Gear Review

Aside from climbing my favorite sport has to be basketball.  In terms of team sports (not including my invention of Climball) basketball takes the cake.  The pace, the depth, the teamwork, the parity, and the fun are all at the height of sports entertainment.  Of course, anyone could make claims that the sport they embrace is the best, but basketball offers several things that other sports just can‘t approach.  The most telling is that all players play both sides of the ball, meaning all players must play both offense and defense in order for their team to be successful.  You will not find the commitment to both sides in any other team sport.  Not soccer, not football, not hockey, not baseball, not lacrosse, and not water polo.

Dr. James Naismith certainly had no idea just how brilliant his invention was when he hung a peach basket in the Springfield College gymnasium in order to give his students something active to do during the long cold New England winters.  Bonus points to Naismith for embracing the Springfield College Humanics Philosophy of educating students in both mind and body.  Aside from his invention blossoming into a multi-billion-dollar industry, his goal of giving young people something to do while enhancing both mind and body is achieved with every dribble and every shot on every playground and court in every country around the world.

Like climbing, the bar for entry into the sport is low.  All you really need is a ball!

Once that has been achieved, the possibilities are nearly endless.  From playing the game to studying the game, from pick-up to organized teams, from the casual fan to extreme fanaticism, and from message boards to professional commentators, there is something for everybody!

On most days, my commute includes some combination of travelling to school, to the climbing gym, and back home.  On climbing trips, that commute can last much longer, from a few hours to a few days. The point being, I spend a lot of time driving, and in turn, I spend a lot of time listening to the radio.  My personal preference for audio is Sirius XM.  I like the subscription for several reasons, but primarily it stems from my disdain for local channels, disc jockeys, and shock jocks.  The song to commercial ratio on local radio is nearly untenable, and local sports talk radio is exasperating.  But I’m not trying to influence anyone to move to Sirius XM, I’m just explaining my go to source while behind the wheel.

On Sirius XM my channel of choice is NBA Radio.  I have no idea why local radio hosts can’t just talk like normal perople? Everyone has to yell or play games or give opinions that are totally biased and unfounded.  NBA Radio is everything that local radio isn’t.  The hosts provide explanations and breakdowns of games and news.  They tend toward objectivity and declare when bias influences their judgement.  With the backing of the NBA, they are able to ensure great guests, and expert analysis from players, coaches, and writers. 

That being said, not all NBA Radio hosts and shows are equal, and I’m here to rank the best and worst that NBA Radio has to offer!

NBA Radio broadcasts three regularly scheduled weekday programs, The Starting Lineup starting at 6AM CST, followed by Give and Go at noon CST, and NBA Today at 3PM CST.  Weekends offer additional shows including NBA Weekend, NBA Insiders, and The Bottom Line Sports Show.

If you’re looking for basketball related information, you can’t go wrong with any of these shows, but if you’re looking for value added content, some are clearly better than others.

If you love basketball and there is only one show you can listen to, then The Starting Lineup has to be the choice.  Hosts Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine are truly brilliant.  Not only does Isola have the voice, personality, and experience that make for the perfect radio host, he offers insight, and background information that only someone with an acute understanding of the world beyond basketball could deliver.  Isola is an old school reporter carved from the same block as greats like Red Smith, Jerome Holtzman, and Edward Murrow.  Isola is the best that NBA Radio has to offer, and his skills make everyone around him shine.  Co-Host and retired NBA Forward Brian Scalabrine is the perfect complement to Isola.  Scalabrine is smart, funny, and open-minded.  The timing between this dynamic duo is terrific, and I’m not sure a better radio pairing is possible.  The Starting Lineup is the best that NBA Radio has to offer and I’m not sure that a better show possible.

Give and Go is hosted by Rick Kamla better known as Kam and Antonio Daniels.  Daniels is a retired NBA guard and brings a level of depth and thoughtfulness to the show that would otherwise be left wanting.  His insight is respected and his skillset for radio is apparent.  Rick Kamla could be great as a producer, or maybe as an extra in a silent movie. I often wonder if he’s related to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, or perhaps witnessed a crime that he’s been able to leverage into a job.  I cannot fathom why Rick Kamla has platform with the potential to reach 34 million subscribers. He’s the radio equivalent to the old uncle who is constantly saying “Did I ever tell you the one about…” only Kamla would start off by referring to himself in the third person while calling himself ur boy.  “Did ur boy Kam ever tell you the one about…” Kamla would actually be great as a chatroom moderator for fantasy basketball enthusiasts.  Despite Antonio Daniels’ ever present professionalism, Rick Kamla’s total lack of self-awareness and ineptitude cannot be overlooked.  Unless you are desperate for hoops talk, I’d avoid this show altogether.  Even if you are desperate for hoops talk, there are much better ways to induce agony upon your ears.

NBA Today is organized madness.  I can’t tell if hosts Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson are actually insane or just putting up a persona.  They have the rapport of an old married couple which somehow finds harmony in their love/hate relationship.  They’re generally at each other’s throats often yelling, but somehow, they make it work.  Eddie Johnson is a former NBA sharpshooter, who doesn’t back down from Termine’s aggressive style of broadcasting.  Justin Termine who is in his mid 40’s has the voice and disposition of salty mariner born in the mid 40’s. There is entertainment in their disputes, and when you cut through all the BS, there’s depth to their analysis.  Airing NBA Today during rush hour traffic actually works.  Their shouting serves as bit of a release valve for the times that other drivers may cut you off.  When you think of Justin and Eddie, it’s a little bit of Archie Bunker meets Andre the Giant.  It’s not a combination that you could readily imagine, but somehow it comes together.

I don’t get a chance to listen to the weekend shows as frequently, but there are loads of talent up and down the weekend programming.  You won’t be let down listening to any of the following: Gerald Brown, Brian Geltzeiler, Zach Harper, Jason Jackson, Mitch Lawrence, and Sam Mitchell.  They are all very good, and often times, the talented hosts on this list will cover for and join in on the weekday programs as well.  There are two additional hosts that stand out and deserve a special mention.  In all honesty they would be the perfect replacement if, for example, a particular midday show were to go in a different direction.

Amin Elhassan is a treasure!  As a former NBA executive, he brings a perspective that is not shared by anyone else on the network.  He offers honest insight mixed with an outstanding sense of humor.  In addition, his wealth of knowledge on all things pop culture, offer an appealing bonus to basketball junkies and casual fans alike!

Rick Mahorn is a rock. He doesn’t get shaken and isn’t afraid to call people out.  Fans, coaches, colleagues, players, Rick Mahorn bows to no one.  As a retired NBA enforcer, you might not expect Mahorn to serve as the most calming voice on the radio, but that is exactly what he is.  The insight he offers from his experience playing, coaching, and broadcasting, is unmatched.  When things make sense, Mahorn is there to embrace it, and when they don’t, Mahorn is there to let you know.  I love when I catch him on the radio, he makes it tough to leave the car once I arrive at my destination.

From peach baskets hanging in the Springfield College gymnasium to satellites beaming audio from outer-space, basketball has come a long long way! I get the feeling that Dr. James Naismith would be proud, and I get the feeling the he too would enjoy the programming on SiriusXM NBA Radio.