One of the Rockets broadcasting people asked me to ask you guys what kind of stuff you want to see during pre/post games and at halftime. They are working on new stuff I guess. They'll be checking out the thread so let 'er rip. Personally, I'd like to see more local pregame stuff. I'm not a big fan of the Fox Sports SW pregame. I like more stuff with Bill & Calvin. I'd also like a more extensive postgame wrap-up with different people in studio - Mario Elie, Mike Newlin, Elvin Hayes as well as local journalists or broadcasters. Obviously, guys that cover the games like Feigen would be excluded but Blinebury or Palillo or guys like that would be good. Halftime is ok, but could we try to avoid the advertisements for sponsors? I mean, sheesh, that's why they pay for commercials.
I'd like to see behind the scenes type stuff like practices, meetings, huddles, road trip stuff, etc. How the coaches/players prepare, what a game is like for Les, what CD is doing, and stuff like that. Things like you see on The Life on ESPN. No Mike Newlin or Elvin Hayes please!!!!
Much rather see Calvin and Bill instead of them jag-offs at FSSW...thats a definite. More features on the players training, their charity work..what do they do when they are not playin. I think it would help folks connect more with the players if they were able to see the person instead of the player... post game...I agree..some more in-depth stuff..get some guys that really know their ball and talk more about the players weaknesses and strengths..why certain teams/systems might give the Rox problems..stuff like that.. Oh, and since we will have staff checking this out...More fan appreciation events...giveaways..etc...stuff like that.. Make the people feel like you value them instead of the silent corporate bigwigs who can afford the expensive seats. After all, you don't see those guys cheer, or spend all their spare time discussing the Rox at a great site like this!!
I think they should air that feature on clutchcity.net that to my knowledge they didn't run last year. Otherwise, I'd like to see more segments from the players focusing on the teams that they are going to play. Basically, there are two types of Rockets news on the FSSW pregame: either Bill, Calvin, or Rudy talking about the matchup, or some dated feature story about something a player is doing outside of basketball. I think it would be cool if they made a "player's corner" for each game talking about the upcoming opponent, and if the players aired some of their concerns, talked about their role, etc. It doesn't have to be the same player every game. But, we always hear what the Rockets will do to matchup with opponents from the broadcasters or Rudy, but rarely do we actually hear it from the players themselves. I think it would give us fans a lot better knowledge of our players, instead of trying to guess what each of them is thinking. ("so and so must think he is a superstar" with the shots he's taking, when in reality it might be part of the game plan for that game)
They need to cut the community service/fannie mae stuff down to only 1 half-time show a season. Like Jeff said, we see them all the time between breaks. They should always show league highlights more during the half as well I think. For Pre-game, they should never go without the Murphy's Law keys to winning the game segment . Calvin is quite a character but in this segment he shows his b-ball smarts and really does a good job sizing up the opponent. I don't want to see Palillo at all, that's for sure.
These are jsut spur of the moment off the top of my head. It would be cool if they could pick one or two of Yao's biggest fans back in China and have them videotape Yao related stuff once a week to air (ala them at a sportsbar watching the game, them at a store seeing how Yao hersey's are selling, maybe back with the Chinese NT one week to see how things are progressing without him). How about Rocket's "fashion of the week." One week do a segment on people who grow their hair like Moochie. The next week on people who will come to the game in Calvin Murphy-ish suits, with free tickets to those who participate for said game, etc. Higlights could be improved, perhaps with more ingame commentary - maybe put a mike on a certain assistant coach for the whole season, or perhaps even a devoted season-ticketholder to see how much they/those around them get into the game. Hmmm...reading over these they sound cheesy, but I'll post them anyway.
If anyone has ever seen it, I kind of like the Magic Pre Game show. They have younger hosts, and they show a lot of "high lights" from previous games. If the Rockets could get something similar, I wouldn't mind watching the Pre Game show.
I would like to see a longer highlights clips with the latest and exciting songs with exciting plays. Usually when I see the highlight clips, they are usually short, and their special effects are pretty dull. I'd also like to see what Timing said. The behind the scenes on what the Rockets do on the bus, or practices, what plays the Rockets are working on, and maybe some information on endorsements from the Rocket players like what kind of shoes they wear. Maybe letting the fans getting to send in commentarys at halftime.
Give me some post-game video highlights with Bill and Calvin commentating on what the Rockets did right or wrong, and the turning point in the game (if there was one). Also, it would be cool to have a Clutchcity.net member on the halftime show as well (maybe one per month) to show gratitiude for such die-hard fan support. Thank You.
