Clippers announcers suspended one game for insensitive comments
Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler
Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith paid the price for some insensitive comments about Iranian-born Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi on the Fox Sports Prime Ticket telecast last Wednesday. They were suspended for the Clippers’ telecast against the Denver Nuggets after a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain.
Michael Eaves and Don MacLean, who regularly serve as halftime and postgame analysts, substituted for Lawler and Smith on the broadcast.
“That’s unfortunate. It was pretty strange not seeing them there,” Clippers point guard Baron Davis said after the Clippers’ 106-99 victory. “Ralph and Mike are very classy guys, and they didn’t do it to hurt anyone.
“A lot of times when you’re commenting on games, it’s a source of entertainment. And a lot of times, people may take offense. But the viewers need to understand that it’s entertainment, and people are entitled to their opinion. I stand by Ralph and Mike because they’re great guys and they only want to support and help everybody in the league.”
Lawler, 71, is in his 31st season doing Clippers games, and Smith is in his 12th.
“We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday’s telecast,” Fox said in a statement before the game. “While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate.”
The transcript of the conversation between Lawler and Smith, which occurred late in the game, was printed on the Los Angeles Times’ Web site:
Smith: “Look who’s in.”
Lawler: “Hamed Haddadi. Where’s he from?”
Smith: “He’s the first Iranian to play in the NBA.” (Smith pronounced Iranian as “Eye-ranian,” a pronunciation that offended the viewer who complained.)
Lawler: “There aren’t any Iranian players in the NBA,” repeating Smith’s mispronunciation.
Smith: “He’s the only one.”
Lawler: “He’s from Iran?”
Smith: “I guess so.”
Lawler: “That Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “The real Iran?”
Smith: “Yes.”
Lawler: “Wow. Haddadi that’s H-A-D-D-A-D-I.”
Smith: “You’re sure it’s not Borat’s older brother?”
Smith: “If they ever make a movie about Haddadi, I’m going to get Sacha Baron Cohen to play the part.”
Lawler: “Here’s Haddadi. Nice little back-door pass. I guess those Iranians can pass the ball.”
Smith: “Especially the post players.
Lawler: “I don’t know about their guards.”
NBA TV analysts discuss Thunder-Lakers game
Kevin Durant shoots in front of Kobe Bryant
NBA TV studio analysts discussed the Thunder during the network’s Lakers-Thunders telecast Tuesday night. Here are a few of the comments:
Chris Webber in the pregame on why Oklahoma City guard/forward Kevin Durant is one of the most exciting players in this league: “Tonight you are going to get to see one of our best players (in Kevin Durant). He is one of our best scorers, he’s explosive and he is on a young team. And believe it or not, he can go to the basket. Even though he is skinny and has a lot of development to do, he goes to the basket like (Scottie) Pippen and he has a right or left hand just like TMac (Tracey McGrady). This guy, I really like his game. I think Carmelo (Anthony) is probably the easiest to score, but this guy (Durant) is a top five scorer in the NBA.”
Kevin McHale on who Oklahoma City guard/forward Kevin Durant reminds him of: “Iceman (George) Gervin. You look at him and think, ‘Oh, I’m going to have my way with him’ and he drops 35 on you.”
After Thunder GM Sam Presti joined the Fan Night crew via Arena Link, Webber commented on Presti’s well-known skills as a drummer: “Anybody is a good drummer on Guitar Hero, Sam. We need to hear you live. My nephew is a good drummer on Guitar Hero.”
At halftime, Webber on an athletic move by Thunder guard Jeff Green: “All it takes is effort, ladies and gentleman. Well, also a 40-inch vertical like (Green) has.”
After the game, Webber on the learning process for the Thunder: “You’ve got to be in close games to learn how to win them. You have to lose a couple, unfortunately. The game is to be learned and it’s just not going to be given to them.”
Webber on Thunder guard/forward Kevin Durant’s poor performance down the stretch: “He I bet you feels like he’s let him team down…I just wouldn’t want to be the guy who has to check Kevin Durant for the next 10 games. He’s already started out slow and did this tonight. He is going to bust somebody’s butt the rest of the season.”
TNT tips off the 2009-10 NBA season
Shaq and LeBron James have joined forces on the Cavs.
TNT opens the NBA season on Tuesday with an opening night doubleheader: Boston at Cleveland at 6:30 p.m., followed by L.A. Clippers vs. the L.A. Lakers at the Staple Center.
