Ive listened to every episode for the past two years, but struggling staying onboard as a listener. I’m guessing I’m not alone.
The Good. I know for many this doesn’t matter, but I appreciate that is not laced with f-bombs. A major tick for me on why I listen
The Good. WIndy and McMahon are great. It feels they try to give the benefit of the doubt to players, teams, coaches, refs, whoever. They are not looking to disparage others or put blame on others. It’s hard to listen to media personalities that are always looking to put blame on someone or something instead of focusing on the good. It is necessary at times, but not all the time.
The bad. Bontemps. He needs to be off the show. For something this high quality and this broad of a reach and with so many great talents available, I don’t know how he has risen to this kind of platform.
He is becoming insufferable. He is constantly cutting Windy or Mcmahon off mid sentence. He has a “know it all” mentality. I’ve thought a few times over the past few weeks if you had a word counter on an episode Bontemps would have way more words than the other two because he’s constantly interjecting himself. It feels like he is 50% of the show, Windhorst 30% and McMahon 20%. And if somebody makes a different point of view he gets defensive, he can’t allow for a point of view different than his. People who put others down to try to raise themselves up has always tasted sour. He does this frequently.
The last episode on game 1 of OKC vs San Antonio was his worst. I couldn’t wait to hear what the podcast had to say about one of the most unbelievable games I have seen, woke up excited to listen this morning. Mabye we would hear about
-Chet’s block at end of regulation
-Wemby’s logo 3
-Carusos hustle and saving a ball from out of bounds and throwing it off Wemby
-Castles dunk over Shai
Some of a sampling of incredible, unreal play, hustle, and heart. Instead what do we hear on the podcast?
-Thunder gave that game away (Bontemps). Instead how about 2 Goliaths totally battling it out and the Spurs won the game. (Windy tried to make that point, Spurs won it not OKC gave it away, but Bontemps wouldn’t have it)
-The whole game, and possibly even the whole series can be pinned pn a bad possession by Jalen Williams with 42 seconds left. Williams should’ve given the ball to Shai. (Bontemps). How about instead the incredible play of Williams after coming back from surgery. I know he was only 11-25, but that’s pretty dang good in a game like this. And how about it’s harder than you think to just get the ball to Shai when Castle is draped all over him that possession. How about unbelievable one on one defense on him and team defense preventing Shai getting the ball. I thought to pin the loss on that Williams possession wasn’t fair at all to Williams or the Thunder.
-SGA and Jalen Williams just weren’t good enough (Bontemps) instead of incredible defense by combination of Harper, Castle, and Wemby.
-The spurs are better without Fox. (Bontemps). Fox didn’t even play the game and he’s catching strays from Bontemps. Windy tried to counter but Bontemps wouldn’t let him. Fox could’ve really helped with ball handling duties (Castle 11 turnovers!) but no, instead it’s Spurs are better without Fox, gotta have a negative take from Bontemps.
Another thing that’s really started bothering me. His sarcasm/mocking/insecurity/know it alliess have really shown up in the past few months. 3 instances.
1-He has done this consistently teasing/bullying (whatever you want to call it) with Windhorst “discovering Wemby” and other players. The amount of sarcasm and mocking that is there to something Windy has never claimed or been arrogant of is kind of crazy and not funny at all.
2-His refusal to say anything kind about any draft reform besides his own ideas shows his arrogance.
3-His take on the end of the Cavs/Pistons series and the ref not making that call on the Thompson/Allen loose ball was understandable. But not understanding that people can have a opinion that it wasn’t a foul, including myself, many other prominent NBA media, and the NBA itself shows his “I’m right and everybody else is wrong” side.
I want to continue being a listner because it has some unique things that no other basketball podcast has. But Bontemps either needs to be a better team player, or someone else needs to be found to take his spot.
