http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/93235.html
Media Insider: Outsiders want to be in
By Joe Davidson - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:32 am PST Friday, December 15, 2006
It's NBA trade season, and that means one thing for sure: a lot of incomplete information and failure to credit others for providing information.
Everybody wants to be the source with inside information.
This week, for example, ESPN reporters announced without attribution that the Kings officially were out of the Allen Iverson chase. Generally, when an outlet has a direct source, it is included in the report, but it seems ESPN likely got its information from other media, possibly The Bee's online account from Sam Amick or from Liz Robbins of the New York Times.
Amick had a story online by 3 p.m. Tuesday saying the Kings owners no longer were interested in obtaining the Philadelphia star. Robbins posted her story later. Both filed from Oakland before the Kings-Warriors game. Before long, ESPN pounced.
KHTK (1140 AM) voices offered the same update -- also unattributed -- though Grant Napear later said on his afternoon show that he had talked to people within the Kings' organization before saying AI wasn't coming to Sacramento.
The media frenzy is understandable: It attracts readers, viewers and listeners, including Kings coach Eric Musselman. "It's crazy," he said. " I saw 24 (trade scenarios). That's at least 50 people's lives being affected."
Playing the game
NBA owners, coaches, players and agents know how to use the media, and they know how quick something juicy can get online.
A year ago, Ron Artest of the Pacers sought Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star for a sit-down chat. Artest wanted to be traded. Seven weeks later, he was a King.
When it helps the player, the agent or the team, it becomes the media's business. Otherwise, NBA teams deem it private and seethe at even an ounce of insight trickling into the media stream.
If the Kings initially were denying interest in Iverson, it left one wondering after Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told ESPN.com that Iverson and Artest "would be fabulous together."
Open mouth, insert mike
Once a year, Jim Gray seems to really stuff his microphone in his mouth, sideways. A year ago, he blundered and bumbled through an account of Peja Stojakovic trade possibilities. Gray said on ESPN that Stojakovic had insisted all season that he was unhappy in Sacramento, that he wanted a trade, that the Maloofs were forced into a corner. Completely untrue.
A week ago, Gray said on-air that he had just spoken to Iverson by phone and that the guard wanted to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. One problem: It wasn't AI on the phone.
Normally, ESPN voices refuse to admit fault, certainly on air. But Gray did say on air that he had spoken to "an imposter" and that he had been "duped." But Gray threw in this disclaimer: "It did sound like Allen to me."
Kings' troubles go national
The Kings' struggles have become a national topic of interest. On KNBR's "The Razor & Mr. T" afternoon show, Tom Tolbert ("Mr. T") said the Kings have "no identity." Ralph Barbieri ("the Razor") said the team was "disintegrating."
Meanwhile, TNT's "Inside the NBA" duo of Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson weighed in.
"Sacramento has to start over, Barkley said. "You either have to be a legit championship contender, or you have to have a young team that is getting better. (Mike) Bibby is a good player, but I think he's at the end of his prime. Ron Artest and Brad Miller are in the same situation. They're not going anywhere. If those three play great all year, Sacramento still stinks."
Said Johnson: "(The Kings) can't do it. Their style doesn't dictate anymore. Now, what they are doing is grabbing the rebound and walking the ball up the court. This team is trying to slow the game down, but they have no low-post game. How can you slow the game down when you have no half-court team?"
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Media Insider: Outsiders want to be in
By Joe Davidson - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:32 am PST Friday, December 15, 2006
It's NBA trade season, and that means one thing for sure: a lot of incomplete information and failure to credit others for providing information.
Everybody wants to be the source with inside information.
This week, for example, ESPN reporters announced without attribution that the Kings officially were out of the Allen Iverson chase. Generally, when an outlet has a direct source, it is included in the report, but it seems ESPN likely got its information from other media, possibly The Bee's online account from Sam Amick or from Liz Robbins of the New York Times.
Amick had a story online by 3 p.m. Tuesday saying the Kings owners no longer were interested in obtaining the Philadelphia star. Robbins posted her story later. Both filed from Oakland before the Kings-Warriors game. Before long, ESPN pounced.
KHTK (1140 AM) voices offered the same update -- also unattributed -- though Grant Napear later said on his afternoon show that he had talked to people within the Kings' organization before saying AI wasn't coming to Sacramento.
The media frenzy is understandable: It attracts readers, viewers and listeners, including Kings coach Eric Musselman. "It's crazy," he said. " I saw 24 (trade scenarios). That's at least 50 people's lives being affected."
Playing the game
NBA owners, coaches, players and agents know how to use the media, and they know how quick something juicy can get online.
A year ago, Ron Artest of the Pacers sought Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star for a sit-down chat. Artest wanted to be traded. Seven weeks later, he was a King.
When it helps the player, the agent or the team, it becomes the media's business. Otherwise, NBA teams deem it private and seethe at even an ounce of insight trickling into the media stream.
If the Kings initially were denying interest in Iverson, it left one wondering after Kings co-owner Joe Maloof told ESPN.com that Iverson and Artest "would be fabulous together."
Open mouth, insert mike
Once a year, Jim Gray seems to really stuff his microphone in his mouth, sideways. A year ago, he blundered and bumbled through an account of Peja Stojakovic trade possibilities. Gray said on ESPN that Stojakovic had insisted all season that he was unhappy in Sacramento, that he wanted a trade, that the Maloofs were forced into a corner. Completely untrue.
A week ago, Gray said on-air that he had just spoken to Iverson by phone and that the guard wanted to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. One problem: It wasn't AI on the phone.
Normally, ESPN voices refuse to admit fault, certainly on air. But Gray did say on air that he had spoken to "an imposter" and that he had been "duped." But Gray threw in this disclaimer: "It did sound like Allen to me."
Kings' troubles go national
The Kings' struggles have become a national topic of interest. On KNBR's "The Razor & Mr. T" afternoon show, Tom Tolbert ("Mr. T") said the Kings have "no identity." Ralph Barbieri ("the Razor") said the team was "disintegrating."
Meanwhile, TNT's "Inside the NBA" duo of Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson weighed in.
"Sacramento has to start over, Barkley said. "You either have to be a legit championship contender, or you have to have a young team that is getting better. (Mike) Bibby is a good player, but I think he's at the end of his prime. Ron Artest and Brad Miller are in the same situation. They're not going anywhere. If those three play great all year, Sacramento still stinks."
Said Johnson: "(The Kings) can't do it. Their style doesn't dictate anymore. Now, what they are doing is grabbing the rebound and walking the ball up the court. This team is trying to slow the game down, but they have no low-post game. How can you slow the game down when you have no half-court team?"
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
