Stephen A. Smith Booted Off ESPN's Main NBA Draft Set
Friday, June 20, 2008
Now this is how you end a week of announcing news on a good note. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting that Stephen A. Smith's role for this upcoming NBA Draft is going to be limited to just player interviews....
Stephen A. Smith, who can be an effective communicator when he is not morphing into 'Screamin' A.'' Smith, has been bumped from the main set and instead will interview drafted players -- an assignment he handled capably and calmly after the Celtics won the championship Tuesday.I don't know if Mark Jackson is really a better replacement, and I still question if NBA announcers know anything about College players, but I'll take it if that means less Screamin' A. The bad news obviously is that Tirico is replaced by Stuart Scott and as much as I want Mike Tirico to cover everything he just can't. More information on the Draft, the epic Live-Blog (3rd Annual!) and a Mock Draft to come next week.
In his place on the main set, ESPN will use ABC's lead game analysts, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, alongside returning analyst Jay Bilas and host Stuart Scott.
''We're hopping on the great job Mark and Jeff have done through the playoffs and extend that through the draft,'' said Dan Steir, ESPN's senior coordinating producer for the draft.
Other parties involved: Chad Ford, Fran Fraschilla, Andy Katz, Ric Bucher, Dick Vitale , Doris Burke
ESPN picks substance over style for NBA Draft (Miami Herald)
8 Comments:
Tangent: you need to find that Turkey/Croatia ending. That was INCREDIBLE.
I was watching....that was awesome.
the draft loses entertainment now. I like Van Gundy as entertainment but get rid of Jackson and put SAS back on there.
Mark Jackson will be talking about the great toughness of Chicago intercity basketball with Derrick Rose going to the Bulls all night.
Samuel, I had to buy a bag of Cheez Doodles after I saw this post.
If they're really purging the screamers who don't add much to a broadcast, why the hell is Vitale still on the team?
Turkey's games in Euro 2008 should come with a warning for those with heart trouble. That's the third time they've come back from down to win (a feat no other team in the tournament has even managed once), all with very late goals (one winner in stoppage time, another in the 89th minute, and then yesterday's in stoppage time of OT to force PKs).
If Stewart Scott is on ANYTHING, I won't watch. Period!
The "Cheese Doodle Hecklers" won't be too happy about this.