Bill Walton Rips Ben Howland on ESPN, Stops Short of Saying He Should Be Fired [Video]
Bill Walton has always been a tremendous basketball announcer, and Thursday during the UCLA/Washington game, the Westwood legend went all-in on Bruins coach Ben Howland. After taking repeated jabs at the poor attendance at Pauley, Walton’s on-air partner Dave Pasch basically challenged Walton to come out and say whatever was really on his mind. This made for great, powerful TV:
Pasch: “OK, well, that’s obvious. How do you play better basketball?”
Walton: “Better style.”
Pasch: “Alright, so, is that the coach? Is that the players?”
Walton: “It’s the coach.
Pasch: “So you’re not a Ben Howland fan?”
Walton: “No.”
That’s a damning indictment of a coach who, as Pasch notes, took the Bruins to three straight Final Fours. Is it accurate? A little bit, certainly. The real story here is Walton, who is criminally-underused by ESPN and remains one of the best in the business. Walton, 60, has had some health issues, and the hope here is that he replaces Bob Knight in 2013 and does more than just West Coast games.
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83 Responses to “Bill Walton Rips Ben Howland on ESPN, Stops Short of Saying He Should Be Fired [Video]”
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February 8th, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Not everyone is Brad Stevens
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2013/02/07/why-butler-basketball-holds-the-key-to-organizational-success/
February 8th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
This sentence is the most TBL thing ever.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:51 PM
Also, pretty sure the “health issues” you gloss over are why he doesn’t do too many games. Pretty sure his knees and back are a complete wreck.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Ben Howland looks a lot like Steve Czaban
February 8th, 2013 at 2:52 PM
I love Bill Walton as an announcer but I completely understand how someone would hate him. He’s like the Napoleon Dynamite of announcers.
/Did not like Napoleon Dynamite
February 8th, 2013 at 2:53 PM
I remember some interview he did where he questioned whether he really wanted to live any longer with how bad the pain was.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
By the way, why you like Walton (I do too) is why I like Dan Deirdorf. He rips everyone, no sugarcoating like Simms or Aikman. Also love Dakic, who may be even better in the studio than on games.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
The real story here is Walton, who is criminally-underused by ESPN and remains one of the best in the business.
back when the rockets ruled the nba, i used to put the nbc games on mute and turn it on houston radio because walton was so bad.
that was 20 years ago, has he gotten any better?
February 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM
But sure, let’s put him in an airplane 4 times a week.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Psh. That wasn’t even the most TBL thing in this post. This was:
/checkmate
February 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Pretty much sums up what Walton did to Howland.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
No he came out and said his neck and back are finally on the mend. Had a radical procedure done, tons of pins, etc. He was at the point he could only be out of the bed a few hours of the day. Excellent recent SI feature on him (past 2 mos or so).
Bill may be wrong on occsaion, and he inaccurately portrays the Wooden era, but he gives a unique opinion that is candid yet rarely self-indulgent or angry.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Now someone needs to go get Lew Alcindors opinion. If both of the best college players who ever lived say to get rid of the coach, it should be done.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:56 PM
There needs to be a blend. Rip people when it’s justified, but not to just rip them. That’s the radio host coming out in you as that’s almost all they do.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
When Bill Walton started doing color commentery for NBC, he was all over the place. I imagine wildly medicated, with a flower-power west coast mindset that was foreign to the American viewing public.
Over time, he became more presinct and had improved delivery.
It’s like when people bitch about Cris Collinsworth. Color guys get better into their careers yet some of these viewers cant get past shit they said 5 years ago in some mundane game.
February 8th, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Walton is the perfect antidote to Vitale, who’s never thought anything was a coach’s fault and actively campaigns to preserve the jobs of coaches under fire by fans/administrations.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:00 PM
Such a great point.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
And I don’t still don’t get why. Collinsworth is awesome. Are there any announcers people don’t bitch about? It’s such a lazy complaint.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:05 PM
True about everything too. People are really quick to decide that someone sucks without realizing people get better with experience.
