Donny Marshall leaving?

[Snakehead]

Everyone who is saying Scal... I assume you've all heard him talk?  If I had to listen to Scal talk for more than 30 sec straight I'd change the channel or if watching the Celts hit the mute button.  God awful.

Couldn't see him being a thoughtful broadcaster either but the voice is enough.

[guava_wrench]

Everyone who is saying Scal... I assume you've all heard him talk?  If I had to listen to Scal talk for more than 30 sec straight I'd change the channel or if watching the Celts hit the mute button.  God awful.

Couldn't see him being a thoughtful broadcaster either but the voice is enough.

I have to agree. Scal can be funny only in really short doses.

[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.

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.

Great retort until this part ... then you lost me with the "we can handle the truth" stuff. Why reply if you have to do it in a fashion that places others below you, or insinuates negative things about their personalities? That's where "good discussion" goes out the window.

[FatjohnReturns]

thank god

[Andy Jick]

Everyone who is saying Scal... I assume you've all heard him talk?  If I had to listen to Scal talk for more than 30 sec straight I'd change the channel or if watching the Celts hit the mute button.  God awful.

Couldn't see him being a thoughtful broadcaster either but the voice is enough.

I have to agree. Scal can be funny only in really short doses.

...VERY short.

[thirstyboots18]

Say what you will about Tommy, at least you know he is watching the game.  Some of the other teams announcers are unbelievably bad.

We could aways demote Rondo to the broadcast booth.  Think of all the extra time we would have to post on the blog. Rondo could do a two hour game in about 13 minutes! 

Bob Cousy wasn't the homer Tommy is, but he knew the game and I  still miss him in the booth. 

I saw Dee Brown's tryout on ESPN...I thought that he not only showed that he knew the game and the players, but he spoke very clearly.  He would only get better with experience, too.  And, he has a Celtic connection.

[elcotte]

Everyone who is saying Scal... I assume you've all heard him talk?  If I had to listen to Scal talk for more than 30 sec straight I'd change the channel or if watching the Celts hit the mute button.  God awful.

Couldn't see him being a thoughtful broadcaster either but the voice is enough.

Kind of like reading your posts.

[Snakehead]

Everyone who is saying Scal... I assume you've all heard him talk?  If I had to listen to Scal talk for more than 30 sec straight I'd change the channel or if watching the Celts hit the mute button.  God awful.

Couldn't see him being a thoughtful broadcaster either but the voice is enough.

Kind of like reading your posts.

If you had Scal read them maybe.  He's not busy right?



Sorry to p--- off Scal's number one fan

[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.

Great retort until this part ... then you lost me with the "we can handle the truth" stuff. Why reply if you have to do it in a fashion that places others below you, or insinuates negative things about their personalities? That's where "good discussion" goes out the window.

I disagree. There are people who admit that they prefer homer announcers who see things in favor of their team, and then there are people who do not want such a bias. There are plenty of other types of people too, such as those who don't realize where they are on this issue.

[rtceltics]

I liked Donny Marshall when he first came to the Celtics family.
As the years have gone on, it has been more and more obvious that he was trying to keep his distance when talking about the Celtic
players.  We may all have a laugh or two when Tommy is televising, but just listen to him. He knows the names of the other young players on the opposing team and their position and what they are like. He has kept himself aware of the game and it's changes. Granted there are times when his bleeding green shows itself against a great team, but he is really honest in his opinion of the players. Would I want to turn on the television and listen to a guy ripping the Celts apart?  I don't think so.
Donny has had his eye on the prize for a while, looking to go national as soon as he can. Good luck to him, we won before him and we will win after!

[Celtics4ever]

I want my announcers to be a little homer honestly.   I don't need an announcer to tell me about the nuances of the game or point out the "truth" as I can see it myself.   From this thread its obvious some people need that pointed out to them when they watch the games.  Which that is all and good, I don't need it.   So I 'd rather have a homer commentator that cares and suffers the ups and downs with me.  I have a good understand of basketball and the like.  Tommy is color commentary to me, not gospel of the game, for that he is perfect.

He has forgot more about basketball than some of this truthseekers ever known.

[Snakehead]

I want my announcers to be a little homer honestly.   I don't need an announcer to tell me about the nuances of the game or point out the "truth" as I can see it myself.   From this thread its obvious some people need that pointed out to them when they watch the games.  Which that is all and good, I don't need it.   So I 'd rather have a homer commentator that cares and suffers the ups and downs with me.  I have a good understand of basketball and the like.  Tommy is color commentary to me, not gospel of the game, for that he is perfect.

He has forgot more about basketball than some of this truthseekers ever known.

It's not that we need the game spelled out for us... watch other commentators please.  Guys like Hubie Brown and Doug Collins provide insight on what schemes a team might be running, trends in play calling in a game, pace, interesting stats, and other nuances that their time spent involved in the NBA game gives them a good understanding of and things that might not be apparent to a viewer unless they had the sort of resources the broadcast team has at their disposal.  I know when I'm watching the game I don't have a box score, shot chart, etc and the coaches and players to interview and talk to on the side lines before and during the game... these are things color commentary should provide. A good color man communicates these type of things, and importantly in an interesting and clear way.

