[ClutchFans] Hagedorn, Murphy won't return (UPDATE: Bullard, Drexler new analysts)

Screw this! I want Murph back. He remains innocent and he does not deserve to lose his job for doing nothing wrong. The Rockets organization is making a big mistake to allow this to happen. I can't stand another year with Van at the helm, but I think I could learn to like Bull and Clyde in that role. It just isn't the same though

 

I have this sinking feeling that Clyde's going to be a Magic Johnson/Isiah Thomas anaylst...

He just never really seems to have anything particularely interesting to say. He's just boring.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

Houston Rockets Announce New Television Broadcast Team
NBA Legend and Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler and Former Rockets Player Matt Bullard to Share Analyst Role Alongside Bill Worrell

HOUSTON – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and Houston Rockets legend Clyde Drexler will join the Rockets broadcast team as its television analyst during home games and all playoff contests for the upcoming 2005-2006 season, Rockets Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Broadcasting Tad Brown announced today. Additionally, former Rockets forward Matt Bullard will handle the analyst duties for the team’s away games this season. Both Drexler and Bullard will partner with Bill Worrell, who has provided play-by-play for the Rockets for 20 years.

“We are very excited to have Clyde return to the Rockets family,” Brown said. “Clyde’s personality, basketball knowledge and team history make him a perfect fit for our broadcasts, and we’re elated to have him back as a key member of the organization. Matt was a vital part of our championship past and he has always had a strong following from Houston fans throughout the region. Clyde and Matt will offer great insights alongside our veteran play-by-play announcer Bill Worrell.”

A native of Houston, Drexler first gained fame with Hakeem Olajuwon with “Phi Slamma Jamma” at the University of Houston. A decade later, “The Glide” returned to his hometown in 1995 to help “The Dream” deliver Houston’s second-consecutive NBA Championship. During his time with the Rockets, Drexler was honored on the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and became the third player in NBA history to collect 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists in a career. In 219 games with the Rockets, the 10-time NBA All-Star averaged 19.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.88 steals. A member of the original “Dream Team,” Drexler finished his NBA career with averages of 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.03 steals in 15 seasons with Portland and Houston, ranking 20th in NBA history with 22,195 career points and sixth with 2,207 career steals.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Rockets organization once again,” said Drexler. “The City of Houston, Leslie Alexander and the Rockets hold a special place in my heart. Houston has played a significant role in nearly every level of my basketball career – from high school, to the University of Houston, and eventually to winning an NBA Championship – and it feels great to be part of the organization’s future.”

Bullard spent nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the Rockets, including the team’s first NBA Championship in 1994. Bullard averaged 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 538 career regular season games with the Rockets. A prolific long-range shooter, Bullard led the team with a 3-point percentage of .446 during the 1999-2000 and ranks third on the team’s all-time list with 557 3-pointers made and 1,432 3-pointers attempted.

“We're excited to have one of the game's all-time great players join the Rockets broadcast team," said FSN Houston Senior Vice President/General Manager Jon Heidtke. "Clyde Drexler brings a wealth of knowledge and NBA experience to his new role. He's a Houston sports icon who will be able to make an instant connection with Rockets fans on the telecasts.”

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“Matt Bullard did a tremendous job last year filling in on occasion and we're delighted to have him on board for the whole season. Having two former Rockets players paired with a veteran pro like Bill Worrell gives the Rockets one of the most solid announcing teams in the NBA.”
In other moves, the team elected not to renew television analyst Calvin Murphy’s contract after it expires on Sept. 30, 2005. “We greatly appreciate the contributions Calvin has made as a Rockets player, broadcaster and employee,” said Brown. “We truly wish him all the best in his future endeavors. “
Murphy, a former Rockets All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, had teamed with Bill Worrell on Rockets local TV broadcasts from 1989-2004 until taking a leave of absence in March of 2004.
Other changes to the broadcasts include the addition of sideline reporter Patti Smith who will contribute feature stories as well as provide in-game news and injury updates. Kevin Eschenfelder will host a pregame show titled "Rockets Game Time" as well as the "Southwest Sports Report Houston Edition" postgame show.

Please Note: The team will schedule a media availability with the new broadcast crew for the week of July 13. Further details will be provided in the coming days.

