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WESTPHAL AND CARTER PUT STERN'S MICROPHONE PLAN ON PAUSE

          Prior to the start of yesterday's 6:00pm ET Raptors-
     Sonics game on NBC, which was the net's "A" game, Sonics
     coach Paul Westphal and Raptors coach Butch Carter both
     refused to wear an NBC microphone for the telecast, despite
     a league mandate requiring all coaches to do so during
     NBC/Turner "A" game coverage or pay a $100,000 fine.  During
     halftime, "NBA on NBC" studio host Hannah Storm said, "There
     has been an ongoing effort by the NBA to bring the game
     closer to fans this season by having both coaches and
     referees wear microphones for nationally televised games. 
     Now, some people have attributed this to television ratings. 
     In actuality, this was an idea conceived before this season
     even started, and which became policy last week. ... The
     league and Commissioner David Stern spoke with NBC today
     regarding this situation, and David Stern, noting that this
     is the Internet millennium, said that fans want to hear the
     same things that people seated at courtside at NBA games can
     hear. ... He also mentioned that NBA coaches had been miced
     for over 20 years and added that the Coaches Association is
     making a bad mistake in, quote, 'Trying to push back the
     clock.'"  Storm: "A couple of things need to be clarified
     here.  All the coaches' comments are taped during these
     games when they are miced.  Obviously screened for
     profanity, and also for key strategy, so that none of that
     gets on the air.  Also, coaches have the option to turn off
     their microphones at any point in the game at which they
     wish to do so.  However, the microphones do have to be on
     for the majority of the game."   NBC's Peter Vecsey: "The
     coaches are absolutely against this because, I think, that
     they're insecure.  I think they're paranoid about the
     information getting out. ... I think more and more every
     year, [the press has] been denied more and more access [to
     players and coaches], and the League has said enough" ("NBA
     on NBC," 3/12).  In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes that
     NBC's "extensive coverage" of Carter and Westphal refusing
     to wear a mic "bordered on self-serving" (TOR. STAR, 3/13).
          LEGAL BATTLE LOOMS AHEAD? In Seattle, Ronald Tillery
     writes that along with his refusal to wear a mic, Westphal
     "strongly implied" that a lawsuit will be filed to "block
     any fines the NBA might impose."  Westphal: "I am being
     asked to choose between compromising the competitive
     integrity of the game or seeing my team ownership fined
     $100,000.  I cannot accept that this great league would want
     to force such a choice. ... It's not a fight I've been
     looking forward to.  I don't understand why it has to come
     to this."  Carter, on refusing to wear a mic: "If by
     accident, something (negative) were to get out, it could
     damage me as a young coach" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER,
     3/13).  Westphal, on his actions: "It really is not my
     desire to be defiant" (TORONTO SUN, 3/13).  Also in Seattle,
     Nunyo Demasio reports that Westphal said he would "write out
     the check for $100,000 from my own personal account" should
     a legal battle with the NBA fail (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/13).
          FEEDBACK: During the Raptors-Sonics game, NBC's Bob
     Costas said coaches "are concerned about possible outtakes,
     even though NBC's intention here is innocuous, just to get
     entertaining or interesting tidbits.  They don't know where
     the outtakes might wind up, they worry something harsh,
     taken out of context, might seem harsh and would not reflect
     how they really feel" ("NBA on NBC," 3/12).  Pacers coach
     Larry Bird, on the mandate: "The only thing I don't like is
     that when you really want to say something to a player to
     motivate him, and you do it a little bit differently, if
     they put it on the air it can make not only you but him look
     bad" (USA TODAY, 3/13). In NJ, Steve Adamek reports that
     Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy will wear a mic during Tuesday's
     Rockets-Knicks TNT game.  But Van Gundy is so "against doing
     it," he has considered paying the $100,000 fine himself. 
     Van Gundy: "I would think about it -- but I also have some
     family members who would think about it" (RECORD, 3/13).
          CANADA BLACKED OUT: In Boston, Peter May noted that
     when NBC moved the Raptors-Sonics game to primetime on
     Sunday, "it did so despite freezing out most of Canada." 
     CTV had sponsor commitments to show local news, "Felicity"
     and "Charmed" during that time slot (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/12). 

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