Okay, we have a Van sucks & a Coops sucks thread so I didn't know where to fit this. WTF are the Rockets thinking? Seriously. There must be some clause in both Coop & Van's player/coach contracts, that they would be given a chance to try their hand at broadcasting to try and set themselves up for some kind of post-WNBA career. If that's the case - fine but if that's the kind of deal the Rockets made with them, let them try their hand in the WNBA, not mutilating the broadcasts of one of the NBA's premiere teams! Does anyone know if such a deal WAS struck with these two, when their regular WNBA contracts were negotiated? It is painfully obvious that the Rockets did NOT conduct any kind of a serious search for the best analysts out there. Why didn't they? The Texans took their time & did their research before landing Vandermeer, and it's paid off. Listening to that guy during a Texans broadcast is a joy. Even the Astros, with Ashby, at least have someone who has MLB experience AND can string two sentences together without tripping over himself or necessitating the use of Babelfish to translate what he said. Hell, most people these days complain about Milo more than Ash, what with his mispronouncing names, misidentifying players, & shilling Truluck's 57 times an inning and all. I'm also including T-Gray in this as well, after my experiences last year, hearing numerous gripes from friends who went to the game yesterday, and some callers in to 610 this morning. It's clear he hasn't really improved. Not that the PA is as important as the TV color guy or the halftime analyst, but it still affects the gamewatching experience. It's wierd - the Rockets have never failed in going balls-to-the-wall when it comes to getting the best personnel for the team & for the coaching staff. Why are the slacking in their broadcast department? It's little things like this that add up in the end as far as quality of game attendance goes.
I agree T-Grey sucked pretty bad when he first came in but i think he is doing a pretty ok job now on. I think he is the only announcer who acctuly tells the croud "I cant hear you" when no1 is yelling Deffense
hakkeem olajuwon would make a good commentator he knows alot oabout the rockets and him and bill would be good to watch
We just need to bring Murph back. Don't get me wrong if Murph is guilty he needs to be locked up for a long time. I was just thinking maybe they would let him do play by play from his cell. They could treat it as community service.
You guys don't want to get me started on the lack of professionalism displayed by the Rockets franchise. DD
Where was all this anger towards Van when he filled in before? I don't remember reading here about how bad he was and how nobody could understand him.
Maybe when Grant Hill's ankle shatters later this season he'll go into the booth. He lives in the area, doesn't he?
i hate van's voice...it so scratchy and he has such a strong accent...i seriously wanted to put the tv on mute...
Maybe the point is that he was a "fill-in." Do you understand how frustrating it is to hear people who have no business being in broadcasting, ruin the show for our favorite team? This is like the Rockets version of ESPN's "Dreamjob!" Most people would be ****canned if they performed the same way at their regular jobs. It's just little things like this that add up. It seems that the Rockets half-ass it when it comes to off-the-court expenses. Another example of the same managerial style? The food. In Compaq Center, you had a wide variety of choices to eat at, sorta like the way Reliant is now with the Texans. The Rockets decided to go with a disgusting & overpriced blend of Aramark's bland high school cafteria style cuisine instead. Sure, Les prolly makes a couple more bucks running the concessions himself rather than having to share w/ Whataburger, etc. but the end result is that the fans think the food quality is crap & that it's overpriced. Another? The promos - don't advertise a promo if you're gonna have issues getting that promo item to all the fans. Never had a problem w/t he Texans & Astros - just seems the Rockets are the ones who are ALWAYS out of the promo item, even if you get there 20-30 minutes before tipoff. Again, skimp on the broadcasting, skimp on the food, skimp on the "little things" relating to the arena... Oh well, guess I can just listen to Gene on the radio, avoid the food, and live without my Yao Duckface thing, but you'd think a high profile franchise like the Rockets would try a little bit harder...
Also, would it hurt them to relight those internal corner spires in red, the way they did when the arena opened? Does Les' need help paying the electric bill? Can he only extend T-Mac if he keeps the lights off & adds three more Totota sedans onto the concourse? As modern and sleek as the TC is, it feels like walking into a - guess what - off-white, sterile Toyota dealership sometimes... Light it up!
From what I understand, that had nothing to do with Les or electricity. There was some fire code issue that didn't allow for that.
^Then replace the fabric with red fabric. Did really hear enough of Van, but enjoyed Bull on the radio.
Fire code? Hmmmmm... Well, I think you'd agree that they could do more to improve on the internal aesthetics of the arena. Lights, Rockets memorabilia, etc. something. Just no more cars or Toyota related promos! We alrady have to stare at the damn truck in the luxury suite during the game... Anyone who tries to make an excuse for the horrible food is a cretin, though.
I don't care if they park a pickup truck on the bench. When the game is on, that's all I'm looking at: the Rockets playing basketball. As for the freebies, are you really b!tching about free stuff? I don't go to the games for a Rockets handtowel! Nor do I feel the need to spend my cash on the nachos and beer they provide. I don't understand the Van Chan hate. He's no Calvin, but he knows his stuff. His folksy charm suits me fine, and I'm far from a country boy.
My favorite T-Grey moment was when the heat tossed the ball backcourt and got a backcourt violation, T-Grey was still trying to get the crowed to yell DEFENCE! for 20 sec after the whistle. That had me cracking up, it was like T-Grey DEFENCE!! Crowed DEFENCE!! T-Grey DEFENCE!! Crowed DEFENCE!! (Whistle back court violating) T-Grey DEFENCE!! Crowed (softer)DEFENCE??? T-Grey DEFENCE!! Crowed DEFENCE???? WTF!!
Have even tried any food there? Everythng I have had there is very good. Other than the Salty Popcorn everything else is great. Get to the point. What food item or items do you dislike?
Look, I dislike Van as a color commentator as much as the next guy, but to accuse the Rockets of not seeking the best candidate is just silly. I know they made a run at some national folks who didn't bite. Kenny Smith, anyone?
