Just saw Vitale on ESPN, he gave a list of his top 12 players for this draft, only international player was darko, and he called out joe dumars for wanting darko instead of anthony. He keeps saying, see me in 3 years, this guy will be great. This from the same genius who was hyping the 2 dukies instead of Yao Ming, Jay williams was supposed to be the 2nd best pg in the nba behind jason kidd THIS past season. He just seems to have some great bias against internationals.
Vitale is a complete idiot. He has become a freakin' parody of himself. Dumars worked both players out. He is in the business to win basketball games, not propogate some hype machine. If Dumars thinks Darko's skill set translates into what they want to acquire with the number two pick, then he takes Darko. If he felt that way about 'Melo, then he takes 'Melo. Either way, Vitale needs to shut his pie hole and go back to Durham so he can resume his pucker position on Coach K's arse.
Vitale is a moron who hasn't had any real credibility for awhile. All he does is hype guys up who don't deserve it. I used to be able to tolerate him, but now I won't even watch a game with him on.
I remember the same day the Rockets won the lottery Vitale said that they should trade Mobley and draft Jason Williams. He said he thought Williams would be a better player than Steve Francis. I lost all respect for him after I heard that.
Yeah, he is sometimes a little delusional about college players, but he does make good points sometimes. He also shows enthusiasm for the game which is often lacking in others -- although sometimes it turns into dickriding. Anyway, you got to give him props for calling out Tolbert saying mediocre players make mediocre analysts. Did you see the reaction on their faces, it was too damn funny.
I actually liked his performance today, he does really care about the guys he has seen, a little too much actually. And his quote to Tolbert applys to all of the annoncing crew, Tolbert, Anthony, and Bilas, the mediocre analysts, who you'd take over Tim Hardaway in a second. Here are some of the ridiculous things said by ESPN today: Bilas on Mike Sweetney: He's like another Georgetown Center who played for the knicks, Patrick Ewing, he'll be great.... BLAH. Yeah sure, he's like a Georgetown Center who played for the knicks all right: Othella Harrington, probably more talanted, but he's definitely not Patrick Ewing! Vitale actually called Bilas out on that, but went on to tout that he would have used the #9 on Collison! Saying, this kid has all the fundamentals baby, he' s like Tim Duncan, David Robinson. Please, Collison is a less physical version of Christian Laetner. He might have a better career than Christian because he's not insane, but comparing this guy to Duncan and Robinson is just too ridiculous.
Yeah, I'll agree with you on that. I think it was way off-base what Dickie V said about taking Collison over Sweetney. Does Collison command double-teams in the post in the NBA? No way. Sweetney will be an immediate contributor for the Knicks and will be more Elton Brand than Othella Harrington. He and Ewing have as much in common as Chevy and Ford.
Here's what Dick had to say about the draft (from espn website): The A and B+ group took players that he had a thing for. He gave NY B because they took Sweetney rather than Collison, you know, a 4 year senior is better than a 2 year player. Obviously he didn't like Detroit's 2 foreign pickups, what does Joe Dumars know anyway, he's only one of the best GMs in the nba. Utah, Pheonix, Minn, Portland, G.S. got bad grades because again, they took foreign players, Toronto passed on sophomores and seniors to take a freshman that didn't win the national title, shame. I'm surprised with Dallas and Washington not getting A's, any guesses?
Washington didn't even deserve a B. They took Hayes, who pretty much plays the same position as Hughes, Dixon, and Stackhouse. Sure, he could probably play SF, but they needed to address their real needs with their first pick: point guard or low post help. As for Steve Blake, if he didn't go to Maryland the Wizards would have not picked him at 38...kind of like they wouldn't have taken Juan Dixon at 17 last year. What a joke.
Tolbert is not a mediocre analysts. Most of his points are dead on. And since when do you have to be a former great basketball player in order to be a competent analyst? That would nullify half the analysts we have today (the good ones). Was Jay Bilas a great NBA player? What about Danny Ainge or Doug Collins? What about Denis Johnson for the Clippers? Bad coach? I'd listen to Dennis talk because he knows how to win and what it takes. He's been there done that. Sometimes you have supporting players (average players) that end up being good coaches or analysts. It's those mid-range guys that end up being students of the game, so they are able to analyze the game better. And if you take Tolberts track record, most of the stuff he says turns out to be true (during the game). Vitale has been wrong, time and time again. He's the king of sensationalism, embellishment and hype. Tobert is a realist.
Vitale isn't really whiny. He's a loud ignorant tool. And a tad more annoying. But Tolbert is far from what I would call entertaining or informative. I love the mute button.
I like both Jay Bilas and Tolbert. Both of them say it like it is, even though it might not ring true with some PC people. Reminds me of the battles that Steve Jones and Bill Walton used to have. As far as the other guy (host). He just sits there and talks about how wonderful all the players are. What kind of analysis is that? OH, well. I guess that's why he's the host, and not a commentator/analyst. Anthony is decent. A lot better than Tim Hardaway, that's for sure.
Vitale can go on and on about Collison vs Sweetney, but show me a player who got double and triple teamed and still produced like Sweetney. He's 6'8, but with his arms and his game, he plays alot bigger than what he looks. Collison is a good player in the mold of Lafrentz and Laettner, but isn't nearly as physical like Mike. One thing that will always convert in the pro's is the ability to draw fouls. Sweetney avg 10 ft per game and shot 75%. He will be a good scorer and presence from day 1, watch.
DV is an idiot...He's too played out... Nothing intelligent comes out of his mouth anymore, although, nothing ever has...
Actually I see how some of you guys are annoyed by Vitale. His ethusiam is an example of the spirit of college basketball found in the ACC. If you have never lived in ACCLAND, especially NC, then you will never understand it. Living in Texas, I just don't see the fanaticism of any sport, even Football as you will see in NC basketball. Take the Rockets champion games and the exitement in the air, and multiple that by every ACC rival game. Vitale's personality portrays that atomsphere. And yes, he always have pumped up flake players. He was all over Terry Dehere's jock strap in college (who wasn't even ACC). He is average at best in indentifying talent, noone will ever argue that-not even the most die-hard ACC fan.
I never said I didn't like Tolbert, I just thought it was funny how Vitale called him and Anthony out on live TV. The thing I like about Tolbert is that he's not afraid to say something bad about a ref, player, team, or management.
