Drama and the Media
by Dave on Jul 29, 2010 11:45 PM PDT
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PrintOne of the things I've been asked about this week is my perception of the Dramagate following Oregonian beat writer Jason Quick's recent radio announcements about drama surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers and the subsequent, anti-climactic newspaper piece "revealing" well-known (and well-trodden) trade scenarios surrounding Rudy Fernandez...a process for which Quick took a considerable amount of flak. I'm not as keen on addressing the specifics of this case as I am talking about drama, sports, and the media in general, of which this situation is a prime example.
Drama has taken over our cultural landscape. That's a nearly inarguable fact. Turn on the TV and you will see a multitude of once-normal acts--cooking, dating, living in a house, sewing clothes, going to parties--infused and impregnated with dramatic storylines and overtones and presented as "reality". While most people are able to make distinctions between this fare and actual daily life the message is clear: if it's not dramatic it's not interesting, not fit for consumption, and perhaps not "real". I get to observe this phenomenon daily among teenagers dating, people conducting marriages, parents raising children, folks trying to advocate a political stance or effect change in the world, even folks overheard chatting at the grocery store or on the bus. More and more drama takes the place of substance, making us feel alive and our actions feel important.
With society and its members trending this way, it's no surprise that the media has followed. Dramatic stories lead. Non-dramatic stories that must be reported nonetheless are mined for their most dramatic angles. The weather today? HOT HOT HOT! Also the Florida Keys are bracing for a HURRICANE and we have the live footage right after the break! Look at this reporter blowing sideways! Look at this microphone stuck in the face of this guy who just lost his home! Story on A3! Follow up tomorrow! Don't miss a moment!!! It's even less surprising that the fantasy/entertainment-based world of sports has been caught up in this dramatic whirlwind. We don't observe outcomes and give credit and analysis anymore. We root for the story. We assign blame. We make snap judgments about who is the best and what went wrong and what might have happened in alternate universes where the real reality didn't transpire.
Personally I find sports plenty dramatic enough without the extras. That's not to say that excited takes and giddy rushes of analysis are absent from these pages. Of course we take the ride. But in general I go with what the sport brings. It's a more subtle form of drama. You have to wait for the right moment, the big shot, the set pick than most people missed, the longer trends that most people don't have the patience to follow. It's like the rich build of a symphony instead of 22 blaring guitar riffs in a row...a carefully-prepared meal instead of a platter of hot dogs. But to me, it's worth it. I trust the sport to provide its own drama. I trust that well will ultimately stay productive even if it appears to be lowering on certain days in July and August. If I don't trust that the sport will bring stories worth telling without embellishment or dramatic over-painting from me, why am I doing what I do? The facts, trends, analysis, and opinions...the game can be beautiful if you take the time to see it that way. If you just consume it, nom-nomming your way through each day and belching up a cloud of opinion before heading on to your next dramatic moment it's never going to give you much.
For me, I hope you find plenty of drama and interests in these posts. I hope it's organic drama though...information you can dive into and learn from, pieces with texture and grit, not just something to get titillated by and then yell about. If that means lower ratings, so be it. But so far it hasn't. In fact I believe most people are looking for just this kind of approach because few media outlets take it anymore.
Newspapers used to pride themselves on being the bastions of information, truth and professionalism over drama. I think many of them do admirably well still, in many ways even our own. I hope that they continue to trust in that creed and in the sport they cover. I fear that in their haste to be relevant, to reach people and sell product, they are abandoning that stance. We're all the poorer for it.
The blurring of lines between media hastens this process...another point I have mentioned before and find near-inarguable. When beat writers and columnists were occasional guests on other people's shows they could provide information and insight. When they started getting their own shows they were now responsible for generating ratings and interest in that medium. Theoretically in the newspaper gig, at least in its classic form, you should be able to generate interest by having accurate information in a timely manner and being seen as trustworthy. That's not the radio gig at all. Radio thrives on controversy, argument, sensationalism. They don't want information, they want angles and noise. When a newspaper guy takes a radio gig his mission changes. Perhaps the two callings can be juggled if they're kept scrupulously separate. But that's infernally difficult because the reason most newspaper guys get hired as radio hosts is precisely their access to information. The lines get blurred.
From what I understand we saw this phenomenon in spades in the case in question. Teasing the next segment is a common and necessary practice on the radio. You over-sell what's happening in the next 15 minutes so listeners will remain excited and tuned in. It's good policy...part of the drama of the medium. But when applied to a newspaper story--a medium on which readers have traditionally relied to be fair, even, professional--the over-selling feels like betrayal. Drama trumps information. Credibility goes by the wayside. The whole ends up seeming more like self-aggrandizing gossip than important information, let alone truth. That's only partially a function of the person delivering that information and only partially a function of the quality of information itself. A large part of the angst comes from the differences between two media types that should not be mixed in cavalier fashion. Had Jason Quick said, "At the top of the hour (or on tomorrow's show) we're going to clue you in to upcoming drama in the Blazers' organization" nobody would have batted an eyelash no matter what the news was (or wasn't). As soon as he invoked the paper it took on the gravity and formality of that medium, characteristics which neither the story nor the teasing of it lived up to. Thus listeners and readers felt let down.
Drama is an inevitable part of every story relayed in the modern environment. Not all drama is created equal, nor are the various media through which the drama, and the stories behind it, are conveyed. Creating more out of less is an art which requires careful consideration, timing, and a deep empathy with an audience and what they're looking for. It's an art that should also be employed sparingly, lest the artist become more of a story than the art or its subject.