 

As much as I love Clyde, from the few times I've heard him on camera (on TNT, etc) he really doesn't seem like he brings much excitement to the broadcast. I know it is more the play-by-play guys job to provide excitement, but Bullard bores the hell out of me, and I fear the same from Clyde. Not that they don't know their stuff, but you just can't beat Calvin.

 

I recommend this chick, and it disgusts you? Where's your priorities, man!

 

My priorities are curly hair loaded with a full can of AquaNet to hold it in place... What is this a Jersey girl??

Good news with Clyde... to me he's THE MAN, he cant do anything wrong.. well until we find out he is as dry as a salt lick on TV..

 

Yeah you can't have a monotone color analyst. That's just wrong!

 

Does anybody remember Joe Carter doing Cubs games back in 2002??..... EXACT SAME THING (and I never looked at Joe Carter the same way again).

I hope it doesn't happen to Clyde... but it likely will.

 

I'm glad to see Murphy go.

 

Well it looks like this was a Rockets decision. This is some bull**** ... no pun intended, Bull's a great guy and I'm glad he's there

But Calvin deserves his spot back, he's a proven color commentator. And nothing against Drexler, but I got this feeling that he's going to be Cooper reincarnate. He has no track record in broadcasting...just like....hmm... she who shall not be named. In any case, I really hope the Rockets hear it from the fans over this and really eat it, I love the team but the organization messed on this one.

 

this is depressing news. honestly this is almost as sad as if we come out of this offseason with weatherspoon as our starting pf.

 

Looks down at sig

this was written back in Dec 2004, when his verdict came in and dunno if i can modify it.

Plus, I guess this rules out Drexler being an assistant coach.

 

I guess Hagedorn is gone because we must have a female sideline reporter. It seems you must be a female to be a sideline reporter these days. By the way, why must everyone have a sideline reporter these days? Do they contribute anything to the broadcast? Seems like a waste of a salary to me.

 

But I don't want to take this lying down. How many calls to the Rockets will it take to change this, or can it even be changed?

 

If Ewing leaves maybe Van Gundy could take Calvin Murphy on as an assistant coach? I always thought Calvin would be a great coach. During the game broadcasts he always saw exactly what the Rox were doing wrong and what needed to be done. He made some great observations. I would really like to see him on the Rockets bench.

 

I hope I can tell someone out there that matters in decision-making:

I WILL NOT WATCH A ROCKETS BROADCAST UNLESS THEY BRING BACK CALVIN (at least part time)

 

They probably let him go because Houston's fair weather fans would be uncomfortable watching an adulterer who's name was tarnished by that trial.

unfortunate

 

This is heart aching news man

 

Hagadoran did excellent analysis, great interviews, I liked him alot. I was never a big Murphy fan (really liked him as a player). As a commentator he had some good analysis, but he was too difficult to understand, too much horseplay. Drexler is not a good choice. The Rockets really seem to be inept when it comes to certain issues like commentators and broadcast teams and drafting players and contracts and...... But I am thankful for TMac. I like Bill Worrell very much, great play by play.

 

[CHRON] Rockets add Drexler, cut Murphy from TV team

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3256898

Sharpshooter Bullard to take microphone for road games
By ZACHARY LEVINE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle



The Houston Rockets have not renewed the contract of broadcaster Calvin Murphy.

The team adds Clyde Drexler as television analyst for home and playoff games and Matt Bullard for away games.

Drexler, a Houston native, was a 10-time All-Star who played three and a half seasons with the Rockets, winning an NBA championship in 1995. Before his professional career, he played for the University of Houston during the successful "Phi Slamma Jamma" era.

Bullard played nine years with Houston as a three-point specialist. He averaged 5.6 points per game with the Rockets and is third on the team's all-time three-pointers list. After retiring, he was a contestant on ESPN's Dream Job, a talent search show for would-be broadcasters.

Drexler and Bullard will partner with Bill Worrell who has provided play-by-play for the Rockets for 20 years.

Murphy worked the booth for 15 years before taking a leave of absence last year to deal with legal issues.

He was acquitted of charges claiming he had sexually abused five of his daughters between 1988 and 1991.