What is CBS smoking??

by user DRE-LO

I have a new acronym for the multi-million dollar corporate {expletive deleted} prick associaton known as CBS.

Central Bull**** Station.    

Pardon my French, but this is a matter that should leave me and every other NCAA Tournament diehard wonder how far the bigwigs of CBS have their head up their own five-hole.   

In a tournament which has already been considered somewhat disappointing due to Cinderella's foot not fitting in the glass slipper this year, this is the most stunning UPSET of all.  This is an upset that definitely lives up to his name. 

Gus Johnson has given his heart, soul and vocal cords to the NCAA Tournament as well as every game that he's done.   Why the heck do you think that long-suffering Knicks fans have stuck with 1050 ESPN Radio when the Knicks are in double and triple overtime games or in any game for that matter?  It's to hear Gus Johnson at his finest and in his element.  

Let's face it.  Gus Johnson is the only announcer that could give curling, figure skating and the luge mass appeal.   He is the only announcer that could convert comedian George Carlin into a golf fan.  If arena football is even interested in mass appeal, you know who to call!!!!

Can you imagine him calling the championship game of a Madden 07 Tournament??

Yet C {BS}, in it's own infinite wisdom decided to squeeze the life out of the Sweet 16 like Sanjaya squeezing the life out of American Idol.   No disrespect to Jim Nantz and the unproven James Brown who has been around forever, but they're just not quite Gus Johnson.  

This is the equivalent of taking Jim Ross out of RAW or Joey Styles out of ECW and replacing them with {cough, gag, vomit}............... Michael Cole!!!

There are three things that I look forward to every year in the tournament:

1.Upsets

2.Close Games

3.Gus Johnson

Options 1 and 3 have been given the shaft, so I can only hope and pray every game goes down to the final buzzer or overtime. 

Unfortunately, it will not be the same because the drama won't hit that home run pitch as it would with Gus.

I plan to turn down the volume on my television dial when the game is on and I strongly suggest everybody do the same.  I don't plan on hearing any BS with or without the C on my TV tomorrow. 

I'll be calling the game Gus-Johnson style, trying to come close to capturing the intensity and excitement of the game just as masterfully as he does.

And when my vocal cords finally give out, I'll be listening to the next best thing:

Kevin Harlan or Dave Sims on Westwood One Radio.

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 2

Are we sure that this wasn't a deal made a long time ago? Everyone is reacting to this oddly. (My March Madness viewing so far has been limited to 20 seconds of a post-Duke-loss press conference, so forgive me for not feigning my ignorance)

But it seems to me that a deal was probably arranged LONG ago that a certain set of guys does this, another set of guys do that... Maybe JB was to "do" the Sweet 16 as part of another deal?

It IS a business, granted Viacom?CBS/'whatever they call themselves tomorrow' is a lumbering oaf in the sports broadcasting world, for sure but -

1)you're talking about it.

2)JB isn't the worst possible scenario. In fact he's so middle of the road, NO one will/can complain.

3) They aren't trying to get YOU or any other diehards to watch. Diehards watch ANYWAY. They want Joe Schmuckenberger and Jenny Schmucklestein to check in out of curiosity and saty when they see "Old Familiar and Inoffensive" up there making us feel goodygoody about those sponsor's products/services... and those BIG money ad agents GET what they want... "Old Familiar and Inoffensive"

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 0

I love your sincere sentiment though, DL!

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BigPPupMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 1

I gotta agree with Manny on this one 100%. Acording to an interview I heard about 3 weeks ago with JB, CBS told him more than 1 year ago when they first signed him away from Fox, that JB would be doing a bulk of NCAA games. Yes the lost of Johnson hurts, but its not by a long shot the end of the world. Actually I like JB calling games. Manny is right hes not bad at all, is he the greatest thing? No but he is a far cry from being bad. I gurantee that outside of a few angry Knick fans (isnt that all of them?) and a handfull of people who are way too into the production behind a sporting event, will even care who is calling the game.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

993 days ago

Score 0

Well, like I said no disrespect to James Brown. He is unproven and I'll give a listen to see how he does. But Gus Johnson breathes life into these games like no other. I would even say Nantz should be the odd man out, but you know that's not happening.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 0

Jim Nantz is a non-restful snooze...

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

993 days ago

Score 1

JB started out as a color guy years a go. He did a lot of stuff for Comcast sports when it first started up here in the DC area before he moved onto the national scene. So he is anything but unproven.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

993 days ago

Score 0

Dam, I hope I wasn't too sincere.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 1

You weren't sincere, your sentiment was (that's a good thing) You MADE me feel your anguish, that's a writer's job.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

993 days ago

Score 0

I'll put out a question out there: Name your top ten favorite color commentators or announcers, you can even include wrestling announcers.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 0

That may be a different article for it's own space... Personally, I'm 4 of my top 10, I'll tell you that much! (I do both play by play AND color commenting on occasion)

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Leslie MonteiroVarsity

993 days ago

Score 0

Give James Brown a break.

I don't think he is that bad.

He came off raw, but I think he will get better. It would be nice if CBS made him do some regular season games so he can be well-versed.

As for Gus, you can take him or leave him. Me thinks he loves the sound of his own voice.

Nice to see Manny defend him.

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I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

993 days ago

Score 1

I don't even remember hearing this guys name to be honest with you. We all have announcers that are close to our hearts (or ears). I'm sorry you're not going to be able to hear this guy throughout the tourney (or rest of the tourney, you never did really explain the situation), but I'm sure CBS checked into the guy's mass appeal. Most people don't watch the NCAA tournament for the the sound, they do it for the basketball.

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EnyboDiv-I Stud

993 days ago

Score 1

Did you really just compare the NCAA tournament with American Idol? Only on ArmchirGM.

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

992 days ago

Score 0

Have You ever considered watching a game with the sound off and putting your Ipod or MP3 player to good use? When I don't like the announcers, I do this every time and I do it on multiple networks, not just CBS.....

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NcaahoopstodayLittle Leaguer

991 days ago

Score 0

There are some games where Gus Johnson exherts more physical energy than some of the players on the court! He probably never takes a play off...

Unfortunately CBS decided to stick with their "traditional" play by play guys because they've been there for 20000 years. Now if they were able to keep up with the action and follow the game and do their homework that's one thing, but these guys are stumbling through. They should instead let them do essays and write poetry during the half-time shows, and let energetic play-by-play guys like Gus Johnson actually call the games.

Jim Nantz is apparently CBS's preferred play by play guy, although he sounds like he is calling a golf tournament in everything he does. His primary job is probably to end every other sentence with "Billy" and roll the carpet for Billy Packer.

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