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NBA Espn

Latest Espn Stories

Someone Needs to Remind Jemele Hill What She Said About Don Imus

Posted: Jun 18th 2008 2:00 AM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Media Watch, NBA Playoffs, ESPN

11 COMMENTS
ESPN announced today that Jemele Hill would be "relieved of her duties" (read: suspension) which, I suppose, means we are all supposed to forget what happened, move on with our lives and wait until she fires out her next column, which is almost guaranteed to be something other than edgy.

But it should at least be pointed out that while she serves her suspension, Hill herself found a similar punishment to Don Imus unacceptable enough to fill up a full column on Page Two (emphasis mine).
If it were up to me, security would have escorted the longtime radio jock out of his CBS Radio cocoon with belongings in tow days ago. But for now, I'll have to settle for a two-week suspension that doesn't begin until next week. That'll show him.

Days have passed since Imus, executive producer Bernard McGuirk and sports announcer Sid Rosenberg took turns taking cheap shots at the Rutgers women's basketball team, but I'm still boiling because too many people continue to defend Imus behind lame free-speech arguments -- remember, speech is free, but consequences are not -- and the idea that black women just don't know a good joke when they hear one.
There was nothing funny about Imus' statement. And Hill's comparison of pulling for the Celtics to painting Adolf Hitler as a victim (not to mention her pulling for the Celtics: rooting for a pedophile to escape To Catch a Predator analogy on her personal blog) is just as humorless.

We all make mistakes. But any attempt by Hill to chalk up her Hitler comments to humor, free speech or ignorance flew out the window the second she wrote this article on Imus.

ESPN Takes the First Step And Admits That There Actually Was a Jemele Hill 'Mistake'

Posted: Jun 17th 2008 7:30 PM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Media Watch, NBA Playoffs, ESPN, Blogs

6 COMMENTS
If blogs did not exist, I guarantee you 99% fewer folks would have read Jemele Hill's Saturday ESPN column, which argued that cheering "for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It's like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan."

Hill's statement -- which ESPN quickly edited out of the article -- can best be classified as incoherent and stupid. Incoherent, because both analogies display a poor understanding of history (anyone who cares know that it doesn't matter who pushes the nuclear button first). Stupid, because jokes about Nazis or nuclear holocausts are usually ill-advised. If you're going to attempt either, it's best to bring your A-game. If you don't have an A-game, just keep your mouth shut.

(B-game writers like Hill can console themselves with the knowledge that society is much more tolerant of folks who make bad jokes about their own heritage. The 'Hitler Rug' above comes from a Jewish Museum. I don't slap my knees when I see it, but I would imagine that members of the Jewish faith have a different take on it than I do.)

ESPN and Hill apologized for the mistake today. That's nice, but I think the time has come to move Hill out of the "thoughtful" category reserved for capable columnists and slot her in the "desperate" category reserved for writers trying to shock people into noticing them.

I say this because Hill seems to enjoy the attention that follows making outrageous statements. That's the only way conceivable that she could have argued that Pistons-Spurs would be a better matchup for the NBA.

Bad columnists fall prey to homerism all the time, and Hill is no exception. But it doesn't take a history degree to figure out that sloppy writing and sensitive issues are a horrible combination. If a columnist can't see that, they're probably not worth your time.

UPDATE: Hill has been suspended.
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ESPN Is OK with Laura Lane's Personal Blog, but 'Don't Bother Looking for It, It's Long Gone'

Posted: May 29th 2008 3:15 PM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Lakers, Los Angeles, ESPN, Blogs

2 COMMENTS

ESPN the Magazine is taking a decidedly different approach to this whole Laura Lane-Vanessa Bryant potty-mouthed semi-soap opera than some people probably thought they would. The Worldwide Leader is actually embracing Ms. Lane's decision to write about her encounter with Ms. Bryant on her personal blog.

This is a good thing. Corporations tend to freak out when people with any insider knowledge discuss the company. (As a freelancer, Lane's not really an insider. But again, corporations often shoot first and question later in these cases.)

So, credit to the ESPN powers that be who kept their cool here. But the company gets significantly less credit for the vague and somewhat hypocritical manner in which it lays the blame in this instance. The root of the problem: They still don't seem to really understand how blogs work.
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ESPN Finally Stops Ignoring Karl Malone Statutory Rape Allegations

Posted: May 7th 2008 5:14 PM ET by Michael David Smith (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Bills, NBA Media Watch, Buffalo, ESPN

9 COMMENTS
Kudos to Jemele Hill of ESPN.com for writing a great column about Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Demetrius Bell and the famous father who had nothing to do with him, Karl Malone.

The Bills picked Bell in the seventh round of the NFL draft, and several media outlets reported that Bell was the son of Malone, the NBA great. But not every outlet made clear that Malone was a deadbeat dad who hadn't been there for his son, and hardly any followed up on the report, which first appeared in the Buffalo News, that Bell's mother was 13 years old when she gave birth.

