With Stephen A. Smith moved from ESPN's main set to an interview role, there were no ear-popping tirades, no staged theatrics. There was some shouting -- Smith's interviews at times, Dick Vitale's commentaries from Florida -- but unlike past drafts, there was no reason to shout ''Shut up!'' at your television set.
Jay Bilas, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson delivered generally sound, reasoned analysis, avoiding the hyperbole and the baseless rants we have heard from Smith on past drafts. Bilas, predictably, was ESPN's MVP, dissecting each player with Mel Kiper-type detail.
Some other thoughts:
• Stuart Scott capably handled the host role, keeping the pace swift and avoiding the long-winded lead-ins that irritate us when he anchors SportsCenter.
• Jackson oddly dodged a question about whether the Knicks should have taken Eric Gordon instead of Danilo Gallinari and instead offered the throw-away ''take the best player available'' line, without identifying who that is.
• All of ESPN's analysts lauded Heat pick Michael Beasley -- none more than Van Gundy, who called him a ``Hall of Fame talent . . . that occurs very, very rarely in this league.''
Although Beasley's defense has been maligned, Bilas asserted he is a ''pretty damn good defender'' when he commits to it.
But Vitale cautioned, ``My only concern is the temptation of South Beach.''
• ESPN smartly kept player interviews short, allowing more time for commentary, but during the first hour, we would like to have heard about trades -- those being discussed and consummated.
NFL MOVES
A retired New York Giants player and a current Giants broadcaster were chosen for national TV gigs this week, with Fox hiring former All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan for its studio show and NFL Network poised to add play-by-play voice Bob Papa as Bryant Gumbel's replacement, pending the completion of a contract.
The Strahan hiring means Fox, for the first time, will use a five-man studio set -- the same number CBS went to last season after hiring Bill Cowher.
''He has the personality we felt fit with our guys,'' Fox Sports president Ed Goren said. Strahan offered whimsical diaries on Fox last year.
Former Giants running back Tiki Barber criticized Eli Manning after Barber joined NBC last year, but Strahan said he has no agenda against his former team. ''My situation is different [than Barber's],'' he said.
And in general, ''I don't worry about giving my opinion,'' Strahan said. ``Half the people don't like me anyway.''
Strahan was the only marquee player considered available to the networks this summer because Brett Favre indicated he does not plan to broadcast next season.
Meanwhile, Papa -- the radio voice of the Giants and an HBO boxing announcer -- was chosen over NBC's Tom Hammond and others to team with Cris Collinsworth on NFL Network's eight games in the second half of the season. NBC's Al Michaels turned down the job.
IMUS' `APOLOGY'
Only Don Imus knows if he was telling the truth when he said his latest on-air remarks about race were misunderstood.
But in giving his explanation/damage control, it was transparently disingenuous -- verging on laughable -- for Imus to refer to suspended Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones as ''lovely kid,'' considering Imus obviously knew nothing about him.
Imus, if you missed it, asked Jones' ''color'' during a discussion of his run-ins with the law -- and, when told he is black, said, ``There you go. Now we know.''
WABC-radio management has said it likely won't discipline Imus, who insists he was calling attention to the unfair treatment of blacks.
SUMMER WATCHING
It is the summer, so ESPN is embarking on another of those time-filling SportsCenter series that have ranged from creative (tour of 50 states in 50 days) to pointless (last year's ''Who's Now'' popularity contest).
This one could fall somewhere in between. Beginning early next month in Green Bay, Wis., ESPN will start a 20-city tour to determine ''which city or town is America's top championship city.'' (Based on the last year, Boston would seem pretty obvious.) Among the candidates: Boston, Detroit and Gainesville. Fan votes will determine the winner, to be announced July 27.
GETTING PERSONAL
Former Mets general manager Steve Phillips has become ESPN's best baseball analyst, often drawing on personal experience to offer insight. One example: On Wednesday, when it was learned that Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon threw general manager Ed Wade to the ground, Phillips noted that he always brought somebody larger than him to meetings with players when there was potential for the player to become angry.
