1. The Overrated Role of Rules Analysts
Typically, I find myself reminding readers during football season that having a “rules analyst” on sports broadcasts is often overrated and unnecessary. Rules analysts tend to defend college basketball referees, regardless of the situation.
In a recent game where Clemson lost to McNeese State, Tigers center Viktor Lahkin fouled out after receiving a technical foul about six minutes before the end of the game. The foul was allegedly issued for something he said to McNeese’s Sincere Parker. In reality, Lahkin did nothing deserving of that technical foul, yet CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore seemed intent on misleading viewers.
Fortunately, CBS commentators Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas immediately called out the questionable decision. Lappas stated, “I don’t know. I mean, come on,” while Catalon remarked, “That’s a tough call.” Lappas added that in basketball, “People talk sometimes,” disputing the reasoning for the technical.
Despite their correct assessment, Steratore was brought in to provide his perspective, which included defending the referees. He explained that Lahkin was continuously talking, and even though Parker said nothing, he suggested that this could lead to future conflicts if not addressed. However, Steratore’s explanation was shockingly poor.
So, Lahkin was penalized for something that didn’t occur, and instead of addressing the actual event, Steratore spoke about potential issues that were never substantiated. It’s confusing why Steratore is necessary at all when the real scenario was a clear overreaction by the referees.
Rather than complicate matters, Steratore could have just acknowledged that the referees mistakenly issued a technical foul. His role should be to convey the truth like Catalon and Lappas did, rather than mislead the audience.
2. A Touching Tribute to Greg Gumbel
The CBS tribute to Greg Gumbel, featuring Ernie Johnson, Clark Kellogg, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, was an impactful and beautifully executed opening to Thursday’s NCAA tournament Round 1.
3. NCAA Tournament Betting Insights
There were no notable betting trends from the first lackluster day of the NCAA tournament, with favorites and underdogs both finishing at 9-7.
4. Viewer Statistics for Fox Broadcasts
Fox attracted 838,000 viewers for the Dodgers-Cubs opener aired at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, while a game broadcasted on FS1 the following day drew just 361,000 viewers.
5. Caitlin Clark’s Major Accomplishment
Caitlin Clark achieved a remarkable milestone as 41 of the Fever’s 44 regular-season games in 2025 will be aired nationally, marking a historic record for the franchise.
6. Latest Podcast Edition
This week’s episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features a mailbag edition where listener questions are answered. Topics include potential changes in broadcasting, MLB decisions, and various sports highlights.
7. Throwback Video of CBS’s 1988 NCAA Coverage
For a nostalgic treat, check out the video showcasing CBS’s NCAA tournament coverage from 1988, featuring commentary from Jim Nantz, Brent Musburger, and Billy Packer.
