http://www.nypost.com/seven/04232004/sports/16547.htm Dude just verbally ripped Barkley to shreads. April 23, 2004 -- AS most of us with a pulse know all too well, Charles Barkley rarely says something that isn't stone stupid unless he has impounded somebody else's original thought. And TNT couldn't be prouder presenting its Master of the Oblivious. Barkley's witless commentary, staged to shock and awe, elicits such pubescent giggles from the peanut gallery that ESPN felt compelled to counter with more of the same contrived histrionics; the lone exception being the almost-always insightful Greg Anthony who, when egged on by deflated ball Kevin Frazier, occasionally allows Bill Laimbeer insipid input and Stephen A. Smith's pomposity and preening to drag him down to their sub-basement level. ESPN's vacuous coverage is an insult to even Barkley's senseless abuse of substance. Since churning out content is so inconvenient and such a waste of time, Anthony should be barred from the set and Snuffleupagus should replace Frazier so it's crystal clear what age group the cable network is trying to attract. Excuse me for helplessly digressing from Barkley; still, as long as we're dishonorably mentioning the NBA's Dunces of Dead Air, I'd be shirking my duty if I didn't spotlight Byron Scott. Soon after hitting the bricks, the former Nets coach was branded a "must hire" by ABC's executive producer, Mike Pearl. It's amazing how far a great smile and impeccably tailored suits will get you, because Scott has yet to add anything remotely worthwhile to the pregame or halftime creations; you knew more before you tuned in. My next-to-last year that NBC and the NBA were in cahoots, I thought its comparable shows were so sophomoric I begged Dick Ebersol to rescue me from David Neal's studio clutches and put me on the road; the only alternative was to quit. I never thought I'd see the day, but ESPN's and Pearl's half-hour and 15-minute Three Card Monty productions are offering the above-cited foolishness stiff competition; though the wired refs' piece last week was hilarious. Mike Tirico's next solid question to his co-hosts will be his first. Tom Tolbert tells us what we've already read or written and clues in ordinary fans to what they can see for themselves, usually duplicating what the game guys stated without bothering to pinpoint something that might happen or needs to occur in the second half. As for Scott, he says nothing when they come to him a couple minutes before the half then repeats it during intermission. Now we know how little, if anything of significance, the Nets were getting in the huddle and the locker room. The only difference between the studio and the arena is that Scott is sitting vs. standing with his arms crossed. This just in: Jason Kidd vows to get Scott fired from TV. Meanwhile, I've got a news flash for TNT; people whose IQ is above freezing aren't laughing with its house clown, they're laughing at him. Of course, Barkley thinks the league's rule is stupid, the one that penalized Ron Artest one game for leaving the vicinity of the Pacers bench during a confrontation between Jermaine O'Neal and Brandon Hunter. All rules are ridiculous to Barkley; they're all beneath him. It's always been that way and always will be because the star bangers catering to his every whim think his crude orations are charming. It was comparable indulgence, of course, that allowed him to shortchange teammates, employers and himself. Perhaps no elite player squandered more skills due to lack of discipline. Each to his own, I guess. My policy is, "Once a philosopher, twice a pervert." Barkley's manifesto: "Everything in excess." Naturally, his lack of self-control (gambling, drugs, drinking, women; you name the titillation, he'll gladly number it) is talked about with bravado. Barkley gets off on being incorrigible. He loves filling us in on his sins of commission. Loves letting us know what a bad boy he's been. I'm more interested in what a mucked-up hypocrite he is today. For Barkley to slouch on his soapbox and submit that Jason Collins' flagrant foul on defenseless Tim Thomas is no big deal takes his fraudulence to un-chartered depths. This from a guy who threw a bar patron through a window for what, being discourteous, disrespectful, saying something outrageous? This from a player who instigated or retaliated against how many opponents during his career for a lot less at times, I'll bet, than being yanked out of the air and knocked out of a playoff series? Hard foul, my elbow. Had Barkley been the one to get flattened, guaranteed he would've come up swinging for all he was worth had he been able to get up. And, in the event he couldn't get up and teammates failed to get even, guaranteed he would've denigrated them, too, same as Thomas. As usual, Sir Charlatan has lived down to his label.
Interesting. I just posted my opinion of Sir Charles in the game 5 thread in the GARM. He used to be funny, but now he's just a bumbling idiot.
