Anyone else think Jim Gray was a bit out of order last night?

A couple of Jim Grey's "Greatest Hits"
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnbK3wc9vps[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Ilv2Aax8o[/ame]

 

Probably in a "textbook" broadcaster sense he was, but Jim Gray has earned the right and is expected to ask the "tough" questions. Also Showtime took Gray knowing his reputation for doing this, see his interview with Pete Rose at All Star game.

 

When did he earn that right?

He doesn't know **** about boxing.

He is a provocateur and an attention *****, with no real expertise in any one sport.

 

Assuming he fights someone worthy of fighting for his title ie. Bute, Dawson, Hopkins...he will get beat, the dude is shitty point blank. Check my posts, I've been saying this for weeks. I'm not shocked, the only difference between this and the Dawson fight, is that Bhop didn't wait as long to press him as Dawson did.

 

He's earned it by being in the broadcasting business for 20+ years, interviewing the absolute best athletes of our generation, he is consistantly acknowledged by his peers and organizations that oversee such things as one of the best at what he does. He's not necessarily one of my favorites, but he obviously has no trouble finding work, so someone must enjoy him and I respect his contributions and opinion.

 

FFS, he was quoting overall punch stats like they're the be all end all in scoring a fight without room for any other factors (like the ten point must system, for instance)...and was being cocky about it, too.

 

Hey IB. Did you watch the Ulisis SOlis fight?? How did it look I see it was a MD but it was fought in Argentina so i dont know if it was a hometown thing.

 

I haven't seen it yet. It sounds like Ulises got a very raw deal.

 

Holy ****... I can just imagine Larry Merchant with that deadpan look on his face, speaking to the camera while Katsidis breaks down sobbing in the background...

I know I shouldn't laugh....

 

I don't.

He's one of the absolute worst at what he does, and always has been.

His peers will of course publicly say complimentary things about him - ie, if Al Bernstein was asked with a camera and mic in his face what he thinks of Jim Gray he'd speak positively about his colleague but I guarantee you it would be purely out of professionalism/politics. In a candid moment, kicking it with Al and having a couple of beers, if you brought up Jim Gray's name he'd most likely say he's embarrassed to have to work with that hack.

He gets work because he's a) pushy and standoffish, which networks think is good for ratings and b) recognizable - as you say, having been around for 20+ years, but since when does longevity equal greatness? (for instance, did he really add anything to the Lebron James "Decision" special? No. He was juts a familiar face to sports fans...an ugly, annoying but familiar face).

His "tough questions" are usually either completely irrelevant or about subjects that have already been discussed ad nauseum.

 

haha gotta agree with that!

 

Gray was WTF outta line, v

 

I thought it was a fair question? You were significantly outlanded, out thrown, I mean how the **** do you feel you "clearly won"...I mean Pascal said that, so like how the **** do you arrive at that conclusion Jean? I don't think it's out of bounds to ask the man to elaborate on what was a stupid answer. People ask "what do you expect him to say"...uh, for starters maybe just be honest/real. "I don't know Jim, it was a close fight, and a fight I realize I could have lost, which is just as dissappointing to me as if I did lose. Thanks to all these fans for coming out and supporting me, I wish I could have put on a better show for them, but I got the draw, I retained my belt and I will look at how I can improve from here. Hats off to Hopkins for fighting a great fight and making it very difficult for me to do what I intended, but I'll be a better fighter because of this experience." End of story, he didn't clearly win, he didn't believe that either, and looked dumb trying to say something he didn't believe to be truth.

 

Yeah Jim was obviously quite pissed about the decision. No need to take it out on Pascal though, the guy tried his best but he got schooled by a better fighter than he expected to see. It was obvious that Pascal's plan was to wear Hopkins down after winning some early rounds. He must have known he'd be too athletic for Hopkins early on but that the old dude would figure him out at some point. He was probably banking on the lead from those early rounds combined with the championship rounds, which he had every right to expect. Hopkins has faded in all of his recent fights. This time he was motivated.

But yeah, dick move by Jim Gray. How are you gonna expect a professional fighter to say "Yeah, he beat me and I was lucky to get the draw here in my backyard." That **** just doesn't happen and that's what's awesome about boxing.

 

He's always a dick, and it's a bit much with Pascal who struggles with English as it is.