1/5 Games
- Status
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
I’ll mention this one last time:
I’ve had 1on1 conversations with Bardo. He is a giant Illini fan and roots for the Illini in every game. I realize he doesn’t come across that way in the broadcasts. Most likely because he’s overcompensating to hide how big of an Illini fan he is.
People say this constantly and I just don’t get it. Are we watching the same dude? Honestly, when Bardo calls an Illinois game, I wonder if the other team hates it because he usually knows way more about the Illini than their opponent.
I think a lot of this is carryover from several years ago. I feel like Bardo did way more overcompensating when he first started calling a lot of Illini games.
It also didn’t help that during that time (several years ago) we weren’t as good so it felt Bardo was almost cheering for the other teams because the other teams were simply having more success in their games against us.
I love Bardo. He can sound unemotional, but I'll take that over Tessitore trying to make a 3 yard run on Monday night football sound like Foreman knocking down Frazier. I haven't noticed him being overly critical of Illinois, I have always heard him being extremely complimentary. I think he either A. Doesn't want to come off as biased so he is complementary of Illini opponents, or B. Would rather look for positives than harp on negatives. Bardo sounds kind of like Riddick covering the Bears. Which as a Bears fan I can appreciate the positives in an otherwise terrible game.
I think Shon Morris (is he still around? Haven’t seen him in a long time) and Robbie Hummel are exactly the same way. Those are the only two I could think of in a similar situation. They are always complimentary to Illinois when they broadcast Illini games. Or for that matter to whomever Illinois is playing, too. I think it is just the nature of their profession. Also wasn’t there a discussion here some time ago about how people who play sports especially at this level and beyond that they have a different take on sports that the average fan does not, more detached I guess you might say.
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
Shon Morris is annoying to listen to, first and foremost. Dumb jokes and puns bug me in that setting.
Just saying.
Also, he spells his name like he does.
Just saying.
Also, he spells his name like he does.
I think Bardo is a fine announcer. The anti Bardo opinion for some stems from his tweets and book:
Listen: Ken Norman Goes After Stephen Bardo
Stephen Bardo has new book out on the '89 Illini and former teammate Ken Norman says certain parts of the book are 100 percent untrue.
chicago.cbslocal.com
"From what I read Darius Paul's arrest sounds shaky. Champaign area police r known for racial profiling. Happened to my son. I don't condone his drinking but let's be real. Was he the ONLY student underage drinking that night? It's a college campus. I loved my time there but the community of Champaign is stuck in the 60's. Racism is overt there. Needs to change"
Bardo decided to write a book, The Flyin’ Illini: The Untold Story of One of College Basketball’s Elite Teams.
Bardo’s honesty in the book, especially over the coaching and relationship with Lou Henson, angered some people in Illini Nation. Of Henson, he wrote:
“Lou and I didn’t like each other at all. It was a battle of wills. Lou’s way was old school.”
“I took me a few years to work out all the negative thoughts I collected about Coach Henson.”
“Lou was not the kind of coach to instill confidence in his players.”
Fred Hoiberg - T.J. Otzelberger = 
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