NBA analysts don't hold back on new season - USA Today

TV networks can sound like ad agencies for the sports they've paid millions to cover.

Dennis Wierzbick, US Presswire

Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane is about to become a TV star on NHL 36.

Dennis Wierzbick, US Presswire

Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane is about to become a TV star on NHL 36.

But some of the NBA's TV analysts must not be getting the talking points. ESPN/ABC's Jeff Van Gundy, working two of the season-opening Christmas TV games, says the "money-grab" of the lockout and shortened season will lead to "a season of skipping steps. …There will be some discouraging games for all teams."

The kvetching is varied. TNT analyst Steve Kerr, on San Francisco radio KNBR, said he was "angry all day" over the NBA nixing the Chris Paul-to-Lakers trade. Chris Webber, of the league's own NBA TV, says the new schedule with "back-to-back-to-back games is just unfair." NBA TV's Greg Anthony, asked whether LeBron James will hear as many boos now: "With him, I don't think you'll hear as much vitriol because of the lockout. The league as a whole will get the vitriol."

Reality TV: Ross Greenburg, who helped pioneer going behind-the-scenes with teams while presiding over HBO Sports, tonight (6:30 p.m. ET) debuts the first of his Versus series NHL 36, which will get all-access to a player or coach for 36 hours ? Wednesday night's show focuses on Chicago's Patrick Kane.

Asked about complaints HBO's latest 24/7 NHL behind-the-scenes series that also debuts Wednesday night (10 p.m. ET) ? "I can't stand it," New York Rangers coach John Tortorella told Newsday, "I just don't want people in our locker room ? Greenburg seems perplexed: "I don't understand it. When you do reality sports you're supposed to bring mike and cameras and be a fly on the wall…Reality TV has scripts. With Kim Kardashian, I don't know if that's her real life. Athletes have real lives and we just report them. And the NHL has opened its door to this type of TV, know it's vital to showcase the sport." HBO Tuesday had no comment.

ESPN to U.S. Senate: Speculation that ESPN/ABC college football analyst Craig James will meet a Thursday filing deadline to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for a Texas U.S. Senate seat isn't too surprising, given James' campaign-like texansforabetteramerica.org, where he's decried the "job-killing initiatives pouring out of Washington." ESPN's Mike Soltys Tuesday wouldn't speculate on whether James would be on-air for his next assignment ? ESPN's Dec. 18 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl ? if he's a candidate, saying only that "he told us today he hasn't decided if he wants to run."

Spice rack: In the latest underwhelming matchup to lead to Monday Night Football's ratings being down 8% so far this season, Monday's Seattle-St. Louis game drew 7.2% of U.S. cable/satellite TV households. …ESPN, which already owns and operates seven college bowl games, Tuesday announced its first line of official BCS apparel. Items won't come embroidered with calls for a college football playoff. …Another TV tidbit from spreading cultural phenomenom that is Tim Tebow: Robert Griffin III, reading Top 10 reasons he won the Heisman on CBS' David Letterman show, cited Tebow "for putting in a word with the man upstairs."

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