Dude, Peter Vescey needs to get his head out of his ass. As you can tell by my name, I'm a big Barkley fan, but even I agree most of his arguments don't hold any water whatsoever. I dislike a lot of his thoughs on the Rockets and some of his bullcrap that he talks about the teams/players he isn't a fan of, but he does it in jest. The man doesn't take himself too seriously, like, for instance--VESCEY? Vescey has to be one of the biggest cocks in all of sports reporting, I think this man is just bitter that no one takes him seriously, finds him to be humorous, or even likes him. Anyone remember that VESCEY SUCKS *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* chant that broke out at the draft a few years ago? Oh yeah, in Pete's HOME TOWN. If anywhere, you think the people of New York would enjoy him, but even they see through his bitterness and baseless rumors. Is there ANYONE that misses Pete's "insightful" commentary on television? Maybe he's just upset that he's no longer employed by Turner Sports (as far as I know) and that people would rather to prefer people that make watching sports fun, like Barkley. What I want to know is why the hell Vescey attacks several other people and calls them out by name? It seems obvious enough that he has some personal vendetta against Chuck, but is he just mad at the other people because they're employed on television? I find it humorous that of all the people available to support he picks Greg Anthony. While Anthony has improved, I seriously doubt the guy will be winning any sportscaster of the year awards. Let me guess, Pete also thought Tim Hardaway was a fountain of basketbal knowledge? Vescey, get over yourself! Just be glad you have a job at all. BTW, has anyone ever heard Barkley brag of doing lots of drugs as implied in the article? The only thing I've ever seen Barkley talk about doing is "a couple of doobies back in the day." I SERIOUSLY doubt Barkley is the only player in the NBA that enjoys women and alcohol. Hasn't AIR JORDAN had affairs and been caught up in gambling rings? Oh yeah, Jordan's father paid for his son's gambling problems with his life. I don't think Barkley has ever been involved with anything that serious.
you're killing me petey! that was a hilariously pathetic article. let me bash everyone doing tv now b/c i'm not doing it and no one likes me. maybe things have changed but hasn't the barkley/kenny/ernie studio show been hugely successful? i know i love it, i know lots of other people love it, i know bill simmons used to rave about it. apparently vecsey just doesn't get it. maybe if he was eating soup with a fork he'd be hungry enough to actually try and do some quality journalism.
Bias anyone? Chaz and the boys have the TV gig PV has long held and believes is his birth'write'. Thus there is less cred in what he writes on this subject than the others he spews tabloidishly!
I dont think I have read an article with more sour grapes than that one. Vescey is still upset that he isnt on TV anymore and is a nonfactor in NBA broadcasts. However, I do agree with some points in his article. I agree that the presentation of the NBA pregame shows have a lot to be desired. I agree that Byron Scott and Laimbeer are worthless analysts. I agree that ESPN is trying to copy TNT's style by bringing in Steven A Smith and have him yell, ditto with Tolbert's insipid comments. I am just greatful that Tim Hardaway isnt on ESPN anymore. That was rock bottom!
Vescey is a bitter little b**** that misses the spotlight. It's pretty laughable that "Facts, not Rumors" would open up on TNT and ESPN for offering empty insight. He was dead weight on NBC as well as the only bad spot in TNT's first season with Barkley/Kenny/EJ. "My sources tell me" that he needs to establish himself as credible before sending off any more sour grapes. Evan
Question is -- can anyone name any good network: NBA game announcers NBA game colormen NBA sideline people NBA studio analysts Personally I vote for Marv - NBA game announcers, the only one I can think of here. Personally I vote for Doug 'Michael this/Michael that' Collins - NBA game colorman, the only one I can think of here. Sideline? Nada. Personally I vote for Ernie and Greg Anthony - NBA studio folks, the only ones (tho Kenny Smith is finally growing on me).
Vescey is bitter no doubt but I have to agree with a lot of things he says about Barkley. I have some strong opinions as to why people like Barkley so much, specifically white America, but I won't get into that type of debate today, but let me just say that I think Barkley is a clown also and only provides comic relief. If you let make a fool of himself long enough, he will say something thought provoking but he's not the Jim Brown that he thinks he is.
Right... Vecsey is just a bitter man. I agree that most of the TV stuff is stupid. Especially on ESPN, but I still enjoy watching TNT. I know Barkley is a clown, but you sort of grow to like him I guess.
Remember when Vecsey and Barkley, when on TNT/TBS, would alternate nights so as not to be on together? This article should never have seen the light of day. If it were printed in a respectable newspaper, no doubt this would be the case. Writing something like this makes Vecsey out to be really, really low. Beneath pond scum. Right or wrong, it's just vindictive, and says more about himself than about Barkley. Go have another drink, Pete.
The real question is, are we ever gonna get some love on the national broadcasts? The playoffs have been sickening to listen to because no one is even "kinda" anything but pro-Lakers.
Oh, and we can't even get any props from our former players. Even the ones with rings. Why the deuce is it so damn taboo to be for Houston, underdogs they may be?
Vescey >>> Barkely As bitter as this article comes off (and I agree it probably shouldn't have been printed in this form), Vescey is dead on with every single thing he said. He just burned a lot of bridges in the process.
I like barkley and the TNT staff... they come up with ridiculous stuff like eating soup with a fork because you're hungry... hahaha. but it's like a sitcom now... when do they ever talk basketball? i also think what he says about ESPN is true. greg anthony does a good job... but Steve A. Smith just screams into the camera, Lambeer -- asinine, I've posted about that before, and the other guys is blase. yeah... i guess it was better when NBA was on NBC.
All announcers suck. None of them do their research on teams and repeat the same bloated bull**** with generalized but outlandish statements. Truthfullly none of them offer anything insightful other than "Without question. <insert bold statement here." Something Greg Anthony can't seem to control saying yet he gets credit for being a spot on commentator. His solution to everything is "So and so team is going to have to play with a sense of urgency." "Without question, so and so team is going to have to play with a sense of urgency if they want to win tonight." Nothing insightful. Same repeated commentary he uses on every team, and he's considered the best of the bunch? Thank God for the mute button.
