Had it with Vitale...

[RoatanCuse]

Wed. night's game on ESPN2; Miami v. ND...announcers: Vitale, Jeff Van Gundy and Dan Schulman. I only caught the 2nd half with Miami comfortably ahead. Vitale goes on a rant for a good 16 minutes of the 2nd half about favorite players in the NBA. Shulman barely got a word in. They actually paid attention to the game on hand for the first 2 min. and the final 2.
Not only can I barely understand Dookie V. any more, neither can I stand him. Yes, I do appreciate his efforts vs. cancer...and his knowledge of the game, so don't bother me with that. (My wife had a mastectomy and my younger sis died of a malignant brain tumor at 42). If I were part of the admin. of either team, or one of the million or so alumni watching, or a family member of the players (who might just like to hear something about their player) or the coaches family, or etc., etc., I would be plenty pissed. For 16 full minutes viewers had to hear about the NBA and (surprise) Dook. This was the final straw for me, at least. The guy has to leave as an announcer. Yes, continue his cancer work, but please, please get him outta here.

 

[HoustonCuse]

I understand the frustration, but this was ESPN's gag not Vitale. They did the College/NBA swap thing this week so Vitale was told to talk about NBA stuff. I would imagine there was more than normal college talk in the NBA broadcast with Bilas also.

 

[DonLightfoot]

I absolutely "hate" those swap games for broadcasters :bang:

 

[reedny]

I understand the frustration, but this was ESPN's gag not Vitale. They did the College/NBA swap thing this week so Vitale was told to talk about NBA stuff. I would imagine there was more than normal college talk in the NBA broadcast with Bilas also.

Good point. People may or may not like his style, but Vitale was instructed by ESPN to hype the college/NBA swap. If folks are that concerned about quality, they should be focusing on the network, not the announcers. How about all the hype-coverage ESPN dolls out to its pet programs .. usually Ky or Dook. We hear about every player and every recruit, every practice drill, the dorms, the cafeterias, the uniforms, the sneakers, game highlights, the injuries ... as though there aren't any other programs. Thank god they're both struggling lately so we can get a breather.

Then there are the broadcast issues ... the sham of "online" streaming (used to leverage local cable to add yet another ESPN channel), or ads for other games or even unrelated sports every time someone steps to the foul line. Meanwhile, replays are poor, viewers miss game action while cameras are trained on a coach or someone in the stands, the half-time "analysis" consists of 5 seconds and viewers are quickly shuffled to close-ups of cam newton putting on his underwear ... all far more problematic than Vitale or Schulman.

 

[NineOneSeven]

But could you sleep at night?

 

[WaHoos4Me]

Good point. People may or may not like his style, but Vitale was instructed by ESPN to hype the college/NBA swap. If folks are that concerned about quality, they should be focusing on the network, not the announcers. How about all the hype-coverage ESPN dolls out to its pet programs .. usually Ky or Dook. We hear about every player and every recruit, every practice drill, the dorms, the cafeterias, the uniforms, the sneakers, game highlights, the injuries ... as though there aren't any other programs. Thank god they're both struggling lately so we can get a breather.

Then there are the broadcast issues ... the sham of "online" streaming (used to leverage local cable to add yet another ESPN channel), or ads for other games or even unrelated sports every time someone steps to the foul line. Meanwhile, replays are poor, viewers miss game action while cameras are trained on a coach or someone in the stands, the half-time "analysis" consists of 5 seconds and viewers are quickly shuffled to close-ups of cam newton putting on his underwear ... all far more problematic than Vitale or Schulman.

ESPN has gone the way of the Olympic game coverage, IMO. Constant "life struggle" stories, "feel good" moments. Things which really have no bearing on the sport they are covering. Or supposed to be covering. ESPN has lost most of its viewership with the oversaturation of "Sportscenter" shown nearly 12 straight hours on its flagship station. I can remember when Sports Center was something EVERYONE attempted to watch at the 6 and 11 o'clock hour. With growing competition from Fox, NBC & CBS in the sports venue & the ESPN media bias favoring Duke, UK, UNC, Florida and maybe several other universities in basketball & Alabama, Florida, Michigan, OSU, ND in football, the shine is disappearing quickly... They, ESPN, can't seem to get out of their own way. This is one reason I feel these aforementioned schools have continued their run of success, as all kids see or hear today is how "great" a recruiting class each of these places have or how tremendous their coaches are. Maybe I'm jaded and I probably got a bit off track from the O.P. but the thoughts just started flooding my brain as I read your post.

