You think you know, but you have no idea. Covering the NBA when drama strikes on or off the court often means nothing but a full day, and Friday was no exception. It went a little something like this….
2am: My two-year old daughter decides it’s time to wake-up…..good times. She must have sensed the drama.
4am: After some hanging out and an episode of Sesame Street, it’s time for bed. Let’s try this again…..for me too.
7:30am: Awake to a few emails and a Sports Illustrated report about Portland Trail Blazers team president Larry Miller’s emailed memo to the rest of the league. It was the line in the sand. Stood slack jawed after reading. Twice.
7:31-8am: Swapped “what-the-hell-is-going-on-around-here” emails to fellow confused writers, sources and friends. Cursed SI’s Ian Thomsen for breaking the story.
8-9:00am: Awaited email and phone call from Blazers front office regarding the published Yahoo report that launched the whole “some-team-could-sign-Darius-Miles-just-to-mess-with-Portland’s-money” story from Thursday. Was told Thursday “meetings” delayed a response. Realized what “meetings” those actually were…..very interesting.
9:30-11:30am: Did some research. Ran errands. Avoided the Blazers practice facility and the media moshpit. After covering the whole Larry Brown – Isiah Thomas saga while in New York back in the day, I learned a quick lesson: the last thing any coach or General Manager wants is one more writer around with a voice recorder in their face. The story could wait. Like in life, avoid the drama.
Noon: A man has to eat….fed my daughter and put her down for a nap too. Caught up on emails and chuckled at the email response from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to Miller’s email memo. You can’t make this stuff up….
12:30pm: Contemplated updating Facebook status to “Wendell got the memo”…..Facebook IM fellow writers about the fall out soon to hit the Blazers.
1:15pm: Swapped a dozen emails/texts to editors explaining I was working on the story….or at least was thinking about working on the story.
2pm: Called and spoke with Blazers media relations team. Wondered if a comment or press release was forth coming from Miller and the organization – it was, just didn’t know when. Stay tuned.
2:05pm: More emails/texts to editors. No replies. Some replies. Wanted to take a nap but worked the phones instead.
3:45pm: Caught Larry Miller on John Canzano’s Bald Face Truth on 95.5 The Game….still had questions of my own.
4:05pm: Received call from Blazers media relations member informing of a 5pm conference call with Larry Miller.
5:03pm: Conference call gets underway. Know it’s a national story when writers from the New York Times, CBS Sports and TNT join myself and three other beat writers on the call. Asked Miller if he would change anything about the way the memo situation was handled. Said he wouldn’t.
5:15pm: Get word the NBAPA filed a grievance against the Blazers. Isn’t that what Portland should have done in the first place – filed their own to the league office about their concerns?
5:25pm: Processed Miller’s comments, thoughts from the conference call. Originally thought Portland was wrong for taking the low road. After the call, I came to appreciate the Blazers strong arm tactics. Wondered if the guys on the court dared to be that tough against Golden State come Saturday.
8-8:30pm: Got killed by my wife in Mario Kart.
9:35pm: Get ready to file story. Checked to see if any breaking news hit on the topic. It did. Report: Grizzlies re-sign Miles. Sat slack jawed. Sent mad texts. Cursed Ron Tillery at the Memphis Commercial Appeal for breaking the story.
9:40pm: Re-wrote my story.
10:15pm: Finished and filed story….again.
10:30-11pm: Catch up on texts and emails about Memphis signing Miles. Still can’t believe it. Brian Hendrickson from the Vancouver Columbian and I ponder the same thought via text: wonder if this day will ever end.
11:30pm: Decide to make this day even longer by writing a blog post about what the day in the life of a NBA writer/reporter looks like when a story hits…and hits….and hits.
12am: Slowly fade into the night…..with thoughts of David Stern vetoing Miles’ 10-day contract with Memphis. The story continues.
pic via: bodoglife.com
When it rains it pours brother…
“It didn’t invent the rainy day, I just have the best umbrella”
I’m done with this subject. I can do nothing by arguing with anyone about it and B!tching about it. Excuse my french. Ima be honest with you, i lightly skimmed over this article….LIGHTLY. Not a discredit to you as it is probably very articulate and well written but i am done with this subject. Let’s just see what happens.
The one part i did read is you getting killed by your wife at mario kart. Do u have a wii or a 64? Probably a wii with your big fancy job and such. You are lucky to have a wife that will play video games with you… and BEAT you.
And what you think your 700 word story impresses me. bah! jk. quite impressive (braggart) just messin with u Dub Max. Keep up the good work.
thanks for the rundown. i also had a steady diet of your blog, blazersedge.com, oregonlive.com, ripcityproject’s, jaynes’, canzano’s, and the worldwide leader’s website yesterday. i was refreshing every 15 mins.
i need to get a life, my concern for this team has reached an unhealthy point.
I’ll give Larry Miller and Co. this (to quote Duke Nukem) “They’ve got balls of steel.”
I still can’t figure out if the e-mail was brilliant, moronic, inspired or foolish, all I can figure out is that it’s “BIG.”
I’m worn out.
what’s up fellas….i know i can always count on will, glen and nj to get at me. if it wasn’t for you guys this blog would be gone….kind of like the chances of portland luring a big free agent this summer.
two games away. two games.
turst me will….i’m tired of this story too. but you now how it is. gotta put my work in. by the way, i’m sporting a wii….but i’m more a classic nintendo “double dribble” kind of guy….and the 700 word story was just enough to state the facts on slip in my opinion. you know how we do.
glen….welcome to my world. you don’t need a life – just more hours in the day to stay updated.
nj….i feel you. trust me. i feel you.
w
didn’t forget about you world b.
’bout time you joined the discussion here. been waiting. appreciate you taking time out of your busy USA Today and NBA Chat schedule.
hey man, i really appreciate your hard work. you’ve become one of my fave go-to-guys when it comes to blazer/nba pundits. i dig your writing, fairness and blazer-centric non-homerism. please keep it up.
howsaabout that rudy-to-roy inbounds oop tonight? it made espn top 6.
thanks glen. thanks a lot.
i’ll keep grinding if you guys keep reading and writing….
seriously. had i known the conversations and insight that comes about from merely the comments left, i would have started this blog long ago.
wanted to give a glimpse of what goes into this gig….hopefully i do that every now and again. there is something to be said for subjectivity and objectivity – even credibility – in this business. it’s a very fine line…..
some cross it. i try and avoid it. because at the end of the day – at least for me – it’s about rooting for the “story”, not the team(s) you cover.