The D.A. Supremacy

In case you haven't heard, reportedly David Aldridge is leaving ESPN (hat tip to These Days , after spending the last 8 years as their top NBA analyst. I had noticed a few weeks ago that Aldridge seemed to be deemphasized this season as he was not even on the station's pregame show, NBA Fastbreak. Perhaps as a result, he also seemed to be losing time on Sportscenter to lesser basketball talking heads like Greg Anthony, Bill Lambier, and, of course, the "Angry Black Man" Steven A. Smith. While his absence will be difficult at first to adjust to, I have no doubts that he will resurface, hopefully to TNT so that their coverage can continue to embarrass ESPN's effort. For it is ESPN that will be losing out due to letting DA go.

 

Sadly, news like this contributes to a recent trend in the quality of ESPN. In both their television and internet enterprises the quality has been slipping and rapidly losing its focus. The website is still my first stop for anything sports, but its design has become unwieldy(for live scoreboards I recommend the more practical Cbssportsline.com), and the content has been shifting to entertainment pieces like rumors about Paris Hilton or 10 questions detailing how much Nick Lachey likes the Cincinnati Reds. You now get features on page 2, page 3, the Espys, the Grammy's, the Cable Ace Awards, while a fantastic baseball writer like Rob Neyer gets pushed in their paid subscription "Insider" content. Oh, but don't fret, at least there's "Chewin the Fat" penned by John "Steinbeck" Kruk.

 

On the tube, the smarts and wit of Sportscenter anchors of yore like Patrick, Olbermann and Eisen have been replaced by loudmouth copycats who are more interested in getting their catchphrases recognized than reporting the sports of the day. Baseball Tonight has gone from my favorite show on TV to pretty much unwatchable, at least when John Kruk's neck-less body is looking back at me. And then you have the incessant self promotion, through series like Playmakers, movies like The Junction Boys ("He aint Quittin!" "We're gonna work now!") and lets not forget Dream Job. And now, their top NBA analyst: someone who would tell you the rumors and not scream it to you; someone who respected those who ran the league and its teams instead of treating every misstep like the Hindenburg; someone who made me feel smarter just by watching....has been shown the door.

 

Don't worry DA, you're surely moving on to something better, as ESPN is a ship that is sinking before our very eyes.

A Conversation Between Bulls Fans (in two acts)

Just for those outsiders who wonder what its like in a 6-year 'rebuilding' mode. The following is a.....er, "colorful" email correspondence between two die-hards: The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Oh what the hell, its me and my friend Tim. (Not THAT Tim.)

To: Tim
From: Matt

Boers and Bernstein had Dwanye Wade on as a guest.

Boers: I want you to find Eddy Curry and kick him in the sack. Get him to care like you do.

Wade: Well Eddy has talent and if he put it together every night he'd be unstoppable. You just have to get him angry, so you all in Chicago get him angry.

Bernstein: I know what I'll do, I'll tell him that White Castle closed down.

Wade: That's wrong, man.

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To: Matt
From: Tim

That is funny shit, haha. Actually at lunch I listen to a half hour of them and they are funny as shit. Amare Stoudamire was on the show and after he left the show he said that Amare should kick Eddy Curry's ass.

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To: Tim
From: Matt

I was actually thinking about eddy at lunch. Like if I somehow saw him on the street I'd be like "I believe in you man!". And then he'd be awesome because I showed faith in him :)

************************************************************
To: Matt
From: Tim

If I saw him on the street I would punch him in the balls. [it was at this point I decided I wanted to post this :) -ed. ]

Best Eddy Curry moment was not this year, but last year I went to the last game at home when they played the 76ers. And Eddy grab the ball the same time as someone from the 76ers did and ripped the ball away from him and was all pissed off. And the crowd started chanting "Eddy! Eddy!" and Chandler was pumping up the crowd from the bench.

************************************************************
To: Tim
From: Matt

I remember that! Wasn't it the last game of the year? [obviously I didn't realize that *he mentioned* it was the last game of the year ] Back when Tyson and Eddy were awesome and I used that to predict that they'd finish 5th in the freaking conference. [actually, turns out it was 6th, but you get the idea]

************************************************************
To: Matt
From: Tim

A time that history has forgotten.

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FIN.

Ok, so I now realize that such an exchange is probably only funny to the people involved in the conversation, but like I said I think its a good representation of what happens when two fans strip down the stats, analysis, and prognostications, and just speak their minds.

Later the same day I hear Bulls (and White Sox) Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf say he isn't pleased with Curry's conditioning this summer. After hearing similar comments from Paxson and Skiles, all people who you think would try and convince fans that this year will be different.....well, now you know why we talk this way about Eddy. He is filled with potential yet looks at times far from realizing it: just like the franchise as a whole.

I still find  more interesting than the alternative..