Bill Walton- one thing for sure- you have an opinion of him. Good or bad.

California Treasure? Sure. National? Not so fast, my friends. You can keep him out there (which ESPN does).

(03-14-2021 10:53 PM)esayem Wrote:  California Treasure? Sure. National? Not so fast, my friends. You can keep him out there (which ESPN does).

If I was an AD, I’d have my team play out there on PACN just to get a Bill Walton game.

(03-14-2021 10:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Bill Walton- one thing for sure- you have an opinion of him. Good or bad.

Someone said they loved his NBA commentary 10-20 years ago. I agree, he was an excellent NBA analyst. But the last 10 years or so, his voice has changed. He talks like he has a mouth full of nuts. Has he had oral surgery or something?

It's off-putting to me, so I don't enjoy him as much now. Plus, his college commentary is just not as insightful.

All of that said, I can never fully be negative about Walton. To those of us of a certain age, you always view him through the lens of the absolutely marvelous college and pro player he was before he was debilitated by those bone injuries in 1977-1978. He was a beautiful basketball player, supremely skilled.

(03-14-2021 10:53 PM)esayem Wrote:  California Treasure? Sure. National? Not so fast, my friends. You can keep him out there (which ESPN does).

Some ladies call Bill Dazzle a "SoBro treasure." Ponder.

(03-15-2021 12:22 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(03-14-2021 10:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Bill Walton- one thing for sure- you have an opinion of him. Good or bad.

Someone said they loved his NBA commentary 10-20 years ago. I agree, he was an excellent NBA analyst. But the last 10 years or so, his voice has changed. He talks like he has a mouth full of nuts. Has he had oral surgery or something?

It's off-putting to me, so I don't enjoy him as much now. Plus, his college commentary is just not as insightful.

All of that said, I can never fully be negative about Walton. To those of us of a certain age, you always view him through the lens of the absolutely marvelous college and pro player he was before he was debilitated by those bone injuries in 1977-1978. He was a beautiful basketball player, supremely skilled.

I think Walton is part of the Pac-12 problem with being taken seriously. They need a serious analyst who promotes the players and teams on the floor.

As you say Walton had his NBA analyst act together maybe 15 years ago. But his commentary today seems stuck in that era, as if he knows nothing that happened since. It's essentially commentary Alzheimer's. There have been several strong NBA players coming out of the Pac-12 in the last few years, but Walton could not promote a one of them because he doesn't know them or their games. He doesn't do his homework, he skates on the comedy act. (You can hear the irritation in his play by play man's voice from time to time)

The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

Put bluntly Walton needs to be retired. He is blocking the path for younger more talented commentators and hurting the Pac-12 brand, especially with younger viewers.

The secret is in the chin.

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

(03-14-2021 10:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Bill Walton- one thing for sure- you have an opinion of him. Good or bad.

This is true.

The San Diego airport was offered a statue of Walton a few years ago (he's from San Diego). They turned it down:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opi...story.html

I was living in SD at the time, and my impression was that the people in charge of the airport authority didn't like Walton's politics. Everything in CA is political.

(03-16-2021 01:34 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

Love me some Pete Gillen!

(03-16-2021 01:41 PM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-16-2021 01:34 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

Love me some Pete Gillen!

Would’ve loved to seen him in coaching again, but at least we get him as a superfun announcer.

(03-16-2021 01:34 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

Walton may be hard to listen to, but I'd take him over Dick Vitale 7 days a week.

(03-17-2021 02:33 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(03-16-2021 01:34 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

Walton may be hard to listen to, but I'd take him over Dick Vitale 7 days a week.

I would have them chained to each other, placed in a sound proof room, and see which one talked the other to death. The survivor could then be released on their own recognizance because it is possible that they may have experienced the pain and suffering they have inflicted on others for so long.

The difference between Bill Walton and Dick Vitale ... Bill offers lots of history, fun tidbits, clever zingers, current events, music and food notes, "lesser sports," etc. Dickie just blabs on about men's college hoops. Bill is distinctive. Dick is mainstream.

