For far too long, the sports television world has suffered through a seemingly bottomless pool of painfully mundane analysts, either offering their common, uninspired thoughts or bucking the trends simply for the sake of argument. Pregame shows. Halftime shows. Postgame shows. All day long on ESPN, including the former champion of sports analysis, Sportscenter. 95% of these are now unwatchable. There is hope, however, as the sages at NBAtv have finally realized that viewers want insight and personality. Enter Chris Webber and Gary Payton.For starters, Webber and Payton were both elite NBA players for many years, which allows them to break down professional hoops like few others can. On top of that, they're both recently retired, offering knowledge on the current game as well as current players. But what makes them infinitely more entertaining is their incessant sniping and hilarious belligerence. Between their nuggets of actual NBA wisdom the two trade barbs, ridicule other athletes, and reminisce on their playing days. They truly seem comfortable, and watching them crack each other up (and whoever has the fortune of being alongside) is a refreshing alternative to endless diatribe.
Here's the rub: most people don't get NBAtv. Luckilly, the world wide web is a great place to find video clips. When Charles Barkley was serving his suspenion from TNT last month, they showcased the Webber and Payton show, and the results were terrific. The two ran circles around TNT staples Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson, and while they might not be the most polished, politically correct, or professional analysts, when taken with a grain of salt, they are absolutely the most entertaining and insightful. Keep an eye out, with any luck they'll be given a bigger audience.
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