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Anyone else find ESPN'S lotto coverage weird and cringy

Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:45 am
Posted by JohnnyKilroy
Cajun Navy Vice Admiral
Member since Oct 2012
35349 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:45 am
The below quote stolen from a redditor:

quote:

I’m not sure if this has been posted by someone already, but I just wanted to say that the things they let Rachel Nichols and Woj say during the draft lottery were blatantly disrespectful to all of the teams, save for maybe the Knicks, to all of the other draft picks, and to the Pelicans. Not to mention the fact that everything they were saying was being blasted throughout the entire venue.

First off, there were over a dozen teams in attendance last night. The only one that they chose to talk about: the Knicks. They talked unbelievably liberally about Zion going to NY, as if they had already won it. However, as I doubt any of them realized, the Knicks had the same chance of obtaining the #1 pick as the Cavs and the Suns, the latter of which I don’t even think was mentioned once on the broadcast.

Then, there was Zion. Rachel Nichols kept referring to the #1 pick as “who gets Zion.” Every time she said that or mentioned the kid, the camera would cut to the embarrassed 18 y/o who was just there to see what team picks where. There is no guarantee that Zion will go #1 overall. It is very very likely, but not guaranteed. Not to mention that they did this in front of a large number of draft prospects in attendance. What does all of this coverage and press mean to them if it’s only going to Zion?

And finally, the Pelicans. Woj made every team’s case for a possible AD trade that night. Whenever a team with chances of getting a top 10 pick was mentioned, Woj had to slip in that they may be looking to use that pick as an “asset” to trade for AD. I’m honestly very happy the Pelicans won because the disrespect they were receiving the whole night was greatly trumped when they won the first pick.

Now I get all of these things are said ten times over on any other sports news broadcast. However, as I said, Rachel Nichols audio was blasted for everyone at the event to hear, including the draft prospects and team representatives


Some other thoughts / observations:

Rachel calling RJ Barrett a consolation prize to his face

Woj declaring LA's jump into the top 4 strengthening their asset list for an AD trade while the camera is on Kuzma

Billas asking Zion if he would take Barrett over Ja while Barrett (his teammate and presumably friend) is sitting next to him

Rachel asking Barrett what it's like going from the #1 prospect to the 3rd best prospect.

Rachel to David Griffin: "When I say Zion, you say?"
This post was edited on 5/15/19 at 11:47 am
Posted by WestCoastAg
Member since Oct 2012
145179 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:46 am to
yes, it was a disaster
Posted by JetsetNuggs
Member since Jun 2014
13932 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:49 am to
People are saying Zion clearly looked like he didn't want to go to the Pels.

To me he looked more embarrassed that he was getting sucked off by the media while there were like 10 other players in the room.
Posted by auzach91
Marietta, GA
Member since Jan 2009
40257 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:50 am to
Rachel was beyond horrible. None of her "jokes" landed. Also hated how they kept asking RJ about Zion like its not his day too. Kid could turn out the best of them all and hes not even getting a moment
Posted by TexasTiger08
Member since Oct 2006
25529 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:51 am to
This is par for the course for ESPN now.
Posted by tatervol
Lexington, TN
Member since Nov 2008
2158 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:52 am to
Completely agree. They did everything but give Zion a bj on air and then we wonder why these star nba players are divas.
Posted by Tomherman
Member since Sep 2016
1481 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:52 am to
It was a 30 minute trian wreck.
Posted by Jester
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
34327 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:53 am to
quote:

People are saying Zion clearly looked like he didn't want to go to the Pels.


100% sour grapes
Posted by JetsetNuggs
Member since Jun 2014
13932 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:54 am to
quote:

100% sour grapes


Posted by Hester Carries
Member since Sep 2012
22445 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:54 am to
quote:

Billas asking Zion if he would take Barrett over Ja while Barrett (his teammate and presumably friend) is sitting next to him



Bilas looked Barrett in the eyes and said "This time last year you were presumably the number 1 pick"
Posted by McCaigBro69
TigerDroppings Premium Member
Member since Oct 2014
45086 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:54 am to
Have draft picks always gone to the lottery?

I found it odd that they were even there to begin with.
Posted by boom roasted
Member since Sep 2010
28039 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:54 am to
That is a little odd. Can anyone explain why they were there?
Posted by WestCoastAg
Member since Oct 2012
145179 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:55 am to
theyve been going to the lottery for a while now. at least 5 years or so
Posted by ShaneTheLegLechler
Member since Dec 2011
60178 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:56 am to
It was really bad

ESPNs television NBA coverage in general sucks
This post was edited on 5/15/19 at 11:56 am
Posted by genro
Member since Nov 2011
61788 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:56 am to
Rachel Nichols is a fricking horrible reporter and has a mustache
Posted by oleyeller
Vols, Bitch
Member since Oct 2012
32021 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 11:57 am to
Worst part was when they had rj and zion up for an interview. then rachel started gushing over zion #1, pulling out magazine covers and shite.. poor rj just sit there like well fuk me, and zion was just embarrassed.
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28504 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 12:20 pm to
I watched on YouTube after I heard about the pels getting #1. I thought I was watching a spoof or something. Incredibly awkward
Posted by lsutigers1992
Member since Mar 2006
25317 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 12:29 pm to
Didn't watch. Didn't check. Found out at 5:30 AM by looking at TD. It was nice.
Posted by Ed Osteen
Member since Oct 2007
57498 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 12:36 pm to
I know it wasn't the first year but I don't understand why the players getting drafted need to be there. It's a recipe for awkward moments and interviews. If the players have to be involved, have a camera on them from a watch party or something
This post was edited on 5/15/19 at 12:37 pm
Posted by SPEEDY
2005 Tiger Smack Poster of the Year
Member since Dec 2003
83374 posts
Posted on 5/15/19 at 12:36 pm to
TNT should have sole NBA broadcasting rights
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