TNT is going to carry 53 games, primarily Thursday nights. ESPN will have 75 telecasts, primarily Wednesday and Friday nights, ABC will have 15 games, Christmas on Sunday afternoon. NBA TV also will have 96 live games.
TNT announcers Doug Collins, Reggie Miller and Chris Webber discussed the upcoming season in a conference call. Here are a few of the excerpts:
Collins on how the addition of Shaquille O’Neal is going to help LeBron James and the Cavaliers: “(LeBron’s) game has gotten better every year and I love the energy he plays with. He’s in a good spot this year in that he’s in the last year of a contract and Shaq’s motivation to say that he’s won three championships with Kobe Bryant, one with Dwyane Wade and now one with LeBron. I think that Shaq will help on their frontline. They really got hammered inside last year and they didn’t have any answers for Dwight Howard. He’ll also take some of the pressure off of (James) in dealing with the media all the time. These are two very dynamic personalities. I don’t know who is going to be in charge of the pre-game introductions now so I can’t wait to see that.”
Collins on the competition between the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference: “It’s going to be so exciting to see which of the top three teams (Celtics, Cavaliers and Magic) in the Eastern Conference will be able to get the best record and get that number one seed. That will be so important this year because that will prevent you from having to go through two of those teams to get to the NBA Finals. The three-horse race in the East is going to be really exciting to watch.”
Miller on the defending NBA Champion Lakers: “Who is going to step up and challenge the defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers? The rich get richer; you basically have the same team with the addition of a former defensive player of the year in Ron Artest.”
Miller on the San Antonio Spurs: “San Antonio added the veteran presence of Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson, but the key will be the health of Manu Ginobili.”
Webber on the San Antonio Spurs challenging the Lakers in the West: “I’m somebody that I’m the biggest San Antonio fan in the world and I think ever year they are not given the credit they deserve. They usually come through but they do it in a methodical way so it’s not interesting or sexy. I’m really looking for them to challenge and dethrone the Lakers.”
Webber on the Portland Trail Blazers: “Portland is the most exciting team in the NBA and I’m looking for them to take a big step and make their mark in the NBA.”
Miller on the New York Knicks plans for the prized 2010 free agent class: “Everyone has their eye on the prize of the 2010 class from LeBron James to Chris Bosh to Dwyane Wade to Joe Johnson to Amare Stoudemire. If I’m (Knicks general manager Donnie) Walsh and the New York Knicks, we know that your focus is LeBron James. But if you could get two of those guys in New York, I think that would pay bigger dividends than getting one big fish in LeBron James.”
Collins on if the Los Angeles Clippers can make the playoffs: “When you look at the Clippers and you don’t play in paper but the key is Baron Davis. Is this the Baron Davis who played 82 games in Golden State; played so well and was such a leader? They’ve got a ton of talent but will they be able to put it together? When I look at the Western Conference, to me there are (already) six playoff teams and two open spots. Houston is vulnerable without (injured) Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming for a while and New Orleans is a team that has slipped. There are two spots and I think the Suns could slip in (to the playoffs) or Golden State or the Clippers, they have talent.”
Webber on the Sacramento Kings: “I still think Geoff Petrie is one of best GMs in the game. I think it makes it harder for guys to come together when there isn’t a system to rely on. Are you relying on defense or on pick and rolls? Of course, there’s experience from playing that style of ball. I think Tyreke (Evans) is going to be the Rookie of the Year and they are looking to grow. They are probably not going to make the playoffs and definitely won’t win a championship but if they are looking to grow, it’s great to have a teacher and that’s what they need in Sacramento. Someone who will teach them, let them build on something and not just waste a 82-game schedule.”
Shaq to challenge top athletes in new TV series
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal came up with the idea for his new TV series, “Shaq Vs.,” as a way to train for his upcoming season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shaq, a 15-time All-Star center, will challenge top athletes in their respective sports, including swimming against Olympic superstar Michael Phelps in the premiere Aug. 18. He also will try his football skills against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, box retired world champion Oscar De La Hoya, bat against St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols, trade tennis volleys with Wimbledon champ Serena Williams and play volleyball against Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.
O’Neal will negotiate a handicap with his opponents and train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.
“These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge,” O’Neal said. “I plan to train hard and win, so look out.”
Shaq will compete against Roethlisberger, the Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning QB, in a 7-on-7 passing drill to be filmed this week in the Pittsburgh area.
Although he has just one season left on his NBA contract, Shaq, 37, says he wants to play three more years and is hoping he can help Cleveland superstar LeBron James win his first league title.
