You know, most of the time I actually like Tom Tolbert. I think his color commentary is pretty insightful and entertaining (I get tired of Bill Walton after about 20 minutes). But my god... he looked like a moron at the draft. Mike Tirico kept turning to him and asking if he wanted to say anything, to which Tolbert would respond: "I got nothin'." Give me a break... you're supposed to be a professional. SAY SOMETHING! Lastly, I hope someone else remembers that suit he wore during one of the finals games... the one that actually physically hurt my eyes?
Tolbert and Duke Vital = worthless Jay Bilas and Andy Katz were strong. Screamin' A......was Screamin' A.
I thought this was some of the worst draft coverage ever. Vitale bashing Doc Rivers for taking the Celtics job, bashing the magic for taking Howard. Why does anyone care what this guy has to say. He said that Yao would be the next LaRue Martin, and that the rockets would regret not taking JWill. He is not an analyst, just a talking head. The second round coverage was horrible. They were always 5 picks behind. After watching this crap for 4 hours, my team finally makes a pick, and Tiricho says, "the rockets just picked, we'll be back right after this" Just garbage coverage all around.
Nothing--whether it's regular season or post-season coverage, the NBA Draft, or running the same movie twice a night, every night, for two weeks--tops TNT as an NBA partner. Can you imagine the possibilities if Barkley had been given an open mic when all those high schoolers were being picked before Nelson??? ESPN's coverage was pretty lame...
P.S.--Did anyone else think that Dick Vitale's head was actually going to EXPLODE at some points during the night?
Sorry, but TNT's coverage of the draft was worse! At least ESPN had real information guys in Bilas and Katz. They see these players, they have information and can back up their statements. TNT has Barkley and Kenny. Both of them know about as much as Tolbert. They just spout off a bunch of stuff they read in the newspapers. It is just a SHOW for them instead of delivering actual information. ESPN does a superb job of the NFL draft. They are getting better with the NBA and still have work to do. TNT was terrible wiht it. TNT is great for games, all-star weekend, but ESPN hands down is a better at delivering the draft.
I am not impressed with these heads that dont do anything more than try to crack one liners and jokes. I am no watching the show for stand up. I want to know the information.
i thought they left too little time inbetween picks. ESPN had to rush just to give a quick 30 second analyzation of the guy then had a minute to interview him; then you'd see Stern walking to the podium.
Tolbert is a DRAFT ANALYST and he's never even seen Dwight Howard play! I'd be willing to bet that he barely even watches college basketball. Why is he even there?
Tolbert was worthless but I thought Vitale had a valid point. Jameer Nelson dropping to 20 while Telfair goes 13? Some big stiff from Bakersfield who didn't even try out for the Sonics got picked 12? I'm sorry, but most of these teams are in the lottery because they've picked "for the future" before when what they really need is someone to contribute NOW. Too many high school kids going too high, IMHO.
What credentials does Dickie V have to discuss why college players are better than high school players? Was he ever a player?
I really disliked ESPN's coverage of the 2nd round. They probably showed like 2 picks live and the rest they just announced later. I am watching the draft for the picks not the commentary.
I hate Tom Tolbert with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. Why do the morons at ESPN keep giving this jackass more and more time on the mike? Speaking of color commentators, it was hilarious seeing Calvin Murphy win the man's man award for baton twirling on Cheap Seats.
Exactly...I hate those guys...They're suppose to be analyst but don't do sh*t and have no worth while opinion...
Dick Vitale was a head coach and had some GM responsibilities in the NBA a long, long time ago. He destroyed the team's chances of winning for decades (it seemed like it at least) and never got a coaching job again. You tell me if you'd take his word about the professional game as anything but a joke? He's fun for college with his enthusiasm, but he knows nothing about what it takes to run an NBA team.
I didn't follow the coverage, but yeah I have hard timing believing any guard 6 foot or under coming out should have been taken before Nelson. Telfair is a stick on top of being short, Nelson has everything sans height (great power, quickness, shooting, instincts, toughness) and a proven track record.
