The ‘Bring Back Gus Johnson’ Post
21. Mar 2007 | Mr. Wong | Del.icio.us | Trackback | Drucken | 19 Kommentare
There was the time Adam ate the apple. There was the time the British chose red coats over camouflage. And there was the time James Dolan hired Isiah Thomas.
But the bottom line is that none of those legendary blunders — NONE of them — can possibly compare to CBS’s decision to bench Gus Johnson in favor of James Brown for the rest of the 2007 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.
It has been brought to our attention that CBS commentator Gus Johnson has been formally yanked from covering this week’s NCAA Tournament action; not because of any wrongdoing, mind you, but instead to make room for James Brown who came over from FOX last year. After hearing Brown’s performance this weekend, we here at Quick Slants are informally asking for CBS to undo its decision on this matter and return the college basketball world to its normal state of balance and tranquility.
Originally, we’re guessing CBS realized that nobody watched its NFL pre-game show and gave Brown an offer he couldn’t refuse in hopes of rectifying its ratings. However, that problem is, and always will be, squarely on the shoulders of Shannon Sharpe, so we find this move strangely puzzling. Additionally, we have a hard time believing any show can succeed with Charlie Casserly offering general managerial advice on its behalf.
However, as part of his deal, Brown was given the right to call college basketball games, which was a major selling point and perhaps the reason JB ultimately jumped ship. (That, or the restraining order against Terry Bradshaw expired.) Now, we can’t say we blame Brown for taking the deal, and our beef is not with him, but instead with the braintrusts at CBS that decided to bench the best play-by-play guy in the business. We find this decision utterly egregious and unacceptable on all counts. And quite frankly, we will not tolerate it.
Therefore, on this day, the 21st of March 2007, we are officially dubbing this post the Bring Back Gus Johnson Post. Please leave your words below in the comment field. Together, we can make it through this time of hardship. We sincerely hope this is a one year hiatus so that Gus can recharge his batteries and suck down some warm honey to heal his vocal cords after his call of Adam Morrison’s game winner last year against Oklahoma State (below).
19 Kommentare zu "The ‘Bring Back Gus Johnson’ Post"
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add me to the top of this list. right on… bring back gus!
As if I didn’t hate James Brown enough… What a joke… Bring Gus Back!
Add me as well. I rated the announcers for this tournament as I myself wish I had gone into the field. Gus was rated #1 in my book. James Brown - 8 out of 8.
Ridiculous.
It is a shame that Gus Johnson is not calling any of the games anymore this year. The end of the Xavier- Ohio State game was the best play by play I have ever heard. Bring Gus Back!!!!!!!!
I think Gus Johnson is by far the worst announcer around. I usually don’t even notice who is announcing, but when Gus is doing a game I always have to mute him.
Bring Gus back I was really looking forward listening to him during the tournament. He’s the best out there and you have him sitting at home doing nothing. Give me a break!
please bring back gus johnson — james brown is borrrrrrrrrring
Can you imagine if Gus had done the Vandy-GTown game or the GTown-UNC game???
James Brown put me to sleep
The play-by-play guys this year were just awful. Brown and Nantz can put anyone to sleep. Enberg and Lundquist are still good, but age is definitely starting to catch up to them, especially Enberg. But don’t worry the young excitable Gus gets nothing.
The best part of that clip is Raft’s call “When you’re sleepless in Seattle, Why not get a little kiss? Gus Oh major onions!” I’d like to see this pair be the number one crew.
Brown cannot hold a candle to Gus……….if he does not come back I am switching from CBS to something else
I couldn’t agree with you more. I did the same thing on my blog. How can you get rid of this guy, he’s everything that is right about college basketball. Mind you, this isn’t play that funky music white boy james brown, we need to reach cbs on this one, it’s a disgrace
Absolutely my favorite announcer ever. It’s BS that they replaced him with Brown. He may have the playing credentials but NOBODY calls a game like Gus.
There’s certain voices that match certain sports! Ron Franklin (ESPN) is Saturday night college football! I can’t stand a College World Series game without Sean McDonough. Gus Johnson means March Madness!! No matter the teams or the seeds, his game is always the one to watch! There’s seemingly a buzzer beater on every shot! Come on CBS, you’ve got some really good guys but Gus is your A player!!
P.S. When I hear Dick Enberg, I think of Sunday afternoons with the Broncos hosting the Raiders! Soothing but not Gus!
GUS JOHNONS IS THE BEST ANNOUNCER EVER!!!! NOBODY should replace him!! it is an absolute DISGRACE that they did that!! GUS is the BEST at basketball and football!!! he makes the game A LOT better and EXCITING!!! when gus does cbs’ football games and the basketball games he makes the game SOOOO much more exciting and intense!! I HATE listnening to jim nantz and other announcers that are BORING and show no emotion. GUS IS THE BEST and should be the number one announcer for all games!!!!!!!!! oh and by the way, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW ANYBODY CAN NOT LIKE GUS JOHNSON, whoever DOESN’T LIKE HIM IS CRAZY!!!! i swear whoever hates or doesnt like GUS’s announcing is absolutely crazy and STUPID!!! i mean they are out of their mind!!! WHAT?! do they prefer some boring ass announcer instead of GUS!!? whatever whoever doesn’t like gus knows absolutely NOTHING about sports and they are complete idiots!!!!
ahahahahaha Gus is my cousin, I sure hope he hasn’t read any of these comments. I totally agree though - he brings the rhythm of the street to the broadcast booth.
Gus Rocks! He calls NFL games like his kid is involved in each play. His excitement is unmatched by anyone in the booth today. I literally check the broadcasting parings in the paper on Friday each week just to see what game he’s calling as to be sure I catch it. Steve Tasker is a nice compliment too.
Gus Johnson makes even the most mediocre game watchable - some people hate, but what would rather have for your football game: John Madden blathering about the quarterback of whatever team for 3 hours, the monotone Don Criqui, the fake Gus (but still pretty decent) Ian Eagle or Gus? How about basketball - Bill “I know everything” Walton, Billy “Where’s the buffet?” Packer or any of the slew of guys you cannot remember? Is he any worse than Chris Berman? Or worse yet, Joe Buck & Tim McCarver (a.k.a. the St. Louis Cardinals wonder twins) or Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley (a.k.a. two guys who have never been a fight in their life announcing boxing)?
I think not!
CBS is straight up tripping if they think they will doing better without Gus Johnson calling the big games. Gus must have pissed someone off at CBS sports for the knuckleheads in charge to even think about keeping the best announcer they have off the air. There must be a pecking order or something that is being practiced there. The fact of the matter is, Gus brings excitment to the games with his style of game calling. Billy packard is a know it all and boreing. Jim Nance is cute , pretty, and a monk. James Brown is a nice guy but boreing as well. People want to see the upsets that will play out in the tuornament each year and they want to hear Gus calling it.
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Love it. He can’t even put together complete sentences…ohh!…WHATTAGAME!…Larry Bird!
That’s my favorite. Let’s see: Mustachioed MVP of the team? Yup. White? Check. Game Winner? Must be Larry.