Van Gundy Questions NBA Mandating Coaching Mikes
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Van Gundy Feels NBA Should Let
Coaches Volunteer To Wear Mikes |
The NBA, "for the first time in a major sport," will require coaches to wear microphones and do TV interviews during nationally-televised games beginning with Bulls-Pistons Friday on ESPN, according to Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY. ESPN/ABC NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who refused to wear a mike when coaching the Knicks in '00, said upon learning about the new rule, "You're kidding me." Van Gundy suggested that "it'd be more productive to let coaches volunteer to wear mikes." Hiestand notes players have "the choice to decline" wearing a mike. ESPN Producer Tim Corrigan said that "only taped comments from mikes on players and coaches -- never live audio -- will end up on air." Corrigan: "We have no interest in putting anybody in a bad light." NBA Senior VP/Marketing Communications Mike Bass said, "This is a collaborative effort between the NBA, the coaches association and the coaches themselves and our network partners to bring fans as close to the game as possible." Hiestand adds the networks will also have access to locker rooms, but they "won't be allowed to use their lockerroom cameras to report on game strategies" (USA TODAY, 12/5).
THE NEW REALITY: ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser, on the NBA requiring coaches to wear mikes: “This is a bad idea. ... I’d be very afraid that in diagramming a play, you’d say, ‘Guard him because he stinks.’ You don’t want the other guys in the league to know what you say about them.” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon: “It’s a competition. It’s not a reality show. This is the curse of reality TV!” (“PTI,” ESPN, 12/4).
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