Chauncey Billups Talks Feuds w/ Larry Brown, Drafting Darko & More Fun Stories
I love Highly Questionable b/c of the funny/awkward/blunt questions they ask. This interview is pretty good.
The bit about Kenyon Martin and Darko was jokes.
The Larry Brown bit is in the beginning. Drafting Darko is @ 5:30. Saving JR Smith's life and Kenyon Martin is in between.
Love that they laugh and have open coversations with random topics.
On every other ESPN show it would've went like this:
- What were your first thoughts when you saw Taj Gibson kicking away from the leg lock? Do you think he should've been tossed?
- LeBron is stuggling yet still affecting the game in other ways - what do you do to try to contain him with the rebounds and assist?
- What were your thoughts on David Blatt almost calling that timeout?
- Steve Kerr called Steph Curry the best shooter ever, your thoughts? Who's the best shooter you ever played with?
- Back to the Cavs, do you see them pulling out the series with Kyrie's injury?
- Do you think Kevin Love is coming back?
- What were your thoughts when you saw Shaw trip over that cord?
- Back to LeBron, do you think he should wear the headband?
- Back to LeBron, do you think he was rooting for Mayweather or Pacquiao?
- Back to LeBron...what do you think his thoughts are on Deflategate?
Not many people like Dan Lebatard and his informal way of doing things. I like it a lot. We just don't see stuff like this in mainstream sports media. I remember watching the Stephen Jackson interview a few years ago and I actually came away from it likeing Stephen Jackson; an idea that I thought was impossible mere moments before the interview started. Lebatard asks fun questions, questions that players will gladly answer because... well... they get to be themselves on camera for a change. They get to have fun. When was the last time you saw a player have fun in an interview? It doesn't happen often.
Lebatard may not know much about sports or strategy but he knows people and he knows how to have fun. That's what makes his show so refreshing.
Don't know how to embed youtube but here is a link of Rip on HQ. He was shocked they drafted Darko as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07xEVLEhOsg
Lebatard's radio show/podcast with Stugotz is great too. He always has great guest co hosts and has a refreshing interview style. HIs interview of Bobby Bowdon yesterday was great and funny. I enjoy that he stays away from hot takes and over reactions. He constantly makes fun of himself or his guests if they give dishonest or horrible answers.
Yeah, Lebatard and Bomani Jones are the few left at ESPN worth listening to. I'm glad Bomani finally got his own show on the network.
I'm gonna miss Simmons tho.
I can't disagree with this more....in my opinion, they are just a hair above JH, Stephen A, and anyone who has ever appeared on First Take...
It's all perspective. If you want great sport analysis, yeah Bomani and Lebatard aren't your go to guys.
That would probably be Simmons, Grantland or SI. Hell even Reddit and MGoBlog depending on what you want.
If you want ranting and stupid banter, then Skip and Stephen A are your guys.
Bomani and Lebatard are fun to listen to if you want to hear about what happens behind the camera and the everyday things that athletes do for fun.
Certainly they can be self-serving if that's what you mean...but if you actually listen to them, they are by FAR the best thing on ESPN because they don't pump the machine that is ESPN.
They're far more Grantland/Bill Simmons without being AS much of a jerk about it.
That is the best comparison I give you.
But their insight and analysis is far more what real people actually talk about and a lot less what ESPN wants them to be saying.
These two and SVP & Russillo is all that ESPN has now. At least these four say the stuff no one on ESPN will. They're not trying to win the popularity contest and they're not trying to be different just to be different either (like Olbermann who always has to have the opposite opinion).
Mike and Mike sucks, it's just NFL and SportsCenter topics over and over. Around the Horn and PTI are consumed with the same ESPN slant on everything and the PTI guys are getting old and they're "losing it." They're just not as sharp anymore and I always hate when I'm constantly correcting the people I'm watching on TV. Or they are OBVIOUS points that both Tony and Mike miss now and it drives me nuts...they blow lay-ups in their discussion all the time.
If you actually listen to LeBatard and Jones and SVP/Russillo, they're smart guys or smart enough to engage in a thoughtful discussion even if you don't agree.
You shouldn't ever compare them to Stephen A and Skip Bayless. That show is scripted. Those are actors. You may as well be watching the Kardashians, that's what it is...Kardashians for dudes.
I still like Mike and Mike tho they've gotten very ESPN propaganda like over the past couple of years.
Around the Horn is still interesting depending on which journalists they have on. If Jackie Mac, Bomani, Colishaw, Plastschke and/or Paige are on, then I'll deff watch.
The new people are meh at best. Israel Guttierez is meh. Pablo and the short black haired girl are just insufferable at times.
PTI is deff losing its touch as Wilbon and Tony get older.
...because I REFUSE to watch 3 hours of NFL bullshit. So stupid.
I usually have ATH on when I get home and I don't sit down and watch, but it's background noise and I'll stop if I hear something interesting. I still watch PTI, but not for the insight, more just watch and because I've always watched.
However, like we said, as those two have gotten older it's gotten worse and worse. They just scream at each other and make predictable arguments.
I rarely watch SportsCenter anymore, it's TMZ Sports, I can't stand it. Which is sad, because I used to watch every, single, day.
They were already getting too TMZ, but that NFL contract ESPN signed ruined it. They are REQUIRED to designate x amount of hours to NFL programming and it's some insane number. Then they have to include NFL in all of their other shows.
It's awful and it's ruined ESPN's coverage of college football because they no longer have time to talk about anything other than major news. Even in season. I miss the days were ESPN used to show highlights of all top 25 games in the country...and they'd at least touch on every game from all of the major conferences in addition to other scores.
Now it's SEC, scandal of the week and whoever else may be hot that year. But even that pale's in comparison to the NFL slurping.
They DO NOT CARE that there isn't one single person outside of Boston that gives a shit about deflategate anymore...they just don't, they're going to pump it all day/every day.
SVP & Russillo are being broken up in the fall. Van Pelt will do a solo Sportscenter at midnight and Russillo signed a new contract but I think ESPN is up in the air with what he'll do.
I figured he'd get his own show soon enough...he'll probably be doing more NBA level stuff. Maybe something knockoff Grantland related with Simmons leaving.
The knockoff Grantland is gonna flop big time. Undefeated or w/e the fuck it's called. Jason Whitlock is a moron. It's sad that they picked him to do it. There are a lot of other minority journalists a lot better than Whitlock for ESPN to hire as the head of Black Grantland. Smh. The fact they picked him tells me ESPN isn't serious about really making a Grantland from the perspective of the underprivileged who suddenly become rich and famous.
Wilbon would've been a great choice, but he's older now so I doubt he would've said yes. Still my point stands.
Shiet I would've even preferred they pick JA Adande, Michael Smith or Jemele Hill for the role.
Bomani isn't my favorite, but he is better than most and deserves his own show. I more like Lebatard with John Amaechi, Greg Cote & Stan Van Gundy. Stugotz is a good foil for Dan on the radio program though.
SVP & Russillo is my go to though. They talk about college sports the most and they actually watch them. Shame that ESPN is breaking up. Simmons will have another pod out soon I would have to guess. Maybe he comes back later like Olberman did. Dan Patrick is always good IMO.
I can't do Mike & Mike or Skip(Tebow) Sayless & Stephen A. Smith. It's just two programs spewing hot takes and reactionary stances that they back off of two days later. They are on par with the New York sports radio I am forced to listen to, you haven't lived until you have audibly heard Mike Francessa fall asleep on air or how he contrdicts himself seemingly every day.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad