Whatever happened to Bill Walton?

A few years ago, it seemed like he was being groomed as the NBA face of the four-letter network. I admit that I am not a huge follower of the NBA or the four-letter, but I don't seem him at all. Did he die?

 

I saw him working the Cavs-Nets Game 3 a couple weeks ago.

 

Strange man, Bill Walton.

Those monologues he does on shows like Mike&Mike and Dan Patrick are some of the most bizarre things you will ever hear on radio.

 

He was experimented with a little, and now he does a podcast for the WWL, I think. They figured out that he's an acquired taste for most, even though there are those who like him a lot, and that Hubie Brown was a better lead analyst once he became available.

 

OK, now, you're a sports cable network executive and want to find a good lead NBA analyst. Now, what you are looking for is someone who can sound authoritative, who can entertain a little, pass the conversation around, use phrases like "in the painted area." So what do you do? You get yourself a Hubie Brown, a Steve Kerr, even a Reggie Miller. But under no circumstances do you ask a Bill Walton to do that kind of job.

 

Out-fucking-standing.


P.S. Walton is gone because he's a miserable hack of a broadcaster.

 

[bill]This was the most horrific post in the history of SportsJournalists.com[/walton]

 

Actually, Hubie got bumped down to the B team in favor of Mark Jackson, meaning ESPN/ABC will have its fifth different broadcasting team calling the Finals in as many years having the TV deal.

2003 - Brad Nessler, Tom Tolbert, Bill Walton
2004 - Al Michaels, Doc Rivers
2005 - Al Michaels, Hubie Brown
2006 - Mike Breen, Hubie Brown
2007 - Mike Breen, Mark Jackson (not sure if they're keeping Van Gundy through the Finals)

 

Can't leave out a Hubie TUP reference.

 

[hubie]Come on!!![/Brown]

 

If you smoked as much dope as Bill, you'd be weird too.

 

It was Gilmore or Moses or Darryl Dawkins who said a few years ago in a radio interview how Walton used to refuse to bathe for weeks at the time, then post up on gamenights causing opposing centers and forwards to fight back their puke as they attempted to defend.
Walton used to follow the Dead and would neglect his hygiene for long stints.
I think he's really cerebral, though, and would enjoy, I think, hanging out with him nowadays.