Philly's "Good Guy"
While visiting with Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News prior to the Jazz-Sixer game Wednesday, I found out that Kyle Korver is still scheduled to receiver this year's Philadelphia Sports Writers Association "Good Guy" Award.
I bet it's the first time the group has honored a member of the Utah Jazz.
Every year, the association gives an award to a player in Philadelphia for outstanding cooperation with the media. Korver was named this year's winner, prior to last week's trade to Utah.
Jasner said he talked to Korver before his new team in Utah played his former team in Philly and reassured him that he would still get his award from the local sports writers.
His reaction?
According to Jasner, Korver looked at him and in all seriousness said, "You don't want to give it to someone else?"
The awards banquet is scheduled for Jan. 28. But Korver won't be able to attend because the Jazz will be playing San Antonio.
In case you want to attend the dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J., tickets cost $75. Or you can get a table for 12 for $900.
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In response to yesterday's blog, I mentioned in an item about referee Jimmy Clark that the current media setup at EnergySolutions Arena is among the worst in the league because it does not allow reporters a decent view of the game or access to it. In response, reader Tim Ormond replied that I should quit complaining since I get my "ticket" for free.
Here's the deal, Tim.
I go to those games to report on it for fans like you. When I can't do the best job I can because of the way a team's media setup is arranged, it doesn't hurt me. In reality, however, it hurts fans like you who want to know what's happening with the team they follow -- in the case, the Jazz.
You ask, "What did Jerry Sloan do to deserve that technical foul?" I reply, "I can't tell you because I wasn't close enough to hear anything."
You ask, "What sparked that fight between the players?" I reply, "I wish I knew, but it happened 100 yards from where I am supposed to sit and chronicle the game?"
See what I mean?
Another point: I don't get a free "ticket" to the game. I get a media credential. With a ticket, I could drink beer, yell at the players, boo the officials, arrive in the second quarter and leave in the third.
With a press credential, I go to the game like you do to work and try to write accurately and with some degree of insight about what I am seeing and hearing. When I can't see a game or hear the game or the interaction among the players, coaches and officials, it limits my opportunity to do the best job I possibly can for the people who buy our newspaper or read our Web site.
I hope that makes sense.
The bottom line: the press setup at the EnergySolutions Arena used to be one of the best in the NBA. Now, it is one of the worst. Nearly every reporter who comes to Utah goes away shaking his or her head at the profound change in the way this franchise operates in regard to the media.
If that's whining, then pass the cheese because there are an army of media-types out there who agree with me.
-- Steve Luhm
I bet it's the first time the group has honored a member of the Utah Jazz.
Every year, the association gives an award to a player in Philadelphia for outstanding cooperation with the media. Korver was named this year's winner, prior to last week's trade to Utah.
Jasner said he talked to Korver before his new team in Utah played his former team in Philly and reassured him that he would still get his award from the local sports writers.
His reaction?
According to Jasner, Korver looked at him and in all seriousness said, "You don't want to give it to someone else?"
The awards banquet is scheduled for Jan. 28. But Korver won't be able to attend because the Jazz will be playing San Antonio.
In case you want to attend the dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J., tickets cost $75. Or you can get a table for 12 for $900.
--------------------
In response to yesterday's blog, I mentioned in an item about referee Jimmy Clark that the current media setup at EnergySolutions Arena is among the worst in the league because it does not allow reporters a decent view of the game or access to it. In response, reader Tim Ormond replied that I should quit complaining since I get my "ticket" for free.
Here's the deal, Tim.
I go to those games to report on it for fans like you. When I can't do the best job I can because of the way a team's media setup is arranged, it doesn't hurt me. In reality, however, it hurts fans like you who want to know what's happening with the team they follow -- in the case, the Jazz.
You ask, "What did Jerry Sloan do to deserve that technical foul?" I reply, "I can't tell you because I wasn't close enough to hear anything."
You ask, "What sparked that fight between the players?" I reply, "I wish I knew, but it happened 100 yards from where I am supposed to sit and chronicle the game?"
