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Mike Miller

Mike Miller has been msnbc.com's college basketball editor since 2003. It's a position he relishes; no wonder considering he transferred to Kansas to watch Paul Pierce play. Most of his favorite sports memories involve college hoops, usually during March, when every waking moment is spent thinking about March Madness.



Knight's ESPN debut just routine TV

Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 8:45 PM
Filed Under: ,

Bob Knight’s ESPN debut was missing just one thing.

Sure, it had decent analysis, some expected guffaws between Knight and longtime friend and fellow analyst Digger Phelps and the requisite Q&A session where Knight answered e-mailed questions.

But it lacked the one thing ESPN hired Knight to provide – compelling TV.

Along with Charles Barkley, John McEnroe and Warren Sapp, Knight’s one of the few sports personalities who routinely provide entertaining quips and quotes. He doesn’t always rely on four-letter words or offensive remarks, either. He’s smart enough to think on his feet and when it comes to college hoops, few people know the game better.

There’s no other word for Wednesday besides routine, though. It wasn’t boring – that would be the C-USA games – but it lacked punch.

(Actually, it went just about how one would expect. Knight was OK for his first time, but I wouldn’t call him comfortable on camera. For starters, he wouldn’t have seen as many teams play this season as someone like Digger, Jay Blias or Doug Gottlieb because for most of the season Knight was coaching his own team and not watching everyone else.)

I’m sure the safe setting was mostly by design. For all of his time spent on camera, being an analyst is different than jousting with reporters or holding court in postgame press conferences. ESPN has to ensure Knight’s comfortable spending so much time on camera and saying the same thing again and again.

As the March wears on and Knight’s on camera more often -- hopefully without Digger so we can avoid the avuncular analysts – maybe he’ll be a little looser and let loose with the freewheelin’ critiques. After all, Knight’s a gifted basketball mind who can break down what any team is doing wrong and how to fix it.

If that comes through on camera is another matter. With any luck, we’ll get better conference games on Thursday (rather than Wednesday’s expected results) and Knight can explain what happened.

If nothing else, when he does run into Jeremy Schaap in the halls at ESPN, I hope a camera crew is around…

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Comments

You had me until you mentioned Gottlieb and the all credibility was gone....thats like comparing Knight to Britney Spears....

Tim, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:21 AM)

I love how MSNBC's headline for this article on the main page was "Knight's ESPN debut a bore," yet the article itself says "It wasn't boring."  Way to mislead the readers.

I thought Knight did just fine for his first time in that role.  He obviously has more basketball knowledge than almost anyone, and just needs to get more comfortable - e.g. looking at the camera.

Gene, Lexington, Kentucky (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:49 AM)

Knight needs to go away.... J

James, Cinci (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:56 AM)

Are you kidding me?    KNIGHT was great, he is knowledgeable beyond beleif, it'r refreshing to see and hear someone talk about real game situations and not be like doug gottlieb
you couldn't be more off   knight was GREAT, DECENT analysis????   his analysis was spot on, did you think he would get on there like some clown???

Scoo, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:31 AM)

I couldn't disagree with you more.  Knight was fantastic!  Try to leave your prejudice and ignorance behind the next time you write an article for the public.  

Tom, Winfield, PA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:36 AM)

I would say that anyone who would take the time to critique a guy for his first time being an analyst is nitpicking for then stating the obvious.

For his first time the guy did fine in my book. Pretty much just what one would expect. Unless one was unreasonably expecting a polished battle hardened veteran of TV analysis. Like you aparently.

Casey (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:37 AM)

I believe as the conference tournaments progress and then the NCAA Tournament gets under way there will be more compelling and exciting games, as well as questionable calls and unexpected results.  Then Coach Knight will be able to share his opinions and we will hear what ESPN has hoped he will bring to the broadcasts.  In the meantime, let's keep Coach Wooden in our prayers.  He's the best ever, period.

