At Garden, credibility totally shot
The next thing you know Cablevision boss James Dolan will order all MSG "SportsDesk" anchors to refrain from reporting any scores that have the Knicks or Rangers on the losing end.
Well, in the World's Most Dysfunctional Arena, you never know, do you?
It took until Friday to report any aspect of the sexual harassment suit filed against Isiah Thomas by Anucha Browne Sanders, proving MSG Network is nothing more than an extension of the Garden's public relations machine. It was only part of the fallout in another dreadful week for what has become the most discombobulated, disorganized, bass-ackwards sports operation (yes, even more than the Jets) in New York.
The outcome of this lawsuit will be decided in court or with a behind-the-scenes settlement. And yet, already, it has brought embarrassment to MSG and a perception that, internally, things are spinning out of control.
Here's the visual: Mr. Dolan, who doubles as a professional musician, playing his guitar while the Garden is burning in the background.
Some allegations in the lawsuit, which have nothing to do with Thomas, make you wonder what else might be going on inside the building. Like the one in which Dolan ordered Browne Sanders to hire his former landscaper, Vernon Manuel, who after getting an MSG job, according to the lawsuit, "forged his manager's signature on multiple occasions, stole from the company and acted in a hostile and aggressive manner with many women on the staff."
Yes, in any business, perception is huge. Maybe more so in the entertainment biz. Last week's "activity" at MSG had to disrupt the Knicks organization from a team perspective, sponsorship perspective and media perspective.
Does anyone believe the phone lines in the Knicks' ticket office and sponsorship office are now ringing off the hook with requests to do business? And if the story continues to have legs, and if other seamy details should leak out, how much of a financial hit will the Garden's bottom line take?
Already there is collateral damage. No one will forget that when the story broke, MSG voices followed orders not to report, or discuss, Browne Sanders' lawsuit, causing their reputations to be tarnished. If Mike Breen or Walt Frazier must agree not to discuss Thomas' problem, why should anyone take them seriously when they comment on the off-court problems of other NBA GMs or players? The same holds true for "SportsDesk" anchors John Giannone and Steve Cangialosi.
All these voices have been hung out to dry by Dolan & Co. who, by their own actions, put no priority on their announcers' credibility. And before any Garden voice tries selling anyone the line they have all used before - "no one here tells me what to say" - realize you all have been exposed. You've all been told, time and time again, what "not" to say.
Will SNY shoot straight?
The MSG Network's ostrich approach to the Thomas story has opened a huge window of opportunity for SportsNet New York, which debuts in March.
Considering SNY will place heavy emphasis on its local sports news operation, and considering MSG's "SportsDesk" has been reduced to nothing more than the Garden's propaganda arm, SNY will have an opportunity to show viewers its reporters are playing it straight.
SNY boss Jon Litner has been vocal about this. Now he's on the spot. Remember, SNY's majority owner is Mets boss Fred Wilpon. SNY also has forged a programming alliance with the Jets. There will come a point where an embarrassing, off-field controversy erupts for one, or both, of these teams.
Will SNY's news operation cover it? Or ignore it?
ESPN's own cover story
On Wednesday night, MSG was not the only outlet to steer clear of Browne Sanders' lawsuit.
According to a few who tried checking in, callers to ESPN-1050's 11 p.m.-midnight postgame show, with Brandon Tierney, following the Knicks' OT loss to Sacramento, were told they could not discuss any aspect of the lawsuit filed against Thomas and the Garden.
Mike Thompson, ESPN-1050's program director, confirmed the Wednesday night ban on Thomas talk, but contended Garden suits had not ordered it. ESPN-1050 is the Knicks' flagship radio station.
"It was my call, not MSG's," Thompson said. "Our guys (Steven A. Smith/Michael Kay) had been talking about it (the lawsuit) all day. I wanted a break. I wanted straight basketball talk on the postgame."
Sweet talk
Lou Piniella is telling pals he is absolutely not going to manage this season because of his $4 million "no compete" buyout deal from the Devil Rays.
As for TV, even though he would be a natural, Sweet Luigi does not want to hook up with ESPN for two reasons: 1) He doesn't want to commute every week from Tampa to ESPN's Bristol, Conn. studio and 2) He does not want to work on a studio show in which he would be expected to criticize players who he might have to manage in the future.
