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. 

Dusting Off The Pen And Pad

To: Adonis, Lance, Ray
From: Nazer

So there's a period of 10 minutes between the time I order my food, and the time to go pick it up. I ordered a large cheeseburger sub, because I couldn't decide between a hamburger and a sub, and an order of curly fries. The place I ordered from (conveniently named College Pizza) is literally one short block away, hardly enough to justify the amount of calories I'm about to take in and the amount of calories lost from walking there, but I've never really been a healthy guy, with my diet of nachos and computer games.

So today I went to church, and then immediately after went to the liquor store to pick up a 12 pack of Sam Seasonal (Oktoberfest). There's humor in that somewhere, to go from praying on a pew to downing bottles of alcohol. Maybe there's some super psychological underlying meaning thing going on, but at the moment I don't see it, let me know if you do.

Shortly after I sat my ass in front of the TV to watch the Patriots get outplayed by the Jets, and then in front of my computer to watch the Chargers get outplayed by Baltimore, all while sketching music notes on paper and following @erwinism and @swftwzrdRAWfiki's twitterific commentary. Oh well, at least the Emmy's are on after these old guys talk on 60 Minutes.

Life up here has been okay. I get a ton of work done, but I wish I had one of those unlimited flight passes like the cast members on LOST so I could fly home on the weekends to hang out. It's definitely not as fun up here, but I guess that's where that "life is a balance" idea comes in.

And that's pretty much it. Well, not really, but my food is ready, so maybe more later. Thanks for reading.

5 Reasons Why I Have a Boner for the NFL

Football season is finally here. Earlier tonight, the Giants beat the Redskins, and I happened to beat myself off during the whole game. Football is the best and here's why:

5. Cheerleaders



I was at this game, and yes, it was wonderful.

4. Spectacular Catches



Awesome. And for good measure:



3. Big Hits



I remember jumping out of my seat and screaming like a motherfucker when that happened. Watch the whole video for the japanese commentators.

2. Fantasy Football

Two very accurate descriptions of me are 1) a nerd, and 2) a football fan. Fantasy Football is what happens when you combine the two. I'm in at least four leagues this year and God knows I'll end up last in pretty much all of them, but boy do I feel blessed when I can watch a football game AND do math in my head.



1. The San Diego Chargers

I love San Diego, and I love San Diego sports. No one makes me prouder of this place, and no one represents this city better than a 'roided up, unstoppable linebacker, a fiery quarterback who talks too much shit, and the best running back in the league who got a little emo when he got hurt in the playoffs.