C's can do no wrong in announcer's eyes
If Johnny Most were alive and lighting himself on fire smoking during radio broadcasts, he'd be mortified how preposterously prejudiced Tommy Heinsohn is when "analyzing" Celtics games on CSN New England.
Yet throughout Saturday night's 89-85 victory in New Orleans, his rooting reached an all-time high in lack of objectivity. Even for someone who has pledged allegiance to the Celtics his entire adult life as a player (nine Hall of Fame seasons, eight titles), coach (nine seasons, two titles; 427-263 record, .619 winning percentage, clear cut HOF credentials) and TV expressionist.
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Heinsohn spent almost the entire transmission ripping, ragging and ridiculing the referees.
"Call a foul! Call a foul! Call a foul!" he bellowed at one point late in the game when
Paul Piercefell down of his own volition as if mugged while being harassed at midcourt by two armed Hornets.
Even when replays show Heinsohn is loud wrong -- and that happens constantly -- he remains unrepentant and not vaguely shy about favoring the Celtics the very next time or 10.
I hate homers. Anyone subscribing to NBA League Pass is all too awfully familiar with who they are -- Sean Elliott, Quinn Buckner, Austin Carr, Mike Rice, Jim Petersen, Grant Long, Tony Fiorentino, Sean Tuohy, Stacey King, Michael Smith, Matt Guokas, Jerry Reynolds,
Eric Snowand Scott Hastings.
They are announcers perfectly unprepared to give a balanced account of what they're witnessing and unwilling to give us the goods on their teams' players -- until they switch uniforms, then it's open season on LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, etc. -- but utterly eager to provide the dirty lowdown on opponents.
Conversely, Clark Kellogg, Stu Lantz, Walt Frazier, Gil McGregor, Mike Fratello, Phil Chenier, Greg Kelser, Jim Barnett, Jon McGlocklin,
Dominique Wilkins Jersey, Derek Harper, Jack Armstrong,Leo Rautinsand Eddie Johnson at least try to be fair.
That's not something Heinsohn goes out of his way to do. However, if an enemy's maneuvers grab him (as did David West's intimidating 32-point, eight-rebounds, two-block, two-steal presentation for the Hornets), he will definitely shower him with aroused praise.
That makes Heinsohn even more enjoyable. Still, what tickles me most is his uncompromising outrage whenever his infallible Celtics get stiffed by a whistle . . . raising cries of inequality to an art form.
That's entertainment! When Heinsohn's hoopin' n' hollerin', the remote remains untouched. Not even during commercials. I wouldn't want to miss a moment of Heinsohn's histrionics.