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).