All In The Family: Van Gundy Calling Finals Not Seen As Big Deal

111 Of 144 Responses In Non-Scientific SBD Poll Feel Van Gundy Should Call Finals Games

ABC NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy has made it clear he is pulling for his brother, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, to defeat the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and YAHOO SPORTS' Kelly Dwyer asks, "Why, again, should we have a problem with this?" Also, why should fans want Jeff Van Gundy "to pretend? To watch his tongue? To try and deceive us, when we clearly know better?" Fans are "grown up enough to understand what Jeff Van Gundy is going through, where his loyalties lie, and how it's going to shape his broadcasting style." Dwyer: "We can see past JVG, even if he tries to be sly, and that's OK. I'd much prefer it out in the open, because it's a bit of an affront to our intelligence to pretend that keeping it quiet will allow us to forget" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/3). In Las Vegas, Mark Anderson writes there is no reason to believe Van Gundy "won't remain professional," though it will be interesting to see if he "criticizes any of his brother's moves." Anderson: "If he tries to be unbiased, fans will be understanding -- and maybe even touched -- if Van Gundy shows some emotion should the Magic win the series" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/4). In DC, Tim Lemke writes it will be "interesting to see how fans react to his analysis in the finals, but chances are there won't be much uproar." The potential for bias is "ubiquitous in sports broadcasting these days, and fans generally don't complain about it too loudly" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/4).

INVISIBLE TEAM: In Orlando, Michael White wrote, "Is it too much to ask of ESPN to recognize what the Magic accomplished this season?" The Magic "are still not the main story" leading into the Finals, as analysts on ESPN and other outlets have focused on Cavaliers F LeBron James' "lack of humility in the face of defeat" after the Eastern Conference Finals. White noted the Magic's conference title "didn't merit a second thought" on Monday's episodes of "Jim Rome is Burning" and "PTI," as instead "all they could talk about was the failure of the Cavs" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 6/2).

FINALS APPROACH: TNT's Charles Barkley, Chris Webber and Kenny Smith and NBA TV's Gary Payton will serve as guest columnists for the L.A. Times for the Finals beginning tomorrow. Today's L.A. Times sports section also is wrapped with a special NBA Championship editorial section (THE DAILY).