McHale = Heinsohn

[LA_33]

McHale supposedly has a very good broadcasting offer at the national level (no idea which network, but my guess would be as a color guy to replace Reggie Miller on TNT; Kevin Harlan was the original play-by-play guy for the Wolves, and was still there when McHale took over the team, so they've known each other for a long time). 

[paintitgreen]

I just don't think Pierce has the well-spoken nature and personality for broadcasting. Love him, I just don't see him being successful at the gig. I feel like he's too moody.

As for not getting a gig because he's not a star - what? Guys like Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn and Jon Barry got right into the national scene so being a star is clearly not a prerequisite. I think his personality will inhibit him more than anything else, but his "star" power won't keep him out of the national scene. I recognize that he doesn't have the same "star" quality as Barkley or even Webber (even though he had a far superior career to Webber), but to lump him in with Donny Marshall as opposed to Rose or Mashburn or Barry?

As for McHale, if he wants to do broadcasting, he'll be national. I think it's a well known fact in NBA circles that McHale is one of the absolute best personalities in the last couple of decades of the NBA, right up there with Barkley but without as much foot-in-the-mouth. He won't replace Tommy - he'll replace Walton on ABC/ESPN if he wants. He'd be their Barkley type guy who will just rip into people in a hilarious way.

I agree with Grover, nobody will ever equal Tommy because there's nobody who has that lifelong dedication to one championship organization. McHale would be an outstanding color man for the team, but he's got too much invested into Minnesota as well. Tommy works so well because he is completely Boston, McHale, as great as he is, could never just be Boston.

And LA, I would love to see him doing TNT games if only for the back and forth he and Barkley could have pre-game, post-game and at halftimes. Plus his occasional studio visits would be great TV.

[GroverTheClover]

I just don't think Pierce has the well-spoken nature and personality for broadcasting. Love him, I just don't see him being successful at the gig. I feel like he's too moody.

As for not getting a gig because he's not a star - what? Guys like Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn and Jon Barry got right into the national scene so being a star is clearly not a prerequisite. I think his personality will inhibit him more than anything else, but his "star" power won't keep him out of the national scene. I recognize that he doesn't have the same "star" quality as Barkley or even Webber (even though he had a far superior career to Webber), but to lump him in with Donny Marshall as opposed to Rose or Mashburn or Barry?

As for McHale, if he wants to do broadcasting, he'll be national. I think it's a well known fact in NBA circles that McHale is one of the absolute best personalities in the last couple of decades of the NBA, right up there with Barkley but without as much foot-in-the-mouth. He won't replace Tommy - he'll replace Walton on ABC/ESPN if he wants. He'd be their Barkley type guy who will just rip into people in a hilarious way.

I agree with Grover, nobody will ever equal Tommy because there's nobody who has that lifelong dedication to one championship organization. McHale would be an outstanding color man for the team, but he's got too much invested into Minnesota as well. Tommy works so well because he is completely Boston, McHale, as great as he is, could never just be Boston.

And LA, I would love to see him doing TNT games if only for the back and forth he and Barkley could have pre-game, post-game and at halftimes. Plus his occasional studio visits would be great TV.

Well said, the bolded part is why Tommy is so successful. You know almost everything he says is sincere. Even if it's blatant homerism, he's as much a part of the Celtics as the parquet.  With Red gone, Tommy is the living embodiment of the Boston Celtics.

[hpantazo]

That would be great (once Tommy wants to hang it up).  I definitely prefer McHale over Max.  However, I think McHale is happy living in Minnesota.

What does McHale's opinion have to do with this?  This is about what's best for us 

exactly! how can anyone be happy living in sota anyway?

[MrTripleDouble10]

I really don't see Pierce doing this after he's retired.  For one thing, I think he'll probably live full time back on the west coast.  Also, it's not that glamorous a job.  You have to travel with the team and be away from your family just like you were when you were playing.  Only difference, you're not playing anymore and not getting paid nearly as much.

When you think of former players that do it, like Cedric Maxwell, it's not as if these guys are set for life and can just retire.  I can guarantee you Pierce made more money just off his rookie contract than Maxwell made his whole career.

But a lot of former players do miss the spotlight, and since basketball has been there life for so long, it's hard to give it up.  So in that regard, it's always a possibility.  But it would definitely be t.v. before radio for Pierce.