See what I mean?
Another point: I don't get a free "ticket" to the game. I get a media credential. With a ticket, I could drink beer, yell at the players, boo the officials, arrive in the second quarter and leave in the third.
With a press credential, I go to the game like you do to work and try to write accurately and with some degree of insight about what I am seeing and hearing. When I can't see a game or hear the game or the interaction among the players, coaches and officials, it limits my opportunity to do the best job I possibly can for the people who buy our newspaper or read our Web site.
I hope that makes sense.
The bottom line: the press setup at the EnergySolutions Arena used to be one of the best in the NBA. Now, it is one of the worst. Nearly every reporter who comes to Utah goes away shaking his or her head at the profound change in the way this franchise operates in regard to the media.
If that's whining, then pass the cheese because there are an army of media-types out there who agree with me.
-- Steve Luhm
12:08 PM
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10 Comments:
Your response makes perfect sense, Steve - but I think you've got a no-win situation. When I read your last post, I was a bit annoyed by the complaining as well.
A lot of fans wish they could afford to go to games - and they're not going to understand when media types (people who don't pay to see the games) complain because they don't get front row seats.
I understand that your position on the court affects the quality of your job.
Your media credential might be different than an actual "ticket", but you get to see the game in person - something many Jazz fans don't get to do.
In short - I don't think many Jazz fans are going to relate to your plight.
steve, this would make sense if we were getting that sort of information from you on a regular basis when you were on the road. instead we get human-interest stories about your friendships with assistant coaches and referees.
prove me wrong and start giving in-depth analysis of what you see and hear when you're up close, rather than the same stuff that i can get from an AP report.
until i start recognizing when you are at an arena with sub-par media set up because the quality of the reporting also lags, then i will just consider it whining.
Mr. Luhm,
First, let me apologize if for some reason I insulted you by calling your media credentials "tickets." How ignorant of me.
Before I go any further, let me just say I appreciate the job that the media does in general and understand that if you were closer to the action you could hypothetically provide us with better stories.
However, I have to agree with admin on this one. Provide us with the "inside scoop" and prove your point that way. When you provide us with the same stories that we can get from anywhere else including the D-News and then complain that you didn't have a chance to talk to your buddy fans will never relate.
Finally, I find it a little offensive that you called me out by name and then infer I am a beer drinking, late arriving, early leaving Jazz fan. I personally have no problems with other fans deciding to do this, but I for one am one time, sober, and stay for the entire game.
If you would like Luhm, I would gladly exchange my ticket for your media credentials any day of the week. Then you'll have time to walk down, mingle with your friends, and won't have to worry about the problems your new seating arrangement has caused.
I mean you could even have a beer and leave early.
I too am in 100% agreement with admin and Tim. I have never read an insider scoop from you that I previously had not heard from another source. If you were to do your job and write stories of interest to Jazz fans and not just brag about all the different sports personalties that you know than maybe then I would understand your feelings about your location during the game;but, as it is your articles do not reflect that it even matters that you were at the game.
It's time for you to hang 'em up, tears of a clown. Honestly, and now you've been outed on TrueHoop. What purpose do you even serve? Siler is running circles around you.
Just came over here from Truehoop. Steve-I respect your profession a great deal. But I don't have one shred of sympathy for you. You get access to people and places that regular folks can only dream of-on a regular basis. Some people would be lucky to go to one sporting event a year. Just think of that when your sitting in your seat at Jazz games. I would love to take my family to watch a NBA bball game in your seats, but I can't afford it. You have a dream job man, don't kill the buzz.
Steve,
I have a 17 year old brother-in-law that used the same "it doesn't hurt me it hurts you" excuse when he had his cell phone taken away for bad grades at school. Grow up. Anyone who watches the instant replay on the jumbo tron knows why Coach Sloan got the technical foul. Heck even if you can't see the replay we can all pretty much guess which diatribe of four letter words he used.
