Thank you for your insight blueseats. I can only take credit for raising the issue of Carmelo's treatment by the PA announcer. Someone else brought up the issue of the fan chants.
holfresh - If Mike Walczewski, the Knicks PA, can be corrected for his stereotypical and over-the-top verbal abuse of Danilo Gallinari, he can make adjustments on Carmelo Anthony. Gallo complained and the Italian schtick was toned down. The treatment for Carmelo Anthony is not only inappropriate, it is consistently irritating in its redundancy. Every hoop by Carmelo is proclaimed as if Melo just discovered the cure for cancer. There is no recognition of game flow or importance of the basket in the context of the game. It is overbearing and too loud.
The legendary Knicks announcer, John Condon, was a master at never over-hyping player recognition in the early stages of a contest. He tailored his calls to fit he game. Everyone was treated he same. "That was Bill Bradley", might be his call in the first quarter.
Walczewski makes the mistake of segregating Carmelo into special treatment land. Carmelo deserves no more special treatment than any other Knicks player because it is a team game and Amare has contributed just as much, if not more, to the change in culture. The Stoudemire call works for me. It is crisp and to the point. To over-emphasize Anthony is a slight to Amare and the rest of the team. The similarity to his Marbury call conjures up a sing-song treatment that borders on derogatory.
The Carmelo Anthony call should be delivered quicker and with passion... and only when Carmelo goes over 30 points and the Knicks are not down by more than 14 points.
Footnote:
The Knicks have two public address announcers. Steve Scott works as a fill-in PA announcer. He has also done the public address announcing for several college games at The Garden. Scott has the deeper voice and can be sometimes heard during Sunday afternoon games. He has potential.
My kingdom for the artistry of the master of basketball ceremonies, Dave Zinkoff.
4/2/2011 1:35 PM