....so he stops broadcasting basketball games. I'll write shortly here about some of the comments he made during the Cavaliers- Lakers yesterday; the comments that drove me crazy. I'll ignore that he said they should essentially do away with fouling out. That's a good idea because Shaq would have had each shoulder dislocated 6 times and be in jail for murdering someone.
The verbal flop is maybe one of my favorite. Guys going to the basket get hit and yell out. He says it's the equivalent of a "verbal flop." I'd like to hear his philosophy on women's tennis. Verbal flops on hitting a tennis ball. Explain. That might be the only sport he would be worse at broadcasting than basketball.
Another amazing idea proposed by JVG was the idea to carry a razor blade on to the court. Amazing. Where exactly do you propose is a good place to put the razor blade Jeff? Shorts? Headband? Wristband? Which of those places are you comfortable having a razor blade while playing a physical sport that could require you to bang bodies, dive on the floor, and fight Ron Artest? Don't worry Jeff had a good reason for the razor blade sneak out. Apparently blood being on someone or their jersey during the game is cause for an immediate game stoppage. Jeff's idea is that if someone were on a break you could take out your hidden blade, cut yourself, and show the referee before the fast break was complete. I'd hate to see the break where that were true. I mean who wants to see a break of Glenn Davis, Shaq, Robert (Tractor) Traylor, Bryant Reeves, and current Charles Barkley. Although, maybe those five guys would have better success in JVG's next adventure: WWE Basketball or XBA.
The final JVGism I'll give notice to is this: (in reference to Marc Jackson's comment that he wants a point guard who will compete even if he isn't the greatest defensively) "That's spoken like a man who has never coached a game in the NBA." This comment on it's own isn't troublesome....it's what follows that got me. "You know if I wouldn't be surprised.. a lot of people would like him (Marc Jackson) as a coach or a GM. If I was an NBA owner I'd give him the keys to the whole darn thing." WHAT?! Jeff, you just told us what he wanted in players was not what any reasonable coach would want... why would you make him your GM? Add to that you just noted his inexperience as a coach. Again I ask; WHAT?!
Jeff Van Gundy may have been a decent coach but apparently his basketball philosophy is just a bit off. I can't say I wouldn't hire Marc Jackson if I was an owner. I'm saying that if I believe he misjudges what you need in your point guard and has no coaching experience he wouldn't be at the top of my list to be my coach or GM.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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33 comments:
I like Jeff van Gundy very much. He reminds me of the TV show Seinfeld. Kind of like George Costanza.
I get a huge kick out of his sense of humor, I would watch a game because he's commentating, even if I hated the teams playing.
Van Gundy can be funny sometimes, but he was seriously off his meds during that Cavs/Lakers game.
I, too, am a big Van Gundy fan. He makes decent jokes and isn't afraid to call out players, coaches, officials, or whoever. He's much better than that heartless ghoul Hubie Brown.
Decent jokes sure, but his philosophies were killing me on Sunday.
I actually thought he was pretty hilarious. The NBA doesn't need serious announcers anymore than the WWF does.
Just a bit over the top. Very Bill Walton-esque.
Maybe we'll hear how JVG thinks the Trailblazers turn around represents the Renaissance.
I guess Jeff Van Gundy doesn't like two-time NBA MVP point guards...you know, because Steve Nash definitely doesn't play D.
Maybe he just plays favorites because he sure loves Marc Jackson.
Way to miss the mark! Next time you write an inane post taking down someone behind the black veil of your blog, why don't you at least pick on someone worthy of critique. Apparently having a sense of humor about broadcasting a random January NBA game is a bete noir of this awesome site!!!!
I would understand if much of it came across as a joke but it certainly didn't.
It is interesting you choose to lament the "veil" of my blog while commenting anonymously.
There's a difference between having a sense of humor and acting like an idiot. JVG ended up on the wrong side of that line Sunday.
This was the first time I really got annoyed at Van Gundy; I usually enjoy him. He's also starting to approach Dick Vitale level yelling during the games.
But, it wasn't all bad. He did unleash a great line about Drew Gooden and Deshawn Stevenson's bet over who can go the longest without shaving: "They both lost...they look awful!"
I have to disagree. I like JVG a lot as an analyst. He's usually funny. I didn't catch the game you're talking about, but maybe he just had a bad night.
- Blaise
Blaise- that is quite possible. Like I've mentioned earlier in the blog, I'm not much of an NBA'er but I do watch from time to time.
Especially when my brother's sick because he ends up on the couch all day with the remote and he loves the NBA.
Maybe JVG had an off game but man oh man.
He did make some good comments, like saying he wouldn't want Damon Jones on his team. I think most sensible coaches would agree with that.
You can find some of the stuff in context in the live blog we did of the game. It really was the worst game I've heard JVG call.
Boo- JVG-breen and jackson (by the way it's Mark not marc- Marc jackson was a big goon who played at temple)
Are the only listen on NBA broadcasts-
Anywho, van gundy is funny and the verbal flop- used by jamal crawford is different from a tennis flop- that's a grunt.
Posting on a blackberry is hard...
i'm not a huge van gundy fan. but taking him literally and out of context in order to have an easy way to pick him apart is really sad. i mean, barring the possiblity that you've suffered some type of brain lesion that affects one's ability to pick up irony or sarcasm. i mean basically what you're doing in this blog is hearing a joke involving a talking frog and then calling the joke teller an idiot because "frogs can't talk. duh." are you so unable to mount an effective piece of rhetoric against anything substantive that you resort to taking apart an argument that was never made? Or do you realllllly believe Van Gundy thought the razor blade thing was a great idea and was seriously considering it....?
