"Is this a hook shot?"

Submitted by Larry Appleton on March 25th, 2019 at 12:14 PM

I realize this isn't thread-worthy, but f***ing hell I am continually stupified by broadcast announcers.

northernmich

March 25th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^

Lmao I posted the same exact thing in the game thread. Z had two layups that Grant hill freaked out on and called them hook shots. 

ijohnb

March 25th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^

No problem.  For anybody who cares, per Awful Announcing, we get that crew again in the Regional.  On one hand, Reggie and Bonner are pretty bad.  On the other hand. Kevin Harlan is awesome and with Dana Jacobson it always kind of has a Michigan "vibe" so all in all I am good with the draw.  Webber would have made for awkward watching so I am glad that did not come to fruition.

ijohnb

March 25th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^

Yeah, for the most part the NCAA tourney crews are really bad right now.  There were some crews in the opening rounds that felt and sounded like a school's "student run" TV stations.  Pretty bad.  Harlan is actually the best PBP guy out of all of them right now I think.

MH20

March 25th, 2019 at 2:06 PM ^

Dan Bonner is probably a lovely person and a great guy. As a color analyst he could not be any more useless. His contributions to a basketball game broadcast could be reproduced in about five minutes' time with a few boilerplate cliches thrown into a playlist on random. (Reggie Miller isn't much better but at least says some funny/weird stuff.)

Kevin Harlan, though, as you and many others note, is excellent. It sucks for him that he has share air time with a couple of boat anchors. Dana Jacobson is an alum, though, so that is nice.

yossarians tree

March 25th, 2019 at 2:29 PM ^

Am I a sexist asshole when I say it bugs the hell out of me when they have a woman on the PBP for a men's sport? It just doesn't work, especially when it's a woman who is trying to do an impression of a man doing PBP. Usually comes off sounding very cliche. 

I'm huge into women's sports. Some of the greatest hockey games I've ever seen have been US v Canada at the Olympics. I can think of several women who make excellent commentators and reporters, including Dana Jacobson, Tracy Wolford (sp?), Cheryl Miller, etc. And there are several former women's soccer players who do commentary on USMNT. I just think after watching a million games on television it's imprinted on me now that there needs to be a really good male PBP voice describing the action.

greatlakestate

March 25th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^

I might not saddle you with the "asshole" portion of the moniker, but definitely sexist. At least you recognize that you might be biased.  When you hear a women doing PBP it sounds "wrong" because you are unused to it.    Many, many women played basketball, have an insider's knowledge of the game and probably would make terrific announcers.

I'm old enough to remember when people didn't want female news anchors/announcers because they lacked "gravitas" Now, no one blinks an eye at a female reporter/announcer/anchor. As time goes on, you will become more used to female sports announcers and it won't seem awkward.

Zeke21

March 25th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^

Only Raftery is a worthy announcer.

The rest, take a walk.or give them the hook or better yet,

just stay quiet.

jmblue

March 25th, 2019 at 12:27 PM ^

On another topic, basketball announcers are way too entertained by bank shots.  It's not that rare for a player to accidentally bank it in after shooting a little too hard, but announcers bust out laughing every time, like it's the funniest thing they've ever seen. "DID HE CALL IT?" That joke is well-worn by now, guys.

Inertia Policeman

March 25th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^

Take a drink when . . .
"Charles Matthews, the Kentucky transfer"
"John Beilein has never been an assistant coach"
"Iggy was born in Lithuania, and raised in Canada"
"Iggy is actually right handed, but shoots left handed"
Z/X makes a hook shot
Poole takes a step-back 3
Teske makes a 3
Teske airballs a 3
Iggy flexes

Take a shot when . . .
Z/X makes a 3
Matthews drives left
Teske gets autobenched

Finish the bottle when . . .
BEILEIN GETS EJECTED


Edit: beat me to it!

FrankMurphy

March 25th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^

In fairness, that hook shot has added a huge new dimension to his game. Not only does it force defenders to guard the hook itself, but it forces defenses to account for the possibility that he may drive to the basket looking like he's about to attempt a hook but then alter his shot and attempt a layup or dump it off.

UM Fan from Sydney

March 25th, 2019 at 1:10 PM ^

Zavier could chuck it from full court like a football and they would ask the same question.