 

[reedny]

ESPN has gone the way of the Olympic game coverage, IMO. Constant "life struggle" stories, "feel good" moments. Things which really have no bearing on the sport they are covering. Or supposed to be covering. ESPN has lost most of its viewership with the oversaturation of "Sportscenter" shown nearly 12 straight hours on its flagship station. I can remember when Sports Center was something EVERYONE attempted to watch at the 6 and 11 o'clock hour. With growing competition from Fox, NBC & CBS in the sports venue & the ESPN media bias favoring Duke, UK, UNC, Florida and maybe several other universities in basketball & Alabama, Florida, Michigan, OSU, ND in football, the shine is disappearing quickly... They, ESPN, can't seem to get out of their own way. This is one reason I feel these aforementioned schools have continued their run of success, as all kids see or hear today is how "great" a recruiting class each of these places have or how tremendous their coaches are. Maybe I'm jaded and I probably got a bit off track from the O.P. but the thoughts just started flooding my brain as I read your post.

OMG, Olympic coverage is unwatchable until 1:00 AM, especially in the winter. I can't find skiing because skating's on 24/7. If I never see another "compulsory" or triple lutz in my life, I'll be happy.

As far as ESPN, it's a self-fulfilling investment ... the more they pay their pet schools the more hype they give them, and the more recruits (17/18 year olds) buy into it. Kids embrace the myth that their NBA careers will take off only if they play for Pay Pal .. which is of course ridiculous since every major conference has plenty of TV coverage and the NBA literally scours the world for talent. Scouts don't care about ESPN ... they could care less if the talent's at Ky or V-Tech.

 

[NYCSUGrad]

Wed. night's game on ESPN2; Miami v. ND...announcers: Vitale, Jeff Van Gundy and Dan Schulman. I only caught the 2nd half with Miami comfortably ahead. Vitale goes on a rant for a good 16 minutes of the 2nd half about favorite players in the NBA. Shulman barely got a word in. They actually paid attention to the game on hand for the first 2 min. and the final 2.
Not only can I barely understand Dookie V. any more, neither can I stand him. Yes, I do appreciate his efforts vs. cancer...and his knowledge of the game, so don't bother me with that. (My wife had a mastectomy and my younger sis died of a malignant brain tumor at 42). If I were part of the admin. of either team, or one of the million or so alumni watching, or a family member of the players (who might just like to hear something about their player) or the coaches family, or etc., etc., I would be plenty pissed. For 16 full minutes viewers had to hear about the NBA and (surprise) Dook. This was the final straw for me, at least. The guy has to leave as an announcer. Yes, continue his cancer work, but please, please get him outta here.

FWIW I saw the last 8 minutes or so of today's Dukie game and thought he was fine. Reasonably even handed even though it was Duke and quite enthusiastic. So it was probably on the network's orders.

The worst crossover is during the NCAAs when Sir Charles the Barking Mad and the rest of the NBA guys try to pretend they know anything about the college game.

 

[CaliCuse]

Wed. night's game on ESPN2; Miami v. ND...announcers: Vitale, Jeff Van Gundy and Dan Schulman. I only caught the 2nd half with Miami comfortably ahead. Vitale goes on a rant for a good 16 minutes of the 2nd half about favorite players in the NBA. Shulman barely got a word in. They actually paid attention to the game on hand for the first 2 min. and the final 2.
Not only can I barely understand Dookie V. any more, neither can I stand him. Yes, I do appreciate his efforts vs. cancer...and his knowledge of the game, so don't bother me with that. (My wife had a mastectomy and my younger sis died of a malignant brain tumor at 42). If I were part of the admin. of either team, or one of the million or so alumni watching, or a family member of the players (who might just like to hear something about their player) or the coaches family, or etc., etc., I would be plenty pissed. For 16 full minutes viewers had to hear about the NBA and (surprise) Dook. This was the final straw for me, at least. The guy has to leave as an announcer. Yes, continue his cancer work, but please, please get him outta here.

vitale is a once in a generation character and should be appreciated as such. Yes I know he can be over the top at times but thats one of the things that make him who he is. You appreciate these kinds of people who are far from the average. I forget the name of the announcer who was a partner of Gifford and Madden for many years but he was from the same mold and one of the greats as far as being unique and special. I'm sure the name will pop into my head only after you name him. I can see the face and hear the voice but the effn name is still out there.

 

[Roger N]

vitale is a once in a generation character and should be appreciated as such. Yes I know he can be over the top at times but thats one of the things that make him who he is. You appreciate these kinds of people who are far from the average. I forget the name of the announcer who was a partner of Gifford and Madden for many years but he was from the same mold and one of the greats as far as being unique and special. I'm sure the name will pop into my head only after you name him. I can see the face and hear the voice but the effn name is still out there.

