http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14257223p-15071977c.html
Media insider: Pippen likes air time, may try coaching, too
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, May 19, 2006
Scottie Pippen forever will be known as the long and lean flier for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan's sidekick with plenty of kick of his own.
For now, he's Scottie Pippen, ESPN analyst for all things NBA.
It's a role he's still trying to grasp, one he enjoys, even though he beats himself up upon further review. He is finding that being a good sound bite after a game is hardly the same as breaking down teams, trends and tendencies and holding on to an audience in the millions. In front of a camera. With a suit on. And makeup.
Soon, he wants to be Scottie Pippen, coach, with the suit on game days only, sans makeup.
"I'd like to get into coaching, yes," Pippen said recently by phone. "I'd love it, actually. I've looked into it a little, college and the NBA. I like the college game, and I'd like to be a head coach someday."
Pippen got a taste of coaching during this season's training camp with the Lakers. He was brought in by his former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson, to help work with Lamar Odom.
But Pippen also sees himself as a recruiter, working the moms and pops over with charm and the sparkle of six NBA championship rings as he tries to secure a letter of intent from a prep prospect.
For now, Pippen said he continues to hone his TV craft and to watch his son, Antron Pippen, who has intrigued national scouts as an 18-year old prospect.
"He's a lot like I was, a late bloomer," the elder Pippen said. "I've got a lot of basketball going on right now."
Around the dials
Catch the excellent interview of 49ers coach Mike Nolan by Mike Lamb on Comcast SportsNet Insider. It's a two-part segment, with the coach in a Sacramento studio, with replays throughout next week, including Tuesday at various times. Lamb's next challenge is to get Raiders coach Art Shell to drop his silver and black guard a bit and reflect.
Dick Stockton still has it. The CBS TV voice for some epic Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals in the 1980s, Stockton called the Dallas-San Antonio thriller on TNT on Wednesday night. A man without TV ego, he's always sure to set up his color man and to avoid talking too much.
Reggie Miller is getting better by the week. The former Indiana Pacers great admittedly was jumpy in his first round of playoff color work for TNT after so many years of playing the game, not talking about it. In the Kings-Spurs series, for example, he expressed astonishment that the Kings' "Francisco Rodriguez was even on the floor." He meant Francisco García. Miller also called Shareef Abdur-Rahim "Shareef Abdul" at least twice, but in his last two games he butchered no names.
Kobe Bryant was a strong guest on TNT's NBA show, though his powder blue sweater might have looked better on Kenny Smith, from his powder blue North Carolina and Kings days.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
Media insider: Pippen likes air time, may try coaching, too
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, May 19, 2006
Scottie Pippen forever will be known as the long and lean flier for the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan's sidekick with plenty of kick of his own.
For now, he's Scottie Pippen, ESPN analyst for all things NBA.
It's a role he's still trying to grasp, one he enjoys, even though he beats himself up upon further review. He is finding that being a good sound bite after a game is hardly the same as breaking down teams, trends and tendencies and holding on to an audience in the millions. In front of a camera. With a suit on. And makeup.
Soon, he wants to be Scottie Pippen, coach, with the suit on game days only, sans makeup.
"I'd like to get into coaching, yes," Pippen said recently by phone. "I'd love it, actually. I've looked into it a little, college and the NBA. I like the college game, and I'd like to be a head coach someday."
Pippen got a taste of coaching during this season's training camp with the Lakers. He was brought in by his former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson, to help work with Lamar Odom.
But Pippen also sees himself as a recruiter, working the moms and pops over with charm and the sparkle of six NBA championship rings as he tries to secure a letter of intent from a prep prospect.
For now, Pippen said he continues to hone his TV craft and to watch his son, Antron Pippen, who has intrigued national scouts as an 18-year old prospect.
"He's a lot like I was, a late bloomer," the elder Pippen said. "I've got a lot of basketball going on right now."
Around the dials
Catch the excellent interview of 49ers coach Mike Nolan by Mike Lamb on Comcast SportsNet Insider. It's a two-part segment, with the coach in a Sacramento studio, with replays throughout next week, including Tuesday at various times. Lamb's next challenge is to get Raiders coach Art Shell to drop his silver and black guard a bit and reflect.
Dick Stockton still has it. The CBS TV voice for some epic Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals in the 1980s, Stockton called the Dallas-San Antonio thriller on TNT on Wednesday night. A man without TV ego, he's always sure to set up his color man and to avoid talking too much.
Reggie Miller is getting better by the week. The former Indiana Pacers great admittedly was jumpy in his first round of playoff color work for TNT after so many years of playing the game, not talking about it. In the Kings-Spurs series, for example, he expressed astonishment that the Kings' "Francisco Rodriguez was even on the floor." He meant Francisco García. Miller also called Shareef Abdur-Rahim "Shareef Abdul" at least twice, but in his last two games he butchered no names.
Kobe Bryant was a strong guest on TNT's NBA show, though his powder blue sweater might have looked better on Kenny Smith, from his powder blue North Carolina and Kings days.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
