I have no idea why they’re doing this, but ESPN is going to flip-flop announcing crews for their pair of January 7th Basketball games. The team of Mike Tirico, Mark Jackson and Jeff Gundy will be moved to the Duke-Davidson game at 7pm and then Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale will be on the Nuggets Heat game at 9pm. Via USA Today….
NBA announcers Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Mike Tirico will call Duke-Davidson, followed by Dick Vitale — who called ESPN NBA games in the early 1980s — and Dan Shulman on a Denver Nuggets-Miami Heat NBA game. ESPN executive Norby Williamson says it’s “a natural progression to make connections between college and the NBA. We try to cultivate basketball fans.” So, can we expect more on-air swaps? “We never say no to anything,” he says.
I guess in theory it’s a good idea, but it just seems a bit hokey to me. NBA announcers could benefit from hanging around the College game a bit, and checking out potential draft picks, but I really don’t see what the point of Vitale calling an NBA game.
ESPN Announcers Will Trade Places (USA Today)
