I know there are people who both like and hate Dan Shulman around these parts (just like every announcer), but I honestly think he's the best thing ESPN has in their stable of broadcasters. He's funny, concise, works well with others and most importantly knows the game he's calling....and he calls a lot of them. From Toronto's Post City Mag via My Hog Town....

While not exactly Willie Loman, Shulman spends more time on the road than any other announcer in the biz. Shulman estimates he does close to 120 games a year, and as no NCAA and only a handful of NBA or MLB games happen in Toronto, every game is a road game.

For now, Shulman’s hoops duties are over. As the NBA playoffs chug to their conclusion, he’ll shift back to baseball where he calls Monday night MLB games for ESPN.

It’s a different game than basketball. The pace is slower, and it requires much more informative chit- chat to pass the time between pitches, but Shulman makes the transition look seamless, thanks to his time with the Jays.

“On my first play-by-play job back in 1995, Buck Martinez was my partner, and we envisioned a good broadcast as two guys sitting in a bar talking about baseball. I’ve always tried to be very conversational,” he says.

It's easy to say what he and Martinez did ahead of time, but to pull it without being annoying and overbearing (like most people at a bar) is pretty impressive. Again, if you know the game and you don't try to make it about yourself people will take notice. You may not get the accolades, or the love/hate response from the masses, but you'll definitely get respect. The rest well come in time.

This Thornhill dad on his rise from insurance actuary to the voice of basketball on America’s top sports network, ESPN (Post City Magazine)

Most of us grew up during one of the best eras of NBA Basketball and because of that I think we're spoiled. Some of us got to enjoy Kareem, Barkley, Olajuwon, Malone, Stockton, Pippen, Malone, O'Neal, Bird, Drexler, Ewing, Magic, and Jordan in our lifetimes.

Us NBA heads are enjoying a renaissance of sorts in the NBA and while Lebron and Kobe continue to amaze there isn't a player I've been this excited about in quite some time. Chris Paul is like a combination of Stockton, Magic, and Jordan....but completely different (if that makes any sense). The kid is just out of his mind.....

Go back to the beginning and watch that full speed again. You'll thank me for it. I'll wait......

35 points and 9 assists? Are you kidding me?!?! I know that doesn't approach his best game, but in San Antonio that's crazy. By the end of the game both Paul and Parker were shaking their heads at each other. Even though the Spurs decided to come and play tonight, and the Hornets went down.....I just can't take my eyes off him. It's a good thing the kid is sponsored by Jordan if you ask me. This is the only series in the NBA Playoffs that matters right now, and it's the only one you should be watching.

(Also, Dan Shulman and Doris Burke are a great NBA Announcing team and I'm glad that Burke finally realized her potential. I love her "Oh!" as that Paul shot goes in.)

Crazy title huh? Well I thought it appropriate for some of the oddest going ons I've ever seen in NBA Basketball. No this doesn't have anything to do with Dan Shulman or Doris Burke (more on Shulman tomorrow), but it's still pretty entertaining.

Tayshaun Prince got pretty banged up on a foul during the Bulls game. It turned out he only got hit on his funny bone, but after a couple of minutes getting the feeling back in his arm he had some blood on his jersey.

That's when the fun started....

Whooooooo! Now that's worth the price of admission. Think of how much fun he's going to get made of after the game. Oh and there was also this.....



Everyone else calls it a facial, so I figured I should as well. That's just nasty.

I don't know how someone could approve a replay of a guy doing the "suck it" motion in a speedo and then say, "Oh crap...maybe we should apologize for that." But alas...this was the case last night.

I'd be pissed if I were Shulman. He's the one that has to take the hit for someone else's dumb decision. Oh and Duke fans....seriously, you jumped the shark back in 1994. Try something new.

ESPN apologizes for ‘Speedo Guy' (Out Sports)