Jason Benetti = Mario Impemba

[Edman85]

32 minutes ago, holygoat said:

It's wild. I feel like people think I'm saying Shep is better than Benetti, when it's clearly the opposite of that.

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

[oblong]

13 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

and isn't that the source of his history with Bill Walton?

 

[CMRivdogs]

15 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

That may be the bottom line. Pairings matter, the PBP guy may be adequate but a poor "color commentator" could actually bring down a broadcast. Monroe was bad both on TV and the few radio broadcasts I listened to. Unfortunately Gibson's health contributed to his ability to perform up to even his own standards (I listened to the old Locker Room on WXYT with Gibson, Gary Danielson and Eli Zaret) plus his early TV Tigers stuff.

Shep isn't strong enough to enhance a sidekick

Edited 18 hours ago by CMRivdogs

[Edman85]

35 minutes ago, oblong said:

and isn't that the source of his history with Bill Walton?

 

I think so? Not the last few years since Benetti moved to Fox (and Walton passed away last year). Walton's primary partner at ESPN was Dave Pasch. I can go into the archives to see how often they worked together... I do know Walton guested for a couple games with the White Sox when Steve Stone was out.

Edit: I found about 10 games in The506 Archives where they worked together from the 2018 Maui Invitational to when Benetti moved to Fox in 2022.

Edited 18 hours ago by Edman85

[oblong]

When he was at ESPN they did Pac 12 games together.  At the 2:50 mark they bring up Torkelson. 

 

[Edman85]

5 minutes ago, oblong said:

When he was at ESPN they did Pac 12 games together.  At the 2:50 mark they bring up Torkelson. 

 

They did a couple Pac 12 games. Most of their work was early session Maui Invitational work (including the years the Maui invitation wasn't in Maui)

[gehringer_2]

4 hours ago, Edman85 said:

I wasn't really saying that. I was just pointing out he's really good at basketball. He often gets paired with Bill Raftery or Robbie Hummel, so he gets somebody good and entertaining to do games with.

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

[papalawrence]

12 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

I found Petry was a bit like that with Benetti at first. Just piggy-backed and went along. This year he seems to be interjecting more of his own thoughts and ideas. 

[Edman85]

15 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Note those are not ex-players. To me that was Shep's hang-up/downfall. There were a few times when Shep worked a Tiger game with another media person and he was way better - acted like a real person with a real brain. But put him with an ex-player and he always went all lap-dog. It's just not a good broadcast to listen to someone doing that. 

How dare you besmirch one of my favorite Boilermakers?