Also gone is Wilbon who is being replaced by Doug Collins. Can you say snoozefest. Is there anyone more boring than Doris Burke. Obviously TNT has the best pre-game show with Charles, Kenny, and Shaq. Magic apparently quit ESPN because pal Wilbon was sent packing. Bill Simmons caused a rift in the crew. Simmons is a very sharp basketball guy who didn't think the others put in the work. Isn't the show more about personalities than hard core basketball knowledge. I just don't see any way Burke, Collins and Simmons can hold the attention span of a pre-game audience more than five minutes.
Now all they have to do is dispose of Jalen Rose, replace him with Tim Legler, and voila, the first ever all-white NBA studio show in the history of television.
In all seriousness, ESPN slightly got it wrong. It SHOULD have been "Mr. Cliché" Magic Johnson, one of the worst on-air analysts of the past decade in ANY sport, that was sent packing, rather than the very respectable and knowledgeable Michael Wilbon... I wonder why they chose to dump Wilbon like that. You can't doubt Johnson's basketball knowledge, given his enormous success during his playing days, but the way he came off on TV was just atrocious. He also did a poor job when it would be his turn to narrate highlights. The guy just isn't made for television, except for a guest appearance here and there, which is why he also failed in his very short stint on TNT way back when.
Doris Burke I've always been a fan of - in terms of her sideline-reporting - so I'm actually curious to see how she does in the studio with the guys, although I'll admit my expectations for her in that role are not too high. Doug Collins is a great addition, always having been a sharp analyst, whether he was working in the studio or at the announce desk calling games, so I think that's a good catch for ESPN. I'm somewhat looking forward to seeing him do broadcast work again, as I certainly think he's well above-average. And Simmons is Simmons... he's "hit or miss" with just about everyone, and to me, he hasn't gone stale yet so I still consider him hit. Most certainly, you cannot doubt the man's knowledge, even despite his sometimes-annoying Boston bias. Simmons is a very, very unique individual and I'm glad, at least in my opinion, that it has translated well to the television side of things. Rose is fantastic, too, which is why ESPN has him doing college as well. There's nothing but good things that can be said about the former Michigan great.
In all seriousness, ESPN slightly got it wrong. It SHOULD have been "Mr. Cliché" Magic Johnson, one of the worst on-air analysts of the past decade in ANY sport, that was sent packing, rather than the very respectable and knowledgeable Michael Wilbon... I wonder why they chose to dump Wilbon like that. You can't doubt Johnson's basketball knowledge, given his enormous success during his playing days, but the way he came off on TV was just atrocious. He also did a poor job when it would be his turn to narrate highlights. The guy just isn't made for television, except for a guest appearance here and there, which is why he also failed in his very short stint on TNT way back when.
Doris Burke I've always been a fan of - in terms of her sideline-reporting - so I'm actually curious to see how she does in the studio with the guys, although I'll admit my expectations for her in that role are not too high. Doug Collins is a great addition, always having been a sharp analyst, whether he was working in the studio or at the announce desk calling games, so I think that's a good catch for ESPN. I'm somewhat looking forward to seeing him do broadcast work again, as I certainly think he's well above-average. And Simmons is Simmons... he's "hit or miss" with just about everyone, and to me, he hasn't gone stale yet so I still consider him hit. Most certainly, you cannot doubt the man's knowledge, even despite his sometimes-annoying Boston bias. Simmons is a very, very unique individual and I'm glad, at least in my opinion, that it has translated well to the television side of things. Rose is fantastic, too, which is why ESPN has him doing college as well. There's nothing but good things that can be said about the former Michigan great.
Simmons has a strong cult following and his opinions and theories make sense (whether i agree or disagree). Simmons and Jalen have good on air chemistry and became good friends. I hear Wilbon wanted to concentrate on PTI more but who knows? I didnt think Magic did a good job at all. He has said some off the wall stuff.