Well, paul has been pretty vocal about the fact that he's looking to get into broadcasting post career, he even co-hosted the Mohegan sun show for a week, and I've got to believe that's why he pushed to co-host mike and mike for a day.

That could have changed of course, but that was his stance a few years ago, and I'm not sure he can get a national gig not being a huge star. Comcast might be his starting point, just like donny

Pierce has also said that he wants to be a GM someday, preferably for the Celtics.

[the_Bird]

I'd LOVE to see McHale come back home, so to speak.  Get him aboard to do some three-man broadcasts like they used to do with Cooz.  Let him go out on the road with Mike instead of Donny; keep Donny in the studio where he does less harm (could he have any less personality?).  If a national gig doesn't open up for him, it'd be awesome to have him back here.

I can't even listen to Max, he just p---es me off.

[Michael Anthony]

How about Garnett doing color commentary for the Celtics?

Imagine moving him from the bench to the booth this past post-season! It would be glorious.

[crownsy]

I really don't see Pierce doing this after he's retired.  For one thing, I think he'll probably live full time back on the west coast.  Also, it's not that glamorous a job.  You have to travel with the team and be away from your family just like you were when you were playing.  Only difference, you're not playing anymore and not getting paid nearly as much.

When you think of former players that do it, like Cedric Maxwell, it's not as if these guys are set for life and can just retire.  I can guarantee you Pierce made more money just off his rookie contract than Maxwell made his whole career.

But a lot of former players do miss the spotlight, and since basketball has been there life for so long, it's hard to give it up.  So in that regard, it's always a possibility.  But it would definitely be t.v. before radio for Pierce.

Well, paul has been pretty vocal about the fact that he's looking to get into broadcasting post career, he even co-hosted the Mohegan sun show for a week, and I've got to believe that's why he pushed to co-host mike and mike for a day.

That could have changed of course, but that was his stance a few years ago, and I'm not sure he can get a national gig not being a huge star. Comcast might be his starting point, just like donny

Pierce has also said that he wants to be a GM someday, preferably for the Celtics.

right but to my knowledge he's never done the job, as he has with broadcasting.

He was very good both on sports tonight and hosting mike and mike. His press conferences are also great.

Not really a stretch to me to see him do announcing.

[reggie35]

Tommy's not going anywhere.  As far as I'm concerned, he should do the color for the Celtics as long as he wants.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying force Tommy out. I love Tommy, but as someone pointed out, we have to start making provisions for the not so distant future when Tommy can't do it anymore.

[reggie35]

I have to disagree with the title of the thread, there will never be anyone equal to Tommy.

Bad title = my bad.

[Roy Hobbs]

right but to my knowledge he's never done the job, as he has with broadcasting.

Sure he has.  As I recall, it was "get me some help, or trade me".  In short order, Ray and KG were here. 

[johnnyrondo]

Well if I had to predict odds on who would be the next coach of the Celtics, McHale might have the best odds. Doc isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but all coaches (except for Jerry Sloan) eventually are replaced. By the time Doc is replaced, Thibs will be a head coach somewhere else and Ainge will turn to his buddy.

[the_Bird]

Well if I had to predict odds on who would be the next coach of the Celtics, McHale might have the best odds. Doc isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but all coaches (except for Jerry Sloan) eventually are replaced. By the time Doc is replaced, Thibs will be a head coach somewhere else and Ainge will turn to his buddy.

How about this?

After the Celtics win the 2010 title.... 

Doc takes a years' sabatical.  He wants some time with his family, you know that he's sincere when he talks about how tough it is to be away from them.  He spends about half the season as the C's road-color guy/third-announcer (the "new Cooz").  Doesn't do every game, but does a few for fun.  For that year, Thibs takes over, knowing that it's likely a one-year gig (Doc can come back if he chooses), but gets a chance to show his head coaching acumen to the rest of the League.

Doc gets time with his family, we get one of the best announcers on road games, we still have a great coach in Thibs, and Thibs puts himself in a position to get himself a permanant gig.

[2short]

How about Garnett doing color commentary for the Celtics?

Imagine moving him from the bench to the booth this past post-season! It would be glorious.

the whole telecast would be beeped out!

[jambr380]

McHale would be great, but my guess (like others) is that he will go national...

As for the Maxwell vs. Donny debate, I am all for Donny. I just can't take Max- I don't think his comments are all that insightful and he would be a big downgrade from Tommy. I have been hard on Donny in the past, but I like him a lot more than Max...there's always Dickerson :0)