I don’t know what was harder to deal with Sunday afternoon – watching the Griz basketball team struggle for a half, rally back to take a solid lead, then struggle again down the stretch in a one-point loss to Eastern Washington,

OR,

the Altitude Sports telecast itself.

The two announcers were quick to jump on whichever bandwagon was rolling at any given time, oozing relentlessly over the Eagles during their strong first-half showing while wondering what in the world was wrong with Montana’s Anthony Johnson, then oozing relentlessly over Johnson when he took the game over in the second half, not having done enough research to know that he’s been a strong second-half presence – as have the Grizzlies as a team – much of the season.

The color commentator also was relentless in calling the Grizzlies Montana State for a major portion of the first half before someone mercifully corrected him. He slipped in another Montana State in the second half, but quickly corrected himself that time.

And then there were the obligatory name mispronunciations, such as muh-THEE-us instead of muh-THIGH-us Ward of Montana.

Finally, to top off a sterling effort, those in control decided to focus the camera on Eastern’s mascot sitting between the two announcers, missing some key baskets when the Eagles were rallying to regain the lead in the second half while the announcers chatted amiably with said mascot to the point of not even realizing that Eastern HAD retaken the lead.

Maybe these ESPN wannabes are just bored with having to lower themselves to do Big Sky Conference games. Who knows?

Whatever the case, it was painful to watch.

- Bill Schwanke