Good topic, westkoast -
For the Kings, they have some interesting media people-
On radio, I think we may have the absolute best this side of Chick Hearn in Gary Gerald. He also does NASCAR for ESPN. Not only fair, but he paints a picture with his play-by-play. Never a homer, he calls the games as he sees them and he sees everything. Usually he does the games solo, but once in a while an ex-King stops by and he gets their comments to make sense and fit into the broadcast. He has been the voice of the Kings since they came to Sacramento in 1984 and has gotten better with age. I honestly have to say that when Gary steps down, the radio shows for the Kings' games will suffer greatly. If there is a place in the HOF for guys like Hearn, then Gerald should be enshrined as well.
On TV, we have a little different take. Play-by-play is done by ex-New Yorker Grant Napear who has called Sacramento home for over twenty-five years. A huge Yankee/Giant fan who has his own afternoon call-in show on the same station, he at times is blustery, highly-opinionated and downright annoying to many Kings' fans, including a guy who works for me who just this morning told me the Kings should fire him. I would certainly not call him an out-and-out homer, as he often praises great plays by opposing players and goes into the realm of gushing for guys like Lebron, Kobe, Duncan, and just last night, Jefferson of the Nets, he also can get highly animated when a play goes against the Kings that looks wrong. He also will say that it was the right call if it was. He will criticize the Kings when he sees them just standing around and not running anything. Grant is now a staple of the Kings in Sacramento, as much as Gary Gerald is on the radio. I personally find him interesting and never, never dull, which is often the curse of announcers. About fifty percent of other Kings fans would like him to go away, though. His New Yorker attitude takes some getting used to the insecure people who make up much of Sacramento's fan base.
His sidekick is none other then Jerry Reynolds, the "other" celeb hick from French Lick Indiana. And he IS a hick. Downhomerisms rain down once he gets his "Jerry" on, such as calling Peja's three point shots (when he was with the Kings) Serbian layups. Lately it has been the Francisco (Garcia) Kid and his key shots at the end of games. Can't say he doesn't know his basketball, though. He can cut through the nonsense and get to the crutch of a play and how it evolved pretty well, but I have to say his "I'm just another hick from Larry Bird's hometown gets old after a while.
The Kings also have a post game show on local cable hosted by Jim Kozamore, called 'The House Party'. On it, Kozemore is good and informative - one of those little guys who could never play basketball will the big boys, but sure knows how to talk about it.
Currently, he has Kayte Christensen as his co-host. Any of you guys ever see her? She currently is on the Chicago Sky. Man, I can't take my eyes off those long legs and she likes short skirts. At 6'2", she towers over Kozemore, and she wears spiked heels, which must make her about 6'7". I 'think' she does a fair job breaking down the Kings' game, but I honestly don't listen much. Did I say she was cute?