There’s nothing worse than having to press the mute button while watching an NBA game.
I like being able to hear the natural sounds of players yelling “Get that out of here!” when they block a shot or listening to the roar of the crowd when a superstar dunks all over the opposition.
But I’d rather listen to country music in the background than listen to most of ESPN’s coverage of NBA games, especially now that the playoffs are in full swing.
The worldwide leader is anything but ahead of the pack when it comes to the network’s NBA coverage. TNT is so far ahead of ESPN it’s not even funny.
It starts with ex-NBA superstar Charles Barkley. Sir Charles does one thing better than anyone in the business: entertain.
There’s the time Chuck tried to best magician David Blaine’s time of seven minutes underwater — and lasted a whole 24 seconds. Or when he raced NBA referee Dick Bavetta at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game and gave Bavetta a kiss on the lips after he triumphed over the 67-year-old.
TNT also has two of the best basketball play-by-play announcers known to man: Marv Albert and Kevin Harlan. Albert belting out a “Yes!” after a game-winning jumper or Harlan and his famous catchphrase, “With no regard for human life!” are both music to my ears.
Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller are also among some of the best NBA color analysts.
But TNT’s five-time Emmy award-winning show “Inside the NBA” is what heavily tips the scales in the network’s favor.
If you don’t revel in waiting for an NBA team to get eliminated from the playoffs just to see them being Photoshopped onto an image for the show’s “Gone fishin’” segment, you aren’t a true NBA fan.
While also giving analysis about the games they cover, “Inside the NBA” is just fantastic television. It’s entertainment at its finest.
It could be a primetime show during the NBA offseason with Ernie, Chuck, Kenny and Shaq, and it would still get ridiculously high ratings. Everyone is fair game to voice his opinions, unlike ESPN’s halftime and postgame shows where the analysts bow down to Magic Johnson.
I look forward to when games go to halftime on TNT. I change the channel when the second quarter ends on ESPN.
So what can ESPN do to improve its NBA coverage’s entertainment value?
It can get an in-studio host for pregame, halftime and postgame shows to start.
Any host has to be like the point guard of a basketball team and let his teammates do what they’re best at. Ernie Johnson fits that role perfectly on TNT.
There’s no consistency on ESPN’s studio team. One night it’s Jalen Rose hosting, the next it’s Michael Wilbon and Bill Simmons tries to run the show on occasion.
Matt Winer could have been that guy for ESPN, but he left the network in 2010 to join TNT. He’s the backup to Johnson, but he would have been a valuable asset as an in-studio host at ESPN.
ESPN could also take some notes from its most popular pregame show: College GameDay.
It’s one of the best in the business. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Lee Corso have excellent chemistry, which makes the two-hour show seem like 20 minutes.
Simmons, Wilbon, Johnson and Rose have no compatibility. I feel embarrassed watching them.
The ESPN brass can also make some calls this offseason. Give Cleveland, Detroit or Philadelphia and any other NBA team with a coaching vacancy a ring this offseason and beg for them to hire Jeff Van Gundy. He’s awful.
It’s a disservice to NBA diehards to have to listen to Van Gundy whine and complain the whole time while bringing little or nothing to the table in terms of in-game analysis. And it’s not like the guy commentates meaningless games nobody watches, anyway — he works the NBA Finals.
Do me a favor: check out TNT’s broadcasts today through Thursday and marvel at their awesomeness. Then watch the games when ESPN takes its turn on Friday.
I dare you not to press the mute button.
Micah Bedard is a 22-year-old history senior from Houma.