Let the sport be the sport. It has drama enough for all of us. Part of the attraction of sports is precisely the feeling of being out of control...of everybody watching together not knowing what will happen within the boundaries of the court or of league rules. At its worst manufactured drama robs us of that sensation in favor of scripted reality controlled by a few. We forgo experiencing life with all its bumps and bruises and imperfections for a series of controlled, plastic encounters. We abandon our own eyes in favor of someone else's view, looking through the helmet-cam of a hang-glider and calling it flight, watching the thumbs up or down in the movie review then saying we've seen it. We argue about trivialities, forsaking reality. Even when pre-packaged hype, the camera view, and the trivia seem exciting and reality mundane, that's a bad exchange. When it comes to a choice between drama and life, life should win. Maybe I'm naive, but I still believe our media, as the public voice and clearing-house for our thoughts and communal conversation, should reflect that.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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by JuwanMVPHoward on Jul 29, 2010 11:52 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Also, great write-up.
This is exactly why I come to Blazersedge. I get the facts and am allowed to formulate my own opinions rather than regurgitate someone else’s. You and Ben do a great job, keep it up.
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by JuwanMVPHoward on Jul 29, 2010 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Exactly
Blazersedge provides a fair and, shall we say, more intellectual, dispassionate perspective on all things Blazers. The drama of which Dave speaks has been fostered by the intense competition in the news world created by the internet. We live in an age of instant information — we receive immediate updates via twitter, facebook, alerts sent to our phones and e-mail. More traditional sources such as the print and broadcast media have to compete with that.
That might all sound good, except that internet “news” sources typically are not fettered by rules of objectivity or fact based writing. Bloggers can spew out pretty much whatever they want, and many do. Others stay a little closer to the news mainstream, but remain out of it by criticizing the traditional media for each little mistake. Then public figures, be they sports journalists or prominent politicians, find nearly every sentence they utter being parsed and dissected.
Blazersedge avoids that by focussing more on what actually happens on the court. Dave and Ben have the sense not to get involved in the off the court stories, writing about those typically only after they’ve had time to think about the subject, and put it into some sort of perspective.
As always, great job, Dave!
Wow
Serious writing skills sir!
There never needs to be another debate about drama in sports, you have cleared it all up once and for all.
thx
we can still win........
I was listening at the moment in question...
and understood without fear of being a dope that the only drama was of the very type you describe. Didn’t hold my breath, didn’t get wet, didn’t even crack an inner smile of knowing…all I really thought was, this is of the common variety of non story hype. I think that all good stories revolving around the Blazers are surprises, like the one I had today when I found and purchased a Greg Oden T-shirt at the local thrift store…hope it fits…
by balladofgregoden on Jul 30, 2010 12:29 AM PDT reply actions
I think another part of this equation is the growth of niche online communities. BE has given fans a forum to discuss the Blazers all day, every day with like-minded fans. A few years ago the comments that sparked this drama would have merely elicited scattered eye rolling from relatively isolated well-informed fans. Today, however, an entire community can be up to date on the latest news and those individuals who would have been isolated can affect or adopt the consensus of the group. The information here is interactive, rather than merely top down. People who otherwise would have been oblivious to Quick’s silliness can discover the attitudes communicated by other fans and can explore themselves Quick’s statements even if they missed them initially.
Not to mention that the less reliant we are on newspaper journalists as a primary source of sports (or other) news, the easier it is to condemn them for their shortcomings. If Quick was my only option for Blazer updates, I’d cut him some slack for hyping his non-story, but since everyone here already could access the information he was promoting, he comes across looking foolish and unnecessary.
No wonder traditional media types are heard occasionally making disparaging comments about blogs, forums, and other newer formats. Not only is the relevance of newspapers being diminished, but the climate of what is acceptable or tolerated is changing. Quick might have gotten away with his comments with little or no flak a few years back, but even if this is a pretty inconsequential row, many more people have noticed and formed opinions today and that affects his credibility.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell
by shralpster on Jul 30, 2010 12:31 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
good point
If Quick was my only option for Blazer updates, I’d cut him some slack for hyping his non-story, but since everyone here already could access the information he was promoting, he comes across looking foolish and unnecessary.
Hyping something that’s common knowledge is definitely annoying and some of the sharp responses may very well be “why in the world do i need you?” although expressed differently.
"We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
here, here!!!
Great perspective on this issue. The other victim of our modern culture is any real regard for truth or real consensus on anything. It is all geared toward conflict almost for conflicts sake.
Everyone has their opinion on the KP firing, many are convinced they are right about a power struggle with the Vulcans, or the Oden pick, or KP was too much of a publicity hound, or on and on and on. The truth of the matter is it is very unlikely any of us will ever know what happened,none of the reporters or broadcasters ae likely to find out what the real reasons are, but they charge forward and report every little scrap of rumor and gossip and we lap it up happily. I certainly get caught up in these things too, that is why I am so frustrated by the Quick deal.
There just is a lack of patience and acceptance ever present in many of our interactions. This phenomenon is super concentrated in the media but is prevalent in our politics, family life, personal life and work life.
The various forms of broadcast media adds an imperative for sensationalism that Dave described so well. I shared a story about watching Hardball earlier this week (more accurately it was on and I was cruising various threads here at the time). Matthews had on Eugene Robinson and Pat Buchanan to discuss race, affirmative action and the Shirley Sherrod firing. Chris started off trying to pit guys obviously on the opposite side of the issue in the overall outlook of their views on the issues. Through it all Eugene and Pat really got into a good, and I might add very interesting (it pulled me away from BEDGE at the time), discussion about the need for affirmative action, its purpose and its practical application in todays workplace.
They both were coming at it from completely different viewpoints but the discussion lead to several points of common ground to the point where I thought they might actually come to some agreement on how the issue might best be dealt with today. It was really getting interesting. Matthews could not have that happen on his show so he jumped back in and started throwing hand grenades and blew up the whole conversation.
