Jeff Van Gundy Makes It No Secret That He's Rooting For The Magic
Monday, June 01, 2009
A couple of emails popped into the inbox, over the weekend when Orlando clinched, and asked if ABC/ESPN are considering benching Jeff Van Gundy for the Finals. Even though his brother coaches the Magic, I responded that it wasn't likely and that JVG would know what to say and how to say it when asked about Stan and the Magic. Well apparently I was wrong. Jeff Van Gundy told Newsday that he's absolutely rooting for the Magic, and even asked ABC brass if they wanted him to take the Finals off....
Spoke to former Knicks coach and current ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy Sunday about the presence of a certain coach on the bench of one of the teams for the NBA Finals.Now I understand that you'd want your brother to succeed, but don't just go blurt it out for everyone to read. I think Van Gundy secretly wants to be fired so he can go take that 76ers job, that every former coach turned analyst is rumored to be interested in.
"I'm going to try to be as objective as possible," he said, "but I want my brother’s team to win; there’s no question about that."
When Stan Van Gundy's Magic took a 2-1 series lead over the Cavaliers, his younger brother discussed the looming potential conflict with his coordinating producer, Tim Corrigan.
“I said, ‘Hey, listen, if you guys don’t think it’s best for me to call the Finals, I’m fine with that, and I understand,’’’ he said. “I don’t want to compromise anything. They said they wanted me to do it.’’
Jeff Van Gundy would like the Magic to win the Finals (Watchdog)
9 Comments:
Maybe he could do a Chuck Barkley and call Mark Jackson numbnuts a few times during each broadcast.
BTW, Eddie Jordan is already the new Sixers coach.
What's wrong with openly rooting for your brother in the booth?
/Darrell Waltrip
Replace him...now. Put Hubie in there for insane ramblings but at least they will be objective.
Why does Van Gundy have to get fired to pursue the 76ers job? Can't he just leave? In any case, while I like Hubie Brown more, Van Gundy will forever have my admiration because of his anti-BCS commentary.
I like JVG quite a bit in the booth, and being a Laker-hater myself, I'm all for his subjective color commentary.
Anyone but Reggie Miller, please!
I seriously doubt that ABC has any problem with JVG revealing the obvious. It would be a story if he did not want his brother's team to win.
His rooting interest wasn't an issue or ABC would not have him call the games. Mike Breen and Mark Jackson will give him enough grief to keep him honest.
I'm praying for a Lakers sweep so we can avoid Jeff Van Jeremy's asskissing festival.
JVG is rarely correct, but I would rather hear him putting down my Lakers,then Doug Collins. In addition to his horrible gayvoice, he's still asskissing MJ like the dude is still playing.
He doesn't add that much to the game coverage.