Rant #1,576: Tina vs. Rebecca

This is for those who have MSG Network via their cable, satellite or phone providers.

All else, sorry, this probably isn't for you because you probably won't know who, or what, I am talking about.

Anyway, my favorite team in the NBA, the New York Knicks, lost a tough one last night at home, and now stand at 14-15.

They play Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers next, and that is going to be a toughie.

But I am not going to talk about the games, per se, today in this column, I am going to talk about the ladies ...

Or the sideline analysts, whatever you prefer.

It is the trend in the NBA to have female sideline analysts doing the games, and it is a nice trend, for a variety of reasons ... and this is all from my male perspective.

It is really nice to see a nice looking lady speak about sports, and it gives you a break from seeing and hearing the grizzled, male, lead TV play by play guys--in the Knicks' case, Mike Breen, his oftentimes substitute Kenny Albert, and NBA great Walt Frazier.

Heck, I like 'em all, but the less I have to look at them, the better.

The female sideline reporters are another thing.

For years, the Knicks employed Tina Servasio in this role.

Servasio was the perfect person to be doing this. She was great to look at, and more importantly, her vivacious interest in the game--yes, she knew the game and wasn't just employed for her looks--was a key component of why she was so good at what she did.

I never heard a bad word about her, and I think the players liked her too.

For whatever reason, Servasio was not retained this season, and the Knicks went for a younger woman with Rebecca Haarlow.

Haarlow, who I believe served in the same role for the Portland Trailblazers and has worked for the NFL, is a petite blonde who seems to be still feeling her way to the New York audience.

She seems kind of tentative in delivering news to MSG viewers, and I don't have a good read yet about whether she even gets what she is talking about.

She is kind of a strange dresser, and like Walt Frazier, you like to see what she is wearing every time she does a broadcast.

Last night, it was a see-through blouse, of course using the right undergarments to show you just enough of her. I guess that alone, for male viewers, has to be a plus--Servasio, who has a fantastic figure, never showed that much as far as I know during a Knicks broadcast--but I don't have a good read on Haarlow just yet.

I really liked Servasio. Once you got past her looks--she is really good looking--you knew you were getting an authoritative read on that day's game form her.

With Haarlow, I don't yet get that vibe, but she is clearly trying.

Maybe it is an age thing. I think Servasio must be in her mid to late 40s, while Harlow probably is in her mid to late 30s. Maybe as an older guy, I simply find older women more attractive now than I once did, although the 40s is far from old.

But I have to tell you, right now, I am a little disappointed in Haarlow. She often seems to be reading from a teleprompter or at least notes, and that is not what you want from a sideline reporter, male or female.

You want to have confidence in them, that they truly know what they are talking about.

I don't yet get that feeling from Haarlow.

Maybe it will come, maybe I was spoiled by Servasio, but whatever the case, I wish Tina was back in this post.

She was that good.

I will bet that I am not alone in this regard, and if you have any comments, please make them.

I am sure I don't stand alone on this point, and while it clearly isn't up to the levels of "Ginger vs. Mary Ann," I am sure others are thinking the same way I do.

Yes, the game is more important than the sideline reporter, but the sideline reporter helps make the game more interesting, and right now, Haarlow isn't there yet. Maybe she will get there, but right now, give me Servasio any day of the week.

She is my Knicks "Mary Ann," I guess.