Jeff Van Gundy‘s name is circulating around head coaching vacancies. But if it were up to us, the Notorious J.V.G. should stay right where he is. He’s pure comedy from behind the booth and, when he wants to be, might be the best basketball analyst out there. Read More »

We’re not sure if this beats the new ESPN commercial with Russell Westbrook, but it’s still really good. The Hornets will literally be getting smashed a lot this year – did you see what happened to them the other night without their two rookies? – but the future is still bright in New Orleans, even for poor Hugo (the mascot). Read More »

There’s a certain rhythmic balance in broadcasting, incisive commentary maneuvering inside and out of the nuts and bolts play-by-play. I used to turn the sound off on my television and time the radio broadcast for Knicks games to match the on-screen action. Radio play-by-play, by necessity, replaces the visual and harps on detail, something that’s lost on television. At times it’s cumbersome and overwhelming, like some overzealous auctioneer. What’s earned in detail is lost in jumbled basketball jargon. Who’s where? Who passed to whom? Wait, what? Less is more, as they say. I eventually abandoned my plight only because the nailing down the timing between television and radio was predictably difficult. I guess I got more satisfaction out of accomplishing the feat than the intended purpose of the whole exercise in the first place. Read More »

Preach on! If you are following me on Twitter, you know how much I HATE flopping. I despise it so much that I’ve even began calling for the charge rule to be completely taken out of the game (taking a charge is basically flopping in my book). During yesterday’s matinee in New York, Jeff Van Gundy went on a nearly three-minute rant about the worst part of professional basketball, and it was amazing. Read More »

While searching for his missing watch in the couch cushions, Mike Breen finds a few surprises… Read More »

On the opening day of the regular season, it was hard to pick a leading headline. Too many great games. Matchups. Players to watch. Championship-caliber teams. And it was all on Christmas, so you know everyone (besides the entire Dallas organization) was bringing everything they had for the national TV audience. But we weren’t sure any game topped the one smack in the middle: Chicago coming from behind in the final minutes to shock the Lakers, 88-87. Chicago gave us a new meaning for Chistmas stuffing by snuffing Kobe Bryant‘s (28 points, seven rebounds, six assists) baseline pull-up at the buzzer and stealing a game they had no business winning, down double digits in the fourth quarter, and then after being down six with 54 seconds left once Kobe made a miraculous spin move fallaway. Read More »

This is what happens when Jeff Van Gundy wishes upon a star… Read More »

Although the team she normally covers, the New York Knicks, took an early exit in the playoffs, Tina Cervasio remains engaged in following all things basketball. A sports junkie growing up in New Jersey, Cervasio came from a family who passionately followed and played the sport, and she parlayed that interest into a career as one of the New York area’s most diverse sportscasters today. In addition to her sideline reporting and feature work for the Knicks on MSG Network, Tina covers the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer and works morning and weekends for FOX TV. She also fills her days mentoring young people and assisting in charity work, as well as keeping up to date with what’s going on in the NBA and college hoops, especially at her alma mater the University of Maryland. Read More »

So the Heat won and the Mavs lost. Pretty simple. But if you watched the game closely, some other winners and losers definitely slid into the conversation. So here’s to you, unsung heroes. And losers, try again in Game 2. Read More »

What happens when Rajon Rondo, Mark Jackson and Jalen Rose try and sleep on the NBA on ESPN RV? Find out before this spot debuts on-air this Friday.

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