It's been a long time since we've heard from Anthony Richardson. If doing commentary on computer vs. computer video-game simulations is an art form, he is truly said art form's Picasso. And if Anthony is Picasso, this video is his Guernica.
This may come as a surprise to many, but this video was actually a part of Barack Obama's reelection platform. I know this because Anthony says so in the beginning of the video and if there's one thing I've learned in life, always believe everything you hear from guys who do commentary over sports video games.
I don't really know what my favorite part of this video is, but it's probably just Anthony shouting "LAMPAAAARD!" during foul shots. Behold a pale horse, folks.
Everything ends. I think I saw that on a poster for one of The Matrix sequels, but it's especially true here. We've come to the end of the NBA season, which means we've also come to the end of Anthony Richardson's wonder-filled NBA Playoffs playthroughs.
Over the past few months, "via the magic of computer versus computer," Anthony has taken us all on a journey. Through basketball, sure, but also through his own soul. He's seen things you can't un-see. Like the time Chris Paul "dribbled like an experienced basset hound," or when Kevin Garnett scored and waddled away "like a child who's had a trouser accident."
By the power vested in me by the poltergeist of Dick Van Dyke, I declare that it's Friday and it's time for another one of Anthony Richardson's CPU vs. CPU NBA Playoffs Playthroughs. This week, Anthony is taking on the contentious Celtics-Heat Eastern Conference Finals.
One of the great advances Anthony has made in basketball commentary is his ability to see the floor, see the offensive sets and breakdown what teams are doing. When you hear him describe the Heat's opening possession as, "Chalmers bounces, gets bored, gives it to a friend," I mean … you're just not getting that anywhere else.
Other highlights this week include insurance salesman Erik Spoelstra, the nicknaming of Mario Chalmers as "Naughty, Naughty Mr. Turkey," and the beginning of what is sure to be a national craze: shouting "THUNDERCATS" every time Mike Miller take a 3.
Last week, Grantland was pretty cool, right? It was just missing one thing. We were having a hard time putting our finger on it. Then it hit us: We needed a British guy commentating on video game basketball.
Anthony Richardson returns with another very, very funny video game playthrough of an NBA playoff matchup. Every week, Anthony brings his distinctly English sensibility and fleeting grasp of basketball and reality to the table, doing play-by-play and color commentary on a CPU vs. CPU playthrough of an NBA playoff game on NBA2K12.
Back in February, we wrote about Anthony Richardson, a brave new voice in NBA commentating. Or at least a brave new voice in commentating during computer vs. computer NBA 2K12 games. Well now it's time for you to be brave, because Richardson has trained his sense of humor, fleeting grasp of basketball rules and regulations, and fundamental misunderstanding on whether cheerleaders are actually in The Hunger Games or not, and brought it all to the NBA playoffs. Yes, amazing happens here. And in England.
God bless Chuck, Kenny, Webber, Breen, Van Gundy, and everyone else. I think it might be time for a new voice in NBA announcing, and I think "Internet comedian" Anthony Richardson might be that man.
Richardson is known for a series of online videos called "playthroughs," in which he sets up FIFA 12 to play out a match from the coming Premier League weekend while adding a combination of play-by-play, color commentary, free associative poetry, subliminal messaging, and utter nonsense. It's awesome. Here's one of his Premier League playthroughs, just to give you an idea:
