What did you guys think of Jon Barry as a color commentator last night on ESPN? I thought he was great, too bad FSN couldn't lock him up to do all of our games. I liked his comment on how any shot Tmac takes is a quality shot even though it may not look like a quality shot, and when Rafer had a good pass to Juwan he said "Does he think he's Steve Nash with that pass?"
Been watching a lot of ESPN basketball because of the HD channel and I swear he's thinking "shmuck" everytime he looks at Walton. You could almost hear it in his responses to Bill. RR
He's not afraid to disagree with Billy-Boy! That's what makes him refreshing. Plus he's a good commentator.
he's pretty straight, and from last night's game, he's certainly improved since last season and even the beginning of this one. He wasn't always sticking up for us, either--he's doing a better job of dissecting both sides instead of being partial to one. Though I guess it was Rockets vs. brother last night, haha..
He's quick to put us in that category of the West's top when everyone else be talking about Mavs, Suns, Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, Nuggets.
JB is like one of us - that is, he does not come off as a 'sports media insider', insulated from what those watching at home are thinking. When you or I hear the latest peyote-induced stupidity which comes out of Walton's mouth, and we are thinking to ourselves 'Bill, can you really be that stupid? Really?', you can tell that JB is thinking the same thing, and it's good that he does not feel required to go along with whatever that guys says. Walton's comment that Phoenix's defense was better than Houston's during that last ESPN Rox game, you could hear JB almost choke on his soda. I don't think JB really cares what people think of him, he's a free-spirit in that regard, and if his unwillingness to bow down at the 'Crazy Bill Altar' causes him to not have a prolonged gig on ESPN, I am sure Fox will take him on in a heartbeat.
Walton did this one thing that really pissed me off.. after Tmac and Parker had their jump ball and we lost it, Barry made a comment about how you don't really practice jump balls in practice. Then Walton seemed to almost mock him, like, "What are you talking about? Every team I played for we practiced jump balls! Everyone in the team!" in that annoying patronizing voice of his. Made me want to smack him upside his ginormous head.
I think the little bit of credit we get in the media is because of barry.Everybody else is saying what where not and what we can't do, but barry always telling everybody what we can and how good our defense is ect.
When they had shots of the 3 commentators on, Barry looked very relaxed, smiling, enjoying himself. Walton always looks like a college prof concentrating on the lecture he is giving you. I think they have a great tension between them - Walton mentioned knowing Jon when he was a kid, and they had the pictures Jon's mom sent in without his knowledge. Jon said something about spanking her for it - then it got just up to the edge but didn't go over. Walton did have a great jibe about the Barry family being great shooters but not so good on D. I think this matchup can only improve Walton as Jon is not afraid to stick the fork in Bill and let some of the hot air out.
Bill Walton is an acquired taste. He says some crazy things, but he's also fun to listen to provided there's someone sitting with him to dispute half the stuff that comes out of his mouth. It used to be Steve "Snapper" Jones. Now it's Jon Barry. Of course, I'm sure I'm also going easy on Walton cuz he's always been a big fan of Dream.
last night was the first time in years i laughed outloud a few times from an espn covered game, JB was great
I forgot who shot it but someone shot an airball for the Spurs and landed right to Duncan I think and he layed it in. Walton said, "What a long pass to Duncan" and you could just feel the sarcasm dripping off his words. I love the guy