The guests on Hardball were stepping outside the storyline, they were finding at least agreement on a tough issue. That is not good for ratings apparently and was dealt with swiftly by the host.
"Oh Yeah!" ~ Kool Aid Man
by PDXBuckeye on Jul 30, 2010 12:34 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Sad.
If folks would stop highlighting their differences to get votes/advance the party platform, they might discover that they all really want the same basic things from life, it’s just the details that draw the lines. Everybody wants healthcare, it’s just a matter of how it’s offered. Everybody wants national security, it’s just a matter of how it’s enforced. Everybody wants food, shelter, and peace—we just can’t agree on how to provide those things. So we fight, and because we’re fighting those things don’t get provided.
If hyper-intelligent aliens ever came to our planet, they would turn right around…or blow us to smithereens.
Stealth > Wealth
Had the same reaction
and thought the same thing when I saw that show. It was a very rare moment of rational discussion instead of (over) heated argument.
And Dave’s piece is spot on. I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve cut out of my life over the years due to drama addiction. I just don’t do drama and hate to see when it seeps more and more into things I relly enjoy.
I cut people out of my life who "cut people out of their lives."
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
Organic Drama coming right at you,
but first, TO fire bombs an entire suburb to avenge factual statements made by Donovan McNabb, the story coming up, after the break.
Did Quick really admit the Rudy storyline was the "drama"?
Hilarity! A few more gems like that and he should pick up an opening slot at Harvey Wallbanger’s.
As usual, thanks for the great stuff, Dave. This. Blog. Brings the noise.
Rich Rolled
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jul 30, 2010 12:52 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I'm not sure if he admitted it
but that was the only story forthcoming and the one people barbecued him about.
—Dave
my exposure to Blazer information is this site, a little bit of 95.5 on the way to a project and miscellaneous sports sites once in while
so when you say BBQ – was that just a Blazersedge special or his peers as well?
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jul 30, 2010 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Here's what I think happened, not that it matters
Quick was pretty sure that Rudy’s camp was going to throw a flaming bag trade demand at Portland, because they felt that the process was dragging on and that they weren’t being taken seriously
Jason couldn’t talk about it in detail on 95.5, because he owed his main employer (the Oregonian) the exclusive.
During the next 24+ hours, Cho reached out to Andy’s agnet and told him he’d make trading Fernandez more of a priority
and as fast as you can say “rip city!” the wind was taken out of the sails of Jason’s drama piece, so he had to back-pedal and act like it wasn’t that big of a deal in the first place
(Quick’s threat to “push” the story may have been the impetus for Rich to pick up the phone and call Andy Miller, or the two events may be completely unrelated)
At the end of the day, this latest drama-that-wasn’t episode was not even the best example of why JQ’s rumors should be regarded with a grain of salt; he’s certainly given us plenty of cause to doubt his veracity, in the past. I’ve learned from experience that if Jason reports something, it’s either a leak that the Blazer’s front office wants to be made known, or the names involved were discussed and the deal was dismissed, weeks ago
Caveat emptor = buyer beware
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
how could Rudy's camp throw ANY kind of trade demand out there? Rudy is really not at all
in the position to demand anything. And his antics are just dropping his trade value..therefore PROLONGING the trade process.
I am really getting sick of his whining/nonsense. And sure it may all be his agent..but guess what. Rudy is the one who is paying the agent to represent him.
Also, I think that any trade involving Rudy may just wait till after the games in Turkey. If he manages to actually show up and PLAY like he can, then perhaps his trade value will increase. Can’t get much lower!!!!
I'm not going to defend Rudy's camp
but they seem to know how to use the Spanish media to present their case without drawing a fine
I agree that “after the World championships” (Sept 12) is the best time to flip Fernandez, but I could see why he and his agent would like a decision to be made re: his next NBA team before that date. So they’ll keep doing what they can do to attract attention and not allow Cho to put #5 on the back burner for 45+ days
There was speculation that Rudy could “retire” and then sign with a Euro team if Portland didn’t deal him, so perhaps that’s their leverage. I doubt it will come to that
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I thought Quick was hinting that we were going to sign
Kevin Dillon.
by Sabonis4Ever on Jul 30, 2010 1:21 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
smh
"We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our tradition in the spirit of our ancestors. You have our gratitude." - Rich Cho
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Jul 30, 2010 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Off-court "reality drama" in sports
Good stuff.
This recent article ties in to some of Dave’s points about hyping drama, albeit from a slightly different angle ….
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/magazine/25FOB-wwln-t.html?scp=4&sq=lebron&st=cse
I’m not sure I agree with all of the author’s opinions. In fact, most of them seem worth disagreeing with. For one thing it’s a bit grumpy old man “back in my day!!” where Dave’s take is more reasoned. And it’s probably crazy to even link to something on a sports blog that questions people who obsessively follow things like off-season transactions. That’s pretty much what we do here.
And there’s a right way to do it. For the most part, Blazersedge does this, for all the reasons Dave states, and that’s what makes this place great.
But the NYT article does bring up how access to information has changed how people consume sports and entertainment. For my part, and surely many of you, knowing details like how free agency works or salary caps only adds to enjoyment of the game, rather than cheapens it. But with that comes the double-edged sword, that now there are even more things to be dramatized, in a news cycle that doesn’t sleep and blurs in style with “reality” entertainment. And hence LeBron: The Derision. Or “Rudy: The Drama That Wasn’t”
I guess one would think that the explosion of access to factual data, and the push to make everything a simplified, larger than life narrative would be two trends pushing things in opposite directions. Maybe it’s either a sign of the times, or a sign of being completely human that we smash them together.
