Basketball

[El Gato]

he needs to hire Bill Walton as his agent.

Walton was in top form last night. And the Bill Walton Bingo thing was hilarious. Not just the idea, but the number of boxes they had checked off at halftime. He's an acquired taste, but definitely my favorite color guy. It's like watching a game at bar next to a guy who's only half paying attention half discussing Linda Ronstadt and the drummer for the Grateful Dead.

[ValleyCat]

I agree about Walton. I wouldn't want him covering the Allied landings at Normandy or the New York Times' White House beat, but this is basketball. Inconsequential fun.

[FlagCat]

There are so many people that express their passionate hatred over his announcing on social media . I don't see the reason for taking it so seriously. Bottom line, he's entertaining to listen to. Most of the time you're laughing AT him rather than with him, but it's still darn entertaining!

[Stu Gotz]

There are so many people that express their passionate hatred over his announcing on social media . I don't see the reason for taking it so seriously. Bottom line, he's entertaining to listen to. Most of the time you're laughing AT him rather than with him, but it's still darn entertaining!

I get the impression Walton could care less if you're laughing at him or with him. He just IS, which is a very zen thing. He's like a 7' Vulcan who gets high.

Dave Pasch has to have the toughest announcing gig in the business. He's got a good sense of humor, and isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with Walton, but he can't always hide his bemusement either verbally or ... cue the "Pasch Face" ...

pasch face.jpg

physically.

[catnaz]

Ha, I love that picture of Pasch getting annoyed. Here's a story ...

I love Walton. He's a total people-person who is very approachable and loves to interact, always with a big friendly welcoming smile. My sons and I got to meet and talk with him last year at the tournament. Very engaging guy who wants to know your story, and not rushed in the slightest. He's in the moment.

He was completely surrounded by people who wanted to talk and get their picture with him ... far more than any of the other players, ex-players, or pundits in the lobby. Larry Scott was off to the side by himself and kept saying, "Bill, come on, we have to go." Bill kept saying, "Okay, hold on a minute and I'll be there." But Bill keeps talking and taking pictures ... "just one more Larry." My sons and I finally go over and talk to Larry because he's all alone, is annoyed, and keeps looking at his watch. Not all that engaging.

By the way, got to walk and talk with Luke, Rondae, Aaron, and others -- no one should miss the tournament.

[Doug]

I also enjoy Walton. It is a bit harder to take when the discussion veers off the game when it is tight, but the visual is still there...I don't HAVE to have an analyst breaking down the game to see what is happening. And when Walton does get serious for a minute, his observation s are often excellent. And Pasch eggs him on as much as he fights to stay on track...I think Pasch enjoys it. He has a similar hard-to-handle partner on Cardinals broadcasts in Ron Wolfley, though the approaches are much different. I do think Pasch enjoys making the game broadcast more challenging...I mean, how lazy as sports viewers do we have to be to demand 2 people plus a sideline reporter tell us what we can see with our own eyes, only to then be thrown back to a studio for 2 or more other people to tell us what we just saw with our own eyes? None of this is real life important, and anyone who understands the game enough to understand what an analyst tells viewers in a game has likely already observed the same thing. Occasionally, a great point is made, or an observation is noted with the extra "wisdom" of a former great player, and Walton does all of that too. He just spends 85% of the broadcast fking with us. I find it so much more compelling than the 800 th explanation of how a high ball screen opens a shooter.

[Stallion]

He was completely surrounded by people who wanted to talk and get their picture with him ... far more than any of the other players, ex-players, or pundits in the lobby. Larry Scott was off to the side by himself and kept saying, "Bill, come on, we have to go." Bill kept saying, "Okay, hold on a minute and I'll be there." But Bill keeps talking and taking pictures ... "just one more Larry."

Great story. Bill is like the anti-Larry.

Did anyone go to Bill's event at the Rillalto Theater last week? I'm sure it was bizarre...and amazing.

[catnaz]

Anti-Larry is a great description, but I tend to think of Walton as the anti-dweeb. I mean, come on, look at Pasch's face. I'll bet he's never been to Jupiter.