The following offers national media reaction over the
weekend to the NBA's bid to place microphones on coaches and
cameras inside select lockerrooms:
CHANGE THE GAME FIRST: An editorial in Saturday's
SEATTLE TIMES stated, "[NBA] officials seem to think fans
need more hype. ... They couldn't be more mistaken. Fans
are sick of basketball games that are about everything but
basketball --about big talk, big money and no action. When
the game became secondary, fans started tuning out" (SEATTLE
TIMES, 3/11). In Contra Costa (CA), Gary Peterson: "A
desperate measure? You bet. ... The NBA needs something. But
not coaches wired for sound, and not locker rooms outfitted
with cameras" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 3/12). In Denver, Mike
Monroe wrote under the header, "Latest Memo A Signal Of
League Panic." Monroe: "The answer to the problem hardly is
bringing cameras into locker rooms and putting microphones
on coaches. ... The real problem is that there aren't enough
players committed to intense play every night" (DENVER POST,
3/12). In Minneapolis, Steve Aschburner: "This is a bad
idea that doesn't figure to help anyone" (Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 3/12). In Miami, Barry Jackson: "It would be one
thing if the mikes enhanced the league's popularity. But
there's no reason to think that will happen, so why anger
coaches who feel inhibited wearing them?" (MIAMI HERALD,
3/12). In OH, Bob Finnan: "Wonder which stuffed shirt came
up with this ground-breaking idea?" (OH NEWS HERALD, 3/12).
In Boston, Howard Manly wrote that the move "typifies
[NBC's] blatant attempt to impose more marketing drivel on a
game already plagued by artificial hype, including corny
fireworks and dramatic entrances" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/12).
IT KEEPS GOING, AND GOING: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote,
"Watching a bunch of basketball players sitting on chairs,
with blank expressions on their faces, ain't scintillating
TV." Raissman wrote the NBA's ratings drop has "nothing to
do with the way the game is televised. It's all about the
uneven -- at times boring -- quality of play and an
overexposed product" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/12). In Detroit,
Chris McCosky: "It's all about cosmetics these days. Let's
dress up the game. Let's make it more interactive and fan-
friendly. ... Hopefully, Mr. Stern will see the folly of
this idea. Hopefully he will not let NBC make a mockery of
his once-proud league" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/12). In Chicago,
Lacy Banks wrote that the NBA's "electronic bugging ...
smacks of George Orwell's 'Big Brother' and is only one more
example of the overwhelming influence network television has
on the league" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/12). In Akron, Chris
Tomasson: "It's an inane idea. It's hard to believe the NBA
has gotten so desperate that it needs to resort to such
gimmicks" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/12). On "The Sports
Reporters," Mike Lupica said, "You know what this really
says to me. ... Stern and [NBC Sports Chair Dick] Ebersol
are in a panic about low ratings, even though that's part of
the natural cycle of sports, and if David Stern thinks this
is going to draw people into the tent, than he's afraid of
his own product right now." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser: "This
is very troubling because this is a case in which a sports
league is pandering to its partner, a television network,
the tail wagging the dog. ... If you want good ratings in a
sport, if you're the NBA, you make sure that the Los Angeles
Lakers and Toronto Raptors are playing in May and June. You
put your best guys out there, instead of worrying about what
the coaches are going to say" (ESPN, 3/12).
SOME SAY RELAX: In Dallas, Bart Hubbuch: "Memo to
coaches and players: Get used to it. ... The NBA considers
itself in a frantic race with the other major pro sports to
become the first fully wired league in the world. Those
close to Stern say that campaign has practically become his
obsession" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/12). In N.Y., Richard
Sandomir: "It's strange to hear [NBA] coaches and players
whine, as if they fear being subject to an illegal search
and seizure. ... Lighten up guys." But Sandomir called the
$100,000 fine "ridiculous" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12). In NJ, Dave
D'Alessandro wrote under the header, "NBC's Mike Controversy
Stirring Up A Lot Of Idiotic Noise" (STAR-LEDGER, 3/12).
