Ernie Johnson & Charles Barkley old footage

[Wardell Curry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9g0Hl1KD9c

Look and listen to how stiff and uncomfortable they both were compared to today.

Damn they've both gotten so much better at their jobs it's crazy.

It comes off as so much more authentic today.

[ArbitraryWater]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9g0Hl1KD9c

Look and listen to how stiff and uncomfortable they both were compared to today.

Damn they've both gotten so much better at their jobs it's crazy.

It comes off as so much more authentic today.


Well, its an interview with a player. Its not a talking show situation.

It wasnt supposed to be funny.

[Wardell Curry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dnGogGhoHU

Barkley on day 1 already much more relaxed than an interview during playing days.

But still nothing compared to today.

[Wardell Curry]

Well, its an interview with a player. Its not a talking show situation.

It wasnt supposed to be funny.

True but if you look at the interviews they do today on the same show the atmosphere is completely different.

[Wardell Curry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNsUL8wRV0I

One of Kenny's first appearances. You can just tell the energy is different and far more uptight. Cool to see.

[Proctor]

Check out slam40dunk channel on YT - loaded with full episodes of early Inside the NBA. I have no idea how Vecsey lasted as long as he did on there. :lol

I watched Inside the NBA religiously up until about 7-8 years ago, in fact went out of my way to watch it..now just if I happen to be free. The political and off topic sidebars have diluted the pleasure too much. It peaked in 2020 with the BLM garbage but was already getting bad well before then with the democracy/Trump commentary. Ernie tries too hard to be 50% "cool dad" and 50% Walter Cronkite and the arbiter of whats good and bad and it's tiresome. Just talk basketball or stfu. Seems like every time I turn on their studio coverage or shows on the road they're hOnOrInG LA FiReFighTers, putting on some lame concert from a no name musician or letting Shaq DJ and scream "ArE YoU Not EntErTained!?!?" They have incrementally strayed more and more from just talking about the game and goofing around and it really makes me question how much I will miss watching it weekly. Thankfully the playoffs have a more serious vibe to them because the regular season coverage is getting worse and worse.

[ArbitraryWater]

Check out slam40dunk channel on YT - loaded with full episodes of early Inside the NBA. I have no idea how Vecsey lasted as long as he did on there. :lol

I watched Inside the NBA religiously up until about 7-8 years ago, in fact went out of my way to watch it..now just if I happen to be free. The political and off topic sidebars have diluted the pleasure too much. It peaked in 2020 with the BLM garbage but was already getting bad well before then with the democracy/Trump commentary. Ernie tries too hard to be 50% "cool dad" and 50% Walter Cronkite and the arbiter of whats good and bad and it's tiresome. Just talk basketball or stfu. Seems like every time I turn on their studio coverage or shows on the road they're hOnOrInG LA FiReFighTers, putting on some lame concert from a no name musician or letting Shaq DJ and scream "ArE YoU Not EntErTained!?!?" They have incrementally strayed more and more from just talking about the game and goofing around and it really makes me question how much I will miss watching it weekly. Thankfully the playoffs have a more serious vibe to them because the regular season coverage is getting worse and worse.


repped

[FKAri]

True but if you look at the interviews they do today on the same show the atmosphere is completely different.

You had to be more PC on TV back then. Shaq's no homo jokes from Inside wouldn't fly. A player could destroy their reputation if they fumbled in an interview. Chuck's I'm not a role model commercial was considered edgy. Nowadays we all know Zion's impregnating p*rn stars and crowds are taunting Ant for forcing his girl to get an abortion.

[warriorfan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNsUL8wRV0I

One of Kenny's first appearances. You can just tell the energy is different and far more uptight. Cool to see.

Practice makes perfect. I agree it is cool to see the progression.

[Wardell Curry]

Just talk basketball or stfu.

I agree with your post and this sentiment. The thing is, people take this as meaning you are a racist. Nah, the reality is this used to be one of our escapes and it got ruined for various reasons. There is enough political talk shoved down our throats everywhere else. We don't need it in our entertainment as well. This isn't 60+ years ago and the narratives that it basically still is are verifiably false.


You had to be more PC on TV back then. Shaq's no homo jokes from Inside wouldn't fly. A player could destroy their reputation if they fumbled in an interview. Chuck's I'm not a role model commercial was considered edgy. Nowadays we all know Zion's impregnating p*rn stars and crowds are taunting Ant for forcing his girl to get an abortion.

True but I would argue Charles Barkley personally is a noteworthy reason why. That guy spoke his mind and pushed the envelope on TV during "normal" viewing hours I think like nobody before.

[warriorfan]

I agree with your post and this sentiment. The thing is, people take this as meaning you are a racist. Nah, the reality is this used to be one of our escapes and it got ruined for various reasons. There is enough political talk shoved down our throats everywhere else. We don't need it in our entertainment as well. This isn't 60+ years ago and the narratives that it basically still is are verifiably false.



True but I would argue Charles Barkley personally is a noteworthy reason why. That guy spoke his mind and pushed the envelope on TV during "normal" viewing hours I think like nobody before.

Charles also handled it with a lot more tact and nuance than we would like to believe (because he did a great job at portraying that)

Charles mastered the fine line of being carefree and off the cuff but still staying on the safe side while dancing the dangerous line of going too far. He’s immensely talented, and part of his talent is downplaying how talented he really is and making himself likable to the average guy.

[iamgine]

Look at Shaq's early days. It's a cringefest.

[1987_Lakers]

Look at Shaq's early days. It's a cringefest.

It really was. Shaq was hated by everyone when he first joined.