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This may be unpopular, but I was discussing with another Duke fan, one that posts here from time to time, the other day and I'm just curious to see if anyone else feels the same way.

Jay Bilas. Of course I like him but of all the Duke broadcasters (Spanarkel, Giminski, J. Williams) and just in general at times he is far from my favorite. Yes, he DOES offer great analysis of teams and games, and I like that and find it helpful.

But theres something about him calling the games that just rubs me the wrong way. I first noticed it with his commercials and attempt at humor. I don't think he pulled it off. Then it hit me that Jay, to me, comes across as almost TOO professional..........TOO corporate. I feel like I'm almost in trouble or something when hearing him "do" a game. He's like the big boss.............or better, the high school principal.

I may be wrong, but I can't recall ever seeing him just bust out in a prolonged, genuine laugh or even a smile.

Anyway, while knowledge and understanding are certainly key to the enjoyment of watching a game, and I embrace that part of it, to me, Jay takes a little away from that. To me, he doesn't treat his gig or this game for what it is supposed to be............FUN.

My two cents. Your thoughts?

-EarlJam

P.S. I've decided to turn this into a poll as well.

I chose #4. I do wish he would lighten up some and have fun. Perhaps I'm not paying as much attention as I used to, but he does seem to have ratcheted down the negative Duke talk some. When Brad Daughtery (sp?) was announcing, I always felt he was more fair to Duke than Jay was. I miss Brad.

I love Jay. He's very cerebral and has a very dry sense of humor, which not everybody enjoys, but I think he's funny as hell at times. He is kind of buttoned down--a couple years ago at the Maui thing Duke played at, the other guys were ribbing the hell out of him, teasing him for tucking in his Hawaiian shirt (can't remember if he really did), and saying, "I bet you get out of the shower to pee."

G-man is my favorite. But, I think it takes Bilas' sharp tongue and wit to keep ahead of what's-his-name who wears the green ties. Jay slams us a little sometimes, but his opinions make me stop and ask myself questions. I'd love to be a fly on the wall and listen to a discussion between him and Jon Scheyer on the subject of this team.
Love, Ima

I went with 4 as well. Jay's not bad at all, and he's certainly preferable to Vitale. IMO the best of the lot right now is Bobby Knight. Jay and Bobby do share some similarities in terms of ability to break the game down.

ArkieDukie wrote:I went with 4 as well. Jay's not bad at all, and he's certainly preferable to Vitale. IMO the best of the lot right now is Bobby Knight. Jay and Bobby do share some similarities in terms of ability to break the game down.

Bobby Knight and Jay Bilas together, a rare combination that could raise the ratings on any telecast..... listening to them when they are talking to each other is a clinic .... almost need to take notes!

Option #3
When Coach Knight is talking, I try to pay strict attention.
Other color commentators, I will try to tune out.
The bigger problem I have, this year especially, is with the play-by-play guys who tend to get caught up in the color guys blather and don't properly tell the audience what the reason is for that last whistle. I'd like to know. Why is the clock stopped? Who was the foul called on? What was the call?
Punch that dude next to you and do your damn job!

ArkieDukie wrote:IMO the best of the lot right now is Bobby Knight.

I strongly concur with this. Having Knight do a game is to be treated to a small glimpse of him truly teaching the game, something that precious few color men actually do anymore (and certainly none as well as Knight). I think he's found a very solid second basketball career, and I really hope he keeps at it for a while.
As for Bilas, I really like him and think he's likewise one of the better analysts. I do think that he's far from the most colorful personality among the current ESPN crew, but for the most part, I think that's a good thing. I'm reminded of what is often said about players, that some are emotional leaders, while others lead by example. Jay's clinical approach to the game, while it can at times seem detached or cold, is to me just an example of the fact that he's more interested in doing a solid job with the fundamentals of his profession than in looking flashy doing it (I'm talking to you, Digger Phelps...coordinating your tie and highlighter, at this point, just makes you look like even more of a dickhead).

wilson wrote:Jay's clinical approach to the game, while it can at times seem detached or cold, is to me just an example of the fact that he's more interested in doing a solid job with the fundamentals of his profession than in looking flashy doing it (I'm talking to you, Digger Phelps...coordinating your tie and highlighter, at this point, just makes you look like even more of a dickhead).

Snap!
Your statement made me flash back to a funny Cameron moment during my time at Duke. We were playing Notre Dame, and Digger kept pacing along the sideline. He always seemed to squat down whenever the crowd chanted for him to sit. Part way into the second half he started his pacing routine, and the crowd chanted for him to squat. When he squatted, the chant changed to "Roll over!"

captmojo wrote:Option #3
When Coach Knight is talking, I try to pay strict attention.
Other color commentators, I will try to tune out.
The bigger problem I have, this year especially, is with the play-by-play guys who tend to get caught up in the color guys blather and don't properly tell the audience what the reason is for that last whistle. I'd like to know. Why is the clock stopped? Who was the foul called on? What was the call?
Punch that dude next to you and do your damn job!

I totally agree and find myself yelling at the TV an awful lot during this type of behavior. Seems like Dickie V is the most guilty of random babble. He annoys the heck out of me. Is it just me, or has he become a caricature of himself?

ArkieDukie wrote:Seems like Dickie V is the most guilty of random babble. He annoys the heck out of me. Is it just me, or has he become a caricature of himself?

It is most assuredly not just you. When he's doing the game, I'd just as soon watch it without the sound. Honestly. The only thing he adds to college basketball anymore is his enthusiasm, and even that is wearing very, very thin at this point.