Like I mentioned above, you can find us talking about it in context in the live blog.
It was at the very least inane, and it really had no point.
This is why you mute NBA on ESPN/ABC. Only TNT has quality coverage, and that's because they know their audience. ESPN/ABC tries to simplify everything for the non-hardcore fan. TNT knows that their core audience is the hardcore fan, so they structure the broadcast much differently.
I hate Mike Breen and his stupid "BANG!". ESPN/ABC needs to dump his ass and move Shulman up. JVG is good because he calls out guys for flops, as opposed to Breen who constantly sucks the ref's dick/pussy (shout-out to Violet Palmer).
The only thing ESPN/ABC has going for it right now is Bill Walton, the greatest color commentator turned studio analyst in the HISTORY of Western civilization. If you don't understand that Walton overexaggerates for comedic purpose, you probably enjoy "Disnergy" and shitty musical introductions. Bring back Roundball Rock...
Walton used to drive me nuts until I just started accepting the innate humor in his statements. It also helps that I don't hear him regularly; just a little bit of him here and there is enough.
I understand he's a color commentator and all but he's trying too hard.
Of course I don't think he meant take a blade out on to the floor but to create that as a point of humor is pretty weak.
Saying that Gooden and Stevenson both lost on their beard growth bet because they looked awful was funny.
There's plenty to comment on without heading out into left field .
You're nuts. JVG is the best color guy out there
I will also put in my vote for JVG as an announcer. The Mike Breen, MJ, and JVG announcing team is pretty entertaining. He's always good for some funny comments.
1-He was completely and obviously joking about the razor blade. If you couldnt read that, your right to free speech should be stripped immediately.
2- The verbal flop thing was spot on...NBA players always try to grunt when anyone comes close to them and try to draw a foul. It has NOTHING to do with women grunting in tennis, who do it when they put all their strength behind hitting the ball.
3- He didnt even come close to doing away with fouling out, he merely suggested adding a 7th foul. His suggestion was behind the premise to keep the stars on the court and playing hard for all 48. You took his suggestion and blew it up way out of proportion with his idea.
4- Marc Jackson was saying hes fine with a point guard who lacks defensive skills, as long as hes giving max effort when hes on the court. Van Gundy said the thing about obviously never coaching because that is the most difficult part of the game to bring across to your players. Again, you took harmless banter and turned it into a misguided attempt towards criticism.
5- Van Gundy is actually regarded by near everyone for being one of the top 2 or 3 color guys in the game. Hes insightful, funny, different, energetic and not afraid to speak his mind. You are obviously entitled to your opinion of not liking him, but dont suck so much at it next time.
yeah, that "verbal flop" thing kind of deflated your whole argument before you even got rolling. i'm sure van gundy wants to call verbal flops in women's tennis. he also wants to call traveling on reggie bush and goaltending on torii hunter when he robs a homerun. i think he once called a backcourt violation when the bruins passed the puck out to the neutral zone.
Van Gundy is a wacky cat.....and I really don't mind him so much.
But I've got no problem with your critique...it's a free country, even for bloggers.
As for the foul thing, I'm down with it.
I don't see players in football or baseball fouling out. NBA teams should be able to have all of their players available at all times.
If I'm going to an NBA game, I don't want to see a superstar have to hit the pine, especially in an overtime + game where 1-2 fouls called on him may have been more subjective than objective.
Of course for every player foul past 6, there should be a harsher penalty such as 2 FTs and the ball...but by all means, keep everyone available.
You're trying too hard...
Please make an actual criticism or argument on the "verbal flop" subject. Like the euro-fueled increase in standard flopping, it is a growing problem. Perhaps you're a flopper yourself and can't recognize how poorly it reflects on actual competition?
The razor blade thing WAS bizarre, I'll give you that.
Fair point that the Jackson thing turned out to look illogical. But the simple, most understandable reading is that he made a valid point about how his take was different than someone who hadn;t coached, then quickly realized that it would come across too critically of a colleague he likes and respects, so he threw in some praise.
All in all, he's adds more to a broadcast than most of the alternative analysts on offer.
-Andy
I can't believe you spent an entire paragraph treating JVG's razor blade idea like he was serious. Wow.
The fouling out thing was more tame this time, last year in the playoffs he was completely for getting rid of it.
Also, we've said in the comments, whether a joke or not, the razor blade thing was just stupid.
For all of you who are criticizing for taking JVG too seriously.... maybe should consider taking some of your own advice.
If I took him seriously I would have asked for him to be committed to a mental hospital.
I'm so-so on JVG but I would agree that Bill Walton is the greatest analyst/color commentator in the history of western civilization.
van gundy is awesome! he had my whole house rolling on the floor laughing at his color commentary with the lakers/cavs game. leave the man alone! he's entertaining!!
Not as good as when he said a team should be able to tie a game by making a half-court shot if they were down by more than 25.
I also have quite an extensive JVG rant here:
http://pistonpost.com/2008/02/25/jeff-van-gundys-unusual-epiphany/
How can I turn down a fellow anti-JVG blogger?
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