National Basketball Coaches Association Exec Dir
Michael Goldberg said yesterday that the league "probably
will rescind" the $100,000 fines it levied against Raptors
coach Butch Carter and Sonics coach Paul Westphal for
refusing to wear microphones in an NBC game last Sunday,
according to Scott Soshnick of BLOOMBERG NEWS. Goldberg: "I
have a feeling if we resolve this thing, those fines will be
taken back. It only makes sense." The teams have until
March 27 to pay the fines or appeal. But NBA Dir of Sports
Media Seth Sylvan said that the fines will be upheld by the
league (BLOOMBERG, 3/17). ESPN's David Aldridge, on the
league's compromise of using a boom mic: "The main thing is
that the coaches felt like they weren't consulted before
this decision was [handed down]. ... The league is
acknowledging now that it should have consulted with the
coaches. ... After the finals, the coaches and the league
are going to meet and they're going to discuss what to do
from here on out. The boom microphone is the compromise for
right now. ... [The coaches] feel a little bit more in
control and it seems to get the same kind of inside
information I think the league and the networks are looking
for" ("NBA 2Night," ESPN2, 13/16). In MD, Milton Kent
writes that Commissioner David Stern "gets a little of the
blame" for the controversy, as he "should have done a better
job of introducing the possibility to start, and then he
should have stuck to his guns." But Kent adds, "The most
distressing aspect of this flap is the blind support of many
sportswriters, the very people who ought to be in favor of
total access" (Baltimore SUN, 3/17).
