Donny Marshall leaving?

[KungPoweChicken]

I like Donny.  Thought his insights were often spot on and I thought (like anyone in this role will need to) he was gradually growing into the role.  Prediction: some of those who dislike Donny will like him better once he's gone and they experience his replacement.

That said, I like Dana Barros a little, I like Michael Smith a lot, and I think Ryen Rusillo would be great.

I also have a surprise suggestion:  Lou Merloni.  
I am continually impressed with his ability to communicate cleary, the thoughtfulness of his comments, and at the natural, respectful rapport he establishes with colleaues and callers.  I get the impression that he is a quick study and a hard worker.  I realize he is a baseball guy, but he seems an astute sports fan and probably has some history with organized basketball.   But, I realize CSN will likely want someone perceived to be a 'real' basketball guy.  

Lou Merloni, are you serious? He probably can't even name the full Celtic roster right now. No thanks. If they hired that dude, I'd have to stop watching the pre and post games.


That being said, I grew to like Donny. He was good at what he was doing. And believe it or not, he is better than what most teams have, if you watch League Pass.

[snively]

No to Dana and no to Scal.

I like both as people but they don't have enough opinion to offer up analysis on a 2-4 times a week basis.  Dana and Scal also have tendencies to drift into more of an 'accent' as the conversation carries.

I don't necessarily think it should be another NBA guy because it got old listening to Donny comment on how "when I was playing"...I know that it was insight but it is more of a singular how that person felt type of situation.

Please no Max either.

I say go with Rasheed the first half of the season and then have guest spots after February.

Never thought about it, but Sheed would be awesome, he could step right in for Tommy complaining about the refs and not miss a beat.

He also used to host a hip hop radio show when he was with the Blazers so he actually has some experience.

He actually has a good voice for that too IMO (as opposed to someone like Dee Brown, nice guy, not the best voice though, or Shaq, funny guy, but I would hate listening to this guy do a game), and he also speaks clearly (unlike, say Perk).

Seriously, I'm all for Sheed.

I don't think there's much potential for chemistry between Sheed and Gorman.  Maybe not as catastrophic as the Tanguay-Tommy pairing (or really Tanguay-Anybody) but I'd expect a lot of dead air between those 2.

[jr_3421]

The more and more I think about it, the more and more I like the idea of Employee #8 broadcasting for the Celtics

[the_Bird]

I'm not sure how much jurisdiction the FCC has over cable broadcasts, but methinks that Comcast might be a LITTLE hesitant to stick Rasheed Wallace in front of an open mike for two and half hours each night.

[SCBirdman]

I think Rusillo would be great, but would he leave his ESPN Mothership gig? Could he do both?

[ben]

donny marshall leaving?  hopefully.

[Bahku]

If I'm not mistaken, he already has. Since the acquisition of Shaq, I've seen him on three analysis panels for ESPN. Donny's a very smart, knowledgeable guy, but he's not even close to being the homer that we're used to, (or should have), in New England.

He loves the sound of his own voice, and honestly, it drives me crazy the way he goes on-and-on about his being a UConn team-mate of Ray's, and all his connections with NBA players, when his NBA career was practically non-existent, and far from successful.

I know some people want the most objective announcers they can get, but frankly, when I'm watching a Celtics game, I want to listen to homers like Tommy and Mike, and I can even put up with Gary and Greg, cuz their blood is green like mine, (Felger is where I draw the line ... I don't know what he is, or which planet he came from).

Anyway, I'm sure he'll do well wherever he ends up ... he's articulate and intelligent, and certainly has the "gift of gab", and looks good on camera. But honestly, I won't miss him in the least, and I'm looking forward to Comcast filling his spot with someone that is hopefully a little more biased where the color green is concerned.

[Yakmanev]

I'm not sure how much jurisdiction the FCC has over cable broadcasts, but methinks that Comcast might be a LITTLE hesitant to stick Rasheed Wallace in front of an open mike for two and half hours each night.

LOL yeah me too.

[Bankshot]

I'll be glad if Donny is in fact leaving.  He was never a true Celtics guy and only took the gig as a stepping stone for his career.  It seemed like every other game he had to miss for some unknown reason.  He lost me when he made the "Vince Carter is a super-duper star and Paul Pierce is only a super star" comment.  Sad then and even worse looking at it now.

Well if this was a few years back that would have been a legit analysis.  But if he made that statement after Vince left Toronto and Paul won his ring...then he should have been fired on the spot.

Producer in his ear "At the next commercial break pack up your stuff Donny".

I don't think that was ever a legit analysis.

[Assassin70]

I'll be glad if Donny is in fact leaving.  He was never a true Celtics guy and only took the gig as a stepping stone for his career.  It seemed like every other game he had to miss for some unknown reason.  He lost me when he made the "Vince Carter is a super-duper star and Paul Pierce is only a super star" comment.  Sad then and even worse looking at it now.

