What's Your Beef, Van Gundy?

ESPN's color commentator Jeff Van Gundy has seen some success in his coaching career. Even though he never won the championship with the New York Knicks or the Houston Rockets, I considered him to be a solid coach.

My thoughts of him as a commentator, however, are a completely different topic.

The other night during ESPN's NBA broadcast, Jeff Van Gundy stated the following; "Can Washington be banned from national TV?" After his broadcast partner mentioned that the Wizards have a "part-time" commitment to defense, Van Gundy came right back and stated that a "part-time commitment would be an upgrade".

Mr. Van Gundy, you have not been "tortured" into having to work a Wizards game this season. You didn't have to work one last season, either. In fact, the only national games that the Wizards have been on this season were on NBA TV.

As I recall earlier in the season, you mentioned you didn't want to pay full price for your NBA League Pass since it was a shortened season. So if you didn't get the League Pass, then you don't have to bother watching Washington at all.

I know that the four-letter network and their "broadcasting neutrality" is laughable at times, but for Van Gundy to say this about a team, that is not the worst in the league, is more embarrassing for ESPN than it is the Wizards organization.

Is he saying the same things about Charlotte? How about New Orleans? I can confidently state that Washington is headed in a much better direction and is showing much more potential than those two teams.

So what's got you fired up, Jeff?

To hear these types of comments from Charles Barkley doesn't bother me. The reason being that Barkley (at least plays it off as if he) has watched more Wizards footage from one game than Van Gundy has seen all season. He recognizes that the Wizards have some key players. He has commended Javale McGee's and John Wall's play. He has given suggestions on how to make the team better instead of just going the low route and trashing a team he probably knows nothing about.

So my advice to you, Mr. Van Gundy, is the following; you don't want to be subjected to the Wizards? Fine. Why don't you buy the NBA League Pass and flip the Charlotte game on tomorrow night.

Then you can let me know how bad you think the Wizards really are.