That was worth reading, if only for the phrase "procedural voyeurism"
Though I’m not sure that I agree with the author that we’re becoming increasingly obsessed with the back story, the gamesmanship, the art of the deal, (whatever you want to call it) because we’re seeking “an illusion of control over realities that we secretly fear we have no power over.”
Good link HJW,
I must say that personally, I’m glad that the public is becoming increasingly interested in backroom deals because we’ve certainly been boned enough times by them; the recent mess on Wall Street being a perfect example. There needs to be more transparency in business and I think if there is enough incentive to leak the truth, the powers that be will learn to fear the gallows. The only problem here is the reluctance to see the wealthy swing for their crimes.
Bernie Madoff got drug through the mud, but I doubt he’s in “don’t drop the soap” prison with the other thieves. Same goes for the Enron bigwigs. Myself, I think robbing thousands of people of their savings is exactly what capital punishment was designed for. Instead, it seems to be reserved for crimes that put actual blood on the criminal’s hands, rather than the blood of a thousand murdered futures. The only way to stop corporate greed is punish it with the severity it deserves, otherwise we will continue to be victimized by backroom deals that swell the already bloated bank accounts of the morally bankrupt upper class.
As far as basketball is concerned (sorry for the rant), the deals are fascinating to me partly because of their ridiculous scale. Can you imagine being paid millions of dollars to play a game? Or act in a film? Or play an instrument? Americans are obsessed with entertainment to the point that some of our best paid citizens are our entertainers. In essence, we’ve put the crown on the court jester. Their salaries are part of the entertainment and always have been. The glamor is all part of the show. Personally, I think it’s sick—teachers should be the best paid Americans (no, I’m not a teacher).
I try to distance myself from it by not thinking of player’s salaries as actual money, rather I see the cap as the sum of the team and the salaries as pieces of that pie. How many big pieces (players) does the team need to advance? How long can the team keep the small pieces small to accommodate the bigs? This way I don’t have to think about how sick it is that schools are closing, programs are cut, student’s rates rise, and choosing to help your community is a one-way ticket to the bottom, while people that create nothing of worth, add nothing to society, and consume vast resources get to crap in a golden toilet.
Stealth > Wealth
I trust that well will?
we will i guess.
good write up, but i don’t see why you had to go and throw hot dogs under the bus,
Speaking of the media
A Houston sports radio guy posted this on a Rockets board,
“Interesting signing… I had heard the Celtics were close to trading Big Baby and the Rasheed Wallace corpse contract to Portland for Rudy Fernandez and Marcus Camby. I would assume that deal is off now.”
“Camby is superfluous with a healthy Oden and Pryzbilla and yes, they would like the cap relief. Plus Sheed’s contract becomes an asset at the trade deadline.”
The signing was Von Wafer to Boston.
That makes sense.
They just traded for Camby at last year’s trade deadline, but they sure could use another asset for this year’s trade deadline. Might as well trade the goods you traded for last season so you can make another trade this season.
They sure could use the cap relief, too. I mean, they just signed him to an extension, but that was a few months ago. They didn’t need the cap relief then. But now, “yes, they would like the cap relief.”
by HeathBlizzard on Jul 30, 2010 5:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Speaking as a high-level print journalist
I thought that was some solid, fair analysis.
I hate unhealthy drama
the drama and excitement of winning or last minute shots I thrive for. :)
It’s the negativity and argument as opposed to debate that bugs me.
"We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Yes yes dave...but... do you think we can sell it!?
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Head Czar of Amerika <--- Mortimer said so so there!!!
I think there is more than "drama" when it comes to sports
Fans these days are fascinated with transactions. Alex Rodriguez’s potential free agency when he was a Yankee came up during the World Series and LeBron’s free agency dominated the NBA landscape for two years, including the playoffs. I’ve also heard Bill Simmons and others complain about the NFL and MLB because their trade deadlines are boring.
I blame fantasy sports. I’ve know guys who play fantasy sports who obsessed with trades and picking up free agents with littler regard for their next match up or how it would affect the rest of the season, and it has carried over to sports. If there is a guy on the roster who can be swapped with another player with slightly better stats, then they want the player swapped, regardless of other qualities the player may exhibit.
I know for me, that it has diminished some of the fun of being a fan of a team. The day after the trade deadline, some fans obsess about rumored deals that should have been done, instead of examining how to succeed with the players that will be on the roster for the remainder of the season.
Now, I’m not exactly sure what Quick said, since I live on an island paradise instead of Portland, but it sounds to me that he used a poor choice of words. Had he teased with something like, “information on a potential trade,” he would have generated the same buzz, but with less disappointment after he finally revealed his information. I think fans were anticipating information about conflict with players or coaches instead of trade information.
Is there a solution? Will we ever get back to the “good old days” when fans were faithful to players on their favorite team? I think not. Free agency, fantasy sports, and to a smaller degree advanced stats, have destroyed the good old days and there is no going back. We live in a disposable society. Players are just commodities where their position on a power ranking or PER is more important than their contribution to winning a championship.
Now I would be remiss if I did not mention Andre Miller in regards to drama. After a year of watching him play, I have learned to respect his game while acknowledging that he is a drama queen who would rather manufacture drama with the media instead of asking his coach for a private meeting. In the case of Andre Miller, either he lacked the confidence to approach his coach, or he prefers drama over civility. Actually, it is probably a little of both.
Nate has a rough exterior which probably frightened Andre Miller and I imagine the idea of reporters lined up around his locker asking about conflict with his coach is preferable to him than reporters lined up around his locker asking about his poor outside shooting and subpar defense.
When I boil it all down, it goes back to two truths of being a fan, life, and Blazersedge. The first truth is that everything was better back in the "good old days" and that mountains are often made out of mole hills.
