frustrating thing I found about Fred Brown was the fact that he was almost too impartial. For once, the Hoyas actually had a guy in the broadcast booth that would have had an implied pass on being a bit of a homer for Georgetown, but Fred really didn't seem to be pulling much for the Hoyas at all (although to be honest, the trailing off of his sentences discussed above may have obscured it if he actually had!) Not that I would want him to be beside himself in rooting for the team, but it would have been nice to hear a little more pro-Georgetown discussion even if just to partially offset the droning of Simpson and Wolf.

[aussiehoya]

COMPLETELY agree with you guys.

There was on absolutely absurd moment when someone was shooting free throws, missed one and then got the now-obligatory 5-slap from his teammates. One of the old dudes reacted with this doosy:

"back in our day, we would never slap eachother five during free throws! even if I hit one no one would say anything. and they're slapping five when he misses one?! ahhhh how the game has changed."

pure ludicrousness...ness.

The game calling was as horrible as I've ever heard it and the whole ESPN execution of the throwback night was, in the words of barker davis "thoroughly lame".

[MEGAFAN]

I cannot add much except to say that I agree and that I have already referred to this broadcast several times as being done by the "Geriatric Commentators" squad.

I mean, I liked some of the old fonts and the throwback motif, including flashbacks to some historic moments, but was it just me, or despite this being a big game for our team, was this not one of the dullest broadcasts of a Hoya game in a long time.

Despite how terrible we came out against BC (and the multiple drinks I had heading into that game), was that not even more bearable to watch?

Well, Fred Brown was the best commentator, and I agree, I wouldn't have minded some more pulling for the young Hoyas (and some plugging for renewed program), but at least he didn't sound like an out-of-date bafoon.

Furthermore, did anyone catch the total mispronunciation of Dikembe Mutombo. It's not like you need to be a historic ace to know how to say this name. I know people who don't even know he was a Hoya who recognize him as an NBA player, All-star, etc. and who can pronounce it properly, let alone a broadcast professional.

Well, let's no beat a dead horse, and I don't have any animosity towards these guys, I just don't get how they could be so out of touch/date, and wish that ESPN Classic new how to properly market these games and get some exciting play-by-play, etc.

One good thing - less commercials than I have ever seen during a BE game...

LET'S GO HOYAS!!! ROLLOVER RUTGERS AT THE RAC!

[nodak89]

It had me pining for Rich.

[SaxaCD]

As bad as they all were, they were still all better than Dana Barros.

[Cambridge]

The worst part is with all the clips of old Hoya games...we were teased with some famous calls by Raftery and others.

"Pat takes...it in...with authority!"

[jackdog74]

What I was most impressed with was the way Fred handled himself. How many times could Warner Wolf had asked him about the UNC game. It was getting to the point of ridiculousness. "Fred, could you have seen the triangle on the shorts? Could it have been a JT conspiracy?" I though Fred was very, very classy in the way he answered Warner's questions. Plus, unlike Barros, he did his homework on both teams and really made a great contribution overall. I gave him a solid B+ on the night, Simpson a D and Wolf a G.

[hoyarooter]

While this isn't exactly on point, I couldn't get over how awful Warner Wolf looked. Now I admit it's more than 30 years since I was at GU, but good God almighty, I hope I have aged better than he has.

We used to call him Warner Edited back then (hope this isn't edited out ), and I see that nothing has changed.

[lichoya68]

FREDDIE BROWN WAS , IS , AND ALWAYS BE CLASS HES A REALLY TRUE HOYAS DIDNOT HEAR THE BROADCAST CAUSE IWAS BUSY TELLING LOUIE NOT TO TRY PUTTING IN SIX HALLERS BUT FROM ALL REPORTS FREDDIE IS CLASS... TOO BAD HE HURT HIS KNEE BADLY CAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHTA BEEN GO HOYAS KEEP HUSTLEING KEEP CLASSY BEAT THE KNIGHTS ;D ;D ;D

[TigerHoya]

SaxaCD85 said:

As bad as they all were, they were still all better than Dana Barros.

Actually, I was wishing for Dana Barros a couple of times during the game during a senior moment by Wolf or Simpson.

[FromTheBeginning]

Anyone who has had any exposure to W.W. over the years (either in D.C. or NYC) knows his expertise begins and ends with "let's go to the video tape".

[HoyaNCCT]

lichoya68 said:

FREDDIE BROWN WAS , IS , AND ALWAYS BE CLASS HES A REALLY TRUE HOYAS DIDNOT HEAR THE BROADCAST CAUSE IWAS BUSY TELLING LOUIE NOT TO TRY PUTTING IN SIX HALLERS BUT FROM ALL REPORTS FREDDIE IS CLASS... TOO BAD HE HURT HIS KNEE BADLY CAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHTA BEEN GO HOYAS KEEP HUSTLEING KEEP CLASSY BEAT THE KNIGHTS ;D ;D ;D

Stay Classy San Diego!

[EasyEd]

Warner Wolf was very popular in his first stay at Channel 9 in Washington, before he moved to NY. Later Channel 9 hired Glenn Brenner who was fabulous but died at an early age and 9 brought Warner back. He was awful the second go-around and got canned after a few years. As pointed out "Let's go to the videotape" and his insistence on showing a horserace each night were part of his downfall but, in fact, he was no longer interesting and a poor follow-up to Glenn Brenner.