For me the example is Scott Brooks who I thought was terrible when he first started coaching the Thunder. I don’t think he’s great now but he’s definitely improved.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:06 PM
And I don’t still don’t get why. Collinsworth is awesome. Are there any announcers people don’t bitch about? It’s such a lazy complaint
yep. him and al are the best.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:07 PM
,blockquote>And I don’t still don’t get why. Collinsworth is awesome. Are there any announcers people don’t bitch about? It’s such a lazy complaint.
I like him too. But early on he had an outsized opinion of his playing career, which seemed to merit mention everytime a pass was dropped.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Not on the internet. I like Brent and Kirk, Al and Cris, both McEnroe brothers, Rece Davis doing anything and Chris Fowler is the best in the business. But I stand by my assertion that Gus Johnson is terrible.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Doc Rivers
February 8th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
I could be hallucinating but I swear Gruden’s gotten better in the MNF booth as well.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
But that’s what No. 15 was talking about. Let it go! He’s great now. Also, when you are speaking live for 3+ hours, you’re going to fuck up. It happens. Crucifying someone for that is just asinine.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Results of Sue paterno’s investigation into the freeh report will be out Sunday
February 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Shulman. The best
February 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
I feel this way about Lunchlady Doris Burke. She’s become one of the best color analysts in the game.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
I loved Walton when he was on the Clippers broadcasts with Ralph Lawler. They might have been pretend hating each other (they claim to still be friends) but it was fun listening to them make fun of each other. Ralph was particularly mean. Made for a great time watching some awful teams.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Ohhhhh people here in the burgh hate Collinsworth because he might have had an anti Steelers tone a few times. Who cares? It’s not like he is killing your dog or anything.
/might be a tad off there at the end
February 8th, 2013 at 3:11 PM
No, but Joe Buck really is horrible.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:12 PM
I agree. I’m just pointing out what Collinsworth did that people are hung up on. I also watch with Bengals fans, which multiplies the effect.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:12 PM
If I had to rank the current college basketball analysts as far as enjoyment to listen to I would go
1. Bilas/Raftery (together)
2. Dakich
3. Walton
4. Jimmy Dykes
5,678,912,109,381,903th Bob Wenzel
Hopefully, Walton gets back to his sarcastic self. Best Walton moment I remember if from ameaningless Nets game a few years ago. Guy on the Nets takes an egregious flop and
Walton goes,” That’s horrible. HORRIBLE. That should be a crime,”
Tirico chuckles and goes “A crime? Crime of what?”
Walton – “A crime of human decency.”
I was dying.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:13 PM
The national NBA analysts are good for the most part. The worst is probably Reggie Miller, who isn’t bad. Van Gundy, Hubie, and Kerr are all fantastic
February 8th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
She’s awesome.
God that’s awesome.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
I watched a Heat game with their local crew calling it over the weekend and it was jarring. So many “KABOOM!” calls.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
I heart pat foley
February 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
I don’t bitch about Gary Thorne. He’s awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4a0pWTbgac
February 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Worst call I can think of. Not sure if he always does this, but I’ve heard him sullenly use it for an opposing three too
February 8th, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Chris Webber is reaaly good as an analyst.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:17 PM
Wow, Dakich is a douchebag. My dad caught him jumping our fence into our pool. Fuck that cocksucker
February 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Gary thorne and bill clement calling nhl for espn was awesome.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
The guy was talking about his mother in law being in the hospital, I would presume she was dying of shame.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Dopeman has the best stories
February 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
The one year with Webber and Gary Payton together on NBAtv was an absolute treasure.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:18 PM
As bad as you think national guys are, local announcers are the worst of the worst. The Celtics announcers are just unbearable.
/except Rick Jeanneret
February 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Macca and Ian Darke are a great listen. They have fun in the booth yet still call a good game.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
/Mees’d
February 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Webber has really found his calling as an NBA analyst. He’s like a literate version of Barkley.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:19 PM
It’s going to be a shame when somebody hires Kerr as head coach in the next few years. Definitely my favorite in any sport. Chris Spielman is really good to. Doesn’t get much credit
Of course the great, always polarizing Johnny Miller
February 8th, 2013 at 3:20 PM
too*
February 8th, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Rick jeanneret, a buffalo treasure. MAY DAY MAY DAY MAY DAY
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
He is. He’s honest in his criticism and always talks about how awful tackling has become. Too things I appreciate.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
You know, UCLA is 17-6 and 7-3 in conference. They’re not going gangbusters and yeah have lost a few recently, but they’ll make the tourney and will probably end up with 20-22 wins on the season.