That news would make Malone not just a deadbeat dad but also a criminal, and it was shocking that ESPN and the rest of the mainstream sports media completely ignored it. The Buffalo News and Los Angeles Times were the only media newspapers that reported it, and as far as I know it has never been mentioned on television.

Maybe Hill's column will change that. Bell is from all accounts a fine young man whose life story should be told. And that story isn't complete unless it includes disturbing details about his father.

Previously on FanHouse:
Offensive Tackle Demetrius Bell, Son of Deadbeat Dad Karl Malone, Drafted by Bills
Report: Mother of Buffalo Bills Player Was 12 or 13 When Karl Malone Got Her Pregnant
Why Is Mainstream Media Ignoring Statutory Rape Allegations Against Karl Malone?

Josh Howard's Weed 'Habit': Suddenly News

Posted: Apr 25th 2008 6:25 PM ET by Tom Ziller (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Mavericks, NBA Media Watch, Dallas, The Word, ESPN

221 COMMENTS
A year ago, ESPN blogger Henry Abbott published an interview with Josh Howard at ESPN.com. Near the end of said post:
I think a lot of people have that problem [smoking marijuana]. How that could stop me from getting drafted, though? How many guys in the lottery smoke pot? The weed thing, just about everybody smokes.
Last week, Dallas Morning News writer Brad Townsend penned a story presumably sparked spurred by the year-old TrueHoop post (which is referenced in Townsend's second paragraph). The most relevant passage:
Asked whether he caught any flak for that interview, Howard said no. When asked to quantify the extent of his use, he said he got "a little crazy" in high school but uses it "less" now and never during the season.

He emphasizes that marijuana is "nothing I'm needing," unlike some NBA players who "have to have it."
Today, ESPN is promo'ing the Hades out of a Sportscenter segment on the subject, roughly two hours before Howard's Mavericks tip off Game 3 ... on ESPN. Tuned-in Brinson quotes the promo: "And did Josh Howard admit using marijuana in a radio interview? Oh-ho. You bet he did! Don't miss his shocking comments!" The radio interview? On Michael Irvin's ESPN Radio show.
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Ric Bucher, Foot Firmly in Mouth, Will Hop to Salt Lake City Next Weekend

Posted: Apr 21st 2008 7:30 PM ET by Matt Watson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Western, NBA Media Watch, NBA Playoffs, Jazz, ESPN

2 COMMENTS
Jazz fansUpdate: Actually, no this isn't going to happen at all. According to Sports Media Watch, ESPN has changed their schedule so that Bucher will work in Atlanta, instead. Coincidence?

When trying to explain the Utah Jazz's home court advantage, ESPN's Ric Bucher opened wide and practically swallowed his foot: "Let's be honest. They're Mormon. And they're in Salt Lake. And there's nothing else there. You've got to smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious."

He since apologized, saying he regretted it as soon as he said it and tried to clarify but recognizes he didn't do it well enough, adding, "I hope that this apology will do that and that all citizens of Salt Lake City will find it in their hearts to welcome me as hospitably as they have in the past."

Bucher will test that hospitality on Saturday as he's working ESPN's broadcast of Game 4 between the Jazz and Rockets. Will he receive a harsh reaction from the EnergySolutions crowd? Almost certainly. (From the picture above, I'm guessing Bucher needs to be most wary of Kris Kross inspired teenagers and deceptively ruthless elderly couples.)

Does that say something about those who follow the Mormon faith? Absolutely not. Fans are nuts everywhere these days, whether it's the Lakers home crowd chanting "DUI" to Carmelo Anthony, baseball fans in Philly celebrating a player getting hurt or rival fans in any city trying to kill each other. Residents of Salt Lake City, whether they're Mormon or not, don't have a monopoly on being rowdy.

NBA Enjoys Opening Weekend Ratings Boost

Posted: Apr 21st 2008 6:05 PM ET by Matt Watson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: NBA Media Watch, NBA Playoffs, ESPN

0 COMMENTS
ESPN micI hate talking about ratings when it comes to sports because I find them inherently meaningless. More sporting events are shown on cable than ever before, which means that ratings are almost always down when compared to previous years when they were shown on over-the-air network television. Plus, there's just more competition for our entertainment needs these days, such as TiVo and the internet. But knowing this, I'm actually impressed to see that the NBA's ratings increased by more than 30% over last year. From Sports Media Watch:
Meanwhile, ESPN's opening day tripleheader saw soaring ratings. Cavaliers/Wizards drew a 2.1 in the ratings-unfriendly 12:30 PM timeslot, up 50% from a 1.4 for Nets/Raptors last year. Mavericks/Hornets drew a 2.4, up 60% from a 1.5 for last year's Magic/Pistons game. The highest rated game of the day on ESPN was Jazz/Rockets, which drew a 2.5 rating -- up 39% from a 1.8 for the same game last year.
Before the NBA spins this too much, I have a couple of theories for the increase. For one, last year's Pistons/Magic series was a predictable yawner, while Cavs/Wiz has been built up in the press thanks to DeShawn Stevenson, LeBron James and Soulja Boy. The Nets/Raps series was actually entertaining last year, but ratings (as far as I'm aware) don't take into account Canadian viewers, so it stands to reason that two U.S. teams are producing higher numbers.

