Deadspin: jim gray

Media Approval Ratings: Jim Gray

Leitch — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:20:01 EST

True story: Way back in 1998, when we were a wee lad logging agate text at The Sporting News, one of the magazine staffers sent a company-wide email after Jim Gray's famous Pete Rose interview demanding that all writers sign a petition saying that Gray should be fired. We found this a bit extreme, and said so, in a "reply all" message that went to the whole company. We were 22 years old. We didn't understand office politics too well. We still don't.

Anyway, do you like the Jim Gray? Do you not like the Jim Gray? Let us know.

By the way, there is not a second vote for his hair, or a debate about who would win in a fight between Gray and Mitch Albom.

These Guys Obviously Would Make Great Friends

Leitch — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:45:54 EST

With apologies to J.E. Skeets ...

Bonds: Why am I posing with you again?
Gray: Well, I've been following you around all evening, and Kobe isn't returning my calls.
Bonds: You realize I could fit four of you in this shirt.
Gray: Seriously, have you seen Kobe? Anywhere?
Bonds: Please, get your hand out of my pocket.

Free Darko, Live On Scene, And Loving Jim Gray

Leitch — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:00:02 EDT

Generally speaking, we think it's silly for online writers — who are the only ones free from the PR/press pass/everybody-play-nice circle jerk of commercialized athletics — to salivate over press passes as if they had, at last, been invited to the ball. But we will make an exception when the folks from Free Darko sit courtside for the United States-Puerto Rico international game.

They hang out with Brad Miller at a Best Buy, ask Jim Gray if he likes being single and even give a shirt to the man Gilbert Arenas himself. We are fascinated by USA Basketball and have read countless stories about the first game. This is, without question, our favorite.

Free Darko At The Hem Of USA Basketball [Free Darko]

Hello, Sacramento!

Leitch — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:12:06 EST

ESPN/HBO/NBC/Basement Somewhere In New Jersey's Jim Gray has come up for air enough to report that Ron Artest has accepted the trade to the Sacramento Kings. We wish the city of Sacramento all kinds of luck; have fun, you crazy kids. There has to be some sort of Schwarzenegger angle here, doesn't there?

Go Sell Crazy Someplace Else [Deadspin]

Go Sell Crazy Someplace Else

Leitch — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:00:11 EST

We say this with trepidation, because we've always kind of suspected, deep down, the guy was more complex than people thought, but it's time to part the cards on the table here: It's possible Ron Artest is just a dick.

We always gave him a little Manny Ramirez-esque, he's-a-flake-whaddya-gonna-do? leeway, but after he turned down a trade to Sacramento yesterday simply because he "must also ensure that his family is happy and content as well," we don't think it's so cute anymore. In fact, it's just kind of depressing: For all the "he's just a sweet, confused kid" prattle over the last year, at the end of the day, Artest is just one more guy complaining about how he has to feed his family. (Apparently the rap community in Sacramento is lacking.)

He has essentially become Terrell Owens ... except occassionally he jumps into the stands and starts beating up fans. He'll probably end up in Sacramento, where in a year he'll stuff a cowbell up some poor bastard's can after a tough loss to the Blazers, and we'll jump through all these hoops one more goddamned time.

King Of Sacramento [The Mighty MJD]
Ron Artest And Queen [J.E. Skeets]

(By the way, who unpacked Jim Gray? Every time he pops up somewhere, like he did in "breaking" this story, we think he was just woken up from a months-long slumber, wiped his eyes and starts making bleary phone calls denying trade rumors. And isn't he employed by, like, six different networks right now? How does that work again?)