Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Thoughts on the Final Four Announcers

The chemistry wasn't there among Jim Nantz, Steve Kerr and Greg Anthony.  Especially when you compare it to the TNT booth with Clark Kellog, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.  Sure, the latter are commentators only, but I just didn't get a whole lot out of Nantz and company.

Nantz gets high marks generally, but sometimes he becomes a cliche, as if he's trying to narrate the greatest game ever as opposed to call -- with some passion and excitement -- the game that's in front of him.  His game calls just didn't work in this Final Four -- you just shouldn't call hoops the way you call the Masters.

Then again, they put these things in horrid stadiums that reject the tradition of the game and the intimacy that has helped create some great memories.  Given that the best seats are in your own house, the TV gurus found a narrator for a mass-produced TV show.  And that's Nantz.

He's had a great career and is a good announcer, but it just didn't work in this Final Four.

No comments: