1. I’ve written this many times before. And I’ve said this about a million times on SI Media With Jimmy Traina.
But given that we are now in the middle of the conference finals, with the NBA Finals set to begin a week from Thursday, it needs to be said again: ESPN firing Jeff Van Gundy as its lead NBA analyst remains the most dumbfounding decision I’ve ever seen in sports media.
This is not about Richard Jefferson or Doris Burke, who are working the Timberwolves-Thunder Western Conference finals with Mike Breen. This is simply about the fact that the best analyst in the NBA got fired and isn’t calling games.
When Van Gundy called a game, you knew at any moment, he could go off. You knew at any moment he was going to say something unique and thought-provoking. That aspect of ESPN’s telecasts is sorely missed.
I don’t need to rehash the debacle it caused for ESPN, which went from Van Gundy to Doc Rivers to JJ Redick to Jefferson in a run of wild instability.
It’s just hard to watch any of the Timberwolves-Thunder series and not periodically think that Van Gundy should still be behind the microphone.
For whatever reason, the NBA lacks great analysts. Because of the quick pace, the NBA on TV is a play-by-play person’s sport. That’s why folks like Breen and Kevin Harlan and Ian Eagle stand out.
The analysts don’t stand out nearly as much. Van Gundy stood out. Always. Ironically, the reason Van Gundy stood out—brutally honest, no punches pulled—is basically the reason he’s not calling games anymore.
And that’s a massive loss for NBA viewers.
2. On his latest podcast, Bill Simmons and guest Jon Stewart busted out their Mike and the Mad Dog impressions, while paying homage to the iconic sports radio duo.
3. If you missed it late Friday afternoon because you were already in long-holiday-weekend mode, here is how Tony Reali closed out the final episode of Around the Horn.
4. This is unbelievable. Former NFL coach, Jim Mora, who somehow looks the same as he did when he made his famous “Playoffs?!?!” rant in 2001, is still going strong at 90.
5. I spent very little time on Twitter over the holiday weekend, so it was amazing to me that ESPN’s Ryan Clark was still going on about his whole mess with Robert Griffin III last week.
6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features a conversation with ESPN’s Tony Reali.
Reali talks about the end of Around the Horn after hosting the show for 23 years, the vagueness from ESPN about the show’s cancellation despite strong ratings, his contract status with ESPN, whether he has had talks with ESPN about staying with the network and what his future looks like.
In addition, Reali reveals one regret he had while hosting the show, whether he thinks his reluctance to do interviews and social media hurt him, what he plans on doing during his time off, making a personal connection with fans of ATH and much more.
Following Reali, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference finals, what NBA Finals matchup ESPN/ABC wants, the Juan Soto fallout from the Subway Series, Netflix’s new documentary on Brett Favre, George Wendt’s passing and a dilemma over free Knicks tickets.
You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: I want to send out well wishes to the greatest wrestling announcer, Jim Ross, who is undergoing surgery today after being diagnosed with colon cancer. The term “GOAT” gets thrown out so much, but in the case of Ross, it’s 100% fact.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.