My feeling is, if ESPN wants to keep him, fine. But the P12N should let him go. Part of the revamping of the P12N is a focus on the product on the football field and the basketball court, the one in front of fans. They need to build the brand as a serious one, competing at the highest level. There is no question they have their share of players who are NBA bound, so any building up of the brand has to start with that.

Larry Scott had no clue what he was doing. Walton is the sort of entertainment over substance analyst that personifies the failures of the P12N. Nostalgia is fine for old people, but the business is about 15-40 year old demographic, always is. And a conference network is not trying to be a novelty act. When the P12N reboots as part of the next media deal --yes schools will be giving up some or most of their equity stake to get a real media partner (next commissioner's first job is to get the P12 back in the real world)-- they will need to have a look that puts the sports first, promotes the players on the court and the teams out their this year. I don't see how Walton's bizarro world fits in that scheme.

I'm happy some of you are entertained by him. But that is because you do not care to know the in depth of Zaire Williams, Chris Duarte, Josh Christopher, Benedict Mathurin among others whose names will be called in the coming NBA draft. You don't know much about the Oregon Duck's winning streak or why it has happened from Walton. He shuns analytics, and has said so on air when asked about a team's NET or what they have to do to get in (so much for doing his homework). In short he never sets the table like a proper analyst.

My personal dislike is completely secondary to his extremely poor job performance. Everyone who says he's OK, speaks only of his comedy act as offsetting. That might make sense as a studio host or the odd ball sideline report, but not for the voice constantly on air during the game. P12N ratings are pretty dreadful, and he is a big part of that. He has to go.

(03-17-2021 03:05 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(03-17-2021 02:33 PM)ken d Wrote:  

(03-16-2021 01:34 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-15-2021 11:53 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The Pac-12 wont be taken seriously until it takes itself seriously, and that starts with informed and focused coverage and broadcast teams. I cannot watch P12 games because of Walton's lack of focus, and my son who knows nothing of his background watches sometimes with the sound off, but more often watches other conferences. And he is a California West Coast guy through and through. That is like a Southerner turning off SEC games because of the commentators and watching only B1G and Big East games.

The network likes his "act" and that's why he's on. Same for Fox Sports' Gus Johnson, ESPN's Dick Vitale and CBS Sports' Pete Gillen, who talks like a 1940's newsreel.

Walton may be hard to listen to, but I'd take him over Dick Vitale 7 days a week.

I would have them chained to each other, placed in a sound proof room, and see which one talked the other to death. The survivor could then be release on their own recognizance because it is possible that they may have experienced the pain and suffering they have inflicted on others for so long.

Dick Vitale, in stereo, broadcasting for a Duke game needs to be categorized as cruel and unusual punishment.

(03-17-2021 04:23 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  My feeling is, if ESPN wants to keep him, fine. But the P12N should let him go. Part of the revamping of the P12N is a focus on the product on the football field and the basketball court, the one in front of fans. They need to build the brand as a serious one, competing at the highest level. There is no question they have their share of players who are NBA bound, so any building up of the brand has to start with that.

Larry Scott had no clue what he was doing. Walton is the sort of entertainment over substance analyst that personifies the failures of the P12N. Nostalgia is fine for old people, but the business is about 15-40 year old demographic, always is. And a conference network is not trying to be a novelty act. When the P12N reboots as part of the next media deal --yes schools will be giving up some or most of their equity stake to get a real media partner (next commissioner's first job is to get the P12 back in the real world)-- they will need to have a look that puts the sports first, promotes the players on the court and the teams out their this year. I don't see how Walton's bizarro world fits in that scheme.

I'm happy some of you are entertained by him. But that is because you do not care to know the in depth of Zaire Williams, Chris Duarte, Josh Christopher, Benedict Mathurin among others whose names will be called in the coming NBA draft. You don't know much about the Oregon Duck's winning streak or why it has happened from Walton. He shuns analytics, and has said so on air when asked about a team's NET or what they have to do to get in (so much for doing his homework). In short he never sets the table like a proper analyst.

