OT:David Aldridge

[hoyainspirit]

Is it my imagination, or has the DA virtually disappeared from the ESPN airwaves? Anthony, Stephen A., Bill L., and a host of others are always on TV, but Aldridge no longer appears to play a major role in front of the camera, though he still is credited for stories. Has he been demoted, is he ill? Inquiring minds want to know.

[YB]

I hope he's not gone.... I love DA's analysis, while Stephen A. just screams into the camera for 5 minutes at a time. I can just see his at home with his wife now:

"What do you want for dinner honey?"

"WHAT DO I WANT FOR DINNER? WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT? OF COURSE I WANT STEAK AND GREEN BEANS!!!!"

[MCIGuy]

I haven't been watching ESPN much so I didn't really notice. I'll have to check into that.

Stephen A Smith is a very good sports writer but a HORRIBLE TV personality. He screams everything and looks like a buffoon when he frowns in front of the camera.

[kghoya]

i always thought that whoever screamed the loudest won the battle...is that not right???

[Gold Hoya]

DA called into Mike and Mike in the morning today.

[MCIGuy]

Aldridge was a guest host on Sports 980 Sports Reporters yesterday where he mentioned the reason he hadn't been on ESPN much lately was because his wife gave birth to their first child and he was spending a lot of time at home during this period. Mystery solved.

[RaleighHoya]

Stephen A. Smith was on Sportscenter this morning just screaming for no real reason. That guy is annoying.

[Deleted]

Is it just me or is Screamin' A. Smith the most MILITANT sportswriter/caster ever? The mannerisms in the way he talks remind me of a 70's-era blaxploitation revolutionary. Plus, his choice of vocab bothers me a bit - not in his writing, but when he's on the tube. I actually enjoy his column for the most part. Am I crazy or does this make sense to anyone?

GO HOYAS!!!

[RDF]

BuffaloHoya said:

Is it just me or is Screamin' A. Smith the most MILITANT sportswriter/caster ever? The mannerisms in the way he talks remind me of a 70's-era blaxploitation revolutionary. Plus, his choice of vocab bothers me a bit - not in his writing, but when he's on the tube. I actually enjoy his column for the most part. Am I crazy or does this make sense to anyone?

GO HOYAS!!!

That's his "persona" he puts on. The guy is a pretty good writer and I like some of his columns but he annoys many Philly fans with his constant talk of the Knicks and Lakers. It's tolerated more now that he's the NBA Columnist for the Inquirer, but he used to do the same thing as the Sixers Beat Writer and that Editeded off many a Sixer fan.

Smith is a guy who is trying too hard. He's got to realize you build your credibility before acting like God's Gift to Basketball. As for ESPN's NBA Coverage, it reminds of what CBS did to MLB---butchered it! I am a fan of Kevin Frazier and think he's excellent hoop mind/host, I like Greg Anthony as well, but you can take Laimbeer, Smith, Legler, and ESPECIALLY Mike Tirico and throw them back where they belong.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Mike Tirico is the WORST Announcer I've ever had to listen to--be it CFB, CBB, and now the NBA. He's okay in Golf and as a Host, but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER let him do play by play. He is annoying because he doesn't know the game, has no clue about momentum, and constantly references meaningless things. For instance:

--He loves to shout when someone hits 2 jumpers in a row--why??

--He (along with Brad Nessler) act as if the game is over when someone goes up 8-10 in 1st/2nd Quarter. The Analysts have to tell him "it's the NBA, you're NEVER out of a game".

--He plugs UCONN constantly. He'll mention something like "The Playoffs have been a coming out party for Caron Butler, the former UConn Standout" Really, didn't know he was gay, because the only thing he's coming out about is his sexual preference. He's a nice role player in NBA but I think Dwyane Wade is the Heat player making the bigger impression. And he's in love with Richard Hamilton as well always mentioning something about him/Huskies.


For my money, I'd like to see the NBA return to NBC and pair them up with TNT--who's coverage of the NBA is unmatched and provides the outline for how to cover games. Not to mention they have the best Studio Show in Sports. Ever notice how they incorporate player's "guest analysts" and not only get them to make great points but speak candidly as well. They talk to you as if you were sitting with them talking hoops and not as if we're all "beneath" them. They dont' need some hack comic from MAD TV to make you laugh either. Naturally funny and everyone is a target.

Bring back the John Tesh theme music and dump ABC's Justin Timberlake crap into the river he's crying in!

[Deleted]

Here's my problem with Tirico, Jim "A Moment Unlike Any Other" Nance, and a few others: they do TOO MANY SPORTS. Nance is the play-by-play for final four, host of golf, in studio for NFL...its just annoying to see some of these guys all the time. I'd rather have a Gary Thorne (and I can't believe I'm saying this considering I grew up worshiping "Hockey Night in Canada's announcers) who knows his sport and sticks to it and really knows something about each player, than Jimbo who just jumps from sport to sport. Gimmie Bonnie Bernstein in-studio for NFL or something...enough with overkill already.

GO HOYAS!!!

ps Thank god Deion is gone...now if only ESPN'll get rid of Michael Irvin

[Big Dog]

I resent ESPN's monopolization of the sporting world. Sportscenter is like nails on the chalkboard, their anchor and play-by-play "talent" is more about personality and stature than substance and for some reason the produciton quality is never quite there: their studio sets, the on-screen graphics, the jingles they use...everything just screams "cable tv" and "we're an entertainment company"

Let the sport speak for itself. People aren't watching b/c of the channel or the host or the announcers. They're watching b/c they want to see the game.

[hoyainspirit]

MCIGuy said:

Aldridge was a guest host on Sports 980 Sports Reporters yesterday where he mentioned the reason he hadn't been on ESPN much lately was because his wife gave birth to their first child and he was spending a lot of time at home during this period. Mystery solved.

Thanx for the info ;D. As RDF and others have stated, many of the ESPN on air basketball heads either suck, or they work on my nerves(like Stephen A., whom I do like as a writer). Aldridge, however, has been a favorite for some time.

[the_way]

yeah its a shame.

[FOTP]

DA moved over to TNT...

[Hank Scorpio]

RDF

you'll be happy to know that the John Tesh theme music lives on courtesy of the NBA Channel if you order the NBA package through your cable operator.

- Borat

RDF said:

For my money, I'd like to see the NBA return to NBC and pair them up with TNT--who's coverage of the NBA is unmatched and provides the outline for how to cover games. Not to mention they have the best Studio Show in Sports. Ever notice how they incorporate player's "guest analysts" and not only get them to make great points but speak candidly as well. They talk to you as if you were sitting with them talking hoops and not as if we're all "beneath" them. They dont' need some hack comic from MAD TV to make you laugh either. Naturally funny and everyone is a target.

Bring back the John Tesh theme music and dump ABC's Justin Timberlake crap into the river he's crying in!

[alleninxis]

espn let him go

[the_way]

really, where did he go?

[alleninxis]

I believe as someone mentioned before he is with TNT now. There wasnt room for Stephen A and him I guess

[the_way]

Stephen A. probably "screamed" him off the set.

[FOTP]

He really wasn't "let go". His contract was up and TNT kind of scooped him up. Not a huge deal.

Stephen A drives me nuts. I never watch that show.

Best guy is Legler. He knows his stuff and is articulate.