Blake Griffin would have been a heck of an OU tight end
Blake Griffin
If Blake Griffin had also played football at OU, he likely would have been a heck of a tight end. He certainly would have been a big target for OU quarterback Sam Bradford to find going across the middle.
As part of ESPN SportsCenter’s “Fan Feast,” Griffin’s dream of playing for the Sooner football team will air Friday as part of a series of vignettes in which key athletes discuss their favorite events (other than their respective sports) to play in or to watch:
June 29: Kobe Bryant – play cricket.
June 30: Joe Mauer – be a quarterback at the Super Bowl.
July 1: Candace Parker – attend the FIFA World Cup.
July 2: Jeff Gordon – face Tony Hawk one-on-one in an X Games contest.
July 2: Carl Crawford (midnight) – to be a quarterback in the NFL.
July 3: Blake Griffin – play football at the University of Oklahoma.
July 6: Colt McCoy – attend the Masters.
July 7: Trevor Hoffman – race in the Indy 500.
July 8: Lisa Leslie – attend the US Open and watch a Williams sisters final.
July 9: Dale Earnhardt Jr. – play in the NFL.
July 9: Dick Vermeil – a front row seat at the Indy 500.
July 10: Justin Morneau – play and win the Stanley Cup.
The series will feature five daily essays each by ESPN television studio host Kenny Mayne on his top five sports events to attend, and Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio and ESPN2’s Mike and Mike in the Morning Show, on his top five events to participate in.
Fans also can fans can submit a 50-word essay on www.espn.com/fanfest proposing their favorite sporting event to attend. Fans can also submit essays about their favorite sporting event to participate in. A panel of ESPN.com editorial staff will select the top 10 essays submitted for each category.
ESPN’s Chad Ford: Rubio to Thunder
Ricky Rubio
ESPN’s draft begins at 6 p.m. Thursday from the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. After Tuesday’s trade between Minnesota and Washington shook up the draft order, ESPN.com draft guru Chad Ford made some adjustments in his latest mock draft. Ford’s current top five:
- Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
- Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis
- Ricky Rubio, Oklahoma City
- Tyreke Evans, Sacramento
- James Harden, Minnesota (from Washington)
ESPNU to replay OU games as part of NBA draft coverage
Blake Griffin dunks against American University.
ESPNU (Cox 253) plans to replay three OU basketball games to spotlight Sooner star Blake Griffin, expected to be the No. 1 pick in NBA draft Thursday night. The Sooners’ 72-60 loss to North Carolina in the Final Eight will air at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Other broadcasts include OU’s 82-78 win against Davidson and star guard Stephen Curry at 5 p.m. Thursday and a 89-81 victory over OSU (Jan. 26 in Stillwater) at 7 a.m. Friday.
ESPNU also is featuring games of other draft prospects, including DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh), Tyreke Evans (Memphis), Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), James Harden (Arizona State), Jordan Hill (Arizona), Jrue Holiday (UCLA) and Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut).
ESPN’s extensive draft coverage will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday from the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Stuart Scott will host ESPN’s coverage with analysts Jay Bilas, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Additional contributors will include international basketball expert Fran Fraschilla; Dick Vitale (via satellite); reporters Ric Bucher and Andy Katz; on-site interviews by Mark Jones; green room interviews by Lisa Salters; and field reporter Rachel Nichols from Tarrytown, N.Y., site of the New York Knicks’ training facility.
The coverage will include video conferencing with 15 team headquarters — Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Los Angeles Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, Phoenix, Portland and Washington — and “draft cam” from the draft rooms of the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, which have three first-round selections.
ESPN The Magazine’s current issue offers a preview of the NBA Draft including a Mock Draft featuring current players making the picks for their respective teams. Top five picks:
1) L.A. Clippers (selected by Ricky Davis) – Blake Griffin, Oklahoma.
2) Memphis Grizzlies (selected by Rudy Gay) – Hasheem Thabeet, Uconn.
3) Oklahoma City Thunder (selected by Russell Westbrook) – James Harden, Arizona State.
4) Sacramento Kings (selected by Spencer Hawes) – Ricky Rubio, Spain.
5) Washington Wizards (selected by Antawn Jamison) – DeMar DeRozan.
NBA series that will never end (it seems) sets ratings record for TNT
Bulls center Joakim Noah celebrates in third overtime of Game 6.
