NBA VP/Broadcasting TODD HARRIS "passed away" yesterday, according to Honi Ahmadian of DEFPEN.com. Harris was "in charge of the schedules for NBA, WNBA, and D-League preseason, regular season, and playoff games." He also "oversaw the WNBA’s broadcast department while being involved in the same department for the NBA." Harris was an "important part of the team that developed the NBA's 'Mic'd Up' segments, giving fans clips of players and coaches’ speaking during games" (DEFPEN.com, 6/7). In Syracuse, Mike Waters notes Harris graduated from SU in '91 and then "went to work for NBC Sports." He stayed at NBC until '95, when he left and "rose quickly in the NBA's front offices." He was also "involved in the management between the NBA and its national TV partners and the broadcast departments of the 30 NBA teams" (SYRACUSE.com, 6/7).
TWITTER REMEMBRANCES: Tributes to Harris poured in on Twitter, particularly from broadcasters. Bulls radio announcer Chuck Swirsky: "Our NBA family lost a very good man." Jazz radio voice David Locke: "Inside the NBA circles there are certain staples. They come with the league. Todd Harris was a one of those." Hawks and WNBA Dream broadcaster Bob Rathbun: "Such a good friend, esp. to broadcasters. Very sad night." Nuggets TV producer Scott Bay: "Just numb right now. Thoughts and prayers for his family." NBC's Michele Tafoya: "One of my favorite people in sports." Pelicans Basketball Operations Assistant Alex Kline: "Saddened to hear of the death of a friend, colleague & fellow Syracuse alum." Pacers Dir of Media Relations David Benner: "The NBA lost one of its best tonight." Seattle Storm's official feed: "A friend and mentor to many." ESPN's J.A. Adande: "Fans didn't know him, but Any time you saw an NBA writer tweet out a playoff schedule update it came from a Todd Harris email." N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola: "Just a really good man. Incredibly sad."
