People & Personalities: Walton's Farewell Draws Remembrances

Writers Will Miss Walton's Enthusiasm For Game

ESPN NBA analyst Bill Walton yesterday announced that he will not be returning to the net's NBA coverage, and AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Brian Powell wrote it was "obviously a sad day for the NBA community." Powell: "Even though you may not always enjoy Walton's commentary, you can't deny his passion for the game of Basketball. Things just won't be the same without him" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 11/2). In L.A., Diane Pucin wrote, "Was he a goofball sometimes? Absolutely. But Walton never tried to be cool and trendy." Walton instead "substituted strong opinions and boundless enthusiasm," as he "truly loved what he was doing, and his love of the game showed." Pucin: "It was Walton's passion. He will be missed" (LATIMES.com, 11/2). THE BIG LEAD wrote the "best NBA announcing trio in the last decade" was NBC's team of Marv Albert, Snapper Jones and Walton. THE BIG LEAD: "You will be missed, Bill" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 11/2). DIME MAGAZINE's Gerald Narciso: "Regardless of whether you loved or hated his quirky style behind the mic, he was always memorable" (DIMEMAG.com, 11/2). SPORTINGNEWS.com's Dan Levy wrote while Walton's "commentary during a basketball game is somewhat of an acquired taste -- Walton, like many color analysts, often seemed more focused on being the game than commenting on it -- there are few who can claim to be a better radio interview" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/2).

PAINFUL LESSON: In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones wrote the suspension of WDAE-AM morning host Dan Sileo perhaps will be a "cautionary tale for sports-talk radio hosts, reminding them that their words are not spoken in a vacuum." Jones: "People are listening, and if you make claims as facts, you better be right. ... All media outlets need to be held to the same journalistic standards. But if radio hosts are going to assume the role of news-breaker, as Sileo did, then the news must be accurate" (TAMPABAY.com, 11/1).

STRONG DEBUT: In Las Vegas, Jeff Haney wrote Mike Tyson's color commentary of Saturday night's fight card at Treasure Island in Las Vegas was the "most surprising and delightful performance" of the night. Tyson was "handling the color commentary for the Internet pay-per-view feed of the preliminary bouts on promoter Don King's Web site." Haney: "It was a new venture for Tyson, but one I hope he continues to pursue, perhaps on a bigger stage" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 11/2).

NOTES: NBA TV has added former NBAer Brent Barry to its roster of announcers. Barry will appear as a studio analyst for "NBA GameTime" on Mondays alongside host Andre Aldridge and analyst Eric Snow (Turner Sports)....Former Univ. of Arizona men's basketball G and assistant coach Miles Simon has been hired as a commentator for FSN. This season will mark Simon's "first season working Pac-10 telecasts, after he worked nine Big West games for ESPNU last season." Simon said that he is "not sure if he wants to get back into coaching or stick with television work" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 10/30).