Gus Johnson Leaves CBS [Updated]
by Tim Burke on May 5, 2011 8:13 PM EDT
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[Update - Mike Fagan] The New York Daily News reports that Gus has not yet left CBS, though his contract with the company expired after the Final Four.
Richard Deitsch of SI.com broke some news earlier today that many MMA fans will undoubtedly be pleased to hear. Veteran announcer Gus Johnson, who has covered Strikeforce events on Showtime and CBS as well as EliteXC events in the past, will no longer be working with CBS Sports after 16 years of employment. Here's the info:
SI.com has learned that CBS Sports recently parted ways with Gus Johnson, a play-by-play mainstay on its college basketball coverage for 16 years, after the two sides could not agree on a new deal. Johnson has also worked as a play-by-play voice for the network's NFL coverage since 1998.
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Obvious cheap shot
Sometimes these things happen in contract negotiation
by brad23 on May 5, 2011 8:15 PM EDT reply actions 14 recs
this is excellent either SF will continue to have a 3 man booth with Pat in all the time or finally just 2 people
hopefully he is happy with his future endeavorer
Twitter @MaZZM
http://www.mazzznet.com/
MMA fans may not like him
Admittedly he wasn’t strong calling SF, but the guy was a treat to listen to during NFL and March Madness games, and hopefully he gets picked up elsewhere.
by The Burning Scheyer Jersey on May 5, 2011 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Thank the Good Lord
He was the worst thing to happen to MMA since Chuck Liddell lost his belt
by Hashmo on May 5, 2011 8:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
He's racist.
Fitch is awesome, I don't care what you think...
Bones Jones, future greatest MMAist ever.
He’s actually pretty good at college football and basketball. You can barely recognize it’s him. MMA just really isn’t his forte, he almost sounds uncomfortable. Plus he wears a heavy coat of “cover-up” on his face, which definitely helps the haters throw out funny ass jokes and photoshops.
"Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free." - Jim Morrison
by LowkickGreed on May 5, 2011 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
LOL, knew this pic was going to be posted
Bottom line is that just because you posses the appropriate or traditional “announcing” skills, is doesn’t mean that you can transcend sports with it and be effective. I have no other example I can put forward to enforce my claim, but all I need is Guss really. This guy picked up a dummies guide to MMA and tried to make it work, said a bunch of stupid shit the even Goldberg never uttered in his announcing infancy with MMA….well wait a minute…anyways, I’m glad he’s gone.
Goldies next. This guy has been announcing UFC for years now and he still cant accurately dissect what he’s looking at in the cage. I agree with Fagan or was it Brookhouse that said Goldie should do the promos and pump sponsors while Rogan and a veteran fighter commentate. Randy?
You know Joe, Brandon Vera is considered to be a Heavyweight George St.Pierre because he just comes, comes, and comes again... -Mike Goldberg, UFC 57
Cheick Kongo looks like a cross between Evander Holyfield and pop singer Seal!
Melvin Guilard looks like a little Kevin Randelman!
-Mike "All black people look alike to me" Goldberg, UFC 62/64
by Jonnycaz2.0 on May 5, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
In a perfect world
I’d have Quadros, Rogan, and Miletich in a three man booth. Realistically, I’ll accept adding Quadros for play by play, Rogan focusing on color, and Goldy telling me to follow @danawhite.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on May 5, 2011 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
................my god pdl
I want you to go and get PrideFC dvds 1 through like 22 and try to tell me that Stephen Quadros doesn’t make you want to projectile vomit the 3 meals you had that day in disgust….
Goldie, Quadros, and that joker that reminded us of how good of an Olympic wrestler he was every UFC, were all victims, albeit not their fault, of commentating on a sport they knew almost nothing about, save a few terms from select disciplines at the time. But Quadros’ mystical ability to make me countlessly facepalm was unmatched.