In addition "it's my job" is a pretty poor excuse too. Not only do you get to go to the games and have quite good seats for free, YOU GET PAID TO BE THERE!!!
And finally, just because many of your other media friends are whining doesn't make us feel sympathy. It just lets us know there are a lot of babies in the media. Divas and Divos alike.
Reading this article and comments reminds of Paul Shirley's 51st Journal entry:
"(snip a bunch of stuff where Paul whines about how hard it is to be a pro bball player)
... and about how it doesn't matter how well I write about my life, or how funny I make it, or how many digs I take at myself -- I will never be able to describe it well enough so that whoever reads my description does not immediately think, "That ungrateful son of a bitch. He should try my life on for size. This 9-to-5 in the FedEx distributing center isn't a pleasure cruise." "
I say that if the reason for your disagreement with Steve is that your jealous that he gets to go to games and you don't, which seems like most of the comments here, then you shouldn't say anything. Beat writers and analysts and reporters don't get to watch the same game fans do. They analyse or report or break plays down. Fans get to scream and boo and cheer and do what fans do. If you don't understand the difference, try bringing a pen and pad to the next game you watch and note down every single play or even every major play and see how much you enjoy the game. I like watching films and reading books, that doesn't mean i like writing book reports and film reviews dissecting and analysing the plot, narratives and character developments.
If you don't like what he writes about, then give him feedback in the form of constructive criticism. I'm guessing that's part of the reason why comments are enabled here.
I'll finish with another Paul Shirley quote from the same journal entry, which i think applies to everyone (although, i'm sure he wasn't the first to say it): "Complaining about something without providing a solution is a cowardly thing to do."
Dear N I,
I don't know if you just don't comprehend the postings, but I believe that the suggestion from every person who posted was for Steve Luhm to quit complaining. That sounds like a solution to me.
In response to your comment about taking note of the plays I would submit that any good fan could easily discuss key plays that effected the game. As a matter of fact I would say that much of the water cooler discussions between Jazz fans is about those very plays that Steve gets paid to write about.
And finally, to say that because a sports reporter is working at the game means that they can't and don't get to enjoy the emotions of the game is just silly. It may be different than your "average fan" but it is still an enjoyable experience. And if it's not enjoyable here is my "solution" so as to not be a "coward". . . find another job.
I comprehend the posts alright. The comments are pretty much telling Steve to quit his whining because he gets to go to all the games for free. A few took a jab at his writing which are probably warranted and AJ said there's a lot of babies in the media which i don't think was warranted.
I just thought some of the comments were unfair and if you didn't comprehend my own post it was my intention to put his complaints/whingings into a different perspective without sounding whiny.
Here's the Paul Shirley quote again, but i'm going to edit it so that it better fits this situation (bolds are mine):
"(snip a bunch of stuff where Steve whines about how hard it is to be a pro bball reporter)
... and about how it doesn't matter how well I write about my life, or how funny I make it, or how many digs I take at myself -- I will never be able to describe it well enough so that whoever reads my description does not immediately think, "That ungrateful son of a bitch. He should try paying for basketball games and sitting in the nosebleeds" "
Some commenters sound a lot like Shirley's FedEx guy.
- Does having crappy seats affect the reporters ability to report on the game? I would agree with Steve on that.
- Is there anything the court reporters can do to improve the situation? Yes, i am sure there are avenues open to them to improve their situation.
- Does whining on a blog help their situation? No.
- Is telling Steve to quit bitching because he gets to go to games for free helping? I don't think it does.
And yes, any fan can breakdown plays, but most aren't given close up seats with the sole purpose being that they write up quality analysis of the game to be posted in a newspaper or online.
What I'd like to see from blogs like this is the kind of stuff you can't easily see or hear from your tv at home. I want to be able to know if LBJ was cursing at his teammates to give him a hand. I want to know if Curry was pissed off that he got benched after 2mins. I want to know if Bryant looked bored when he drove in for his 48th point. I want to know if Arenas' trash talking put Alston off his game. I don't see any of that when i watch games on tv.
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