In the good old days, fans rooted for the team. When fans saw great players from other teams, fans wanted their players to beat that team. These days, fans lust after that great player from other teams and want them on their team. Everyone loves an underdog and no one wants to be one.
Mountains are made out of mole hills daily. When someone fails to mention something, the omission of the information MUST mean something. The benefit of doubt is gone. Everything is a conspiracy and worst case scenario. Fans dissect every word, every play, and every stat hoping to find some hidden meaning.
This all reminds me of Aesop’s The Ass’s Brain fable. I like to think of myself as the fox, the media as the lion, and the fans, the ass.
by tominhawaii on Jul 30, 2010 7:45 AM PDT reply actions 7 recs
Well, I was on board until you got to the Andre Miller part
I’m with you re/ all the obsession with trades & contracts, etc. Personally, I like the GAME, and the pleasure of rooting for a team full of players who I’ve come to feel connected to. I’ve certainly never had the slightest interest in “fantasy” sports.
The Andre Miller part of your comment does lose me, though. To me, Miller is the antithesis of a drama queen. This is a guy who is allergic to the media. He just likes to ball. I think Miller would almost prefer playing the games in empty gyms, with no fans, cameras, and, especially, interviewers. As long as he got paid for it, that is. I mean, everyone’s got bills to pay.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
Exactly, hurryup09, Andre Miller comes across to me as a stoic, almost dispassionate guy who ...
treats the NBA for all that it is (i.e., a job). Yes, folks, professional basketball is nothing but a job to some of these guys. That’s fine by me, too, even though a majority of sports fans probably don’t want to accept that about athletes, since it’d disillusion and embitter them.
At any rate, though, I frankly believe that the main reason Miller butted heads with Nate McMillan revolved around how they view the game. Miller, who’s a true floor general, had most recently played for coaches (i.e., George Karl, Mo Cheeks, and Tony DiLeo) with a tendency to let their point guard gude the team on the floor. Yet, when Miller came to play for Portland, he got stuck with a rigid, uptight head coach in Nate McMillan, which was a bad fit for both parties.
Heck, all things considered, Portland would be better off without Miller and McMillan, albeit for different reasons. With Miller, I still think he’s not the best stylistic fit next to Brandon Roy; yet, on the other hand, having a true point guard out there is great for Greg Oden’s continuing development. McMillan, however, is nothing but a dense, obstinate dullard in my book, so the day he gets fired will be a joyous occasion.
Next season may do it if Nate doesn't have the INJURY card to play.
Keep thinking he can’t be as dull as he sometimes seems. “We WAS thinking…”….sure grammar shouldn’t be a gauge I use, but it is hard for me to ignore.
The idea that the reason he doesn’t know how to match nouns and verbs because he is a bit DULL just pops right into my head whenever Nate makes idiotic substitutions or puts in rotations that are HORRIBLE.
Or when he can’t make quick in game adjustments.
Oh, come on guys. Basketball smarts and good grammar OFTEN don't go together
I dislike Nate’s rigid, by-the-book coaching as much as the next person. But I don’t for a second doubt his intelligence—or his leadership ability. Getting 50 wins out of that team last season bordered on the miraculous. Even we Nate critics should admit that. And hopefully the new blood (OK, the new old blood) Nate’s brought in as assistant coaches will help him rethink some of his approaches. Nate respects those guys—Bernie B. in particular—and I suspect they’ll be seeing—and commenting on—a lot of the same things we fans have been seeing.
“Hey, Nate: next time GO picks up a quick pair of fouls, try leaving him in there. It’ll put the onus on the officials. Besides, it ain’t like unused fouls get carried over to the next game. Let the kid foul out every once in awhile. The world won’t come to an end.”
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
AK: I don't think it's quite accurate to say hoops is "nothing but a job" to Andre Miller
I think he’s a “professional” in the best sense. The guy plays extremely hard, and with passion. Yes, he treats hoops as a job, but in the sense that the true professionals in all areas of endeavor consider their work “a job.” That is, they take pride in earning their pay check by putting in a hard day’s work and getting the job done right. Miller is a throwback that way.
Miller clearly enjoys the competition and takes pride in his professionalism. He laces ‘em up regardless of minor injuries, and then he goes out there and does everything possible to help his team win, including putting his body in harm’s way. He just doesn’t like dealing with the media—or even the fans—all that much. He does what’s required of him in those areas, but you can tell he’d just as soon not have to. He wants to punch the clock and go home and have his privacy.
As I said above, the guy likes to BALL. It’s all substance & no flash with Andre Miller. He has no interest whatsoever in showing off or “performing.” He is indeed kind of “stoic” that way. I actually do think he’d play the same way if the games were staged in empty gyms.
But contrast that with all the guys who are in the game for the money, for the fame, for the women, etc. I’d take a whole line-up full of Andre Millers. Er, if they had jump shots, that is.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
I’d take a whole line-up full of Andre Millers. Er, if they had jump shots, that is.
Heck, if you had 5 players with the BBIQ and court vision of Miller, they’d collectively find a way to get a layup (or FTs, or both) on every possession
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I knew you would admit to liking Miller eventually!!!
I listened to Quick’s statement. At first he just said “drama” and then with questioning, stated it involved a demand.
At first when the radio personalities were discussing the “drama”,they started going off in the direction of “Greg’s knee”.
I then texted the radio station about 5x with the info that Quick SPECIFIED A DEMAND.
So the announcers got back on track THANKFULLY.
Couldn’t BELIEVE they had forgotten that part of the interview when it was ONE OF THEM who actually got Quick to specify DEMAND as part of the DRAMA.
So for me at least, I figured it was Rudy. Or maybe Bayless..since Rudy was so FREAKING NOT NEW NEWS OR DRAMA.
