I must confess, since SportsNet NY debuted two months ago, I’ve been watching a lot less of MSG’s “SportsDesk”. For one thing, MSG doesn’t feature the spots with the guy that has a TV set for a head. I’m not saying those ads are unrealistic, but it is kind of amazing to consider that such a creature could have two girlfriends on the go.
Anyhow, no MSG means I won’t recognize Steve Cangialosi when he grows up, but the New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman suggests I’m not missing much.
Ever since Dolan purchased the Garden, and everything that comes with it (including the MSG Network), Trautwig’s words ring hollow. The Garden is now a barracks for overpaid losers, executives who are rewarded handsomely to fail, and all the suckers, er fans, who pay exorbitant prices to watch a poorly constructed, heartless Knicks team.
Also, through a series of bad business decisions leading to the loss of Yankees and Mets TV rights, MSG Network, once a model for regional sports networks, is now nothing more than Dolan’s in-house propaganda/marketing arm.
Ironically, that’s why this Brown story is right in MSG’s wheelhouse. When all the Brown-made turmoil was percolating during the season, the Knicks’ TV ratings on MSG were pretty robust for a team that quit on a nightly basis. Now, with Thomas authoring another bizarre chapter of Brown’s soap opera, would MSG’s “SportsDesk” dig into it?
Anyone watching MSG Sunday night knows the answer to that question. Cangialosi (above) led “SportsDesk” with the Devils’ elimination loss to Carolina. Then it was a recap of Sunday’s A’s-Yankees and Mets-Brewers games.
Next, more Devils “insight” from John Giannone and Chico Resch before a report on Miami taking Game 4 from the Nets.
While the story of Brown’s imminent firing should have led the telecast, you would figure this was now the time – during the basketball segment – to air it, right? What came next was truly mind-boggling.
“SportsDesk” presented a Fran Healy “interview” with Don Mattingly. The subject: How Mattingly has helped Jason (The Giambalco) Giambi at the plate. But most of this scintillating one-on-one concerned a new bat Mattingly has created. This was nothing more than a free infomercial for Mattingly.
Maybe, just maybe, “SportsDesk” was saving the Brown story for the end of the show.
Not quite. Cangialosi’s big finish was an extensive report on the Hofstra-Providence NCAA Divison I lacrosse playoff game. Oh yeah, the ‘cast ended with a football Giants Mother’s Day story.