What I posted to Andy Katz at ESPN.com

[SkanSU]

What exactly was the point of the original post? For those of us that watch college basketball (non-SU), Katz does many sideline gigs in the New England area. This isn't some grand conspiracy. Oh, and he didn't mention Bernie Fine once that I recall. Classy email to him though. :bang:

I agree ... he had a solo and I didn't hear one mention of BF. Personally I like Andy Katz. And as far as BF goes ... hey get used to it ... I hate it being constantly mentioned as well ... but that's the sideline. And its just not ESPN btw (altho I can say a few things about that)but every reporter ... you know it goes like this, "Despite the continuing investigations thie SU team has remained focused ..."... I mean every storyin every paper has the same thing ... Oh Well.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I agree ... he had a solo and I didn't hear one mention of BF. Personally I like Andy Katz. And as far as BF goes ... hey get used to it ... I hate it being constantly mentioned as well ... but that's the sideline. And its just not ESPN btw (altho I can say a few things about that)but every reporter ... you know it goes like this, "Despite the continuing investigations thie SU team has remained focused ..."... I mean every storyin every paper has the same thing ... Oh Well.

You're mistaken. It was in the 2nd time they cutaway to him.

 

[City of Cuse]

Katz's treatment of the Fine situation aside, I found it disappointing that an ESPN-produced telecast with three on-air people couldn't muster an explanation of a.) Keita's absence or b.) C.J.'s extended stint at center.

That was the worst announcing crew of the year. Little analysis, virtually no game information at all. What's the point of having a sideline reporter if these things go unmentioned?

I was thinking the exact same thing! I couldn't believe that it didn't get any attention...When C.J took that charge I figured they would definitely say something about it and they still didn't mention it. They added no information about players on either side of the ball, I was hoping for Dickey Simpkins to say he coined "heat check" one more time.

 

[Orangeyes]

Katz's treatment of the Fine situation aside, I found it disappointing that an ESPN-produced telecast with three on-air people couldn't muster an explanation of a.) Keita's absence or b.) C.J.'s extended stint at center.

That was the worst announcing crew of the year. Little analysis, virtually no game information at all. What's the point of having a sideline reporter if these things go unmentioned?

In addition to that there were no replays of some questionable calls that went against us.

Ron Perry was a terrific player at Holy Cross but does he know a traveling violation when it slides right in front of him?

I'm talking about the play where the Providence guard got tripped up by his own teammate just before midcourt.

The guy slides at least 10 feet then calls a timeout which is awarded.

For gosh sakes if a ballhandler trips and goes straight down as soon as he hits the floor a travel is called much travels 10 feet+ without a dribble.

 

[SkanSU]

You're mistaken. It was in the 2nd time they cutaway to him.

Sorry ...my bad ...missed the other one.

 

[Marsh01]

Oh, please. ESPN is trying to milk the Fine situation way worse than anything they are doing to cover Penn State. They keep providing "updates" when they themselves are part of the story and keep perpetuating it. I half expect an ESPN freaking min-series about it in the next few weeks, before the season's over. It's going to be in our Goddamn "One Shining Moment" if they keep this crap up.

I havent heard anything from ESPN on the situation in weeks actually. I almost forget about the whole ordeal to be honest with you.

 

[Orangeyes]

Katz's treatment of the Fine situation aside, I found it disappointing that an ESPN-produced telecast with three on-air people couldn't muster an explanation of a.) Keita's absence or b.) C.J.'s extended stint at center.

That was the worst announcing crew of the year. Little analysis, virtually no game information at all. What's the point of having a sideline reporter if these things go unmentioned?

How come they never showed on reply any of the questionable calls that went against Syracuse?

Ron Perry was a great player at Holy Cross but how could he not spot a travel which slid right under his nose and was replayed twice?

I'm talking about the play where the Providence guard got tripped by one of own his teammates just before midcourt.

The guy slides 10+ feet, calls for and is awarded a timeout.

How can that not be traveling?

How many times have you seen a guy fall, go straight down and is instantly called for a traveling violation.

The announcing crew should have recognized this and at least questioned it.

 

[TexanMark]

Some of youse guyz are waaay too insecure. BF crap will hang with us all season. At least it is just background noise right now.

 

[RMH44]

what you wanna do bro?.. i'm 6'6'' 250

6'6" / 250 and you have a Boston Terrier??? Couldn't you find a pomeranian?? J/k

 

[shermstheman]

Was at the game and astride the court for pregame warm ups (my son and I actually got in without ever showing our ticket). Katz seemed very friendly with all the players and had a nice chat with GMac. I don't know what he said about the scandel but the team seems fine with him.

 

[Knicks411]

Katz's treatment of the Fine situation aside, I found it disappointing that an ESPN-produced telecast with three on-air people couldn't muster an explanation of a.) Keita's absence or b.) C.J.'s extended stint at center.

That was the worst announcing crew of the year. Little analysis, virtually no game information at all. What's the point of having a sideline reporter if these things go unmentioned?

