I enjoy watching Nancy Lieberman and Pam Ward do commentary on women's basketball forESPN. Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli were the prime commentators for many years but Pam and Nancy have taken over. Pam's awkwardness works with Nancy. Like Elgin Baylor and his famous twitch that got him and Jerry West open. Nancy has a way of stepping in and rolling off her phrases and sentences with a comment of her own but allowing Pam to move on. That is what makes them standout. Pure Poetry! Lots of energy and honesty without the Simon Crowell enjoyment of being an antagonist.
With the second-half about to begin or out of a break, I really enjoy the preparation, talent, and work ethic put into the game by these two. There is mutual respect without the backhands. Their minds are pumping like coaches during timeouts. With other commentators, the game usually creates that effect due to the communion with the crowd, closeness of the game, and rival perspectives. With women's basketball, the game hasn't garnered that crowd excitement, close games are viewed like blowouts, and rivals are meaningless. Yet, Pam and Nancy make the game enjoyable because of their many perspectives (coaching, playing, interviewing, training, reporting, and selling) and how to process that info as it relates to the game at task. The excitement of the game elevates just by those two. Sort of like Billy Packer and the late Jim Thacker when they did ACC basketball during the 70's.
Pam and Nancy can think and respond to each other two plays ahead. This allows them to use pauses effectively while maintaining energy because their minds are working. Whereas other broadcasters, it is dead air and you see them react defensively and burn themselves out. Likewise, they cmake adjustments when things aren't working due to their preparation but understanding their roles as a team in situations and how to react to them offensively. They maintain a high-level but an even-keel energy throughout their broadcasts.
A good studio team is needed to feed off Nancy and Pam's magic. Stacy Dales, Trey Wingo, and Kara Lawson agree too much. Which is fine but they lack perspective because they are too young to be studio hosts. Very mature but unless they had a father or a mother who was a player and is willing to embrace the past like the Alberts, it doesn't work. For instance, Stephen Curry really absorbs history well but Tameka Catchings doesn't. Now, Stacy and Kara as well as Doris Burke who occasionally comes in are all in the now and go. ESPN shouldn't try to change them but get them to blend with Nancy and Pam. The studio will have a less dead feel and have more of a livelier effect.
Stacy and Kara are hungry for knowledge as well as Trey but ESPN is not helping them at all. Pam and Nancy can do both but they are needed on the court not the studio. Also, Beth what is up with you on the sideline and and Debbie, working with Dave Pasch?
Postscript: I just loved the way Heather Cox handled the joy of Candace Wiggins after she got Stanford into the Final Four. When Heather started to ask questions, Candace was speechless and felt bad about it. She started to deprecate herself in front of Heather and the camera. Instead of annoyance or pity, Heather calmly reassured her, stuck with Candace's emotion without interference and added words to the scene when necessary. Great job!
