I like Van Chancellor. He seems to be big Rockets fan and knows a lot about basketball. I could care less what kind of accent someone has. It's not like you can't understand him.
Gotta say that I love Calvin. I remember when I first started watching Rockets games, and asked a friend, who is this mush-mouth commentator? My buddy replied, that's Calvin Murphy! Give him a few games, and he will grow on you. He sure did. I hope he makes it back.
Hmm.. If this is permanent, then this will go down as one of the sad sad days in franchise history. First Rudy goes, and then Calvin. Everyone has secrets, we all know that. It is still just so hard to give any validity to the notion that he is guilty of the crimes with which he has been charged. Is it possible? Yes, unfortunately. But I honestly have to count myself among those who would consider it extremely unlikely, based solely upon what we know of him through his public persona. He has always just seemed like one of the most genuinely nicest guys in all of sports. And, far from being annoying or off-putting, I always found him to be refreshing and convivial, as well as extremely knowledgeable about the game without being boring or arrogant. Obviously it is my hope that he comes out the other end of this unscathed, and that those who (hopefully) falsely accused him receive the justice they deserve. And after all, George Steinbrenner fired and re-hired Billy Martin several times, so we may yet all still get to once again enjoy Calvin and Bill during the games. As to who should fill in for him? Cynthia? Well, that would only mean that I have the TV on and the AM radio on at the same time, so I can listen to Gene Peterson. If I NEVER have to either look at or listen to her EVER AGAIN, IT WILL BE TOO SOON. Newlin? No. Smart guy, but I can't bear to listen to his speech impediment, coupled with his propensity for using phrases like 'He plays with an ignominious physiognomy. (Translation: the players shows little emotion on the court.) Bull? Bull would be ok. And eventually I think he could become on of the better ones out there. He has 'Rockets Roots', he was not a scrubby, he had to use smarts and skill to overcome the lack of a physically dominating stature, and, best of all, he always took every chance he got to give Sir Charles a good-natured ribbing. even though he was a little shaky and uncomfortable at times last year, I chalk that up to lack of experience, and the fact that he was sort of thrown in there on the spur of the moment, due to Calvin's big surprise mid-season. Air Bull would be fine with me. Coach Van? Unless you have actually listened to van say more than the few words he utters in the commercials on 610, then you really can't judge him. One thing about the guy that most people don't know: the guy has an absolute killer competitive instinct, he is a winner, knows what it takes and how, and he knows as much about basketball as anyone. He's got a wicked sense of humor and is as sharp as a tack. Don't the admittedly thick accent fool you. Van would be an excellent choice. So of all those mentioned, I would have to order them thusly: 1) Coach Van 2) Air Bull 99) Mike Newlin 7.526x10-to-the-73rd-power ) Cooper One guy though, no one has mentioned, is someone I would like to see get at least a few shots behind the mic this year: Charles Barkley. Seriously. Wouldn't it fun to hear his comments throughout the game as he watched Yao dominate and TMac destroy?? As it is, we only get to hear him at halftimes during the few times we play on TNT, and that just ain't enough!
just saw this on the website http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/092404_local_murphy.html ABC13 Eyewitness News (9/24/04 - HOUSTON) — The Rockets are not commenting, but our Eyewitness Sports staff has learned that Rockets broadcaster Calvin Murphy will not be back next year. Murphy has been battling charges that he molested five of his own daughters when they were children. Murphy claims they're just trying to get money from him, but he'll go on trial in November. Murphy is a Rockets Hall-of-Famer and he's been extremely popular as a broadcaster for the Rockets. All indications are the decision was mutual between Murphy and the team. (Copyright © 2004, KTRK-TV)
But, isn't that the point? We don't know him or who he is in private, so how could we possibly determine what he did or did not do. I seriously hope he is innocent, but you can't make a decision about guilt or innocence based on him being a nice guy and having a friendly public persona. We also never hear guys curse on camera, but many of them curse like sailors when they are off of it. We honestly do not know what any of these guys are like in their personal lives.
I've considered that he may have done it ... or he may have not done it.. we never know enough about athletes to know the REAL person..