Was kind of pissed when found out the story. More than 24hrs later…on the A.C. Coleman show.
Hopefully JQ won’t pull this nonsense again.
Nice work.
Way to keep the radio guys on track. It’s easy to jump to conclusions when focusing on one sound bite. Especially KV, who seems drunk half the time.
Rich Rolled
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jul 30, 2010 4:26 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
To be a good journalist is to be a good story teller.
Not the capologist kind, but the kind that knows how to tell stories. A good story teller can bring the drama out from the every day things. By knowing which details to include, by putting emphasis in just the right place, even occasionally embellishing for just the right effect. A good story teller does not have to tell us about drama. What the story teller says is drama brought to life.
The most frustrating part about the Quick “drama” is that I have seen him do better. His “behind the locker room door” series was really good. Quick knows how to tell a story. He forgot, however, that it’s the story that’s supposed to get people excited. To build excitement before the story is to set people up for a let down. How often have we heard someone hyping something up, only to be disappointed that the something didn’t live up to the hype. Hype is really intended for the one trying to part money from fools. And a good story just doesn’t need it.
"[S]ince men enjoyed very great leisure, they used it to pursue many kinds of commodities unknown to their fathers, and that was that first yoke they placed upon themselves without thinking about it, and the first source of evils the prepared for their descendants. For, besides continuing thus to soften body and mind, as these commodities had lost almost all their pleasantness through habit, and as they had at the same time degenerated into true needs, being deprived of them became much more cruel than possessing them was sweet; and people were unhappy to lose them without being happy to have them." -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Agreed
I loved the Behind the Locker Room Door series. I thought it was borderline brilliant at times, and incredibly insightful much of the time. I understand why he stopped it, but sometimes wish he hadn’t. It really gave fans a look at the players and their personalities. But it also kind of forced the players to always be “on” — they new there was always a beat writer there.
I think the whole drama behind Quick’s “drama” statement is much ado about nothing (puns intended). He was just teasing a story to keep listeners tuned in after the commercials instead of switching to another station. But somehow it got put on O-Live without editing out the word drama.
I don't know if it's a cop out our not
But Quick came back on the Radio the day after he published that story and said that the “messy” part of the story was averted because Rich Cho was able to placate Rudy’s camp by taking their trade request seriously, which heretofore the previous management regime had failed to do.
Part of me thinks that this was a convenient way of deflecting some of the criticism coming his way after needlessly building up a story that has been the worst kept secret in Portland since Rudy had his exit interview in May and kept saying over and over, that “I’m under contract” when asked about his future with the team.
Something to consider at least.
If that is the case, he shouldn't be hyping something that hasn't even happened yet
So he was hyping “possible” drama that could have been, and in the end was, averted? Still bait and switch.
Something tells me that Rich Cho has much more developed communication skills than Kevin Pritchard.
Y’know, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Pritchard’s next NBA job isn’t a GM gig; instead, I expect him to head some team’s scouting department around this time next year.
Oh, I think KP's a good communicator
But Cho may be cleverer in his approach. Time will tell…
One thing I won’t miss with KP’s departure: his ad nauseum references to team “culture.” Ugghh, that made me want to scream after awhile. I hated the Jail Blazer group as much as anybody. But after awhile, KP’s sanctimonious “culture” talk made me hope Jerryd Bayless or Nic Batum would (bizarrely) mature into a tatooed bad boy. Just to balance the roster a bit and make KP cool it with that “culture” crap.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
I thought is was somewhat dishonest
I feel that Quick’s job as a beat writer is to give us a close to an unfiltered story as possible and I feel like he is doing way too much filtering. He built way more drama out of the Andre Miller situation than was there and deserved the treatment Dre gave him. I mean he is acting like Canzano. Although the difference is Canzano is honest about being a “sports opinion writer” where as Quick passes his opinion as the story. I feel that is patently dishonest. But it could be that the editors are pushing him that direction. I wouldn’t want to lose a job in these tough times.
Sorry, but I must differ on this point...
“Blazersedge provides a fair and, shall we say, more intellectual, dispassionate perspective on all things Blazers”. A case in point: the Penn and KP firings became fodder for ongoing, emotional cheer leading and virtual martyrdom creation for these guys by BE writers. At the same time, ongoing and highly emotional vilifying of PA, “the Vulcans” and management in general was also the theme for weeks if not months. Personally, I saw nothing particularly dispassionate or intellectual in any of this. These were certainly not on-court goings on, yet BE became obsessed with it’s onw, very personal agenda.
BE is a forum written by fans for fans. Therefore, it can’t be unbiased or dispassionate.
by kuhnsmith on Jul 30, 2010 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
very good point.
everyone has a bias though. It is just the best writer recognize their bias.
I didn't say Blazers Edge was unbiased
Clearly it is — we are all Blazer fans. After all, neither Ben nor Dave can bring themselves to type the word “Lakers” — they have to put an asterisk in for the “a”. (A trope that kind of annoys me, frankly.)
Much of the cheer leading and deifying and vilifying was done not by Ben and Dave, but by those of us (myself included as I lost a huge amount of respect for Paul Allen) who post comments on articles. In fact, after the draft, Dave (I think) wrote a very balanced piece on the controversy.
I’m thinking that you may be conflating dispassionate with unbiased. Rather, I note that Ben and Dave typically do not fly off the handle and overreact to every situation that arises. Instead, the writings are carefully constructed, and their these supported with whatever information they have at their disposal.
Unfortunately, when you have write something reasonably intelligent every day about a sports team when there a days that nothing particularly inspire occurs, some stories get perhaps more attention than they deserve, thus contributing to the hype. The alternative would be for them to have days in which they do not post an article. I personally don’t want that.