Well if this was a few years back that would have been a legit analysis.  But if he made that statement after Vince left Toronto and Paul won his ring...then he should have been fired on the spot.

Producer in his ear "At the next commercial break pack up your stuff Donny".

I don't think that was ever a legit analysis.

I am sure everyone remembers not to long ago...

There was a time there when Vince Carter was considered to be one of those 2nd coming guys.  On Sportscenter all the time, on the cover of magazines all the time, and a very popular player all around the world.

Paul never reached that same level of stardom.

So I think the analysis was legit...if you are talking before he fell out of favor and left Toronto.

Now after that...Vince Carter career fell like our economy did.

Having said all that I always felt Paul was the better all around player and that Vince was gonna drop off since he was a high flyer.  We all know those high flyers lose their legs and have to adjust their games. 

[Snakehead]

I'll be glad if Donny is in fact leaving.  He was never a true Celtics guy and only took the gig as a stepping stone for his career.  It seemed like every other game he had to miss for some unknown reason.  He lost me when he made the "Vince Carter is a super-duper star and Paul Pierce is only a super star" comment.  Sad then and even worse looking at it now.

Well if this was a few years back that would have been a legit analysis.  But if he made that statement after Vince left Toronto and Paul won his ring...then he should have been fired on the spot.

Producer in his ear "At the next commercial break pack up your stuff Donny".

I don't think that was ever a legit analysis.

I am sure everyone remembers not to long ago...

There was a time there when Vince Carter was considered to be one of those 2nd coming guys.  On Sportscenter all the time, on the cover of magazines all the time, and a very popular player all around the world.

Paul never reached that same level of stardom.

So I think the analysis was legit...if you are talking before he fell out of favor and left Toronto.

Now after that...Vince Carter career fell like our economy did.

Having said all that I always felt Paul was the better all around player and that Vince was gonna drop off since he was a high flyer.  We all know those high flyers lose their legs and have to adjust their games. 

Yes.  Vince was supposed to be the next Jordan, that's how he was hyped and he had the physical tools to be that great.  He just never reached that potential with the rest of his game (though on the Nets he was very good, probably underrated now how people talk about Vince) and now has noticably fell off.

Paul Pierce's game has always been "un-sexy", with all the herky-jerk moves, and he doesn't get off the floor much, so he was always underrated until the arrival of the Big Three but he also has done just about all he could do in his career with his physical abilities.

Vince did not.  So I understand those statements from Donny.  You could dig up similar quotes from other analysts I'm sure.

[guava_wrench]

If I'm not mistaken, he already has. Since the acquisition of Shaq, I've seen him on three analysis panels for ESPN. Donny's a very smart, knowledgeable guy, but he's not even close to being the homer that we're used to, (or should have), in New England.

He loves the sound of his own voice, and honestly, it drives me crazy the way he goes on-and-on about his being a UConn team-mate of Ray's, and all his connections with NBA players, when his NBA career was practically non-existent, and far from successful.

I know some people want the most objective announcers they can get, but frankly, when I'm watching a Celtics game, I want to listen to homers like Tommy and Mike, and I can even put up with Gary and Greg, cuz their blood is green like mine, (Felger is where I draw the line ... I don't know what he is, or which planet he came from).

Anyway, I'm sure he'll do well wherever he ends up ... he's articulate and intelligent, and certainly has the "gift of gab", and looks good on camera. But honestly, I won't miss him in the least, and I'm looking forward to Comcast filling his spot with someone that is hopefully a little more biased where the color green is concerned.

You don't have to be biased to be authentic, depending upon what kind of bias we are talking about. I want someone loyal to the Celtics as a team, but who calls the game fairly and isn't blinded by their passion for the team. Someone like Frazier who is an institution with the Knicks, but who calls it like it is.

Gorman loves the Celtics, but he can retain some objectivity. This is much clearer when the bad influence of Tommy isn't around. Tommy would be the all time worst ref in the history of the NBA. He blows calls even when the replay is obviously against his homer views. It puts Mike in an odd situation where he sometimes tries to point out the conclusive video, but in a way that doesn't put Tommy on the spot. Sometimes he just moves on. It is at times horrible broadcasting, especially with Tommy yelling on air. That is when I mute the game.

Sadly, I always watch ESPN or TNT when available if Tommy is doing color and just watch CSN at halftime.

There are plenty of viewers who do not crave announcers who live in a fantasy world like Tommy. We can handle the truth and do not need announcers who view every play through homer lenses.

As I always say, Tommy is great in the studio. I look forward to him moving there full time when we can get an appropriate replacement who has a stronger connection to the Celtics than Donny did.

[Snakehead]

If I'm not mistaken, he already has. Since the acquisition of Shaq, I've seen him on three analysis panels for ESPN. Donny's a very smart, knowledgeable guy, but he's not even close to being the homer that we're used to, (or should have), in New England.

