In a decision more horrible than wearing purple pajama pants to a formal fundraiser (run by Chris Evert, no less), NBC Sports has decided to end its contract with Bud Collins after this year’s Wimbledon. The tennis broadcasting mainstay, after 35 years of service to the network, won’t be part of the NBC team as it heads “in a different direction”. Boo.
Love him or hate him (I personally can’t stand the guy — his outfits drive me crazy!), you have to admit that he’s done a lot for the sport:
He’s part of that old style of sensational journalism that made reading tennis news fun. He coined the nicknames Fraulein Forehand, Barcelona Bumblebee, Sisters Sledgehammer (can you tell who he’s referring to?). And the world has not been the same since the publishing of The Tennis Encyclopedia.
Like Charles Bricker, I’m less worried about where Bud will end up and more concerned about who’ll take his spot at NBC. My vote? Darren Cahill. He’s been amazing on ESPN so far this week.
(If you’d like to give NBC your two cents, do so here.)
(Charles Bricker, via On the Baseline)
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Austy says
How could you NOT love this outfit??? He’s WAY head of the fashion curve!!!
http://www.budcollinstennis.com/photos/buds-closet/images/large-closet/big-closet-32.jpg
Snakeskin sportcoat with coral slacks will be the MUST HAVE outfit of 2015!
Aaress says
Appreciate the link – and very, very good point about his replacement.
Darren Cahill probably won’t be commentating in plaid and stripes, but he certainly knows his tennis and brings an invaluable wealth of coaching expertise to his commentary.