Chris Broussard is an obvious Celtics hater

[Aeacus]

Wait Faf likes Lebron?!?!?  What bizzaro world am I in and how do I get back home?  Although the Celtics are winning here, maybe I'll stick around a little while longer...

Skip seems to have a role to me, he's the contrarian who doesn't like the popular stars and attacks the other supportive table members viewpoints.  He's in a devils advocate kind of role just with more shouting and talking over people.  Like many sports commentators how you feel about the star/team they nag on currently affects how you feel about them mostly.  Remember stirring the pot and angering fans gets you higher ratings and talked about.  That's only a good thing for a tv guy.  

I like Zach Lowe and the more detail orientated columnists way more but I think Magic and Jon Barry provide decent ex players perspectives on tv.  No one is going to give the stats egg heads tv time to break down the little things....

[Aeacus]

 
VanGundy's sarcasm is more parody than sarcasm in that VanGundy's sarcasm is based in fact.  

True and Van Gundy tends to break into sarcasm and humor when he knows he can't say anymore without getting into trouble with the league or the network.  Referees and calls often get him worked into that state.  I actually like Breen because he'll needle Jeff a bit trying to get a comment out of him when he knows Jeff's worked up and biting his tongue. 

I actually enjoy them as an announcing pair so I'm pretty happy.  There is always going to be some slobbering attention to the stars I just try to tune that out.  Unless its Rondo, KG or PP their drooling over 

[mctyson]

I don't mind Broussard's commenting on the game, he essentially is a fan so he has no more knowledge of basketball than you or I.

What i DO MIND are the baseless trade rumors that hack throws out, at the bidding of his supposed "inside" sources.  Remember, it was Broussard who basically called out Danny Ainge and said that the Rondo-for-Gasol trade was still being discussed, even after Danny completely refuted that nonsense.

Broussard is a hack who gets buddy buddy with players and team personnel and regurgitates their bilge to the hungry public, no matter what it is.

[Finkelskyhook]

 
VanGundy's sarcasm is more parody than sarcasm in that VanGundy's sarcasm is based in fact.  

True and Van Gundy tends to break into sarcasm and humor when he knows he can't say anymore without getting into trouble with the league or the network.  Referees and calls often get him worked into that state.  I actually like Breen because he'll needle Jeff a bit trying to get a comment out of him when he knows Jeff's worked up and biting his tongue.  

I actually enjoy them as an announcing pair so I'm pretty happy.  There is always going to be some slobbering attention to the stars I just try to tune that out.  Unless its Rondo, KG or PP their drooling over  

Based on VanGundy's commentary about the league and officiating...
I doubt VanGundy has any interest whatsoever in being an NBA coach...If he ever coached in the NBA again...He'd be more maligned by both Stern and his officials than he was when he made his Yao Ming comments when he was coaching.

I don't mind Broussard's commenting on the game, he essentially is a fan so he has no more knowledge of basketball than you or I.

You're right...So my question is...What the hell are people like broussard, hill, and smith doing commentating on a sports broadcast in the first place?  They belong, if anywhere, on a local broadcast with their name and the caption "uninformed fan".

I understand their hero worship of earvin....For all the wrong reasons...In spite of earvin bringing no more to a telecast than any of the three above.

[mctyson]

I don't mind Broussard's commenting on the game, he essentially is a fan so he has no more knowledge of basketball than you or I.

You're right...So my question is...What the hell are people like broussard, hill, and smith doing commentating on a sports broadcast in the first place?  They belong, if anywhere, on a local broadcast with their name and the caption "uninformed fan".

I honestly have no idea.  This is not to say that fans and journalists have a limited knowledge of the game: I hate when professional athletes pretend that because they are pros they somehow know the game more than people who follow it for a living.  For example, I trust Bob Ryan's evaluation of an NBA game over someone like, say, Stephon Marbury.

But Broussard is a hack journalist with supposed inside connections to players and team officials.  The only reason he is on the panel is because of his "insider" knowledge.  Truth be told, he might actually know a lot about the NBA game and have some deep insights that we don't see.  But he is paid to call up some scrub connections in LA or MIA and spew ridiculous trade rumors, because it makes good television. 

Let's go back to the Rondo-Gasol rumor.  Danny comes out and says there is no way that's happening and it's the first he has heard of it.  Broussard swings right back and says, yes, talks are still ongoing, basically calling Danny a liar.  Now, if Broussard had any credibility, he would have said "my source tells me the deal is still alive, but given Danny Ainge's comment and the fact that the deal doesn't really make sense, I don't see this as any more than a rumor at this point."

Instead he says something like "my sources tell me this deal is still alive and talks are ongoing."  Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. No critical evaluation of the deal, no second guessing his source, no follow up questions, NO JOURNALISM...just stenography...copy and pasting....regurgitating what he was told and not saying anything back lest he *GASP* actually lose his "inside" connection.

He is a hack.  That is what they do.

[Finkelskyhook]

I don't mind Broussard's commenting on the game, he essentially is a fan so he has no more knowledge of basketball than you or I.

You're right...So my question is...What the hell are people like broussard, hill, and smith doing commentating on a sports broadcast in the first place?  They belong, if anywhere, on a local broadcast with their name and the caption "uninformed fan".

I honestly have no idea.  This is not to say that fans and journalists have a limited knowledge of the game: I hate when professional athletes pretend that because they are pros they somehow know the game more than people who follow it for a living.  For example, I trust Bob Ryan's evaluation of an NBA game over someone like, say, Stephon Marbury.