Ditto on the league highlights at half-time and guests on the post-game show. As for the pre-game, that's hard to say. I'm usually getting my 'essentials' (dinner or a bowl of popcorn, rum & coke or those kaluha drinks (I HATE BEER!), one last bathroom check) together during that time so I barely pay attention to the pre-game.
Pre-game I like seeing an interview with Rudy and the opposing coach or assistant coach before each game. I'd also like about 5-10 minutes spent on the opposing teams players, strengths and weaknesses, plays they like to run, and their main defensive scheme and how the Rockets should attack it. Halftime I'd like to see some replays of the first half, analysis of what went right and where the Rockets need to improve in the second half. What I'd really love to see is Rudy's halftime speech, but I don't know if we'll ever get to see those. Post-game I'd like to see several player and coach interviews, analysis of key plays the Rockets ran, perhaps some diagrams showing why certain plays were or were not effective. Some talk about what the Rockets changed up in the second half to adjust and whether or not it was effective. At the end of the post-game show I'd like to see a preview of the next match up and some talk about the next team we will be playing and how they have fared in their last few games. B
Sh**can the lame halftime shows... Man, there was one last year where this guy did a KISS tribute w/ 3 KISS dolls attached to himself that ran about 14 minutes, 30 seconds too long. Actually, I can't even begin to describe the pain that is a Rockets halftime show. Stick to the Rockets dancers in skimpy clothes doing a routine & fan shooting contests - the rest is lame.
O yea maybe instead of interviewing the Rockets players for most of the time.. maybe showing clips of the....ROCKETS POWER DANCERSSSSSSS YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Over all, I think a panel with 2-4 people would be better than what they have similar to the TNT with some personality, I do not think that Lisa really offers much that makes you watch at half. We hear from Bill & Calvin at half as we hear their perspective on the game as it occurs and the piece with them typically does not offer much that we have not heard. Do an "around the league" segment (with highlights) not just the scores on a graphic. Maybe an interesting segment about the team we are facing. I echo that, we see it on the news. We are happy that Les contributes and these guys are putting in their time, but limit it to one or two a year. Maybe just the Tux n Tennies
Pregame: 1. Feature an opposing player 2. Feature a Rocket 3. Recap previous meeting with opponent - strengths/weaknesses with former players and coaches 4. Do a segment on recent Rocket play - last 3-5 games with former players and coaches 5. Let Rudy talk about the game 6. Calvin and Bill pregame analysis Haltime: 1. Studio breakdown - highlights of the first half with former players and coaches 2. Around the league 3. Have a special on upcoming opponents 4. Breakdown the Rockets offense and defensive plays with commentary from former players and coaches 5. Let Rudy talk about the first half 6. Calvin and Bill first half analysis - second half talk Post Game: Player interviews Highlights Around the league
I think Mario Elie's insights and analysis is a must. Bring him back. And how about interview segments where Calvin and Gene Peterson switch turns interviewing a player each game. Lets get Geno some TV time! And how bout a freaking feature story on Clutchcity.net. That is overdue.
Am I the only one who hates the "rock and roll highlights"? I don't mind playing music to highlights, but I HATE the altered video and use of video effects. I want to see the ACTUAL highlights, not all that crap on the screen. Carry on...
Actually, there are a lot of good ideas above and some things the the Rockets people should look at. But my thing is this, I don't care what you put on the pre and post game shows for us to see, I JUST WANT TO BE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE IT. You see, with you guys closing on a deal with KNWS 51 it will be hard for most of us in the Greater Houston-Area to make out what we are watching at anyways. So for the sake of a lot of Rockets fans, please do what you can to help fix the horrible signal at KNWS. But fuzzy signal or not I'll be watching, this offseason has been terribly long.
There should be a panel of two or three younger hosts that should do the pre-game, halftime and post-game interviews/league update/highlights/analysis/special story stuff. Something like the TNT guys or Stuart Scott and other Sportcenter hosts. Guys that can give you the highlights with some "baller talk," some "court jive," in a professional manner, wearing suites (not like Tom Arnold and his Best Damn... Show). Guys that have opposing views and talk alittle bit of crap to eachother , and Calvin Murphy, before the game starts (ala Barkley and Kenny Smith). Retired NBA players that know what the younger guys are going through. Some names that come to mind are: Mario Elie, Matt Bullard, Chucky Brown, Antoine Carr, Eddie Johnson, etc... <P> Just imagine a show with Mario Elie, Matt Bullard, and Stuart Scott in it... pretty entertaining stuff...
