MVP of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament goes to…

Gus Johnson has always had a huge following.  He always gets love from big time sports media personalities like Bill Simmons and Dan Patrick for his over-the-top hysterics when calling games.  For some, though, his screaming during games, like his call during the classic UCLA-Gonzaga game from 2006, is just too much. 

As much as I enjoyed watching him do play-by-play on games and as classic as that UCLA-Gonzaga call is, I always pondered in the back of my mind whether or not his screaming was really necessary and I wondered if he was actually a good announcer or if being loud was just kind of a gimmick that made him stand out amongst a sea of old boring white guys doing play-by-play.

I don’t wonder about that anymore.

His work during this year’s March Madness tournament has been outstanding.  As an announcer, he probably hasn’t changed at all, but I just think he’s been perfect in the games he has called.  Thursday’s Sweet Sixteen matchup between Xavier and Kansas St. was an epic game, the kind of game that reminds me why I bother watching sports in the first place.  And Gus just has a way of rising to the occasion in a way that no other play-by-play man can.

There’s a fine line between a media personality enhancing a sports presentation and making that presentation more about himself than the game that should be the focus.  It’s a line that Gus has always tip-toed along dangerously but somehow he usually ends up on the right side whether it’s college basketball, NFL games or MMA. I think what matters most is that his call made me just a little more invested in the game and the drama than if anyone else had called it.

 

 

 

For good measure, here’s that “OH GOD!” call from Week 2 of this past NFL season when Brandon Stokley of the Broncos reminds everyone why people practice the tip drill. 

Baron Davis and Elton Brand opt out, hopefully end up in LA

and I don't mean the Lakers.



Baron Davis could be coming to the Clippers and join Elton Brand after he likely re-signs with the team. If this goes down, it would thrust my beloved Clippers back into contention for a playoff spot but I'm not getting my hopes up just yet.

Too many times deals like these that make so much sense from a fan standpoint fall through. In addition, as of now, it looks like Davis' preference is to stay in Oakland with the Warriors but joining the Clippers is definitely an attractive scenario to him.

If we don't land Davis, then we still need help at the point where first round draft pick Eric Gordon and the young Shaun Livingston will likely share time. If you don't remember, Livingston is coming off this horrific ankle injury:



Yeah, dude probably needs an ice pack or somethin after that one...

UPDATE: The deal went down. I'm already drinking to celebrate, getting ready to buy new jersey, etc. WHOOOO!

Enough media hype to make your head explode

My desire to see either of these teams win is mild at best. Still, there are enough storylines here that every game could have the dramatic arc of a Disney sports movie.

Will KG/Pierce/Allen finally get their first ring? Can Kobe win one without Shaq? Can Phil pass Red? Will I be able to stomach watching either of these teams' fans without wanting to gouge my fucking eyeballs out? (probably not)

More importantly, will people actually tune in to the NBA Finals this year?

Considering the week-long hype bukkake that the matchup is generating, it seems so. Please let this go to a game 7...

LeBron does not give a fuck who's in the lane

In his column on Deadspin last week, Big Daddy Drew had this to say about LeBron and Kobe:

Watching LeBron play isn't like watching Kobe Bryant. When Kobe scores a million points, he has to work for that shit. He has to muscle through traffic, or consistently nail that turnaround fadeaway of his that looks exactly like Jordan's. It looks like a lot of effort. Kobe's probably a "better," or more well-rounded player than LeBron[...]

LeBron doesn't have to employ all those crazy moves. All he has to do is make like a goddamn tank and plow a bitch over.

That is exactly what LeBron did tonight and at the All-Star game earlier this year with a game clinching slam:


I will concede that at this point, Kobe is a better a defender, has a better jumper, and has more experience in big games. Kobe, however, does not have the body of an NFL linebacker with which he could drive through the lane with the momentum of a fucking rhino, slam that shit and teabag Kevin Garnett in the process.

I love the NBA playoffs.

Credit: Awful Announcing for the frst video, hopefully I can replace it with a youtube later.