After the Sharks abysmal effort in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, NBC Bay Area, relying heavily on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area production and air talent pieced together a quickly-paced program with post-game actualities, several back-and-forths with in-house observers and panelists.
The confluence of Comcast and NBC, (Comcast now owns a controlling interest of NBC) was both energetic and enlightening, one of the best after-game shows I've seen in the Bay Area. How good? I wanted the bozos screaming outside the HP Pavilion to be muzzled--for once, I wanted to really watch and listen.
Speaking of the panel: Raj Mathai was his usual calm, cool, and steady role in anchoring the analysis. Joining Mathai was ex-NHL player and Comcast hockey analyst, Bret Hedican, and both Sharks cable voices, Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda.
Hedican was smooth and informative and provided just enough criticism of the home team to make it real. Remenda shined too--one particular telling moment: when prodded by Mathai if coach Todd MClellan was to be scrutinized, Remenda shot back with anger that no, it wasn't the coach's fault. "Players have to be accountable at some point, " shouted Remenda.
Great TV.
Even Scott Reiss, who I've often ripped for his unappealing smarminess, (my opinion) provided a quick, nicely-paced post-mortem with the ever-nagging Ray Ratto. Ratto, who thinks the World is an endless black hole, did provide for some astute round-table hockey guile afterwards, I'll give him that. Plus, he's the definitie non-homer. Points.
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NBC bay area sucks! They try so hard at doing nothing. Should they move from SJ in the middle of the afternoon, no one would notice.
ReplyDeleteI dont know; how could any fan stand out there and scream like an idiot after the Sharkies esentiallly tanked at the tank? If your a kid and don't know any better fine, but otherwise more of the "look at me " crowd messing up a completely good postgame analysis. Keep it in the studio fellas. Bad look!
ReplyDeleteFunny-I thought Reiss stood out for making the third loss sound like "Now we got 'em where we want them" When he said something about how the Sharks can now play do or die better. Something ridiculous like that.
ReplyDeleteI didnt hear Remenda..but coaches choose who plays and who has the minutes..not the players. I think they SOME influence-sarcasm.
Rich
ReplyDeleteYes, The post game was good, the game, not so good.
408er
Ray Ratto drinking game: Take a shot every time he says "wretched."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the re-cap Rich. You may have been the only person watching the post-game show of another Shark loss.
ReplyDeleteAll the other sports viewers were watching the Giants sweep the A's.
ZZZZZzzzzz...what?...huh? Hockey, you say? In San Jose? NEXT.....I don't like Hockey, nor NBC Bay Area...
ReplyDeleteI'd rather watch the G-Men whip the A's behinds!
NBC went off the air at 2:59 after two studio segments (with two Vancouver interviews) and a sports desk update. NBC Bay Area 11 then started a "home repair" program for 6 minutes before awkwardly cutting into the open for Sharks Post Game Live Can you say smooth transition? Rich, that's not "Great TV".
ReplyDelete