The old Big Eight Conference has turned out at least three good television basketball analysts — Jon Sundvold, Chris Piper and Greg Gurley. They’re guys with expertise, poise, polish, experience and the wondrous ability not to take themselves too seriously.
Sundvold, a sharp-shooting All-America Missouri guard in the early 1980s, may be downrated by tunnel-visioned Kansas fans because he has Tiger blood and played for Norm Stewart.
Parochialism be damned (anyone else root for Mizzou against Oklahoma this week?). Jon’s a tremendous analyst. CBS’s decision not to use him in the coming tournament structure shows the myopia of network front-office suits.
Perhaps my favorite throat is Jay Bilas, a Dukester from the middle 1980s. Like Sundvold, Bilas does his homework, makes terrific presentations and is darn good off the cuff. Feisty Digger Phelps? He has trouble keeping his ego and arrogance in check, but he’s still good.
Good grief! Are we doomed to heavy tournament servings of eastern elitist Billy Packer, Old Yeller Vitale, Fred White sound-alike Larry Conley and the explosive Bill Raftery? Raftery’s periodic guttural outbursts make him sound as if he’s straining-at-stool.
Piper, a Lawrence High state champ and Kansas University national titlist in 1988, has a pleasing, knowledgeable way of informing you of what’s happening. Been a fan of his a long time. Few really understand what a vital cog Chris was in Larry Brown’s various successes. One of the most underrated Jayhawks ever.
If you haven’t been exposed to the dry wit of Greg Gurley (KU guard, 1992-95) teaming with Kevin Romary on local Channel 6, you’ve missed something. Both Greg and Kevin are well-prepared, irreverent enough to show an edge and have that wonderful knack of laughing at themselves when they goof. They’re not afraid to point out that somebody is lousy, friend or foe, on a given occasion. Their local game-night antics are well worth the view and the listen.
It’s interesting to me that Missourian Sundvold, like KU’s Piper, is a basketball analysis pioneer for our league. Missouri also produced one of the first, and very best, football commentators in Pitchin’ Paul Christman.
Christman as a tailback-quarterback was a Tiger All-American in 1939 and 1940, served in the wartime Navy (1941-45), then played four years with the old Chicago Cardinals, leading them to the NFL title in 1947. After ending his pro days with Green Bay in 1950, he went into television where he did both pro and college games and often was teamed with Curt Gowdy.
Paul, who died in 1971 at the tender age of 51, handled a number of telecasts involving Kansas and always had a lot to offer. He was about the first ex-jock to make it big and was as important as Don Meredith, Howard Cosell, Dan Dierdorf and John Madden. Christman did a lot of significant things first and did them every bit as well as those who followed. He benefited from Gowdy’s guidance in the days when Curt was still pretty good.
l One of the dumbest things Michael Jordan ever did was orchestrate the Washington Wizards’ draft of preppie Kwame Brown when Duke’s Shane Battier was available. Battier could have helped the struggling D.C. club right away. Even dumber, perhaps, will be the pro outfit that has first chance to pick KU’s Kirk Hinrich and doesn’t grab him first-round high.
Kirk might not tear up the league right away, but he’ll be a keeper. He has the skills, the physical ability and the head and heart to give somebody a tremendous long-term entity, like Utah’s heady John Stockton. Overall, Kirk may be a better athlete than Stockton. Kirk’s shown the same kind of staying power and intelligence. And character.
Right now, I might put Hinrich at a guard spot alongside Jo Jo White on my all-time Jayhawk unit. Can’t recall a KU player I ever admired more than Kirk for his intense dedication and devotion to the team.
Nick Collison, at 6-9, 255 and blessed with skills we haven’t even seen fully to date, should also go at least in the top 10 in the draft. Sure, he periodically has trouble finishing shots, but he’s also shown some great moves in the paint, including those surprising left-handed pokes and those scintillating reverse layups. He’s still learning and improving.
Nick also can step out and pop, hit the backboards and play good defense. He and Hinrich have given Kansas four great years and deserve every cent, probably more, which they will get as pros. What a blessing four-year guys like this are to a program!
The fellow I’m feeling sorriest for is sophomore Wayne Simien. This muscular 6-9, 250-pounder has never had the full chance to show all he can do because of so many injuries. Now he’s done for the year. My biggest hope is that his shoulder problem can be corrected so he’s at full-bore for the next two seasons and proves he can stand the brutal professional grind. We’re talking big bucks.
Wayne when healthy can do everything that an NBA power forward must, including hub a defense and patrol the backboards with lust and authority. He’s a terrific threat as a mid-range shooter who can force his guard out of the paint.
A good kid like this you want the very best for him, especially those millions he will command as a first-round choice if he can overcome his ailments. What a shame if his body denies him the big loot.
