Best call was Vin Scully for the Gibson HR because preparation was literally impossible and he let the crowd take over and then delivered the iconic “In a year that has been so improbable, this impossible has happened.”
Biggest possible moment with the best possible poetry.
Ethan, the intro music playing 15 minutes after convo is really jarring to me. It wasn't this one but one of the last few episodes. I love it when you open the show with a specific segment and it's short, but when it's long I get disoriented, and I'm kind of waiting for the "start" of the podcast.
Funny you bring up chuck klosterman right after you mentioned narrating your audiobook. I once heard him say that not narrating the audiobook version of what if we’re wrong seems to have negatively effected its sales. This rings true for me as someone who likes audiobooks as it’s the only one of his that I hadn’t purchased at the time I heard this anecdote. So not only did you make $2k but I imagine it’s helped the sales.
Re: Walton's Mount Rushmore, I think you guys had it that it would be the Mt. Rushmore of eclectic, quirky, public sports personalities. I think Barkley is a clear addition, and I'd probably put John Madden there too. Had a hard time coming up with a 4th - as of now the best I've come up with is Lee Corso, but he's definitely not as public/recognizable, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some good ones here.
As a Gonzaga bb fan, I listened to quite a few Bill Walten calls. One of my favorites: Dave Pasch mentions the wide stance of one of the defenders on the court, and Bill quips that former Idaho Senator Larry Craig also claimed to have a wide stance. Definitely google the back story if this does not ring any bells. Per Ethan and Guy’s discussion about preparation, I have wondered over the years how bill got this on the air.. Did he ask Dave to ask him that question? Was Dave in on the punch line? I would love to know. Bill was the best, I will miss him.
I'm fascinated by the discussion around what the audience wants or doesn't want from announcers. I couldn't stand Jeff Van Gundy, not just because of his propensity to complain about the league rules, but mostly because of his timing of when he would go off on his rule change tangents. There were plenty of times when he would start one of his rants and talk about that instead of the game for multiple possessions of a close playoff game in second half. I think about announcers who talk during big moments of a game when the crowd is going nuts, or announcers who don't moderate their enthusiasm level (e.g. Romo) so everything is at a level 10. But how much does the typical fan really think about all this stuff? The networks put so much attention and money into these broadcast booths, but how much does it move the needle? Does it actually change viewership behavior? For a fan who doesn't like Jeff Van Gundy does that change how they see the league? I'd love to be involved in that research.
All just depends on whether they are good or not. When podcasters bring the producers into the shows half the time it is great and they add a lot, and half the time it is pretty bad and really dilutes the entertainment per minute factor.
So hard to know without a sample size of what is brought to the table.
Best call was Vin Scully for the Gibson HR because preparation was literally impossible and he let the crowd take over and then delivered the iconic “In a year that has been so improbable, this impossible has happened.”
Biggest possible moment with the best possible poetry.
Ethan, the intro music playing 15 minutes after convo is really jarring to me. It wasn't this one but one of the last few episodes. I love it when you open the show with a specific segment and it's short, but when it's long I get disoriented, and I'm kind of waiting for the "start" of the podcast.
Funny you bring up chuck klosterman right after you mentioned narrating your audiobook. I once heard him say that not narrating the audiobook version of what if we’re wrong seems to have negatively effected its sales. This rings true for me as someone who likes audiobooks as it’s the only one of his that I hadn’t purchased at the time I heard this anecdote. So not only did you make $2k but I imagine it’s helped the sales.
Re: Walton's Mount Rushmore, I think you guys had it that it would be the Mt. Rushmore of eclectic, quirky, public sports personalities. I think Barkley is a clear addition, and I'd probably put John Madden there too. Had a hard time coming up with a 4th - as of now the best I've come up with is Lee Corso, but he's definitely not as public/recognizable, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some good ones here.
Habey Habes!
Bill Walton is on the mt Rushmore of athletes and drug use, with Lance Armstrong, Barry bonds and Diego Maradona
As a Gonzaga bb fan, I listened to quite a few Bill Walten calls. One of my favorites: Dave Pasch mentions the wide stance of one of the defenders on the court, and Bill quips that former Idaho Senator Larry Craig also claimed to have a wide stance. Definitely google the back story if this does not ring any bells. Per Ethan and Guy’s discussion about preparation, I have wondered over the years how bill got this on the air.. Did he ask Dave to ask him that question? Was Dave in on the punch line? I would love to know. Bill was the best, I will miss him.
Stephen King is an avid Red Sox fan, and even wrote a book about them and his fandom 20 years ago (it wasn't good)
I'm fascinated by the discussion around what the audience wants or doesn't want from announcers. I couldn't stand Jeff Van Gundy, not just because of his propensity to complain about the league rules, but mostly because of his timing of when he would go off on his rule change tangents. There were plenty of times when he would start one of his rants and talk about that instead of the game for multiple possessions of a close playoff game in second half. I think about announcers who talk during big moments of a game when the crowd is going nuts, or announcers who don't moderate their enthusiasm level (e.g. Romo) so everything is at a level 10. But how much does the typical fan really think about all this stuff? The networks put so much attention and money into these broadcast booths, but how much does it move the needle? Does it actually change viewership behavior? For a fan who doesn't like Jeff Van Gundy does that change how they see the league? I'd love to be involved in that research.
Mayes on the mic, yea or nay?
All just depends on whether they are good or not. When podcasters bring the producers into the shows half the time it is great and they add a lot, and half the time it is pretty bad and really dilutes the entertainment per minute factor.
So hard to know without a sample size of what is brought to the table.
With the producer weighing in, sometimes less is more. Think of Jamie on Rogan, he chimes in just the right amount.