Laker Broadcasters Have Risen To The Challenge This Season
By Hannah Kulik
In February 2011, it was announced that the Lakers signed a long-term deal with Time Warner Cable which was the envy of the other 29 NBA franchises. TWC will pay the Lakers a reported $20 billion over time, solidifying its position as the most profitable team and providing further resources to be used in the pursuit of big-named free agents this summer and in the future. When the Access SportsNet television channel debuted in time for the 2012-13 NBA season, it promised to bring the entire organization closer to the team’s adoring fans.
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Much has changed since the TWC deal was signed. Jerry Buss passed away, leaving the team in the hands of his offspring who so far have fumbled the ball. The players have been saddled with three coaches none of whom should have been given the gig in the first place.
There was the euphoria of signing Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to join a starting line-up that already featured Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace, in what was predicted to result in multiple championships, only to see it all implode. The NBA imposed a draconian salary cap in an effort to hamstring the more affluent teams, and thus far the Lakers have been unwilling to exceed that cap.
In the last two seasons, the team has sunk to depths previously unimaginable for this once-proud franchise. Instead of competing for championships, it now covets having the worst record in the league.
In sum, from the moment the Lakers signed their deal with TWC, things have gone horribly wrong for the franchise. Viewership for Laker games has disappeared along with Laker prestige. However, there is one modest silver lining. For fans who still tune in, Laker media coverage continues to be outstanding.
Those in the media covering the team have been forced to persevere while saddled with a terrible product to cover. Not only must they endure poorly played and coached basketball, they have to figure out a way keep us entertained while talking about a team surrounded in negativity.
Even more difficult, they must try to give us hope for the next game, and the future, when the reality couldn’t look bleaker. That was a tall order this season, as the team suffered loss after loss in pursuit of its worst record in franchise history. Last season the team could shoot but it couldn’t defend. This year it can’t do either.
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Still, we enjoy listening to John Ireland and Michael Thompson on the radio, Bill MacDonald and Stu Lantz on television, and Mike Trudell on the sidelines. Ireland is somehow able to convey a positive message with his words even when the tone of his voice suggests he’s struggling to keep his food inside his stomach after watching horrid loss after horrid loss.
I became fascinated by Thompson as a broadcaster three years ago when, just prior to the start of Howard’s first (and only) season, after the team was winless in the preseason, he boldly predicted on his radio show that the Lakers would win their first 20 games. He is incredibly likeable and has a very talented son who plays for the Golden State Warriors, but for a former player who should know better, he often makes predictions that are so obviously wrong that they are laugh-out-loud funny and thus fun to hear.
As for MacDonald and Lantz, they do a great job, but in their post-game comments they look weary while explaining why the Lakers lose the same way night after night. Lantz, a former Lakers player and long-time Laker broadcaster with a lot of pride, knows the situation is hopeless and doesn’t take it too seriously anymore.
Before each game, we can all watch Access SportsNet Lakers to get a preview of what the team needs to do to win. Then, afterwards, we can watch for an in-depth analysis of what went wrong. We are treated to Byron Scott’s post-game interviews where nightly he is asked hard-hitting questions like, “What went wrong tonight?” He alternates between two well-rehearsed responses: One night it is, “We weren’t ready to play, the other team had better energy” (for reasons he can’t explain). The next night we are treated to “the players competed hard but we don’t have a closer” speech. Laker reporters don’t challenge Scott, so we never get the questions on everyone’s mind, such as, “Why is Robert Sacre playing and Ed Davis isn’t,” or “Is there any rational explanation why you are starting Ronnie Price at point guard?”
The usual panel at Access SportsNet Lakers consists of Chris McGhee, James Worthy, “Coach” Dave Miller, and a rotating “guest” panelist who this season has typically been former Laker players Robert Horry, Antawn Jamison, A.C. Green, and Michael Cooper. They all do a good job analyzing what we just witnessed in the game while trying to stay positive.
The format of the show is entertaining and informative. It must be excruciating to have to explain the same team flaws game after game, though they put on a serious face and are adept in using different words nightly while saying same thing (bad offense, bad defense). It is a very professional and likable group.
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For former Laker champions Worthy, Horry and Green, it must be especially tough to endure the atrocious play. There were times last season when Worthy was so exasperated he looked like he wanted to fight someone (e.g., D’Antoni). The team is worse this season, and far less entertaining, but Worthy can’t be too critical now because his buddy Scott is the coach.
Finally, there is Jamie Maggio and Kelly Tennant. Maggio has a solid professional background but doesn’t contribute much. All things considered Maggio and Tennant are okay, but if being female is a prerequisite, there are other more qualified candidates like Serena Winters who is always interesting and informative.
In the end, while the team on the court has disappointed this season, the team in the broadcasting booth has not. We, as fans, are fortunate to have solid, knowledgeable professional members of the media covering the team who are capable of entertaining us, even when the product they are covering is hard to fathom.
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