Around the same time last year similar news came through the pipes that Steve Kerr was leaving TNT to head into the Suns' Front Office. That was a sad day as one of the best broadcast teams of Albert and Kerr was going to be broken up. Ultimately Reggie Miller would fill the whole and I would weep some more.

Well today is a glorious day because it appears that next season we won't have to hear about Doug Collins' tales of coaching becuase....he will be coaching. The Bulls....

Doug Collins will become the next Bulls head coach, according to a source. The source said the deal is expected to be announced "sooner rather than later." Expect one of the other candidates general manager John Paxson interviewed to be one of Collins' assistants.

Recently, Collins said he didn't want to leave his broadcasting job with TNT. Since then, the Bulls landed the No. 1 draft pick.

"I know Doug's got the itch [to coach again]," a league source said. "I think the Bulls' youth intrigues Doug more than the Phoenix [Suns] situation. He's a teacher That's what he likes to do.

It's funny how a draft pick changes things isn't it? In all honesty Doug Collins has toned it down a little bit this year and is doing a stellar job in the Western Conference Finals. No stories about Jordan, no word of his play in the Olympics, and no talking over Marv. I'm still hoping he leaves though.

Doug Collins to become Bulls head coach (Chicago Sun-Times)

I've never been able to stand The Czar so I might not be the right person to comment on this video via Yahoo. Last Thursday Cheryl Miller was out sick so Mike Fratello and Reggie Miller took turns going down to the sidelines. Well Fratello used his time to throw it back to himself in the booth....

That really seems like something he thought out beforehand and came of rather smug if you ask me. Either way....please come back Steve Kerr. I miss you.

'Sideline reporter' Mike Fratello: 'Back to me, Marv' (Yahoo Sports)

I don't think there's been a better and more groundbreaking announcing hire in the past 30 years than Marv Albert to TNT. He's been a staple on the network since 1999 and he'll continue to be their lead announcer through the 2015-2016 Season.

Basketball Hall of Fame announcer Marv Albert has re-signed with Turner Sports as their lead play-by-play voice on their TNT telecasts through the 2015-16 NBA season, coinciding with the network’s current NBA television agreement. Albert will continue to work one of TNT’s two weekly, exclusive Thursday night games, the NBA All-Star Game and Conference Finals games. In addition, beginning with the start of the 2008-09 NBA season Albert will call additional games on NBA TV, as part of Turner’s recently announced partnership with the NBA.

"I'm thrilled to be calling NBA action on TNT for eight more years," said Albert. "I have enjoyed a terrific relationship with them since 1999 and I look forward to continuing to call their marquee NBA regular season and postseason events, as well as being a part of the growth of NBA TV."

Now if we could only get Steve Kerr to stop trying to trade for Shaq and come back to the booth.

(Via TNT PR)

I think I almost cried when I heard that Steve Kerr was heading back to the otherside of the mic last year. The best announcing team in any Sport was being ripped apart and I knew what that meant. Marv would be stuck with a dreadful Reggie Miller.

It's almost halfway through the season, and last night Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports took the time to chronicle the night of Reggie and they are special....

"The first player to go is usually the coach."

"We're not here for lollipop and kisses."

"What's funny, looking at his free throw stroke, [and] being a shooter myself, it looks really good. His mechanics are good, his follow-through is good. Now I'm just wondering if it's a matter of mechanics."

"Without the pity-pack and the dribbling, he's exactly like Dwyane Wade." (on Monta Ellis)

I'm not entirely sure what pity-pack is, but I know funny when I see it. My personal favorite Reggie moment from last night was when the Warriors put up a split screen of Reggie and Barack Obama (I screwed up the video, but it was great).

Announcer says what? Reggie Miller takes the mic (Yahoo Sports)

Of course they chose the one guy that I did not want to be Marv's analyst. They had to choose the one that grates my nerves more than any other NBA Analyst. Yes, even more than Doug Collins. Reggie Miller is now working as an analyst for TNT full-time now and we'll be paired with Marv Albert for the duration of the 2007-2008 Season.

It is an interesting pairing on more than one angle, but mainly because Marv called some of Reggie's biggest games including the 25 point 4th quarter against the Knicks during the 1994 playoffs. I was praying that they'd force Chuck Barkley into the booth, but Reggie does have some experience and he's still learning the trade. Working with Albert could only help him.

I'll delve more into this during my NBA Announcing Previews coming up any day now, but we'll see how this works out. Reggie isn't exactly Mark Jackson, but he's definitely not Steve Kerr. Damn you Kerr! Why did you have to leave??? Why?!

(Source: TNT Release)

Update: I forgot to mention that Mike Fratello is with them as well and it appears the 2nd team will remain Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins.

Way to ruin my day True Hoop! One of, if not the best, analysts in the game is leaving TNT to run the Suns. According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic Steve Kerr has taken over the GM duties for the Phoenix Suns....

The Phoenix Suns plan to name Steve Kerr as the team's President of Basketball Operations and General Manager in the coming days, replacing Mike D'Antoni as the team GM to keep his focus on coaching.

Kerr, an original partner in Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's 2004 purchase of the franchise, will complete his duties as a TNT analyst for the Eastern Conference finals before the team makes the announcement next week. Kerr, who helped facilitate Sarver's opportunity to buy the Suns, has been one of Sarver's trusted advisors in basketball decisions over the past three years.

Wow. You call one of the best individual performances in NBA History one minute, and then take over one of the best jobs the NBA has to offer. Great job Steve.

But in all selfishness what does this mean to us/me? Well, more than likely it means a booth of Marv Albert and Doug Collins. If Doug Collins announces like he did last night then this won't be that bad of a move. If he doesn't shut up (like every other game this season) then it will be a long season.

Here's another option though.....Remember when TNT had Charles Barkley do a couple of game with Marv? The had great chemistry and were hilarious together. I mean the Dick Bavetta Race came out of that. Why not do a Joe Buck/FOX thing and take Inside the NBA on the road??? You can have Chucky do the pregame, and then jump down to the booth for the start of the game. Ernie and Kenny can then critique him during halftime, and Charles comes back for postgame.

I'm a genius....I know. And that idea alone let me create this masterpiece......


Oh the joys of blogging. It's the little things folks.

Steve Kerr to Run Suns (True Hoop)
Kerr to be Named Suns GM (Arizona Republic)

Just had to post this because it made me chuckle. From The Big Lead comes this clip of TNT's Craig Sager mixing up a few of Chris Webber's peeps.



The burns from Marv and Kerr are pretty funny too. And Chris obviously HAS given the Pistons "a little more sugar in the cake".