Sometimes, when you're done all there is to do, you just have to let it go. It's time for others to step up to the table and get the job done. When you're an NBA announcer, you can't have an off-night. You have to get to the booth and make it happen.

At least he can console himself by eating an artichoke.

Bill Walton was a farking treasure to the NBA broadcasting world.

No a huge NBA fan, but I did like to hear Bill Walton call a game.

What a TERRIBLE decision, what was he thinking?

Throw it DOWN, big man, THROW - IT - DOWN!

Maybe now he can focus on writing another great book about bicycling.

I never liked listening to him as a commentator. I'm not saddened by this decision.

screw him. All in the 90's when the pacers were a good team, we had to deal with playoff series where walton was calling and just trashing our team. Biased against any team that he didnt play for, screw the guy. horrible announcer and a big reason to tune out of a game you were on the fence about watching.

Darn. He was always fun. At least we have Van Gundy.

And why doesn't Gus Johnson do the NBA? That I want to see!!

They only mentioned the Trailblazers when the article talks about his NBA Finals trophies. But I think if the Celtics did not have Walton for the 85-86 season they would never have won it all. watching Bird and Walton play was pretty good, and that team is considered one of the best NBA teams ever.

This is the worst news IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

My favorite Bill Walton quote is when he was announcing a local Clippers game and the Clippers center dunked the ball. Walton said this:

Keith Closs floating to the basket on the wings of an angel!

That's the moment I fell in love.

I sat next to him in the press box at a volleyball tournament once. You'd think I'd get an amusing anecdote out of that but I didn't.

Cubs300: This is the worst news IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

This post is THE GREATEST POST OF. ALL. (Wait for it) TIME.

The best was when he'd announce Lakers games and would have to call his son.

"Just a TERRIBLE play by Walton!"

DamnYankees: Darn. He was always fun. At least we have Van Gundy.

And why doesn't Gus Johnson do the NBA? That I want to see!!

He does some Knicks games for MSG. He's not their main guy though.

And they say pot doesn't have any long-term side effects.

Doesn't he know that this is a game of MEN playing for the ULTIMATE PRIZE?

This is a foul.

On what?

On Humanity.

I wonder if his current back problems are related to the horse tranq the Trailblazers doctors gave him back in the day.

I love that even his retirement announcement is full of hyperbole. Not to diss back problems, believe me, I've been there, but life-threatening?

phedex: screw him. All in the 90's when the pacers were a good team, we had to deal with playoff series where walton was calling and just trashing our team. Biased against any team that he didnt play for, screw the guy. horrible announcer and a big reason to tune out of a game you were on the fence about watching.

I'm with you brother. I got pretty tired of his ignorant ass trashing Hakeem. I only saw him play at the end of his career, but I have a hard time believing he could've ever handled Dream.

Mr. Walton was talented at basketball... I'll give him that.

As for his broadcasting skills, he's like any other high-profile sports journalist... an overly biased prick.

Won't miss him.

Remember this during the Bulls championship run (one of em)...

Walton said, when the Stadium or United Center crowd was sitting on their hands waiting for something to happen...

"The only thing you can hear right now is the shaking and rattling of the Bulls fans jewelry". Place the over annunciation on JEWELRY and you there you have it. My buddies and I quoted that forever.

It was fitting b/c Bulls fans that could afford tickets where referred to as "The Sweater Club". They didn't know shiat about the game, but they knew that had to go see Mike, and they paid an awful lot for those tix. Meanwhile my ass sat in SRO.

/Saw Mike score 50 against the Heat in the playoffs.

sweetlenny: "The only thing you can hear right now is the shaking and rattling of the Bulls fans jewelry".

He should have credited John Lennon.

I think Bill Walton is a decent guy. What I can't forgive him for is buying in and perpetuating the NBA's absurd superstar system, 'so and so can't take that shot', 'so and so has earned the right to take that shot', 'the ball should be in so and so's hands right now'. It's all horsehit. Personally I got sick of watching a guy go one on three with 6 seconds left. It's stupid, bad basketball. The points count the same no matter who puts it in the hole. Hard to believe he played for John Wooden and still talked that superstar bullshiat.

