Someone needs to start a petition to get these clowns ejected! McGowan is an idiot for firing Mike & Mike.
OK I just went back and listened to the 4th quarter on the replay and listened for some of the comments people made. I really don't think Calabro is calling it like a radio broadcast. Maybe more so than Barrett, but overall I enjoyed his part. He showed a lot of emotion. Was it forced? Probably because he hasn't been here long enough to really be invested in the team or the city. I am guessing some of you are picking up on that compared to M & M. Hurd talks more than Mike Rice did. So I can see where that would annoy some when you combine the two styles. But he did have some homer comments regarding the fouls. He might want to talk less, but what he said was articulate and made sense. I think for the most part the main issue is....change. It will get better.
Yeah, it's just not as good. Especially Hurd, who seemed to randomly get over-excited at pretty standard plays, like he suddenly remembered to get excited for the Blazers and over-compensated. For a lot of the second half I actually did something that's historically only been reserved for opposing team broadcasts and occasionally Reggie Miller. I muted it. The realization last night that this was permanent was pretty depressing. And for no reason, Mike and Mike were great.
I have to say I often muted Mike and Mike too. Even though I liked them , there were times I had just couldn't take them. (i.e when we were behind)
This, this and this. They were seriously getting on my nerves, especially in the first quarter. PLEASE don't fill every micro-second of air time with the sound of your voice(s). Not only is it not necessary, it distracts and detracts from the enjoyment of watching the game. Calabro talks too much, and Hurd talks too much and tries to be too entertaining, without offering ANY useful insight. Dude if you don't have anything useful to say, don't say anything. I never thought I'd say this: But I'd rather have Michael Holton. His attempts at turning a clever phrase are generally dumb, but at least his basketball takes are smart. Not pleased.
If this is how good they are in Game 1 of the regular season, I look forward to what is to come. I really liked some of the sayings, catch-phrases and language they both used. Calabro weaving in 'Dame Dolla' references and Hurd chiming in with the 'O'rena were fresh. Calabro with the "Davis spin cycles Diaw all the way back to France" was classic and certainly homerific enough for anyone. What I also liked was that Calabro actually acknowledged that there was another team out there and that they occasionally made good plays. He did get excited on the throw down from Rodney Hood (I think) and rightly so because it was a monster facial that was an incredible play. There were a couple of small hiccups but I expect that is just part of the initial learning curve. Rice was funny at times but Hurd gives actually strategy/breakdown commentary that is refreshing while being able to pronounce the names of the players. Rice's style was certainly endearing but I have no problem with the change and having Calabro come from a national spot to be the local voice is a big time coup.
Exactly. Let them all take a road trip together first and see how they gel and get to know each other.
Like others have said, it distinctly sounded like Calabro was doing a radio broadcast, not a TV broadcast. If I wanted to listen to a radio broadcast of the game while watching it, I'd mute Calabro and listen to Wheels. If Calabro is going to continue to have diarrhea of the mouth, the Blazers should just go all the way and have Wheels do a simulcast. And hire a color commentator who has some interest in breaking down and analyzing the damn game.
I don't get this at all Bert......I thought Hurd did a great job breaking down flare screens and plays...he just seemed to me to have had a bit too much coffee..nerves..he knows the game and in my view has a high hoops IQ
These are all good points. One of my pet peeves is announcers who talk too damn much, and color commentators who don't offer useful insights. OK, that's two.
Overshadowed to me by him trying to be too entertaining. It's cool. As others have said, hopefully he'll settle down and get comfortable, and not feel like he has to try so hard.
Did Cababro call games for the Sonics? Who is the dude working with him now? What is his claim to fame? Is just Black enough to land the job? I can't relate to his comments or ups and downs.
I'm sure when the Blazers made the opening they said "seeking candidate with moderate-high amount of melanin for announcing job."