Tommy DeRamus (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:38 AM)

Coach can't catch at break.  First he is fodder for the media, most of which never played the sport, for the way he conducted himself in dealing with them when he was coaching and now that he is one of them, in a sense, he is criticized for being boring.  At least it was recognized the games on Wednesday were less than exciting.  You can bet that when he does say that someone made a dumb coaching move or play he will be chastized for speaking his mind.  Hang in there Coach and just do what you want.  At least you know what you are talking about.

Steve, Louisville, KY (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:11 AM)

Speaking of boring.  Wow! I caught myself napping through this. Nothing better to write about?  

John Doe, Seattle Wash. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:21 AM)

He was hired as an analyst, not a circus performmer. Unfortunately breakdown analysis can be a little dry.

Get a Clue, Dork.

You would relate more watching VH1 or MTV

David Pars, Hobart Indiana (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:40 AM)

Hopefully you were smart enough to insist upon a pre-nup before hiring Bobby Knight, or at least give yourself first right of refusal within 30 hours or 30 days.Dump this loser,or,lose this and probably many other viewers. you can't be this desperate for talent.

Rich Sauncy, Scottsdale Az. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:45 AM)

Give him time to get his feet wet. I'm just happy to get to see him again. He looks great, and he's going to be a lot of fun. He's just got to find his comfort zone.

Debbie, Bloomington, Indiana. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:09 AM)

It is interesting that you said it wasn't boring, but the headline on the main page says it was a bore. Typical journalism...

Debbie, Bloomington, Indiana. (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:15 AM)

Bob Knight should have never been hired.Awful coach with a history of agorance and abuse. Will be an even worse tv announcer.

tom morrison (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 1:48 PM)

As an NCAA B-ball fanatic and watcher of all analyst shows, give me more of coach Knight! I thought he was great for the first time and look forward to when he is commenting on the bigger games to come.  He'll just get better and better as his comfort level in front of the cameras rises.  Go Tar Heels!!

Dan Fowler, Salisbury, NC (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:33 PM)

Mike Miller, you're an idiot.  Basketball and basketball analysis is not "compelling TV".  Basketball analysis is filler between the halves and adds length to programming for commercial reasons.  Remember Mike, its about attracting viewers...$$$$$.  In fact, college basketball is only gripping or forceful when teams play well and they are playing for something of substance.  You should try something you're capable of doing, maybe "Brittany Watch" or the similar.  Bob Knight is just fine.

Pablo Bencovich, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:26 PM)

Obviously you expected and want the Coach Knight that is shown time and again for its sensationalism. Anyone that really understands, realizes that he is first and foremost a teacher and I for one am ready to listen and learn. Maybe you should do the same thing!

Greg Arnold Terre Haute, Indiana (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 7:02 PM)

This the coach who forever changed the game of basketball with his coaching genius. Almost every successful coach today either learned from him first-hand, or copied elements of his style. There has never been a better student of the game, and if just a portion of his knowledge is imparted to the truly interested fan, they will be better for it. I am not a Bob Knight (the person);however, we fans of college basketball couldn't have asked for a better analyst.

C.J.Sanders, Shoals, IN (Sent Saturday, March 15, 2008 7:32 PM)

I don't care for Knight, but he said some useful things about what to watch for. It was nice to see someone who was not so smooth and more like an old coach. Which is what he is! I prefer him to Digger or whatever old Dukie happened to be available.

Sam Goodstein, Lake Worth, Florida (Sent Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:11 PM)

I agree, although Knight does provide an added dimension, it really wasn't that exciting or over the top.  About the only off keyed thing he said was when he picked Pitt to go all the way (?).  When he did that you could see the other analysts question Knight's rationale thinking that the Old Man had lost a few screws, but they chose to go light on him.  So now that Pitt lost to Michigan State in the 2nd round, I guess that means Knight's out of a job, right?  LOL!

Eli Button (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 5:43 PM)



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