After finishing his recent interview with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart on their “The Roommates Show,” no one could be blamed for wondering if Garden boss James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan would have been better off handling the session more like Knicks president/GM Leon (The Sphinx) Rose.
That would have meant there would never have been an interview. Since he arrived on 34th Street, Rose has mostly declined to speak publicly with notebooks who cover the Knicks.
Regarding Dolan, with the rare exception of a few select media members, some who at one time collected paychecks from MSG, he has viewed the media as a not-so-necessary evil. Dolan rarely does interviews.
And in the past, when he’s agreed to speak in controlled environments, it has been to deliver a message when his organization needed to spin a controversy, or a big move, like the hiring and firing of Phil Jackson.
As for Rose, Garden insiders have said he is just not comfortable speaking in public. That’s an excuse. Yet one that has apparently been accepted by boss scribes. While it was surprising to see Dolan sit-down with Brunson/Hart (and co-host Matt Hillman), it would have been stunning if Rose agreed to the interview.
Yet on this occasion, with Brunson and Hart, Dolan didn’t look totally relaxed but handled the questions without ducking.
Brunson and Hart weren’t there to Twinkie Munch Dolan. The Garden boss was put on the spot. Like when he asked how Rose’s plan has worked out for the Knickerbockers?
“We’re kinda there,” Dolan answered.
Ooops, kinda?
“I mean, yeah…I mean that, the uh…..um, you know we the uh, actually…I think KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns] was sort of the last piece,” Dolan, not mentioning Mikal Bridges, said. “Um and uh yeah…. I think that uh, we’re…….I mean I’m not expecting any significant changes.”
His verbal stumbling was worth it. Dolan eventually gave a meaningful answer. He then went on to state the obvious: That it was up to Tom Thibodeau and the players “to make it happen.” Then, Dolan tried questioning Hart and Brunson.
Dolan: “I don’t know. Do you think we’re missing any piece?
Brunson: “That’s a trap question.”
Dolan also addressed ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins urging Brunson and Hart to jettison their podcast so they can direct all their focus on basketball.
“I mean I don’t know. I thought it [the podcast] was fine,” Dolan said. “You guys are personalities, people want to know what you’re thinking … ”
Just like they want to know what Dolan is thinking. Maybe he should do a podcast.
Leon Rose could be Dolan’s first guest.
DECIDING WHO DANCES
There was nothing new about Gasbags, and other assorted strangers, complaining about North Carolina squeaking into March Madness.
Each season, similar debates are sparked by the selection committee’s decisions. Nonetheless, with all the controversy and accusations made through the years, the NCAA’s TV partners (CBS, Warner Bros Discovery have been sharing the tourney for 12 years. CBS has been in the March Madness business since 1982) are never accused of interfering with the process.
With conspiracy theories rapidly rolling off assembly lines, this is fairly amazing. It’s worth wondering if any accusations would be raised if ESPN or Fox had rights to the tournament?
Considering the Worldwide Leader had used its “influence” to reshape conferences and launch customized college TV networks like the (ACC and SEC Networks) odds are Disney/ESPN suits would stick their beaks into the selection process.
Fox Sports would likely be interfering too. The Foxies launched The Big Ten Network, accelerated the transfer of UCLA and USC to the Big 10 and are now in the business of creating a college basketball tournament (The Crown) out of thin air.
This isn’t to say WBD/CBS don’t exert any influence. For the $2 billion per they pay the NCAA for TV rights to the tourney they at least get the right to select game start times to maximize TV ratings.
STAY-HOME BROADCASTS
When MLB “blessed” Fox Sports using stateside broadcasters ensconced in a studio to work Cubs-Dodgers “historic” two-game series in Japan, it opened the door for more stay-home broadcasts during the regular season.
MLB teams are united when it comes to moolah. Two goals: Make money. Save money. Cash is the ultimate priority. Baseball broadcasting artistry, nuance and tradition don’t make the cut.
So, if certain teams can save money by not having their voices travel on the road (that’s what happened during COVID) and, instead, do the game off a monitor in a studio, it’s eventually going to happen. Teams have already shown that quality is not always a priority.
How else can you explain John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling lasting in the Yankees radio booth for nearly three decades? Seriously, though, does anyone really think Hal Steinbrenner is taking notes on YES voices while watching a Bombers tilt?
But if a trend develops, sparked by the Foxies move, MLB local rights holders may be inclined to pull a “copycat” and keep their voices calling games from the “friendly” confines of a television studio.
NO DANCING ON THE RADIO
With all the excitement over St. John’s headed back to the Big Dance under Rick Pitino, something was missing with the Johnnies going into the NCAA Tournament without a local radio deal.
WFAN picked up the Westwood One tourney coverage, but those broadcasts jump from game-to-game depending on the circumstances. St. John’s does its own internet thing, and can be accessed on the Varsity app (John Minko, Brandon Tierney at the mics) but has no devoted local radio coverage that guarantees maximum access to the unwashed masses.
No surprise none of the local alleged sports-talk stations were going to jump in and save the day. The radio business is in the toilet. They don’t have the money to spend.
Next season, if necessary, St. John’s should make a time-buy and pay to air a schedule of games on a NYC radio station. For their loyal fans, it would be the right thing to do.
AROUND THE DIAL
Heard plenty of analysis from all the usual suspects on the upside and down, inside and out, of Shedeur Sanders’ future, but none better than Bart Scott and Chris Carlin on their 880-AM show. … It was understandable why Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo was angry over the Mets declining to provide a guest for his talkie son Colin, and his ESPN 106.3 FM (Palm Beach) partner Michael Rizzo, who showed up at Clover Park to do some yakking. Unfortunately, the Dog, on SiriusXM, was definitely punching down. He spent 18 minutes dropping Dog crap on an unnamed, probably overworked, Mets PR operative who declined Colin Russo’s request. How dare he! The PR guy would probably tell you he was doing his job. Maybe he had no idea he was dealing with the son of a famous father. We will give Doggie the nod for (just like LeBron James) sticking up for his kid. But it came at the expense of big-timing some Mets PR person who didn’t exactly commit a crime.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: JUJU WATKINS
The fantabulous USC star recently signed a groundbreaking deal with Fanatics that is a game changer for female athletes. Watkins will be featured on Fanatics-branded memorabilia, including photos and basketballs.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MEN’S BASKETBALL SELECTION COMMITTEE
For embarrassing itself. Its nonsensical pick of North Carolina, which shut out a deserving West Virginia team, gave reason to believe the deck was stacked. That UNC AD Bubba Cunningham was chairman of the committee left — at least — the perception of him paving the road to the tourney for his Tar Heels.
DOUBLE TALK
What Aaron Judge said: “We’re still a good ballclub here.”
What Aaron Judge meant to say: “We’re still the walking wounded here.”