He's not a "Diaper Dandy"

 

[Dave85]

I understand the frustration, but this was ESPN's gag not Vitale. They did the College/NBA swap thing this week so Vitale was told to talk about NBA stuff. I would imagine there was more than normal college talk in the NBA broadcast with Bilas also.

So is ESPN hurting college basketball by making it a brand building exercise for the NBA?

 

[Dave85]

He's not a "Diaper Dandy"

I really thought you were going to say a "Depends Dandy"

 

[NYCSUGrad]

vitale is a once in a generation character and should be appreciated as such. Yes I know he can be over the top at times but thats one of the things that make him who he is. You appreciate these kinds of people who are far from the average. I forget the name of the announcer who was a partner of Gifford and Madden for many years but he was from the same mold and one of the greats as far as being unique and special. I'm sure the name will pop into my head only after you name him. I can see the face and hear the voice but the effn name is still out there.

Howard Cosell

 

[HoustonCuse]

So is ESPN hurting college basketball by making it a brand building exercise for the NBA?

I don't know? Probably not, but I wasn't really making a comment on it. Just stating that I don't think it was Vitale personally who want to talk about the NBA for 16 minutes.

A lot of the other comments This thread has generated I think are fairly paranoid. Sure ESPN has gone away from just strictly sports coverage, but they still have a far better product than CBS puts out there for the NCAA tournament.

As far as pet programs, yeah probably they have that weakness. But I would also say Syracuse is a lot closer to being one of their pet programs than to being anything else. How do you think a fan of Cal or Arizona state or Oregon State in basketball feels about Syracuse and ESPN? Certain aspects of the network have been harsh especially during the Bernie Fine incident (which is indefensible on their part) and maybe related to the sanctions but let's face it this is still a program that's been sanctioned severely and on two different occasions. Yet Vitale and Bilas and McDunnough and many others still rave about how great Boeheim is and how amazing the facilities are and what a great program it is etc. How many ESPN personalities have rushed to the defense of Hop after his 4-5 stretch?

Bottom line for me: they show our games. I'm watching.

 

[Marsh01]

I dont get the vitale hatred. The guy bleeda college hoops and is so good for the game. Yes he can be annoying but give the guy a break

 

[Dave85]

I don't know? Probably not, but I wasn't really making a comment on it. Just stating that I don't think it was Vitale personally who want to talk about the NBA for 16 minutes.

A lot of the other comments This thread has generated I think are fairly paranoid. Sure ESPN has gone away from just strictly sports coverage, but they still have a far better product than CBS puts out there for the NCAA tournament.

As far as pet programs, yeah probably they have that weakness. But I would also say Syracuse is a lot closer to being one of their pet programs than to being anything else. How do you think a fan of Cal or Arizona state or Oregon State in basketball feels about Syracuse and ESPN? Certain aspects of the network have been harsh especially during the Bernie Fine incident (which is indefensible on their part) and maybe related to the sanctions but let's face it this is still a program that's been sanctioned severely and on two different occasions. Yet Vitale and Bilas and McDunnough and many others still rave about how great Boeheim is and how amazing the facilities are and what a great program it is etc. How many ESPN personalities have rushed to the defense of Hop after his 4-5 stretch?

Bottom line for me: they show our games. I'm watching.

I'm really not a big fan of Duke Vitale for a number of years now before he became a "Depends Dandy".

I have FIOS. It seems like ESPN HD channel is now never available during big games The SD channel works. But I think what FIOS is allowing ESPN to have pay-per-view for HD. I haven't yet called customer support but if that's the case it just adds to how much I really dislike ESPN. At some point, if competition to ESPN ever comes in my life time I'm off that ship.

 

[Cowtown]

 

[OburgOrange]

That you?

 

[Cowtown]

That you?

"Duke-colored glasses," ya wanker!

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Wed. night's game on ESPN2; Miami v. ND...announcers: Vitale, Jeff Van Gundy and Dan Schulman. I only caught the 2nd half with Miami comfortably ahead. Vitale goes on a rant for a good 16 minutes of the 2nd half about favorite players in the NBA. Shulman barely got a word in. They actually paid attention to the game on hand for the first 2 min. and the final 2.
Not only can I barely understand Dookie V. any more, neither can I stand him. Yes, I do appreciate his efforts vs. cancer...and his knowledge of the game, so don't bother me with that. (My wife had a mastectomy and my younger sis died of a malignant brain tumor at 42). If I were part of the admin. of either team, or one of the million or so alumni watching, or a family member of the players (who might just like to hear something about their player) or the coaches family, or etc., etc., I would be plenty pissed. For 16 full minutes viewers had to hear about the NBA and (surprise) Dook. This was the final straw for me, at least. The guy has to leave as an announcer. Yes, continue his cancer work, but please, please get him outta here.