But still, an increase is an increase no matter what the explanation, and it's nice to see more people tuning into what should be one of the most exciting playoffs (in the West, at least) in recent memory.

Do Not Compare Chris Bosh to Manute Bol!

Posted: Apr 20th 2008 10:55 AM ET by Tom Ziller (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Raptors, NBA Media Watch, Toronto, ESPN

4 COMMENTS
Apparently, Stephen A. Smith (described by the Toronto Star's Doug Smith as "a prominent ESPN analyst known for his loud delivery and over-the-top commentary") called Raptors star Chris Bosh "soft," and to assert his point compared the NBA's 10th leading scorer (Bosh, that is) to ... Manute Bol, a gentleman to be credited for his political work of behalf of change in Darfur but otherwise existed as a basketball sideshow, a fellow who never averaged more than 3.9 points a game.

Bosh, you'll understand, bristled at the comparison.
"If you have respect for someone, you expect that same respect back," Bosh said yesterday. "If you're a classless person like that, I mean, I guess that shows how you are, what kind of person you really are. ... I don't have to prove anything to that guy, plain and simple. If that's what he wants to do, that's what he's going to do. If that's what makes him happy, to try to bring other people down, good for him."
The Toronto chapter of the Stephen A. Haters Club has expanded. President and founder Rasho Nesterovic must be overjoyed.

ESPN's Bucher Credits Jazz Home Court Advantage to Mormonism, Repressed Anger

Posted: Apr 18th 2008 12:40 PM ET by Tom Ziller (RSS feed)
Filed Under: NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch, Jazz, ESPN

30 COMMENTS
Via Sports Media Watch, the Deseret News reports ESPN's Ric Bucherz made some touchy comments on Colin Cowherd's ESPN radio show about why the Utah Jazz have such a strong home court advantage. Apparently, we should credit the Church of Latter Day Saints.
"Let's be honest. They're Mormon. And they're in Salt Lake. And there's nothing else there," he said. "You've got to smile and be happy all the time. This might be one opportunity for fans to get vicious."
So instead of drinking and gambling, like the rest of us rube pagans, Jazz fans focus their esprit mal on yelling insults at Warriors or goading Ron Artest into an ejection? Even if it weren't uncomfortable in its plain bigotry (with the turn of phrase "let's be honest" a nice indicator of coming insensitivity), it's plain bad logic. News columnist Scott D. Pierce places the expected perspective on it.
If Bucher had been talking about the Knicks and said, "They're Jews and they're in New York City"; if Bucher had said, "They're African-Americans and they're in Memphis," he would have been suspended if not fired by now.
SMW does note Bucher isn't on the docket for any upcoming playoff games on ABC or ESPN ... not even the Lakers' home game. (Michelle Tafoya got the call.) Whether it's a suspension or not, we'll never know, because ESPN will never tell us. ESPN PR says Bucher was not scheduled this weekend before the incident occurred.

UPDATE: ESPN VP of Public Relations Josh Krulewitz sends along this statement: "We spoke to Ric and he understands that his comments were inappropriate. This type of religious generalization has no place on our outlets and we apologize." Bucher's own apology is after the jump.
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ESPN Cancels Bill Simmons' Podcast with Barack Obama

Posted: Apr 16th 2008 12:30 PM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: NBA Media Watch, ESPN

3 COMMENTS
Apparently, Bill Simmons had Barack Obama all lined up to appear on his podcast. I had no clue (do people still read this guy? I thought he was running an NBA D League team or something. Kidding. Kind of.)

Senator Obama will no longer be appearing though. And it has nothing to do with his busy schedule or the non-political topics (think: NBA) with which they most likely would have discussed. Instead, according to the New York Daily News, ESPN has pulled the plug on the podcast appearance, without really providing a specific (read: good) excuse.

At the last minute, network executives killed a podcast with the senator that was scheduled for Friday with host Bill Simmons.

The presidential candidate was all ready to do it.

'Senator Obama would be happy to appear on ESPN at any time,' said his spokesman, Tommy Vietor.

It's not the first time the sports network has canceled an appearance by the Democratic front-runner. According to a campaign source, a television interview set up with host Stu Scott was canceled by higher-ups as well.

Ruh-roh! Looks like we found the first problem with Sports Guy's new contract at the WWL. He probably should have demanded veto power over any guests, but then again, when he inked back with ESPN, the SG podcast was a lot smaller, at least in terms of marketability.

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