The 5 Things in Sports I Miss Most

As sports fans we tend to always look back at the past and claim how great things "used to be."

From the way players used to play the game to how announcers used to call the events. Things have certainly changed, some for the better, others for the worse.

This slideshow displays the "5 Things in Sports I Miss Most." The list is in no particular order and feel free to add a list of your own!

NBA on NBC

From 1990 through the 2002 NBA season "The NBA on NBC" ruled Sunday afternoons and evenings.

The catchy John Tesh music combined with the pure sports voice of Bob Costas, made for an electric day of NBA watching. Whenever I heard that music start up my pulse sped up with excitement of a great day of hoops.

Who can forget all of the stars and rivalry games that seemed to be played weekly? Bulls vs Knicks (Ewing and Jordan), Lakers vs Blazers (Magic and Drexler), Lakers vs Bulls (Magic and M.J.), Jazz vs Sonics (Stockton and Malone vs Kemp and Payton).

All in all it is safe to say that the NBA viewing experience is not nearly the same. ABC/ESPN knows this and has recently tried to copy NBC's format of a triple header on Sundays; unfortunately, I don't think Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson's arguing voices will pull in the same amount of viewers.

Lets face it, the NBA was better back then and part of the reason was "The NBA on NBC"!

Heck for old times sake... here are two links that will bring back the memories!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UooitEU6AtE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR7cd_N2LPU

Baseball Playoffs With Decent Announcers and Channels

I am not asking for Vin Scully for every playoff game but please, somebody, tell TBS and Fox that their announcers SUCK!

Listen, I really have no issues with Joe Buck and Tim Mccarver but everyone else on the Fox baseball staff is nothing short of awful.

One of the TBS announcers last year for the Dodgers and Cubs Division Series was a basketball announcer. I know Joe Buck and a few others do multiple sports but please at least choose a person who is decent to listen to.

Also, there are a pretty good number of people, fans of teams, who don't have TBS. Why not just play two games a night on Fox or NBC? Bring back Costas, bring in legends like Vin Scully or Chris Wheeler. Can't get them? Fine, use Steve Lyons more... use Al Michaels, please just do something.

Even ESPN's baseball coverage is awful. I enjoy Jon Miller and Joe Morgan but aside from them, ESPN's crew is just as poor. Who wants to listen to Steve Phillips talk about the Yankees and Mets all night long? We get it Steve, you are a homer.

Here is an example of a 1996 playoff game between the Yankees and Orioles and the infamous play on Derek Jeters "Homerun".

http://www.truveo.com/The-Jeffrey-Maier-home-run/id/1137547600

Dynasties

I know some of you may not agree with me but at least hear me out.

Dynasties are thought provoking, exciting, and bring out the most passion in fans.

Whether you hated or loved the Yankees of the late 90's, I would bet my car that you would tune into those playoff games to catch a glimpse of what would happen.

How about Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls winning six titles?

The fact is, if you love those teams then your interest is obvious and when you hate those teams, your interest is just as obvious because you tune in hoping, praying for a miracle... David Tyree's catch anyone?

Sports don't have dynasties anymore... minor ones sure but we may never see what we saw just a few years ago. This is the free agent era and players don't play for the name on the front of the jerseys, they play for the team that draws the biggest dollar signs. It isn't limited to players either...coaches are part of the blame, as we saw today.

Privacy

I know it is 2009 and I know technology rules, but please can people have some damn privacy!

Tom Brady can't take an innocent walk down a New York street with his gal Giselle without photos being snapped every other second. Two hours later, the photos hit the internet and now Brady is a marked man.

New UK Coach John Calipari had to avoid camera crews and news anchors as he entered his house today...did he invite them on his private property?

Honestly, I know some celebrities ask for the attention but many athletes and coaches don't. They merely do their job and play or coach the sport they love... leave them alone and report something actually news worthy!

Funny Super Bowl Commercials

I love the Super Bowl and I love the Super Bowl commercials, wait let me rephrase that...I USED to love the commercials.

Each and every year the Super Bowl is hyped like never before. The game is analyzed like a murder trial and the commercials are supposed to be the best in years.

Well, quite honestly, I feel like the commercials have gotten worse and worse every year. In fact, last year was the first time in years that I actually got up during commercials. Have we really lost our creativity? I don't think so, I just think we forgot how to have fun...hey maybe that will make my next list....