Letters to the Editor
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Larry and Ron
King - I appreciate your confidence in the Pacers and agree that this team is formidable on paper. But here's what I think is going on with Bird and Artest. Larry's strategy is to "keep your friends close, your enemies closer" - demonstrated by the SI cover.
The best thing that could happen to the Pacers this year is Artest to get off to a decent but not amazing start with no SportCenter meltdowns, giving Larry the leverage to get some sort of trade value (1st rd equivalent) for him before Christmas. The worst thing that could happen is for Artest to have an amazing regular season and wait until the playoffs to break down again, which is what every single opposing fan and opponent will try and trigger.
But at least he'll be well-dressed off the court and in court.
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Studio Shows
King:
You mentioned the NBA studio show on TNT and it brought to mind something that has bothered me for a little while now.
12 years ago, back when FOX wrested away from CBS the rights to the NFL's NFC package, it instituted a new pregame show format where the studio personalities would argue and banter with one another, much like a group of friends sitting in a bar watching football on TV might do. It was a brilliant move that endeared FOX to NFL viewers and would soon bring an end to the old, straight-line format of news and information.
At the time, I loved it and thought it was just the dose of spice the NFL on TV needed. But as the other networks took notice and followed suit, I thought them copycats and also not as good at it as the FOX guys were.
Now it seems like every studio show of every kind for every sport under the sun features this format to the extent that it is obviously forced and disingenuous. It seems like just another otherwise good idea that's just been taken and turned into a monkey show.
Is there no place on the sports landscape for thoughtful, intelligent analysis featuring genuine people? I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Dan
Rockville, MD
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Re: Studio Shows
I definitely agree with the complaint about the current trend in studio shows. Aside from the fact that they do tend to be cookie cutter, it seems most networks have lost site of the fact that the "guys arguing about sports" format for the pre and post game shows only really works if the guys arguing have some semblance of wit and can make their point well. The NFL has devolved into a bunch of obnoxious meatheads yelling at each other as loudly as they can with a couple of "You're so balds" or "You're head is so square" thrown in for good measue.
But Inside the NBA definitely isn't that. It's a group of three reasonably intelligent, funny guys who definitely seem to get along and who really know their hoops. And who doesn't like a "NBA players who've won championships" bit designed to make fun of Charles Barkley?
As for the column itself, I have a hunch that the Raptors are going to prove you, well, wrong-ish. The Rookies have played well in the preseason and the team has gotten rid of a lot of the off-court distractions(cough, Rafer Alston, cough. 15th? They're a legitimate contender to finish 12th.
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Honestly.
I really do like your column, and read it regularly during the NBA season. However. I just thought I'd take this opportunity to thank you for shitting on the Hornets, at every possible opportunity, with no reprieve, both before and after their fans had their entire city wash away in an apocalyptic catastrophe. Awesome.
Last season was the first below 500 season in years, but everybody acts like they've been stinking up the whole league since time began. Before the storm they were 2nd in the league in new season ticket sales, so I thought maybe people would stop giving them shit about low attendance, in a small city they'd been in for 2 years. A really poor city. Sports columnists, I think, tend to forget that regular people have to actually pay for their tickets in order to attend.
I know you're not one for the "oh it'll be so inspirational to the poor people blah blah blah" and neither am I. The Saints have 40 years of suckitude behind them, so they've earned their scorn. But maybe, for example, mentioning the names of some of the Hornets, like you did with every single other team, instead of one snarky sentence about them being homeless, might make us feel less shat on. And feeling less shat on would in fact be inspiring.
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nba preview
king:
i'm a little disappointed that you chose not to comment on david stern. because to me, he has become a total run-amok mini-prick, i can hardly stand to listen to his napoleonic-complex ass being interviewed, he is so smug, so self-absorbed, that even when he says or does something sensible, i can't swallow it because of where it came from. the dismissive way he chides the players union, the sanctimonious way he stubs out the individuality of players like AI, he has gone beyond self-important to self-omnipotent.
edwardo
p.s. sorry about all of the hyphens.
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Let's Go Nugs!
I just had to drop a quick line to express how pleased I am to see you predicting that my beloved Denver Nuggets will finish first in their division.
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Give us a break
As an ardent Hornets supporter from New Orleans (yes, we do exist, and there's many more of us than anyone in the press is willing to admit), I must also take contention with your comments, or lack therof, towards my beloved team.
It is blatantly obvious that sports writers get their kicks by talking trash about teams when they are down. We heard it all last year, and we'll no doubt hear it again. But give us a break.
While last season was admittedly disastrous, everyone talks as if this team has been bogged in suckitude for years, when in fact last season was the first time the team had ever finished with a losing record, AND also snapped the longest consecutive playoff streak by an NBA team- far from mediocrity.
Attendance has indeed been a problem in New Orleans. To that end, the Hornets were in the top five of new season ticket sales this offseason AFTER SHIPPING OFF THEIR ENTIRE TEAM. The attendance figures last year actually went UP once we shipped the malcontent Baron Davis from the team (let's see how long the fairytale lasts in Golden State).
We may not be the best team in the league, but we won't be nearly as bad as last season. Paul and JR Smith form the best young backcourt in the league, and Desmond Mason will flourish in Scott's system.
Will we make the playoffs this season- probably not.
Will we have a winning record- ditto on that answer.
Will we be the same pushovers we were last season? You'll have to ask Sacramento after last night's game.