But Broussard is a hack journalist with supposed inside connections to players and team officials.  The only reason he is on the panel is because of his "insider" knowledge.  Truth be told, he might actually know a lot about the NBA game and have some deep insights that we don't see.  But he is paid to call up some scrub connections in LA or MIA and spew ridiculous trade rumors, because it makes good television.  

Let's go back to the Rondo-Gasol rumor.  Danny comes out and says there is no way that's happening and it's the first he has heard of it.  Broussard swings right back and says, yes, talks are still ongoing, basically calling Danny a liar.  Now, if Broussard had any credibility, he would have said "my source tells me the deal is still alive, but given Danny Ainge's comment and the fact that the deal doesn't really make sense, I don't see this as any more than a rumor at this point."

Instead he says something like "my sources tell me this deal is still alive and talks are ongoing."  **** No critical evaluation of the deal, no second guessing his source, no follow up questions, NO JOURNALISM...just stenography...copy and pasting....regurgitating what he was told and not saying anything back lest he *GASP* actually lose his "inside" connection.

He is a hack.  That is what they do.

Great point.  I didn't think about it from that perspective.

Broussard might be a lot like Smith...Who, when not in the steven i smith schtick mode..Commentating on non-on-field/court related issues...Actually he's right far more often than he's wrong and very well spoken.  Smith was dead-on in his opinion about p-dirtbag's son's football scholarship.  The young man earned the scholarship outside of his father's "accomplishments".  Even when I don't agree with him...When not in schtick mode his points are thoughtful and delivered well.  

I could see the potential for that in Broussard...Definitely not in jamele hill.  

[kp4000]

Broussard and Steven A Smith are the  Sheila Jackson Lee 's of Sports


Celtics haters for all the wrong reasons.

Broussard and Steven A Smith are the  Sheila Jackson Lee 's of Sports

What's that about ? Black by association?

[CelticG1]

TNT guys are so much better than espn guys.

I prefer to hear from players/coaches than anyone else.

On CSNNE last night they asked A. Sherrod a question about Bosh being rusty(with Scal right there) and he just starts giving his strong opinion. Why are we even listening to that? Should be something for Scal to answer since its probably something he has experienced before. I was thinking to myself why would I even believe anything sherrod was saying at that point, he has no idea.

[Greenbean]

Broussard is a dope for sure.

A general statement about these guys in general though.

They are there for entertainment. Granted there aren't many places to go for sports journalism anymore but ESPN has never been that place.

The insiders they get to go on their programs have to fit the mold as entertainers first. Broussard covered the NBA for years as a journalist for different newspapers. But he also brings "energy" to the camera (whether good or bad). I suspect that the producers at ESPN tell him to focus on bringing that "energy" rather than sharpening and expanding his connections in the NBA.

There are only a select few who are so good they are entertaing (Bob Ryan, Jackie Mac etc), but mostly it's whoever is the loudest, most contrarian, goofiest, irritating etc gets the gigs.

[OsirusCeltics]

As far as reporting and analyzing the game

Brent Barry > John Barry

[GreenFaith1819]

Hey Chris Broussard: Keep your stress level low tonight, LOL.

Don't watch BOS this evening.

If you truly hate BOS, then you'll probably be throwing things at your TV after tonight .

[35Lewis]

Chris Broussard reminds me of Katt Williams.  I fully expect him to put on a purple fedora and head out to a gold Cadillac after spitting some nonsense on the air.

To be fair, the Celtics team is playing amazing and to someone watching on the outside, they shouldn't be winning.  They just get the job done.  It's like wanting a glass of water and getting a glass of water.  In order to be considered "contenders" by these guys, the Celtics would have had to fill up a bathtub instead of a cup if they were thirsty.  We do just enough to win and nothing more and that is fine by me.

That being said, I still hate Jon Barry for not wanting to play for the C's after they drafted him.

[Finkelskyhook]

Broussard and Steven A Smith are the  Sheila Jackson Lee 's of Sports


Celtics haters for all the wrong reasons.

I'm not a fan of either steven i smith or broussard...But they aren't racists.  While wrong a lot on basketball...They're at least both understandable.

I'd say jamele hill is a much better comparison to lee.  They're both racists incapable of constructing a coherent thought.

Smith is like a character actor.  He sounds nothing like steven i smith when he's not on ESPN.

[Celtics18]

Broussard and Steven A Smith are the  Sheila Jackson Lee 's of Sports


Celtics haters for all the wrong reasons.

I'm not a fan of either steven i smith or broussard...But they aren't racists.  While wrong a lot on basketball...They're at least both understandable.

I'd say jamele hill is a much better comparison to lee.  They're both racists incapable of constructing a coherent thought.

Smith is like a character actor.  He sounds nothing like steven i smith when he's not on ESPN.

The fact that Jemele Hill writes about issues revolving around race does not make her a racist.  That's quite the claim you are making. 

[Moranis]

Broussard and Steven A Smith are the  Sheila Jackson Lee 's of Sports


Celtics haters for all the wrong reasons.

I'm not a fan of either steven i smith or broussard...But they aren't racists.  While wrong a lot on basketball...They're at least both understandable.

I'd say jamele hill is a much better comparison to lee.  They're both racists incapable of constructing a coherent thought.

Smith is like a character actor.  He sounds nothing like steven i smith when he's not on ESPN.

The fact that Jemele Hill writes about issues revolving around race does not make her a racist.  That's quite the claim you are making. 

True.  But I believe hill is a racist.  Her commentary is always over the top, but it often takes a hate filled turn when dealing with white athletes and a much softer view of black athletes in near similar positions.