A lot of people couldn’t understand the simple concept of the “team stream” at this time last year. They were confused as to why the people calling the Final Four on a certainly channel were so brazenly homerific. Of course, these same people wouldn’t know what the word “brazen” means anyway.
Despite the fact that the team stream designation was right there on the screen the entire time, people seemed to be very confused.
There were hundreds of complaints pertaining to announcer bias. It will happen again this year. I guess these idiots expected to be called fair. Of course, if you want to get the Duke team stream just watch any game in which Jim Nantz, Jay Bilas or Dickie V. is doing the color commentary! Hey yo!
Anyways, for the first game, the Duke Team Stream will be featured on TNT and the Michigan State Team Stream will air on truTV. The second game will feature the Kentucky Team Stream on TNT, with the Wisconsin Team Stream on truTV.
Is it fair that both Big Ten teams ended up on the channel that we all forget exists 49 weeks out of the year? Probably not. But whatever, let’s just roll with it.
“Michigan State Team Stream” on truTV at 6 p.m.
Brian Anderson, play-by-play – Anderson is a veteran and versatile Turner Sports commentator who has done play-by-play for leading properties such as the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NBA on TNT and MLB Postseason on TBS, among others. He has also previously called games for the Big Ten Network.
Mateen Cleaves, analyst – A Michigan State legend, Cleaves led the Spartans to an NCAA Championship in 2000 and was names the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Cleaves is the only three-time All-American is school history and was named Big Ten Player of the Year twice. Currently a studio analyst for CBS Sports Network, Cleaves’ Michigan State jersey was retired in 2007.
Shireen Saski, reporter – a Michigan State alum, Saski is currently a CBS Sports Network reporter and has previously worked for the Big Ten Network. The veteran broadcaster has also been the recipient of three Michigan Emmy Awards, then working for Fox Sports Detroit.
Of course, all of these “team streams” are HOMERIFIC, but the Kentucky one really took it up a notch last year. The UK announcers went above and beyond the call of duty. For that reason, I’m really looking forward to watching the Kentucky game on that stream this year.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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