Walton was always fun...Best call ever:

"Charlie Ward Sucks!"

It's not just awful, it's HORRIBLE

DrZiffle: I wonder if his current back problems are related to the horse tranq the Trailblazers doctors gave him back in the day.

I was gonna guess LSD

Oh thank God! I can finally start watching NBA games again. Now, if only Tim McCarver can croak, baseball on Fox will be tolerable.

He's got to get in there and DOMINATE.

NukkenFutz: Oh thank God! I can finally start watching NBA games again. Now, if only Tim McCarver can croak, baseball on Fox will be tolerable.

This is the WORST POST IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

skinink: watching Bird and Walton play was pretty good, and that team is the best NBA team ever.

Fixed that for the world

Dr.Knockboots: skinink: watching Bird and Walton play was pretty good, and that team is the best NBA team ever.

Fixed that for the world

72-10 has something to say about that.

The crowd is SURGING.

There are moments that will be known throughout history: Caesar crossing the Rubicon, the building of the pyramids at Giza, and the way that Kobe elevated over Kenyon Martin for that turnaround jumper.


/Goodnight hyperbolic man.

MBK: NukkenFutz: Oh thank God! I can finally start watching NBA games again. Now, if only Tim McCarver can croak, baseball on Fox will be tolerable.

This is the WORST POST IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

Yo Bill, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but Gus Johnson is the greatest hyperbolic announcer of all time!

/Too bad Walton was born 10 years too early, he'd have made a great meme

Hearing Bill Walton commentating is comparable to watching Luke Walton play basketball! Its terrible!

jayhawk88: Yo Bill, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but Gus Johnson is the greatest hyperbolic announcer of all time!

It's different styles. Gus brings more energy, but Bill brings more historically bizarre hyperbole.

/was waiting for him to go full South Park at some point and compare something to the Holocaust

pet_my_poopie: Hearing Bill Walton commentating is comparable to watching Luke Walton play basketball! Its terrible!

I second this notion.

sweetlenny: 72-10 has something to say about that.

Never heard of them...*shifts eyes*

(actually having the same discussion in email with my friends.. and all of us except the Bulls fan is ignoring that record/team)

I remember when he called John Wooden an intergalactic treasure. Intergalactic? Really?

sweetlenny: Dr.Knockboots: skinink: watching Bird and Walton play was pretty good, and that team is the best NBA team ever.

Fixed that for the world

72-10 has something to say about that.

What, you mean a perimeter-shooting dynasty had its best win-loss record in a season where the three-point line was shortened in order to improve scoring? Color me shocked! The '92 team was better.

Mike_LowELL: sweetlenny: Dr.Knockboots: skinink: watching Bird and Walton play was pretty good, and that team is the best NBA team ever.

Fixed that for the world

72-10 has something to say about that.

What, you mean a perimeter-shooting dynasty had its best win-loss record in a season where the three-point line was shortened in order to improve scoring? Color me shocked! The '92 team was better.

I think it had more to do with Mike, Scottie, Dennis, Phil and Jack Haley.

"Has there ever been a better player than Detlef Schrempf?"

"I could smell colors, I could FEEL SOUNDS!"

Caliendo's Bill Walton was very funny.

/TBS - very funny

BEST.NEWS.EVER.

/might start watching the NBA again.

robsul82: "Has there ever been a better player than Detlef Schrempf?"

"I could smell colors, I could FEEL SOUNDS!"

Caliendo's Bill Walton was very funny.

/TBS - very funny

I am sorry but Frank Caliendo has never been funny a day in his life. Watching him do the same character every single time with a different wig is not comedy. The only reason he is famous is because he did a great impression of John Madden and his George Costanza is only dead-on because he is a short fat guy himself.

I actually very much enjoy Bill Waltons commentary. Who else throws out lines like "That was the greatest pass in the history of western civilization."? Bill is the god damn man!!