After all, neither Ben nor Dave can bring themselves to type the word "Lakers" — they have to put an asterisk in for the "a". (A trope that kind of annoys me, frankly.)
We call it Voldemort Syndrome.
Stealth > Wealth
As Dumbledore says,
fear of the word creates fear of the thing itself.
Or words to that effect.
boooooooooooooooo
It’s fun to be silly. have some fun ben.
"We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
I'm not sure what you mean by "conflating"...
but I do connect being dispassionate with being unbiased since passion inevitably leads to bias-whether than bias is actually correct, or not. Maybe the point of debate between us here is just who is BE? I took it that your comments about BE being fair, intellectual and dispassionate were directed at Dave and Ben rather than readers and contributors. I was taking exception to these adjectives describing Ben, for example, in that I think he went off the emotional deep end withe the whole Penn/KP affair. Maybe this was just a really bad time for him when he lost his fair and dispassionate view point. If so, fine.
I certainly don’t expect those of us who contribute to be logical and unbiased. We’re fans, after all, and this is all one big form of escapist entertainment for most of us. That makes me really appreciate the many very thoughtful comments that I read on BE even more.
This was intended as a response to hercher's post...
but ended up down here for some reason.
If it wasn't for bad luck....
First his masters on the radio show call him down on the carpet for being a consistently boring interview (not enough drama); he thinks to appease them with what he’s sure will be the big trade scoop(big drama=continued$$$). The trade falls through and he gets egg on his face(melodrama) and nobody wins but the radio people(drama kings).
By the standards of daily life there is entertainment value in this sequence of events. It has been milked by all interested parties.
It is a summary of an aspect of the condition of modern man.
I find that the adrenaline rush that comes with drama can be quite addicting to some folks. Without
that rush life seems gray and boring. I know a lot of folks who leave relationships, jobs and friendships because they can’t tell the difference between peace and boredom. Anything short of uproar feels dead. The tough part here is that it takes more than convincing or an act of will to change this. That adrenalin rush – ask any cop or firefighter – is a physical addiction. Once hooked it is very hard to go back to normal, peaceful, undramatic living.
by raoulduke on Jul 30, 2010 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Oh, absolutely
People get addicted to the adrenaline rush from anger as well. What has changed lately is the landscape — the access to information and non-stop discussion feeds the addictions and reinforces the feelings 24 hours a day.
Great line
they can’t tell the difference between peace and boredom
I don’t know if you came up with that (although I have heard that sentiment before….in fact I have expressed it before). Anyway….I recall having a discussion a few years back with some friends regarding the marriage and relationships…they were going off on morals and so forth. I interjected that I felt a good portion was, in fact, unreal expectations set by the media (books, television, and movies) regarding romance and love and people comparing their lives to fictional love stories…..and finding that real life fell short. Love doesn’t feel like love unless it is in it is in danger. Anyway…sorry for going off topic…but I see some similarities to the “media drama” we are discussing ….because what is Blazer Fandom if not love…love of our team. JQ (and the rest) is is trying to create drama …because we have shown that that is what we want and crave. It is sad really
Phil Mickelson: "A Great shot is when you pull it off.....a smart shot is when you don't have the guts to try it"’
by 92wastheyear on Jul 31, 2010 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
I come here for the theorycraft.
Seriously though, I think Quick could have teased his information a little differently in the days/hours leading up to his announcement. And looking back, I’m certain that Jason knows this.
Quick seems to be a hard worker and i’m guessing he’ll make the minor corrections needed to re-center himself as the great beat writer/reporter that he is.
No one wants to be called dramaqueen or a charlatan – no even the real ones in this town. AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! ;)
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
Dave's Jerry Maguire moment?
Great write-up Dave. Keep it real!
~OV
Very, very good write up
The fact that most of television and radio have been on this level for some time now is practically a truism, but your points about the media crossover (radio to newspaper) are insightful. I, for one, didn’t put my finger on that being what made me unusually uncomfortable about this one, but you did it for me.
That said, I wouldn’t let radio or blogs or anyone else off that easily. I suppose many folks have come to accept the MSP way of doing business (constant hyperbole, negative drama and dragging players through the mud as THE ratings driver, constantly changing, yet loudly overstated opinion offered as fact, grossly disrespectful treatment of callers/listeners/fans, lack of accountability for yesterday’s opinions/oaths, etc). I do not accept it. I haven’t listened to them for months (and yes, my boycott started during the season). Apparently, the numbers bear out that I am the minority, that the above formula draws more listeners than reasoned discussions, like those that occur here (some sidebar discussions notwithstanding…).
I agree with TIH above, that there probably is no going back in a general sense, but if we try as individuals and small groups, maybe we can build a few little Island paradises for more positive and meaningful discourse like Blazersedge.
After the commercial break: Jason Quick will reveal what's in Al Capone's secret vault!!!
God, it’s sad to see someone with actual journalistic talent pander the way Quick does. He reduces himself to the level of John Canzano, Stephen A. Smith, and—yes, Geraldo Rivera, Jerry Springer, et al.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
Good job Dave.
I do not watch soap operas, women do.. I watch sports action.
I do not watch reality shows… I have more interesting and fun things to do…
I do not want to be a clone of anyone.. I am my own person, not a copy of some drama sports mouth piece.
When a drama sports mouth piece takes information from anyone with an agenda (such as an agent). Then spins a tale without investigating all sides of the issue.. Then the sports entertainment person is not only being used, they have lost all credibility. He is no longer reporting the news. He is making the news..
Sell that trash to the tabloids, not to us true sports fans..
