<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ESPN's headquarters in New York has confirmed to us tonight that David Aldridge will be leaving the network after his contract expires on August 28th. At the moment no reason was stated for his departure. This news has been circulating around the Internet for the past few hours as it came as quite a surprise to most. Aldridge is generally considered to be the top basketball analyst in America today, or at least the most trusted, with the most trustworthy sources around. His calm and professional style of reporting will surely be missed on the worldwide leaders in Sports next year. TNT has already been rumored to be interested in his services. The 39 year-old David Aldridge was hired by ESPN as an NBA reporter in February of 1996, after working for the Washington Post. With Aldridge leaving ESPN next month, Steven A. Smith now appears to be their top basketball analyst. Smith is very popular amongst the younger viewers and therefore even more popular amongst potential advertisers, but his personality and style of reporting has rubbed many basketball fans the wrong way countless times over the past year.</div> <div align="center">Link</div> Sad to seem him go. He was the Top NBA Analyst and was by far my favorite. ESPN is in trouble, now everyone is going to have to settle for Screamin A. Smith.
Steven A. Smith is weak as hell and sounds like he's constipated when he's talking. He also will report something and three days later, you find out that it's just smoke. He's garbage. Bring back Aldridge!
We have to rely on Bill Simmons from now on! However, there are tons of quality sports internet sites like Sportsline, TSN, The Score, Sportsnet and tons more.
I love Smith, he mixes in jokes with his reporting, however it may not be the most accurate but it is the most entertaining. I don't really care where a reporter goes, who cares for them as long as they give out accurate information, and sources that we can rely on.
I liked Aldrige he always seemed to bring the good stuff and he would always be around when the rumors were hot..but Steven A Smith he seems like he is always pissed or something.. I dont really like him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kevinduncan_21:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve A Smith is a Charles Barkely WANNABE!! Just like Kobe Bryant is a Vince Carter Wannabe!!</div> I sincerely hope you aren't serious! anyways,Smith IMHO tries too hard to try and look hip and say things he thinks are cool. I like him as a writer but not so much as an on air analyst.
I dont know if Stephen A Smith is trying to be Sir Charles, he was like that since his early days covering the 76ers in Philly and he was like that when he was on Fox Sports before he ever even came to Espn. He has always been an analyst/columnist, who says things to get shock value. Me, personally I think Espn's/ABC basketball cover is pretty trash, with the exception of NBA Fastbreak tuesday's, where they have put up or shut up. And I like that only for comedy purposes Greg Anthony & Steven A Smith are pretty funny during those times. But other than that everybody on Espn that covers basketball Ric Bueker, Marc Stein etc, can leave for all I care. I like reading David Aldrige was ok, but he will be on TNT or Fox Sports before the season starts anyway
wow, i cant believe hes leaving, and hes only 39?he seems like hes in hte upper 40's lol. and stephen a smith is kinda more of a rumor reporter and an analys guy u see him arguing with bill lambeer on nba fastbreak but david aldridge usually reports REAL news meaning he's almost only on for reporting the details for the trade, but steven a smith is the guy that TALKS about the trade. ya im actually pretty suprised espn wud hire a guy like him u no cuz of his voice and his personality. and yea i agree that he seems pissed all the time. im suprised that hes actually a writer, when i read his articles on philly.com .im very suprised that he can WRITE out sophisticated stuff but cant expres it wen he's talking
Damn, The best basketball mind on ESPN after Dr.Jack is leaving. Now I have to watch that idiot Marc Stien sit there and say that Mike Redd is better then Kobe Bryant and also watch Stephen A Smith sit there and make a fool out of him self.
I like David because he says Kobe is the best player in the league...no really I like him a lot because his info is accurate and he knows what he talks about, I also like Smith though because he spices it up and he isnt afraid to speak his mind...he just needs to calm down a little next year.
Sad to see David Go. He was one of my favorite reporters/columnists on ESPN and ESPN.com. I always like Stephen A. because he tells you the truth straight up, makes basketball more appealing to younger viewers, and is fun to listen to. However you can't replace Aldridge.
Man that sucks. I always loved to here him report stuff because I new he researched and researched over and over before announcing the topic so he could be trusted. He was always on a nutral bases when reporting never favoring any team while Smith always seems to like the lakers. Aldrige was always the first guy who would report big news on espn later in the day it would either be confirmed by jim grey or steven A. Smith, but you always new it was the truth unlike when you here something for smiths mouth you always second guess if its the truth or not. Though I like his attitude I question his sources sometimes. I will misss aldrige on espn. Though it isnt like we wont be seeing him so there is no use in writing a whole letter as if he was adead or never gona be seen again. Hopefully he will sign a long deal with tnt. With him, charles, magic, and ernie on tnt. They will make a good reporting team they needed a calm reporter like aldrige on that team now they may have him it will have the perfect reporting balance between him and ernie and charles and magic.
ESPN lost the best NBA analyst (maybe sports analyst) they've ever had. He seemed to be a quality person as well. I have no idea why they couldn't come to terms on a deal but they will definitely regret not doing so. If Aldridge ends up with TNT their broadcasting team should be ranked the best in the history of sports. A combination of Charles Barkley, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Rex Chapman, Kevin Harlan, Aldridge, etc. can not be matched by any network in any sport.
I'm sorry but aldridge highlights always sound like he's trying to be black...instead of being black. I'm not trying to be raciest. Just the way it sounds to me....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kevinduncan_21:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve A Smith is a Charles Barkely WANNABE!! Just like Kobe Bryant is a Vince Carter Wannabe!!</div> haha. thats the funniest thing I've heard all day. Maybe you got it backwards.
I guess TNT will be 100x better than ESPN next year once they hire Aldridge. I don't mind most of the guys on ESPN, but there's too much Stephen A. and the only guy who I would actually tune in to watch is Greg Anthony because he knows the game. Everyone else is just background noise.
TNT already has the best broadcasts BY FAR on TV, adding Aldridge would make that unparalleled... ABC/ESPN have shown me some of the worst basketball telecasts I've ever seen, with Bill Walton as a commentator and Tim Hardaway as the in-studio analyst... hahaha sad times for the NBA.