I say try Rogan and the Voice. And if they dont mesh well, Rogan/Rutten. Maybe try out Rogan and “guest” each time
You know Joe, Brandon Vera is considered to be a Heavyweight George St.Pierre because he just comes, comes, and comes again... -Mike Goldberg, UFC 57
Cheick Kongo looks like a cross between Evander Holyfield and pop singer Seal!
Melvin Guilard looks like a little Kevin Randelman!
-Mike "All black people look alike to me" Goldberg, UFC 62/64
Yep, Gus may of been a sucky MMA announcer but he’s pretty damn good calling other sports and it won’t take him long to find another network willing to pay for his services. It’s a win all around he gets to shop around for a fat contract somewhere else and we get the distinct pleasure of not having to listen to him call MMA anymore.
Somewhere an Avon lady just lost out on her pink Cadillac.
Ugarte: You despise me, don't you?
Rick: If I gave you any thought I probably would.
by memitim on May 5, 2011 8:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 3 recs
Gus was fucking awful at calling MMA.
Still can’t believe that the incredibly historic Werdum/Fedor fight is forever tarnished by “WERDUM…WERDUM…WERDUM!”
"Unless you can’t think of something intelligent to say, don’t reply and make the world as dumb as you are appearing to be." - mabel4life
!
"Every time I talk on the phone with someone who doesn’t know me, they call me "ma’am"." - Scott C. Broussard
by Earl Montclair on May 5, 2011 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 10 recs
that is almost exactly what i did
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 5, 2011 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I am way more happy than this news really merits.
Gus being anywhere near a MMA broadcasting team was an absolute travesty. Strikeforce’s broadcast quality just went up 200% just now.
First bin Laden
And now no more GJ at Strikeforce events. What a great week.
by Brandon Degaph on May 5, 2011 8:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 9 recs
good......good
Twitter @i_c_u_hater
Http://BBDreaming.com
by Thats It For you! on May 5, 2011 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Arson Beetle will always get a rec from me.
Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten
has part of his severance package
he should have asked to take mauro with him
I like Mauro when he works on Challengers with Pat. No yelling. Just competent play by play. When he is working with Gus they are in a shouting match trying to get the viewers attention. This should give us back the Mauro from the Pride days.
Ugarte: You despise me, don't you?
Rick: If I gave you any thought I probably would.
Gus working MMA: I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT!
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on May 5, 2011 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Mauro’s commentary is a travesty. I worry at the thought of him teaching people about MMA. The stuff he says is false and usually downright stupid. He just says the first thing that comes to mind in any situation and his voice sounds like a rank amateur still trying to find their style. Frank and Gus are both far, far better despite Frank’s bias on random issues and Gus’ complete ignorance regarding MMA.
"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang
fucking THIS.
keep Miletich in there too. either that or keep him in with Bas Rutten.
by Victor Rodriguez on May 5, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
he was good
but now he just tries to show how much more he knows than rogan
i can't be happy that the dude lost his job,
i would have been content if he just was removed from all things MMA. i just wish him well and he should have no problem gaining employment elsewhere.
by Victor Rodriguez on May 5, 2011 9:13 PM EDT reply actions
Its not like he got fired. They just couldn’t agree on a price. He’ll pop up elsewhere.
That being said, people are acting like this is V day. Yeah, he sucked at calling MMA but other announcers do too.
by pud333 on May 5, 2011 9:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It doesn’t matter when wealthy people lose their jobs anyway. They have created a safety net for themselves in the form of severance packages and personal wealth in general. This is akin to a working person quitting because they won’t give him or her a big enough raise, not like being fired or layed off.
"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang
by Bolshevik on May 6, 2011 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm think its because
He suggested kung Lee vs. Anderson Silvia… at least that’s when I would have fired him.
by matt_spp on May 5, 2011 9:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Kung Le doesn't exist...that I know of.
by Unabomberman on May 5, 2011 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions
and who the F is Anderson Silvia?
