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.
*Follow me on Twitter
