The fund-raiser held for Democratic presidential
candidate Bill Bradley at MSG last Sunday "did not pass the
smell test," according to Phil Mushnick of the N.Y. POST.
NBA Entertainment (NBAE) produced the event and Mushnick
writes that only "since Sunday" has the NBA "been in the
presidential fund-raising business." In examining NBAE's
role in the fund raiser, Mushnick writes that if Bradley was
"extended a discount" for the production, then NBAE "is in
violation of federal election laws that prohibit
corporations from donating money and/or goods and services
to political candidates." Mushnick: "The NBA can
rationalize and explain its behavior any way it sees fit,
but the league has clearly allowed itself to enter ... the
political arena -- that it should have assiduously avoided
as a matter of course and common sense. Lending the NBA's
name, properties and employees to a presidential campaign is
an act of arrogance and an abuse of position." Mushnick
adds that several sources have told us that there are NBA
employees who were not pleased to have been put to work on
behalf of [Bradley on Sunday]" (N.Y. POST, 11/19).
ROBIN'S ROLE: In Baltimore, Milton Kent writes that
ESPN/ABC Sports' Robin Roberts has "had a bit of a
nightmarish week fielding questions about her involvement as
emcee" of the fund-raiser. Roberts: "By no means was I
making a political statement. I just looked at it as a good
time and a great opportunity." While ESPN employees "should
be free to pursue their own interests," Kent wonders "at
what point does a company's need to protect its own image
supersede the employees' desire to live their own lives"
(Baltimore SUN, 11/19). Mushnick notes the promotional
appearances of many ESPN anchors and writes that Roberts
"can't be faulted to an extreme given the activities" of her
colleagues. An ESPN spokesperson said that appearances such
as Roberts' "now will have to be approved" by ESPN. But
"he made it clear that hosting presidential campaign fund-
raisers will be out of the question" (N.Y. POST, 11/19). In
Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes on Roberts telling the N.Y.
Times she "wouldn't have" emceed the event is she knew "how
it would be perceived" (see THE DAILY, 11/16). Wolfley:
"The significant point here is that she does not define
herself as a professional journalist or reporter. ... If she
did think of herself as a journalist, she would be incapable
of telling The Times what she did. She would be incapable
of thinking for even an instant that what she was asked to
do ... was appropriate" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, 11/19).