Like the Energizer bunny, the Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls first-round playoff series just seems to go and go and go. … Four of the games have gone into overtime for a total of seven overtime periods.
Not surprisingly, the Bulls’ 128-127 triple-overtime victory Thusday night on TNT set a cable record as the most watched round one game ever with a 3.5 rating and 5.3 million viewers. The Bulls evened the series at 3-3 with Game 7 at 7 p.m. Sunday on TNT.
TNT game analyst Doug Collins on the multiple overtimes: “This game is on the heels of a series that has been amazing. What these guys have thrown out on the floor throughout the entire series. It looks like they are dead in the water and you find a way to get a couple of baskets. Then it looks like you’ve taken control and the other team comes back.”
TNT analyst Charles Barkley on why he thinks Bulls-Celtics series is not the greatest series ever: “It’s been a really good series to watch. You have seen some great individual performances. The first round of the playoffs can’t be the best series ever.”
NBC analyst Bob Neumeier is picking Dunkirk to win the Kentucky Derby: “I like Dunkirk because he ran an incredible second in the Florida Derby to the horse that I thought was the best horse in the country, and that is Quality Road, who has been scratched for the Derby. For that reason and the fact that Pioneerof the Nile has never run on conventional dirt, makes me give the nod to Dunkirk. I don’t care about historical precedents about him not running as a two-year old. I think he’s the best horse in the race.”
Bob Costas will interview Sports Illustrated writer live in-studio at 6 p.m. Sunday on MLB Network. Roberts will discuss her new book, “A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez.”
TNT’s P.J. Carlesimo discusses struggling New Orleans Hornets
Former Thunder coach P.J. Carlisimo
Oklahoma City’s former NBA team, the New Orleans Hornets, are on track for an early elimination from the NBA playoffs. The Hornets lost to Denver 108-93 Wednesday night. Former Thunder coach P.J. Carlisimo provided the commentary for TNT’s telecast. Some of Carlisimo’s comments:
On Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups: “I think sometimes Chauncey gets tired of hearing about the young guards in the league. Very few of the young guards, in fact none of the young guards, have accomplished what Chauncey has.”
On Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, a former Hornet: “(The maturation) is happening a little slowly. (J.R. Smith) is coming along, but you’ve got to realize he’s only 23. As George Karl says, he’s a good/bad player, but a lot more good. J.R. Smith is improving with his ball skills, he still turns it over occasionally when he tries to go to the rim. Everybody plays him, they get into him and try to take away his three, the middle game and the finish, that’s what he’s got to develop.”
On Hornets center Tyson Chandler playing with an ankle injury: “The margin for error is not quite the same because (Tyson Chandler) is not quite as explosive. It used to be Chris Paul threw it up in the air and he would go and get it, but he’s got to be a little careful now.”
Studio analyst Charles Barkley on Hornets point guard Chris Paul having to do too much for his team: “It’s unfair to Chris Paul because he has to do so much. Chris Paul is too little to have to get everyone on offense involved. He (has to) make David West, (Tyson) Chandler and (Rasual) Butler go (on offense) and guard Chauncey Billups at the same time…that’s physically impossible.”
And Barkley on Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen’s Mohawk: “(Birdman’s) hair looks like Tweety Bird.”
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban rips Mavs’ telecasts
The Dallas Mavericks players aren’t the only Mavs’ employees experiencing the wrath of owner Mark Cuban. He’s also taking shots at the Mavs’ broadcast team — play-by-play voice Mark Followill and longtime analyst Bob Ortegel, who are on year-to-year contracts — as ratings for the team sag.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Cuban called the telecast “stale” and “unimaginative” in e-mails to Mavs director of broadcasting Dave Evans. He was also critical of Ortegel, who in his 21st season calling Mavs games is adhering to a new edict: “Less is more.”
Since the 67-win season in 2006-07, Mavs ratings have dipped from 3.8 to 1.4 on Fox Sports Southwest and from 5.7 to 2.9 on KTXA- 21.
To spice up the telecasts, Cuban told Evans to give up-and-comer talk-radio personality Jeff Wade, aka Skin, an audition as a second analyst. Wade made his debut Jan. 8 and, working pro bono, appears mostly on weekend telecasts. He has become the league’s lone TV analyst who is not a former player or coach.
“Whenever changes are being made, you always wonder, well, are changes being made because of dissatisfaction with what you’re doing?” said Followill, 38. “I’m not losing any sleep over it, but I’m doing the best that I can and hoping that will continue to be good enough.”