This likely leaves Piniella with an option to return to Fox as a game analyst, which he enjoyed. Piniella worked on Fox's 2005 postseason coverage and conceivably will be asked back.
YES, it's true
The gang from the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network showed just how gracious it can be, rolling out the welcome mat for the Mets, and their new network, SNY.
That's what went down Wednesday on YES' simulcast of WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show. Mike Francesa and Chris (Mad Dog) Russo, on location at Manhattan's Hard Rock Cafe for the Mets' caravan, offered wall-to-wall Metsies on YES.
Ron Darling, one of SNY's Mets analysts, presented the boys with SNY T-shirts and caps. So, the SNY logo, for the first time on New York TV, was seen on YES.
Sounds like a future trivia question.
Dude of the Week
TEX WINTER
For putting Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance in perspective. Winter, 83, the longtime assistant to Phil Jackson and now a Lakers consultant, said: "That was one of the greatest exhibitions I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of exhibitions. That's what the fans love. (But) I don't think you can win a championship that way." Thank goodness. At least someone didn't go totally gaga over Bryant's barrage. Winter is underlining one of the NBA's problems. There are many players whose priority is to put on an "exhibition" rather to put a total emphasis on winning.
Dweeb of the Week
JAMES SEIF
For his moronic characterization of Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, who is seeking to become the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania. Seif, the campaign manager for Swann's opponent Bill Scranton, said: "The rich white guy in this campaign is Lynn Swann." One question: How did Seif get to the point where he could manage a campaign when he clearly cannot manage his own mouth? Alas, such is politics in 2006. Perhaps Seif was trying to appeal to a racist demographic. Scranton did the right thing. He fired the jerk.
Double Talk
What Theo Espstein said: "Organically, out of this process, grew a greater appreciation for baseball's centrality in the operation."
What Theo Espstein meant to say: "I am the baseball operation here. And Larry Lucchino is the business operation. And henceforth never the twain shall meet - especially not in my office."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/386540p-327988c.html
The next thing you know Cablevision boss James Dolan will order all MSG "SportsDesk" anchors to refrain from reporting any scores that have the Knicks or Rangers on the losing end.
Well, in the World's Most Dysfunctional Arena, you never know, do you?
It took until Friday to report any aspect of the sexual harassment suit filed against Isiah Thomas by Anucha Browne Sanders, proving MSG Network is nothing more than an extension of the Garden's public relations machine. It was only part of the fallout in another dreadful week for what has become the most discombobulated, disorganized, bass-ackwards sports operation (yes, even more than the Jets) in New York.
The outcome of this lawsuit will be decided in court or with a behind-the-scenes settlement. And yet, already, it has brought embarrassment to MSG and a perception that, internally, things are spinning out of control.
Here's the visual: Mr. Dolan, who doubles as a professional musician, playing his guitar while the Garden is burning in the background.
Some allegations in the lawsuit, which have nothing to do with Thomas, make you wonder what else might be going on inside the building. Like the one in which Dolan ordered Browne Sanders to hire his former landscaper, Vernon Manuel, who after getting an MSG job, according to the lawsuit, "forged his manager's signature on multiple occasions, stole from the company and acted in a hostile and aggressive manner with many women on the staff."
Yes, in any business, perception is huge. Maybe more so in the entertainment biz. Last week's "activity" at MSG had to disrupt the Knicks organization from a team perspective, sponsorship perspective and media perspective.
Does anyone believe the phone lines in the Knicks' ticket office and sponsorship office are now ringing off the hook with requests to do business? And if the story continues to have legs, and if other seamy details should leak out, how much of a financial hit will the Garden's bottom line take?
Already there is collateral damage. No one will forget that when the story broke, MSG voices followed orders not to report, or discuss, Browne Sanders' lawsuit, causing their reputations to be tarnished. If Mike Breen or Walt Frazier must agree not to discuss Thomas' problem, why should anyone take them seriously when they comment on the off-court problems of other NBA GMs or players? The same holds true for "SportsDesk" anchors John Giannone and Steve Cangialosi.
