Kenny Smith < Kobe Bryant

April 24th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

There have been a few parodies of Kobe Bryant’s infamous (and incredibly fake) Aston Martin jump, which spread virally last week. The ad was cool enough, I suppose, though I fear too much viral Nike marketing is making me cynical about advertising in general.

Anyway, leave it to the TNT crew to deliver the most raucous parody of the ad yet. And people wonder why this is the best sports show on television.

{HT: SportsbyBrooks}

Kenny the Jet gets it

May 21st, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Solid interview up at the Chicago Sports Review today, in which Kenny Smith — the guy sitting next to Charles Barkley during TNT’s NBA broadcasts — talks about all sorts of good stuff, from the Spurs to his youth tournaments.

The real eye-catcher, though, is his take on the Imus situation and the way that has bled into criticism of rap:

I think in our communities and our life, I think there are certain things you accept if you are in certain environments if you are in jail so to speak and certain things you would expect if you are in a boardroom. There is a different acceptance and expectation and there definitely was in his case. I think that’s where it is in the community. Last thing on that, I think in terms of rap music, I look at it as the same way I look at if I have friends who act and play skinheads in movies and things like that. I look at it as an art form. I don’t take them literally. I think rap music has somehow gotten people to believe that everything they say is true when rock music, country music, R&B, no one else believes every lyric except for in rap.

Thank you. That’s sort of what I’ve been trying to say to everyone who has tried to turn the focus onto rap artists for something some old douchebag said. Everything in rap songs isn’t meant to be taken literally. It’s so simple, I’ve been talking my way outside of it for like three weeks now. Thanks Kenny, for laying that out there.

No wonder why TNT’s show is so good — besides being funny, Kenny is smart, too. Charles? Well, at least Charles is funny.

Charles Barkley knows more about television production than Ernie Johnson

May 14th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Well, sort of.

I didn’t stay up late enough to catch this last night — I know, I’m a baby — but in TNT’s always-amazing postgame show, what appeared to be some typical tomfoolery from the crew was actually a mistake only Charles noticed. Take a look:

Too funny. Can’t believe Ernie didn’t pick up on that before Charles did — and didn’t believe the Chuckster when he pointed out the discrepancy. Usually, EJ keeps things together during the highlight packages, and Charles and Kenny just sort of ramble on about whatever they please. Half the time, it doesn’t even seem like they know highlights are being played. I stand corrected, I guess.

Oh, and also, you know tonight’s show is going to be wild, because Shaq is on set. If the show goes anything like Shaq’s season, he’ll take 80% of the show off, show up at the end, and make a conspicuous early exit.

HT: Awful Announcing