Tommy isn't very clear nor very insightful anymore, and he certainly is a huge homer.  Not that he never has been good, he used to be much better and much more insightful in his commentary, but now he just complains irrationally about the refs.  He reminds me of the kinds of people I hate watching games with.  Is that what you do when you watch games?  You complain about calls where you are clearly wrong and being a homer?  Me and my friends watch all the Celtics games and are very serious fans and are knowledgable about the game, and we aren't irrational at the same time.

Gorman is a very good play-by-play guy. He does his job well and covers all the bases there. In a color man, I like a bit of humor and a lot of inside basketball knowledge that can add something to my watching the game.  Tommy is just not that insightful guy anymore and his homerism is unmatched in the league.  It's not a "little homer"... it's A LOT homer.  Ask any fan of another team who ends up watching the Comcast Celtics feed for a game and they'll tell you from an outsiders perspective how bad Tommy can be.

[timpiker]

I hope this rumor is true because I cannot stand Donny Marshall.  He's boring and is too moderate for me.  I want a homer calling the games.  If I wanted somebody down the middle I'd watch TNT or ESPN (as if I have any choice when the games are blacked out on Comcast as I live in Michigan).

Tommy is not as good as he used to be but I could care less.  He's Tommy and I'll be happy to watch him and listen to him until the day he dies and I hope he's doing games until he's 120 years old.  Comcast screwed me out of Cous and that still makes me sick.  I appreciate those guys and want it to last as long as possible.

I can't say anything about Max because I don't get radio.  I love Hubie Brown and I thought Bill Raftery was really good.  McHale may be good...not sure.  I like what he says at halftime but that's not the same as color during the game.

I want an old Celtic.  Get as many as we can get to do maybe 10 games apiece this year as an "interview", then let us fans vote to narrow it down for neat year.  I think I like this.

[Celtics4ever]

I've have NBA pass, Snake, do you?   So I see plenty of games.  Hubie is decent but he msised a lot too to be honest and sometimes gets the player's names wrong.  But c'mon most of these guys are not too more  insightful for a fan in the know.  I don't look to announcers to do anything but provide commentary.  I have played ball and I have coached ball.  Its rare for one of them to teach me something I didn't know about the game.  Vam Gundy is the only league one I can stand.  But I like him more for his wit than his keen analysis.  One thing is he will call a bad call when he sees one and not chant the league mantra.

Maybe you need all the help with understanding the game and I point to your man crush on LBJ as evidence in this regard.  But I do not.  I know their sets, I know a lot of the nuances too.   Not all of us  need the Jerry's kids infomericial about what set or play they are running.

I like Tommy because he is a homer and is amusing to me.  I feel the same way about the refs he does and we do get the shaft often.  FTAs often bear out that evidence.  He is usually spot on which refs nail us or will do us dirty.  He cares I care and not about LeBron.  I bet you don't like Tommy because he points out how much LeBron walks with the ball.

I hope its a Celtic too.  Keep it in the family.   

[Snakehead]

I've have NBA pass, Snake, do you?   So I see plenty of games.  Hubie is decent but he msised a lot too to be honest and sometimes gets the player's names wrong.  But c'mon most of these guys are not too more  insightful for a fan in the know.  I don't look to announcers to do anything but provide commentary.  I have played ball and I have coached ball.  Its rare for one of them to teach me something I didn't know about the game.  Vam Gundy is the only league one I can stand.  But I like him more for his wit than his keen analysis.  One thing is he will call a bad call when he sees one and not chant the league mantra.

Maybe you need all the help with understanding the game and I point to your man crush on LBJ as evidence in this regard.  But I do not.  I know their sets, I know a lot of the nuances too.   Not all of us  need the Jerry's kids infomericial about what set or play they are running.

I like Tommy because he is a homer and is amusing to me.  I feel the same way about the refs he does and we do get the shaft often.  FTAs often bear out that evidence.  He is usually spot on which refs nail us or will do us dirty.  He cares I care and not about LeBron.  I bet you don't like Tommy because he points out how much LeBron walks with the ball.

I hope its a Celtic too.  Keep it in the family.   

I had a League Pass last year and no broadcaster is as bad as Tommy.  Again, ask other fans who is the worst, I guarentee they will say Tommy.  The Basketball Jones' guys constantly would talk about how bad Tommy is from watching Raptors games against us.  This is common outside of Celtics fans.

I think we just have far different taste if you're a Van Gundy fan... no one annoys me more on an NBA broadcast except for Reggie Miller (who is absolutely terrible).  Van Gundy is occasionally funny but mostly talks out of his a**.  I like knowledge brought to the table instead of bad jokes or ignorant arguing for a team.

LOL at you bringing up LBJ... he's the best player in the NBA, get over it dude.  If you don't like him fine but you're bringing him up again with no reason to.  Kinda weird at this point.  You should relax and give it up.  I stopped posting in that thread for a reason, so why don't you let it lie?  You're beating a dead horse.

I guess cause I don't like to listen to a homer I'm not a basketball fan or something.  The other guys actually bring something to the game and were coaches or the like, so have inside knowledge of the past of the game and can help in the present.  I played and am pretty knowledgable, but I don't get to talk to coaches or players, I wasn't an NBA coach in the past, and I wouldn't pretend to know as much as the good color guys do about NBA basketball.  If you think you do, I seriously disagree.  Perhaps you do, but I can almost guarentee not.  These guys know their stuff.