A Maine-iac Spider?
"Every time I talk on the phone with someone who doesn’t know me, they call me "ma’am"." - Scott C. Broussard
by Earl Montclair on May 5, 2011 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Now that’s a fantasy fight.
Boys becoming men...Men becoming wolves
by spectaa on May 6, 2011 7:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 5, 2011 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
making fun of someone losing his job is not the nicest thing in the world
but man… he didn’t know anything about MMA and if he didn’t know anything, he shouldn’t have taken the job.
I’m not a football fan so i dont know how hes doing in other sports but the fact that we dont have to hear him again is def. a good news for us
Matt "The Terror" Serra!!!!
If any amateur MMA organization in NE is looking for an Asian fighter, let me know =)
Au revoir and adieu.
Boys becoming men...Men becoming wolves
by spectaa on May 6, 2011 7:30 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
"The most incredible victory in Mixed Martial Arts History!!!!!"
“Johnson is likely most famous (or infamous) to MMA fans for his over-the-top call of the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight”
You are who you say you are
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![Gus Johnson calls Cage Potato editor Mike Russell, in response an email Russell sent to Scott Coker, in which he questioned Johnson's MMA commentating abilities:
"Scott Coker forwarded me your email. Where do you get off saying that to my boss? Writing it on your website is one thing, but you contacted my boss to ask him about it," a growingly more aggressive version of the man pictured above asserted. "Now it's personal and you need to be accountable."
"Do you even train? If you’re as credible of a journalist as you say you are, you can’t take the opinions of people on the Internet to heart, without talking to somebody who knows what they’re talking about — me included. I take jiu-jitsu three times a week. I know the difference between a kimura, an armbar, a reverse armbar and an Americana from side control, because I study it," he asserted. "As far as people saying that I damaged the image of the sport because of what I said about the shit that went down Saturday night, if anything, it was me trying to make an excuse for these idiots going out on national television and pulling what they did after the card was over. It’s obvious that it happens. People don't need to hear it from me to know that it happens. We've all seen it. I state the obvious, and that’s obvious."
I take a lot of criticism, but I try my best to try to help promote this fucking sport, when nobody else, including television executives could give two shits because they think it’s barbaric and it’s filled with a bunch of hoodlums, which is exactly how it looked to everyone watching the show Saturday night. I don’t really care about the 'growing opinion', because there’s another side that isn’t going to feel that way [about me]," Johnson explained. "There are certain messageboards and websites where people don’t feel that way at all. The problem with MMA is that these Internet guys ruin the sport because they’re negative 90 percent of the time. I’ve looked at them. if we give everyone a voice, we wouldn’t get anything accomplished. I try to say as many good things about these athletes in this sport on a network level — not on an underground level or a Spike TV cable level or a pay-per-view level. This is actual television and nobody knows if they’re going to pull the plug on this thing. If that happens, then everyone will lose money."
"My job isn't to promote the sport. I’m paid to give my opinion and to describe what I see and it’s my opinion that the guys they had Jake fight were supposed to beat him. That's how I see it. I said it, so I believe it. That’s disrespect. Do you mean to tell me that Strikeforce didn’t bring a former Pride champion [like] Dan Henderson in to beat Jake Shields? Come on, man. I'm also not blaming Miller for what happened," he said. "Mayhem didn’t do anything that Shane Mosely hasn’t done, or other fighters who aren’t a part of the main event of the card who get in the cage or the ring to hype a future fight haven't done hundreds of times before. Floyd Mayweather wins a fight and Shane Mosley comes into the ring as soon as it’s over and asks when you gonna give me a fight, man? It always happens. That’s not a big deal. The reaction from Gilbert and Jake and all these guys was what was the big deal. It was improper, and to be honest, it was shameful."
HT: CagePotato
Strikeforce: Nashville coverage](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/113131/custom_1237413634748_gus-johnson-headshot-1_small.jpg)
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