No, you're absolutely right Jeff. All I am saying is that I don't think that Calvin Murphy is such an accomplished schismatic sociopath that he would have been able to pull off the feat of putting up, consistently, over nearly 30 years with the Rockets, that same exact face of pleasant congeniality, all the while harboring a sinister lurking evil side which manifested itself several times over several years (according to accusations). Yes, the history of such types of sociopaths is that they are indeed capable of fooling people for a short amount of time, but to be able to fool everyone over such a long period of time is almost unheard of. Sooner or later, people like that break character. Calvin Murphy would have to be one of the all-time great schizophrenic sociopaths to be able to actually do what he has been accused of doing. All I'm saying is, when I compare the likelihood of that, versus the likelihood of the possibility that he guilty of being, at worst, an inattentive and 'bad father', and is getting some vicious payback from people who are, rightly or wrongly, filled with hate towards the man. So: Hall-of-Fame calibre psycho sociopathic incestual child molester? or Hall-of-Fame NBA Star from the 70's and 80's who liked to have sex, a lot, with a lot of different women, and who never learned to use a condom or gained any proper parenting skills? Knowing what we know of pro athletes in general, seriously now, which one of those possibilities seems more likely? That's the only point I was making. Could Calvin have fooled us all for so long? Sure he could have, I just don't think it's likely, that's all.
well, now you're my favorite. Chucky has beeen coaching in a North Carolina league. I'd like to see him get on the Rockts coaching staff, you know, maybe as a twelfth man, and end up starting like always. I think Chucky's agent might be due a favor by CD -- I noticed that Chucky's agent Bill Neff held Mike Wilks from signing from anyone else to facilitate the Mutombo deal -- so maybe a tryout for the coaching staff is in order. Or at least retire the man's number. Something. Chucky has done some commentary with the Charlotte Sting, but i don't know if he'd want to do more of it. His agent said he was not that great it, that his personality did not come out the way Kenny Smith's does. Chucky likes being a nice guy and then occasionally kicking someones ass behind closed doors when they get out of line or mess with him. Chucky Brown still rules.
On a different topic: Did it seem to anyone else what there was a weird chill between Rudy and Calvin when Rudy was coaching? I mean Rudy loves everyone, and is super-nice loyal, even affectionate guy (listen to him talk about his old teammates sometime, he glows...). But I never saw much interaction betwen those guys. Seems odd that someone like Calvin, who is obviously smart, a Rocket legend, and very solicitous of his own advice to players, was never more 'in' with the coaching staff. Calvin obviously has a someone funky family set up -- lotsa wives, lotsa kids -- and I always wondered if he was a little nutty for Rudy on a personal level. Not that it makes someone an incestuous child molester or not, but I always wondered if and why there was a strain in Rudy and Calvin's personal and professional relationship. I mean, those guys were buddies and roommates for a decade... Anyone got anything on that?
Sometimes Calvin is alittle over the top as an annoucer but atleast he has some passion for the game and the Rockets. Having watched other NBA teams tv crews on League pass, we are lucky to have a pretty good combo with Bill and Calvin.... Whoever replaces Calvin, I hope it will continue to let us have a good tv combo....
Kenny Smith should be a sport and help out.. i'm sure TNT pays him more, but c'mon.. the Rockets need him!
I high profile personality is not charged with a major felony on a whim, especially someone as popular as Calvin. It is likely that there is substatial evidence. The Rockets are clearly doing the right thing. If he is found innocent, they can always bring him back. He and Bill had great chemistry, but he was often hard to understand. I think Van would be more candid than Bullard. On the "No Bull Zone" he rarely addressed the real issues, tended to gloss things over. Van can be really funny, a good choice.
My opinion, go after Bill Walton, at the least he would be entertaining. (Although there are those who say he's a rockets hater) Didnt he used to be the Clippers color guy?
I swear me and trader George aren't the same person. That's crazy George, but I guess great minds think alike and at the same time too!
Are you going to be cosigning the loan that Les will need to pry Chuck away from TNT. And I don't see the Chuckster giving up that cushy 2 days a week "job" in order to go on the road 41 times a year. He'll look at the schedule with it's 4 games in 5 nights in different cities and go, "Oh Hell No!" Edit: Okay, after rereading your post, you just mentioned Chuck as getting a few shots. Mea Culpa.
didn't see it posted yet so... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2812641 Calvin Murphy removed as Rockets broadcaster Chronicle staff reports • Calvin Murphy biography The Houston Rockets today dropped Calvin Murphy from the NBA franchise's broadcast team. Murphy will go to trial Nov. 4 on charges he molested his daughters. Murphy is charged with three counts of indecency with a child and three counts of aggravated sexual assault, punishable by up to life in prison. The 55-year-old Hall of Famer has denied the allegations. Murphy was one of the Rockets' most popular players. A flamboyant 5-foot-9 star considered the ultimate little man in a game dominated by giants, he was inducted into the National Basketball Association's Hall of Fame in 1993. Murphy has 14 children by nine women. Until today's announcement, he had been on leave from his job as a Rockets TV commentator since the allegations first surfaced. "This was a decision based on the best interests of all parties," said Tad Brown, senior VP of sales, marketing and broadcasting for the Rockets. "Calvin has had a long relationship with the Rockets and we feel his energies need to be focused on dealing with his legal matters. We appreciate all that he has done during his years as a player and a broadcaster for the organization," Brown said in a prepared statement today.