When a "journalist" repeatedly injects THEMSELVES into the story, they're no longer a journalist
They used to teach this in Journalism 101.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
I stopped thinking of guys like Quick and Canzano as journalists many moons ago
they’re more like third rate entertainers now. Seriously, Carrot Top has more journalistic cred than those two combined.
"We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our tradition in the spirit of our ancestors. You have our gratitude." - Rich Cho
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Jul 30, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
If Carrot Top had told GO his performance was "underwhelming," maybe GO would have decked him
With Quick, GO probably feared he’d kill him with one punch. Of course, with Carrot Top, GO might have been inhibited by a different concern. Namely, if he slugged Carrot Top, he might get his cooties.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
Carrot Top is a pretty buff guy now
unlike those wimpy pencil neck’d geeks over at the Oregonian
"We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our tradition in the spirit of our ancestors. You have our gratitude." - Rich Cho
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Aug 1, 2010 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd for saying "pencil neck'd geeks"
Wasn’t it Ray Stevens back in the day who used that? I LOVED that guy’s bad guy act!
As for Carrot Top, yes he’s a poster child for why steroids/HGH should indeed be illegal. God, he’s made himself into a real horror show.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
For a moment, you had me wondering if I'd mixed up the name
But no: the pro wrestler I recall from my childhood shared that name with the singer. From Wikipedia: "Carl Ray Stevens (September 5, 1935 – May 3, 1996), better known as Ray “The Crippler” Stevens or Ray “Blond Bomber” Stevens." He’d call the t.v. guy interviewing him a “pencil-neck’d geek.” Great stuff.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
And I thought all the drama was about....
Kevin Pritchard and Paul Allen agreeing to appear on the Jerry Springer show- with a special surprise appearance by Rich Cho.
Now that would make compelling drama!
Jerry: We've got a very special guest today; RiCho, come on out!
KP: Oh, no you di’in’t!
PA: Oh, yes he did!
RiCho: Hey guys, I didn’t come here to start any trou—
KP: Mutha-BLEEP!!! …You a dead man, Cho.
RiCho: I’m a dead man? Ain’t nobody else on this stage, so I assume you’re slingin’ that my way. Is that true?
PA: You’d better sit down, Kevin; this guy’s a little crazy. I had him beat a gorilla in a knife fight on my yacht before I’d agree to hire him. He went right for the eyes—brutal stuff, Kev…Kev, I told you to sit down. SIT YOUR BUTT DOWN!!! Kevin, NO!
RiCho: Bring it, punk! You try that “PritchSlap” crap on me, I’ll have you eating outta tube!
KP: I’m comin’ at ya, Cho! Lace up and get ready to swallow some teeth, you punk-BLEEP, little BLEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
RiCho: I’m a gonna rip off your BLEEP, give your momma a little BLEEEEEEEEEP, and buy your daddy an ice cream cone!
PA: I’ve got a million on little guy! Make it ten!!!
Crowd: JERRY!, JERRY!, JERRY!
Stealth > Wealth
by 500dogs on Jul 30, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Maybe there is drama right in front of our eyes
GM Cho was concientiously shopping Rudy and then suddenly halted, full stop, saying that anything to do with Rudy is on hold until he speaks with Coach McMillan face-to-face on Sunday. Did I get that Right?
If so, what part of a deal can’t be handled over the phone, or via text or or e-mail? Why a face-to-face? You hold face-to-face meetings to address issues that are too difficult or sensitive to resolve via other, cheaper communication channels.
Whatever the reason, this meeting itself suggests something is going on behind the scenes at least a bit out of the ordinary..
Again, like ESPN, like Oregonlive...
News is just opinions, and not really news…
Out of 1,400 words, the word Blazers was used twice, the word Portland was used once.
I gotta say...
I am with you on this one Dave; I enjoy the drama on the court during the game, not off the court. I pay very little attention to most media outlets for reasons like these. I prefer to let the facts speak for themselves. To be quite honest, I get the majority of my info from this site. I like the reporting that you and Ben provide; it’s informative and sometimes very witty. I don’t like to spend much time on the computer and I get exactly what I need when I read your stories.
I heard this post
is sleeping with the mythbusters post…
Geriatric Dunk Squad!
1/4/10 - Juwan Howard dunks on Chris Kaman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkOqDgLb6s
3/7/10 - Andre Miller Tomahawk jams on the Denver Nuggets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JVgm7F1QA
4/12/10 - Marcus Camby drops 30 and 13 on OKC to cement 50 wins. http://www.nba.com/blazers/media/camby_chant_041310.mp3
by Eat Politicians on Jul 31, 2010 8:27 PM PDT reply actions
A rec for you, good sir.
Go Rockets/Nets[CDR]/Bucks[Jennings]!
[By which I mean:]
I agree with this post and everything contained therein: to be brief, that the media likes dumbing stories down so things are more immediately accessible and tangible and in the process can take out most of the actual story: the media actively avoids covering depressing stories honestly because people don’t want to be depressed, etc. etc.
Also, Dramagate is a funny name. :P
Go Rockets/Nets[CDR]/Bucks[Jennings]!
I just now finally finished reading this fine post, Dave
I was interrupted by my wife, who insisted on my watching a “Bachelorette” episode with her. I hated every moment of that fake, reality-show pap, honest! And it’s completely untrue that, when my wife left for work, I proceeded to watch the ABC special, “Behind the Final Rose” myself.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
I think it's less of a big problem and more that our local media just isn't that good
Quick, Clownzano, even Brian T Smith has become a little disappointing. Interestingly, the coverage began going downhill for be as soon as the team started getting better. It’s almost like they lost all their objectivity once they began liking the players. From Quick’s ‘Andre Miller is only here for the money’ quote to his adolescent fawning over Brandon Roy and KP, he’s become almost unreadable for me.
The Leeroy Rule: being insistent >>>> being correct
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