Following last night's compromise on placing
microphones on NBA coaches, the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER's Tim
Sullivan writes that NBA Commissioner David Stern "may be
right" with his theory that "more access will mean more
audience," but he was "going about it all wrong." Sullivan:
"Six-figure fines for coaches ... are not only
disproportionate, they are dumb. Give Stern some credit for
some smarts, however. He seems to have realized his
mistake" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/15). In N.Y., Mike Lupica
writes that Stern and NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik
both "looked as if they got mean and vindictive when it
looked as if they could not force their concept of what is
right for the league on some of their coaches." Lupica, on
last night's compromise: "Maybe it is the beginning of the
end to a fight Stern and Granik should not have picked with
their coaches in the first place" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/15).
USA TODAY's Mike Lopresti: "Mandates are hard to swallow,
especially this one with its faint whiff of Big Brother.
Rebellion was a certainty" (USA TODAY, 3/15).
MISGUIDED: In Boston, Michael Gee writes that the
"national brouhaha" over the mics "paints" Stern as a
"vindictive petty tyrant." Gee: "[Stern] is convinced that
the reason fewer people care to watch his league's games is
that he hasn't marketed pro basketball aggressively enough.
Stern can't bear to face the truth. Fewer people are
attending and tuning in pro ball because the NBA is boring
them comatose." Gee adds that Stern's "harsh and brainless
fines are also self-defeating" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/15). In
Norfolk, Bob Molinaro: "Miking the coaches and putting
cameras in the locker rooms are cheesy stunts that may soon
bore fans as much as they alienate the coaches" (VIRGINIAN-
PILOT, 3/15). In S.F., David Steele writes there "actually
is a moderately logical argument in favor of the increased
creeping of technology into the game," but adds that "the
game is enough" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/15). In Columbia (SC),
Bob Spear: "Pull the wires, Mr. Commissioner. This stunt is
like slapping a coat of paint on a termite-infested wall.
The problem is only covered, not corrected" (Columbia STATE,
3/15). The INT'L HERALD TRIBUNE's Christopher Clarey: "In
the long term there is more to be gained from allowing
coaches the freedom to keep their essential dealings with
their players off tape and safely off the record than edging
basketball toward professional wrestling or 'The Truman
Show'" (INT'L HERALD TRIBUNE, 3/15). In Akron, Terry Pluto:
"The fans aren't staying away because too many players are
immature, the music is skull-splitting and more than half of
the teams have sunk to Cavs-like irrelevancy. No, it's that
we can't hear the coaches on NBC." Pluto: "The league is
overpriced. When will Stern ever get that message?
Instead, he listens to his marketing nabobs rather than his
customers" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/15). FSN's Jim Rome:
"Memo to David Stern. Address the league's real problems,
leave the gimmickry to others. ... I mean, what is this, the
NBA or the XBA?" ("Last Word," 3/14). ESPN's Jack Ramsay:
"The NBA has a great product. They should focus on that
with their television work and let the coaches do their
work. ... I love David Stern ... But in this case, I think
he's steering the ship on the wrong course by about 180
degrees" ("NBA Today," ESPN, 3/14).