So why are the Pauley faithful staying away in droves? Oh that’s right, because California sports fans are basically the worst fans in the world.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
He’s pretty bad. I liked Mark Jackson.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
/Brian Jones’d
//Jeff Buckley’d
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
What? Gorman is a pro’s pro and Tommy is an NBA treasure
February 8th, 2013 at 3:21 PM
The lack of Uncle Verne in here is unforgivable
February 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Albert and Kerr is probably my favorite national announcer team in any sport.
he’s another guy who has slightly improved. it doesn’t help that he’s stuck with McCarver and Aikman. when Francona filled in for McCarver a little while ago it was like a totally different booth.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Huskerdawg, my brother in anti-gus johnson sentiment
February 8th, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Kerr is great with Marv for the NBA, but I thought he was pretty bad during the tournament and for the Cuse/SDSU outdoor game this year. Kept saying that SDSU will have a better second half because they weren’t shooting into the wind and the glare was bad. Then they went out and had an equally horrendous second half. May want to point out that Cuse was just better there ol’ Stevie.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Gotta stick to together.
/HA HA
//YYYYYEEEESSSS
///HE GOT IT!!
////on 1st and 10 when down by 20
February 8th, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Walton was hilarious last night talking about how “two cosmopolitan cities such as Seattle and Los Angeles” could produce such shitty basketball teams.
The problem is Howland is a horrible fit out there. The fans want “Showtime.” They dont want 55-54 Big 10 games.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Him and Raftery are an awesome NCAA tournament pairing
February 8th, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Just talking about Buck the other day. I think he’s gotten a lot better since the helmet catch fiasco in the Super Bowl.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
I muted the tv last night. Can’t stand Walton. He had to have been high as a kite last night. This is a complete 180 from the reaction I got from my westcoast UW/UCLA friends.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:25 PM
Joe got 3 strikes and he used them all up. The Randy Moss “disgusting” incident, the Tyree catch, and of course, Joe Buck Live.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Walton is polarizing*. I get why people hate him.
/* – hate when people use polarizing to describe someone EVERYONE hates.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Also, when you are speaking live for 3+ hours, you’re going to fuck up
I did a 4-hour radio show one a week for four years. If you can go with out saying “uhh” or “basically” each show, it’s lile throwing a no-hitter and hitting for the cycle in the same game.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:28 PM
The problem is Howland is a horrible fit out there. The fans want “Showtime.” They dont want 55-54 Big 10 games.
Let’s not put this on the whole area. UCLA people are the absolute worst. Worse than USC people, even
February 8th, 2013 at 3:29 PM
Just replace them with 20 second pauses a la Jim Rome.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:30 PM
In fairness to the times shouldn’t the SEC be getting attached to rotten basketball now?
February 8th, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Bad SEC basketball is par for the course. UCLA should be a perennial national title contender
February 8th, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Just replace them with 20 second pauses a la Jim Rome.
I had plenty of these, but mainly when I was talking and didnt realize the I turned the wrong mic on.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:33 PM
In the SEC, basketball is the cute little sport they play in Kentucky.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:36 PM
Scripty, link us to a sound bite
I had a show from 2-6 am once a week in idaho. Mostly played music, said stupid shit and caught buzzes off the janitor’s unfiltered lucky strikes
February 8th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
Sorry, cursed. Dierdrok cockgobbles the people he likes and shits on those he doesn’t.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:39 PM
And Florida is the school that figured out how to compete in both.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Any references to JoePa shitting his pants will be redacted.
February 8th, 2013 at 3:49 PM
sound bite
shit son, some of those shows were on tape.
/I could edit and produce a commercial on the old tape cartridge system
February 8th, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Atlanta, Miami (anything Florida, really) are miles, miles worse. The Lakers, Giants, Warriors and Niners have great fan bases.
February 8th, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Poor Verne unfortunately is heading the way of Pat Summerall, he constantly gets stuff wrong and regularly mixes up names.
February 8th, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Pretty sure Walton covers the west coast games so Dickie V doesn’t have to.