He loves the sound of his own voice, and honestly, it drives me crazy the way he goes on-and-on about his being a UConn team-mate of Ray's, and all his connections with NBA players, when his NBA career was practically non-existent, and far from successful.

I know some people want the most objective announcers they can get, but frankly, when I'm watching a Celtics game, I want to listen to homers like Tommy and Mike, and I can even put up with Gary and Greg, cuz their blood is green like mine, (Felger is where I draw the line ... I don't know what he is, or which planet he came from).

Anyway, I'm sure he'll do well wherever he ends up ... he's articulate and intelligent, and certainly has the "gift of gab", and looks good on camera. But honestly, I won't miss him in the least, and I'm looking forward to Comcast filling his spot with someone that is hopefully a little more biased where the color green is concerned.

You don't have to be biased to be authentic, depending upon what kind of bias we are talking about. I want someone loyal to the Celtics as a team, but who calls the game fairly and isn't blinded by their passion for the team. Someone like Frazier who is an institution with the Knicks, but who calls it like it is.

Gorman loves the Celtics, but he can retain some objectivity. This is much clearer when the bad influence of Tommy isn't around. Tommy would be the all time worst ref in the history of the NBA. He blows calls even when the replay is obviously against his homer views. It puts Mike in an odd situation where he sometimes tries to point out the conclusive video, but in a way that doesn't put Tommy on the spot. Sometimes he just moves on. It is at times horrible broadcast, especially with Tommy yelling on air. That is when I mute the game.

Sadly, I always watch ESPN or TNT when available if Tommy is doing color and just watch CSN at halftime.

There are plenty of viewers who do not crave announcers who live in a fantasy world like Tommy. We can handle the truth and do not need announcers who view every play through homer lenses.

As I always say, Tommy is great in the studio. I look forward to him moving their full time when we can get an appropriate replacement who has a stronger connection to the Celtics than Donny did.

Exactly how I feel about Tommy. TP for you.  (Funny giving a TP for kind of bashing Tommy... but justly IMO    )

[vinnie]

If I'm not mistaken, he already has. Since the acquisition of Shaq, I've seen him on three analysis panels for ESPN. Donny's a very smart, knowledgeable guy, but he's not even close to being the homer that we're used to, (or should have), in New England.

He loves the sound of his own voice, and honestly, it drives me crazy the way he goes on-and-on about his being a UConn team-mate of Ray's, and all his connections with NBA players, when his NBA career was practically non-existent, and far from successful.

I know some people want the most objective announcers they can get, but frankly, when I'm watching a Celtics game, I want to listen to homers like Tommy and Mike, and I can even put up with Gary and Greg, cuz their blood is green like mine, (Felger is where I draw the line ... I don't know what he is, or which planet he came from).

Anyway, I'm sure he'll do well wherever he ends up ... he's articulate and intelligent, and certainly has the "gift of gab", and looks good on camera. But honestly, I won't miss him in the least, and I'm looking forward to Comcast filling his spot with someone that is hopefully a little more biased where the color green is concerned.

You don't have to be biased to be authentic, depending upon what kind of bias we are talking about. I want someone loyal to the Celtics as a team, but who calls the game fairly and isn't blinded by their passion for the team. Someone like Frazier who is an institution with the Knicks, but who calls it like it is.

Gorman loves the Celtics, but he can retain some objectivity. This is much clearer when the bad influence of Tommy isn't around. Tommy would be the all time worst ref in the history of the NBA. He blows calls even when the replay is obviously against his homer views. It puts Mike in an odd situation where he sometimes tries to point out the conclusive video, but in a way that doesn't put Tommy on the spot. Sometimes he just moves on. It is at times horrible broadcast, especially with Tommy yelling on air. That is when I mute the game.

Sadly, I always watch ESPN or TNT when available if Tommy is doing color and just watch CSN at halftime.

There are plenty of viewers who do not crave announcers who live in a fantasy world like Tommy. We can handle the truth and do not need announcers who view every play through homer lenses.

As I always say, Tommy is great in the studio. I look forward to him moving their full time when we can get an appropriate replacement who has a stronger connection to the Celtics than Donny did.

Exactly how I feel about Tommy. TP for you.  (Funny giving a TP for kind of bashing Tommy... but justly IMO    )

I love Tommy, but cannot stand listening to his commentary. He is a parody of himself and brings nothing to the game. And, his incessant criticism of the refs is ludicrous.

[Jevi]

I vote for Rasheed(he's like a black Tommy Heinsohn with the refs). Honestly though Donny Walberg knows his Celtics,if he was done with acting(don't think he is). Biv of(The Original)BBD wouldn't be bad either. Scal has the body for the job though.
As long as it ain't AC Earl.