Yes, I missed the first half, so I didn't know they didn't say anything about Keita then, but you'd think they would do enough homework to know we don't normally play CJ fair at C.

 

[NovaOrange]

When did tampabillsan join our board lol

 

[ImperialOrange]

what you wanna do bro?.. i'm 6'6'' 250

Post of the year! I haven't laughed so hard in awhile.

 

[BlazeOrange]

Was at the game and astride the court for pregame warm ups (my son and I actually got in without ever showing our ticket). Katz seemed very friendly with all the players and had a nice chat with GMac. I don't know what he said about the scandel but the team seems fine with him.

The comment I caught was a reference to GMac now being a full-on assistant coach due to the scandal. It was kind of vague, not sure if he even mentioned BF by name.

 

[edowd26]

6'6" / 250 and you have a Boston Terrier??? Couldn't you find a pomeranian?? J/k

I actually wrote that with that dog curled up in my lap like a GD pomeranian... and it was a play on some Uconn tough guy that said it.

 

[Rocco]

Wouldn't you give Erin the good games?

When was the last time she did a game at the Dome?

 

[kingtidge]

Not sure how long it will last, so I'll repost it here:

IthacaMatt​

Andy Katz dirtbag loser​

Hey Andy, are you going to stalk us at SU games and follow us around the country and remind everyone of the Bernie Fine and lawsuit crap for every game this season ? Was there any new "news"? Oh, no there wasn't ?? Sure, then just come by to take your shot whenever we're within driving drive of Bristol, CT. Did you stop out at the bowl game to join the Westboro Baptist Church people to harange Penn State fans ?? Jesus Christ give it a rest. I'd like to just watch a basketball game. Do you understand that? I look to ESPN for entertainment, not Fox News crap. I know you have your big journalism career to try to make here. Good luck with that, you jock sniffer.​

I have a question...

Is Andy Katz a dirtbag loser if he's been told by higher-ups at ESPN to go to the game and angle report on the Fine scandal from the sideline?

I don't think Andy Katz would be doing that unless he was told he had to. He's always been a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense kind of guy.

It's been widely reported that ESPN made an executive decision to beat the Fine story like a dead horse in the wake of missing the scoop on the Penn State scandal.

It's also been speculated by many that a number of their beat reporters that are being asked to beat that that horse are doing so through clenched teeth and that there are internal misgivings all around at ESPN on how this story was broke and how they continue to handle it (or mishandle it).

I guess my point is, you want to be mad at ESPN on how they are handling this, that's fine (no pun intended). But to blame Katz when he's likely simply taking orders - you know, to keep his job and what not...

Seems kinda like you are missing the big picture here in blaming Katz... The issue goes much higher up the editorial foodchain at ESPN IMO...

 

[dasher]

No one higher up told him to question JB's motives for helping abused children.

 

[Noexcuse]

How come they never showed on reply any of the questionable calls that went against Syracuse?

Ron Perry was a great player at Holy Cross but how could he not spot a travel which slid right under his nose and was replayed twice?

I'm talking about the play where the Providence guard got tripped by one of own his teammates just before midcourt.

The guy slides 10+ feet, calls for and is awarded a timeout.

How can that not be traveling?

How many times have you seen a guy fall, go straight down and is instantly called for a traveling violation.

The announcing crew should have recognized this and at least questioned it.

To add insult to injury the announcer mentioned what a head's up play it was to call the timeout.

 

[Niastri]

The guy kept his dribble alive while he was falling. I agree the announcers sucked, but that was a nice play.

 

[DallasCuse]

How come they never showed on reply any of the questionable calls that went against Syracuse?

Ron Perry was a great player at Holy Cross but how could he not spot a travel which slid right under his nose and was replayed twice?

I'm talking about the play where the Providence guard got tripped by one of own his teammates just before midcourt.

The guy slides 10+ feet, calls for and is awarded a timeout.

How can that not be traveling?

How many times have you seen a guy fall, go straight down and is instantly called for a traveling violation.

The announcing crew should have recognized this and at least questioned it.

Yeah, quite frankly, what Katz said about the situation was pretty minimal. But the overall quality of the broadcast on the things you mention, Baye's injury, foul discrepancy, etc was very disappointing. Simpkins continuous catch phrases get tiring, but at least he understands and explains the game and what's transpiring. Hopefully the crew Saturday vs Marquette will be a bit more enlightening. We are certainly deserving and due for Bobby Knight, who I really like doing the games.

 

[Noexcuse]

The guy kept his dribble alive while he was falling. I agree the announcers sucked, but that was a nice play.

It was very Curley Nealesq.

 

[orangecuse]

No one higher up told him to question JB's motives for helping abused children.

Indeed a very lame thing to do...

 

[bnoro]

E

When was the last time she did a game at the Dome?

Two years ago vs. Nova. She's on the gameday crew only for college basketball I think, she doesn't do anything else college bball wise.