In the immediate aftermath of one of the worst-officiated professional basketball games in NBA history, I decided to gauge the feelings of some well-earned, leather-lunged fans foaming at the bit to vent on KNBR.
The Warriors were just fleeced by the LA Lakers. Not outright purged, more like subdued by a referee crew that bore the wrath of even neutral fans on Twitter.
The Lakers went to the free-throw line fifty times; the Warriors a mere 16. The game was spectacular and ultra-exciting. Too bad it was marred by two separate events. A horrid night by the zebras and Kobe Bryant's likely gone-for-season due to injury. That alone prompted Twitter to go off the chart.
On Knibber, Ray Woodson, the host of "Sportsphone 680", was the perfect person behind the microphone. I've always liked Woodson. He was critical, obviously, of the absurdity just committed by the ludicrous NBA refs. But it was measured and cautionary and it didn't reek of any form of gimmicky faux outrage. And that's what made it so good and why Woodson should be the permanent host.
Woodson doesn't do a lot of yelling and screaming. He has a balanced and more civil tone. It doesn't insult listeners nor put you to sleep, but it does keep you listening. Woodson's dry sense of humor and occasional darts are good enough for the crowd. He doesn't need to resort to false shtick. It's especially evident after such an emotionally-charged game like the one in Los Angeles on Friday night.
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