MSG to Johnson: Hop on the bus, Gus
By PHIL MUSHNICK
Last Updated: 4:51 AM, October 21, 2010
Posted: 1:40 AM, October 21, 2010

Gus Johnson, the shouts-a-lot, play-by-play radio voice of the Knicks since the 1997-98 season -- and a frequent fill- in for Mike Breen on MSG Network's Knicks' telecasts -- is out at the Garden, The Post has learned.

Over the last two seasons, Johnson, 43, had annoyed MSG Network shot-callers by missing many games to work outside TV gigs, including CBS' college basketball and Showtime boxing.

Johnson's primary replacement is expected to be Mike Crispino, an MSG TV and radio multi-tasker since 1992. Johnson, in 1997, replaced Mike Breen, who moved to MSG TV.

Johnson's hype-reliant play-by-play style -- he's easily excited -- seems to make him more attractive to broadcasting executives than popular among genuine sports fans.

Say it ain't so! I could see how some folks find him annoying, but I love Gus, especially when he's doing radio. I'm going to miss him.

Does MSG somehow get better ratings when people are listening to Breen defend the refs for half of the game?

Gus makes the game more exciting. He called that game against Denver where Craw turned the ball over, stole it back and hit the trey to win it. I thought Gus would have a heart attack, but it was great TV.

I think Kenny Smith already made reference to MSG cutting the pay.

Kenny Smith bolts Knicks' booth over dispute in philosophy

Bob Raissman
Saturday, October 11th 2008, 5:39 PM
The way Kenny (The Jet) Smith sees it, a difference in philosophy is reason enough to exit the Madison Square Garden Network and his Knicks analyst role.

"They told me they want the telecast to have a local feel. After doing TNT (where he works the NBA pre- and postgame shows with Charles Barkley) I can't do that," Smith said. "I don't want to go backwards. That's not me. That's not really what I want to be part of. No hard feelings. None whatsoever."

When a voice starts talking about "local" this or that, he might be referring to the overall quality of the telecast and a conscious decision to spend less on a production - do it on the cheap. More likely, he is talking about "national" money, which - for a sports broadcaster - is a significantly bigger payday than a "local" check.

When it comes to the Knicks, it's no secret Garden boss James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan has not been reluctant to spring for stupid moolah. The man don't just pay, he overpays. Larry Brown and others (who still may be cashing Garden checks) can attest to this.

Now, it appears Dolan, through his MSG Network robots - prez Mike Bair and executive producer Lydia Murphy-Stephans - has decided to go scroogie on MSG mouths.

Smith, who was brought in with much MSG fanfare in 2005 to back up Walt (Clyde) Frazier, was now looking at a major pay cut. Garden Weasels say Smith was getting paid $10,000 per game to yack. He worked about 20 games per season. Going into the 2008-09 season, Smith was offered $3,000 per game.

That ain't no trim. That's a shaved head.

Mr. Smith just chuckled when asked if "local" economics played a part in him leaving MSG. Yet, he did say at TNT "everything that surrounds the production" has a "national" feel.

"Look, I liked being part of the Garden," Smith said. "But when they decided to take different directions, different steps, I couldn't be part of that. I want to be part of something that has, at least, a delusion of grandeur. I guess MSG now has a realistic view of who they really are."

Gus dialed in

While Smith is leaving, Gus Johnson, who was in a tough negotiation with MSG suits, will be returning to the radio side. The Excitable One has inked a multi-year deal (likely three) with MSG, but will be earning his money the hard way.

In order to justify what it will be paying Johnson, MSG has tacked on a number of other assignments to his radio play-by-play and his occasional role as a backup on TV.

Does this mean Johnson will be wandering through the crowd selling hot dogs during his halftime break?

Not so fast, says Clyde

Frazier came to the mike in a show-me mood Wednesday (Knicks-Raptors), expressing healthy skepticism over Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo, up-chuck offense.

"That philosophy may be good, but it's not how many shots you take," Frazier said, "it's how many you make."

Of course, as expected, Mike Breen chimed in with vanilla, trying to explain D'Antoni's offensive scheme to Frazier. Most of the time, especially in cases such as this one, it's better to just leave things alone.

And always let Clyde be Clyde.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2008/10/11/2008-10-11_kenny_smith_bolts_knicks_booth_over_disp-1.html

knicks1248 wrote:

iSergio wrote:Gus Johnson was too emotional and too much of a homer for my taste for Mike Crispino stinks. I would prefer Kenny Albert.

when i first listen to him, I thought he was a die hard knicks fan the way he get sooooo excited after every half decent play, but since I have the NFL pack and he's usually doing a game for cbs, I relize this guy just get excited no matter who's playing..

It's kinda of funny and over the top, but he's still good for sports

Exactly he gets you hyped as a fan. Even when the Knicks were losing he and Frazier were good to listen too.

kam77 wrote:Do you think it was because of the comment he made about running from the cops?

No it's about money.

MSG wants to pay garbage to their announcers. I posted an article from 2008. Kenny Smith left for the same reason.

Gus was the man. The guy bought energy to the game even when we were losing. The other guys including Clyde just dont bring that extra energy.