All these voices have been hung out to dry by Dolan & Co. who, by their own actions, put no priority on their announcers' credibility. And before any Garden voice tries selling anyone the line they have all used before - "no one here tells me what to say" - realize you all have been exposed. You've all been told, time and time again, what "not" to say.
Will SNY shoot straight?
The MSG Network's ostrich approach to the Thomas story has opened a huge window of opportunity for SportsNet New York, which debuts in March.
Considering SNY will place heavy emphasis on its local sports news operation, and considering MSG's "SportsDesk" has been reduced to nothing more than the Garden's propaganda arm, SNY will have an opportunity to show viewers its reporters are playing it straight.
SNY boss Jon Litner has been vocal about this. Now he's on the spot. Remember, SNY's majority owner is Mets boss Fred Wilpon. SNY also has forged a programming alliance with the Jets. There will come a point where an embarrassing, off-field controversy erupts for one, or both, of these teams.
Will SNY's news operation cover it? Or ignore it?
ESPN's own cover story
On Wednesday night, MSG was not the only outlet to steer clear of Browne Sanders' lawsuit.
According to a few who tried checking in, callers to ESPN-1050's 11 p.m.-midnight postgame show, with Brandon Tierney, following the Knicks' OT loss to Sacramento, were told they could not discuss any aspect of the lawsuit filed against Thomas and the Garden.
Mike Thompson, ESPN-1050's program director, confirmed the Wednesday night ban on Thomas talk, but contended Garden suits had not ordered it. ESPN-1050 is the Knicks' flagship radio station.
"It was my call, not MSG's," Thompson said. "Our guys (Steven A. Smith/Michael Kay) had been talking about it (the lawsuit) all day. I wanted a break. I wanted straight basketball talk on the postgame."
Sweet talk
Lou Piniella is telling pals he is absolutely not going to manage this season because of his $4 million "no compete" buyout deal from the Devil Rays.
As for TV, even though he would be a natural, Sweet Luigi does not want to hook up with ESPN for two reasons: 1) He doesn't want to commute every week from Tampa to ESPN's Bristol, Conn. studio and 2) He does not want to work on a studio show in which he would be expected to criticize players who he might have to manage in the future.
This likely leaves Piniella with an option to return to Fox as a game analyst, which he enjoyed. Piniella worked on Fox's 2005 postseason coverage and conceivably will be asked back.
YES, it's true
The gang from the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network showed just how gracious it can be, rolling out the welcome mat for the Mets, and their new network, SNY.
That's what went down Wednesday on YES' simulcast of WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show. Mike Francesa and Chris (Mad Dog) Russo, on location at Manhattan's Hard Rock Cafe for the Mets' caravan, offered wall-to-wall Metsies on YES.
Ron Darling, one of SNY's Mets analysts, presented the boys with SNY T-shirts and caps. So, the SNY logo, for the first time on New York TV, was seen on YES.
Sounds like a future trivia question.
Dude of the Week
TEX WINTER
For putting Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance in perspective. Winter, 83, the longtime assistant to Phil Jackson and now a Lakers consultant, said: "That was one of the greatest exhibitions I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of exhibitions. That's what the fans love. (But) I don't think you can win a championship that way." Thank goodness. At least someone didn't go totally gaga over Bryant's barrage. Winter is underlining one of the NBA's problems. There are many players whose priority is to put on an "exhibition" rather to put a total emphasis on winning.
Dweeb of the Week
JAMES SEIF
For his moronic characterization of Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann, who is seeking to become the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania. Seif, the campaign manager for Swann's opponent Bill Scranton, said: "The rich white guy in this campaign is Lynn Swann." One question: How did Seif get to the point where he could manage a campaign when he clearly cannot manage his own mouth? Alas, such is politics in 2006. Perhaps Seif was trying to appeal to a racist demographic. Scranton did the right thing. He fired the jerk.
Double Talk
What Theo Espstein said: "Organically, out of this process, grew a greater appreciation for baseball's centrality in the operation."
What Theo Espstein meant to say: "I am the baseball operation here. And Larry Lucchino is the business operation. And henceforth never the twain shall meet - especially not in my office."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/386540p-327988c.html