I am a sports junkie, and I mute most broadcasts anyways. Instead of a steady stream of useless noise, I find I focus in on the small details of the play on the field/court easier, and it is more fun to play coach as to what strategy might work under certain conditions. It is a much better experience for me that way. There are very few broadcasters who are not predicable, or repeating the same biases, themes and drivel game to game. When my son asks me dad, what are you doing? I turn on the volume and make him tell me what he learned in the last 5 minutes. He usually says ok, I get your point. Back to peaceful bliss...

 

[Dave85]

I am a sports junkie, and I mute most broadcasts anyways. Instead of a steady stream of useless noise, I find I focus in on the small details of the play on the field/court easier, and it is more fun to play coach as to what strategy might work under certain conditions. It is a much better experience for me that way. There are very few broadcasters who are not predicable, or repeating the same biases, themes and drivel game to game. When my son asks me dad, what are you doing? I turn on the volume and make him tell me what he learned in the last 5 minutes. He usually says ok, I get your point. Back to peaceful bliss...

I've been trying to stream local radio but I just can't get the game.

 

[Cowtown]

I am a sports junkie, and I mute most broadcasts anyways. Instead of a steady stream of useless noise, I find I focus in on the small details of the play on the field/court easier, and it is more fun to play coach as to what strategy might work under certain conditions. It is a much better experience for me that way. There are very few broadcasters who are not predicable, or repeating the same biases, themes and drivel game to game. When my son asks me dad, what are you doing? I turn on the volume and make him tell me what he learned in the last 5 minutes. He usually says ok, I get your point. Back to peaceful bliss...

I often mute the sound on NFL games and practice my favorite guitar licks: NFL & Layla, Purple Haze, Sunshine of Your Love, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, Pushin' Too Hard ... and beers. What's not to like!?

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

I often mute the sound on NFL games and practice my favorite guitar licks: NFL & Layla, Purple Haze, Sunshine of Your Love, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, Pushin' Too Hard ... and beers. What's not to like!?

Amen brother, I also practice my scales while watching in my office. And another thing that has changed with games to make the muting even more useful are the game stoppages, reviews and replays. My god, in the UNC/ND game last night it took about 5 minutes to change the game clock from 20 seconds to 17, giving both teams an extended, free timeout. Who the hell wants to hear an announcer fill space about that? Not I, I was trying to learn the Chili Peppers snow (hey yo) riff.

 

[HoustonCuse]

"Duke-colored glasses," ya wanker!

Alright, to be very correct though, they are Carolina colored glasses!

 

[reedny]

I don't know? Probably not, but I wasn't really making a comment on it. Just stating that I don't think it was Vitale personally who want to talk about the NBA for 16 minutes.

A lot of the other comments This thread has generated I think are fairly paranoid. Sure ESPN has gone away from just strictly sports coverage, but they still have a far better product than CBS puts out there for the NCAA tournament.

As far as pet programs, yeah probably they have that weakness. But I would also say Syracuse is a lot closer to being one of their pet programs than to being anything else. How do you think a fan of Cal or Arizona state or Oregon State in basketball feels about Syracuse and ESPN? Certain aspects of the network have been harsh especially during the Bernie Fine incident (which is indefensible on their part) and maybe related to the sanctions but let's face it this is still a program that's been sanctioned severely and on two different occasions. Yet Vitale and Bilas and McDunnough and many others still rave about how great Boeheim is and how amazing the facilities are and what a great program it is etc. How many ESPN personalities have rushed to the defense of Hop after his 4-5 stretch?

Bottom line for me: they show our games. I'm watching.

I watch also ... but there are way too many problems for me to let ESPN off the hook.

To your point about the announcers .. that's true .. but that's the announcers, not ESPN. I agree the announcers are (mostly) talented and they speak their mind. Maybe some credit has to be given to ESPN for keeping people like Bilas, Schulman and McDonough around. On the other hand .. whether it sounds paranoid or not .. ESPN has gotten way too big for its britches. They push the conferences around on scheduling and frequently relegate popular games to ESPN "3" so fans will call their local cable stations. They crucified us during the Bernie Fine pseudo-scandal. Their coverage of (basically) 2 programs in BB is off the charts (ebbed recently because both their pet teams are bad). And their quality issues are getting worse -- including online-streaming .. which is a joke. Try accessing the SU-G-Tech game on watch-ESPN ... they conveniently "missed" the first half, and the second half freezes repeatedly whenever you try to bypass the endless advertising. I like Bilas and the other guys, but ESPN sucks.