My personal dislike is completely secondary to his extremely poor job performance. Everyone who says he's OK, speaks only of his comedy act as offsetting. That might make sense as a studio host or the odd ball sideline report, but not for the voice constantly on air during the game. P12N ratings are pretty dreadful, and he is a big part of that. He has to go.

I'm likely a strong example of the type older fan who doesn't care about the hard-core stuff you reference. For example, I'm not a member of a fantasy league. Sports is not in my top three or four hobbies/interests. I'm as interested in college campuses and how they interact with their respective communities as I am in college sports specifically. I like that former LSU men's hoops coach Dale Brown was a fan of art museums. I was always fascinated by the academic musings of Dr. Harry Edwards, who fused his thoughts on sports with culture.

So your point is probably very legit. But I do think it's important that college sports (and pro sports for that matter) offer a bit of "odd-ballity" to fans like me. What you're talking about already exists in massive doses in college and pro sports. What I want is that "fun and different 5 percent."

Normal people make society function. Abnormal people make society interesting.

(03-17-2021 09:46 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-17-2021 04:23 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  My feeling is, if ESPN wants to keep him, fine. But the P12N should let him go. Part of the revamping of the P12N is a focus on the product on the football field and the basketball court, the one in front of fans. They need to build the brand as a serious one, competing at the highest level. There is no question they have their share of players who are NBA bound, so any building up of the brand has to start with that.

Larry Scott had no clue what he was doing. Walton is the sort of entertainment over substance analyst that personifies the failures of the P12N. Nostalgia is fine for old people, but the business is about 15-40 year old demographic, always is. And a conference network is not trying to be a novelty act. When the P12N reboots as part of the next media deal --yes schools will be giving up some or most of their equity stake to get a real media partner (next commissioner's first job is to get the P12 back in the real world)-- they will need to have a look that puts the sports first, promotes the players on the court and the teams out their this year. I don't see how Walton's bizarro world fits in that scheme.

I'm happy some of you are entertained by him. But that is because you do not care to know the in depth of Zaire Williams, Chris Duarte, Josh Christopher, Benedict Mathurin among others whose names will be called in the coming NBA draft. You don't know much about the Oregon Duck's winning streak or why it has happened from Walton. He shuns analytics, and has said so on air when asked about a team's NET or what they have to do to get in (so much for doing his homework). In short he never sets the table like a proper analyst.

My personal dislike is completely secondary to his extremely poor job performance. Everyone who says he's OK, speaks only of his comedy act as offsetting. That might make sense as a studio host or the odd ball sideline report, but not for the voice constantly on air during the game. P12N ratings are pretty dreadful, and he is a big part of that. He has to go.

I'm likely a strong example of the type older fan who doesn't care about the hard-core stuff you reference. For example, I'm not a member of a fantasy league. Sports is not in my top three or four hobbies/interests. I'm as interested in college campuses and how they interact with their respective communities as I am in college sports specifically. I like that former LSU men's hoops coach Dale Brown was a fan of art museums. I was always fascinated by the academic musings of Dr. Harry Edwards, who fused his thoughts on sports with culture.

So your point is probably very legit. But I do think it's important that college sports (and pro sports for that matter) offer a bit of "odd-ballity" to fans like me. What you're talking about already exists in massive doses in college and pro sports. What I want is that "fun and different 5 percent."

Normal people make society function. Abnormal people make society interesting.

Abnormal must be defined Bill. Dahmer, Ramirez, Manson, Gacy, Bundy, Toole, Gein, Speck, Malvo and Chapman were not interesting people, unless you are as perverse as Truman Capote. I think you meant to say quirky people can be interesting, not abnormal ones.

(03-17-2021 03:18 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  The difference between Bill Walton and Dick Vitale ... Bill offers lots of history, fun tidbits, clever zingers, current events, music and food notes, "lesser sports," etc. Dickie just blabs on about men's college hoops. Bill is distinctive. Dick is mainstream.

Dick Vitale’s mission in life is to help kids with cancer. I think that’s pretty distinctive.