Pros vs. Joes No. 3: Neil Everett on his rookie season with Trail Blazers: ‘I’ve loved it’
Neil Everett enjoying the book Jerome Kersey: Overcoming The Odds
Neil Everett was on the way out of his home in Mar Vista, Calif., for a late afternoon walk with the family dog.
The veteran ESPN SportsCenter anchor was kind enough, however, to put off Fido’s stroll toward the beach for a few minutes to talk about his first season as premier host for the pre-game and halftime shows on telecasts of the Trail Blazers on Root Sports Northwest.
Everett, who has worked 21 years at ESPN, is contracted to work 25 games — all road contests — this season. Neil, who turns 60 on May, has scaled back his SportsCenter schedule to 80 to 100 telecasts this year, in part so he could take on the new gig in Portland.
“I’ve loved it,” says Everett, whose Northwest roots made him a Blazer fan since his formative years in the 1970s. “I wish I could have done more of it. I wasn’t the surest of foot to begin. I think I’ve kind of hit a groove right now, especially with ‘The Coach’ beside me.”
Neil Everett sports his new retro Trail Blazer gear (courtesy Neil Everett)
That is studio partner Michael Holton, the former Blazer guard whose resume includes five seasons (2001-06) on The Bluff as head coach at the University of Portland.
“I love working with him,” Everett says. “He knows the game so well. He is personable, funny, and he is dialed in. He has been great. The camera man is Bucky Buckwalter’s son (Brian), who has some great stories to tell. He gives me a ride to my hotel in the Pearl every night after the show. So nice of him.”
Neil Everett flanked by (from left) wife Stephanie, father Neil Morfitt Jr. and his wife Marilyn (courtesy Neil Everett)
Everett says he has been treated well during his short time with Blazer Broadcasting.
“We have a crew of about 20 who work the games,” he says. “It’s our little family. It’s a smooth crew. Everybody gets along. They do a great job. I was the new cat; they welcomed me right in. Much appreciated.”
Everett’s first night in front of the cameras at Moda Center was Oct. 25, when the Blazers played the Clippers at what was then Staples Center. Looking for some food after the pregame show, he was told that an event was going on in the arena and the concession stands would be open. He took the service elevator to the 200 level and ordered up some chicken.
“I’m walking back to the elevator and all of a sudden, music starts up,” Everett says. “I’d never thought to ask what the event was. I walk through the curtains and find myself on a balcony looking down at Jackson Browne. I know most of his work. Stayed for the first song, headed back down and thought, ‘This is going to work out fine.’ I am blessed.”
Everett isn’t sure if his role will expand to doing some home games next season, but he’s not complaining.
“I would like to do whatever they make available, but I am just appreciative of doing the games I have done,” he says. “There’s nobody (at Moda) during our broadcasts. It’s a different scene doing it on the concourse by ourselves. There would be more energy, of course, at home games. For my first year, though, this is as big a step as I needed to take. I’m just trying not to fall on my face on the road they gave me to walk.”
Everett is one of 20 celebrities who will take part in the “Pros vs. Joes” Bracket Challenge on kerryeggers.com, picking games in the NCAA Tournament. He follows college basketball “pretty closely,” but he is not predicting that his predicting will be better than anyone else’s.
“If I can make it to the round of 16,” he says with a chuckle, “I’ll be happy.”
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