This reminds me of what you wrote about The Last Dance. The reality is that a big part of the appeal of sports is how remarkably un-sanitized it all is. So much of our media for basically all of history has had all the edges and idiosyncrasies sanded off, and sports was decidedly not that. The way you describe it David Stern seemed to understand that; the Warriors trash-talking the Warriors wasn't a crisis it was a story, and people like stories.
I was initially pretty warm on the Silver era, but it's becoming pretty obvious that he's afraid to really throw the NBA's massive weight around in the way Stern was. The NBA does not need to follow social trends or conform to outside standards. It's the fucking NBA it should be setting those standards! Stern's biggest strength as a commissioner in retrospect is his extreme willingness to sacrifice the short-term reputation of the league and frankly of himself - I seem to recall him not exactly being the most popular commissioner to say the very least - in bold attempts to increase the NBA's cultural weight. Silver is the polar opposite and would seemingly sacrifice what's left of that cultural weight for the sake of a nice write-up in the NYT.
Interesting article. Been hoping for a silver hit piece from you. NBA product has gotten worse and he deserves criticism for it. He tries to play nice too often and doesn’t seem to have much of a backbone at least from the outside looking in. He seems to be turning to a lot of gimmicks on the fringes to save the league instead of making some difficult decisions and fixing the big issues. Sad
Your writing has been extra awesome lately. I enjoy learning more about how the nba media and agencies work. I ultimately love the league for the games themselves but understanding the rest of what goes on is fun. Keep up the great work! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"You can call it self-serving, but there’s nothing more pathetic than cheering on your own disempowerment."
Fully agreed and well-put. I think this is why there's something particularly obnoxious about sports journalists who cheer on the cancellation of games / seasons of the sports they cover. It's fine to be concerned about particulars (and chime in on how to mitigate), but the apparent glee from some sports blue checks around games being cancelled over the last two years definitely causes a reflexive disdain, at least for me.
I'm on the players side here. Why do certain persons called the media get access to my private space just because my job is playing a sport?
If you think mainstream folks would be shocked at racism + sexism from NBA players, wait till they hear what Wall Street traders say when they go to bars after work. I don't see any media there.
Pre-covid, every season had a couple thousand unique opportunities for media to report on "racist, homophobic and sexist” happenings in locker rooms, and I cant remember any public controversies over locker room reporting other than with Ben Dowsett. So Im not convinced thats whats actually behind Silver's position. It seems more likely that in the battle between the league and players for control, media access is an easy common target that gets offered up as shallow appeasement. It does follow that Silver is misreading the value of quality reporting and narrative building for the leagues appeal. And Id bet Andre has some strong opinions on which Jews control the government.
in my opinion, the NBA media pretended Silver is/was (the first person in history?) capable of leading a multi-billion dollar industry/marketplace without really stepping on toes or upsetting people. They pretended this stuff isn't THAT hard, and it's just a matter of listening to everyone, and making good reasonable decisions....that with the "respect" of everyone around the NBA and his good intentioned nature, an NBA utopia was possible (bigger than the NFL!!!!!!!! lol). It ignores human nature and history completely in how markets behave. The owners/players/media were buoyed by a massive influx in cash, but it seems obvious to me Silver is a peacetime guy while Stern was a wartime guy. Silver can do his best to placate the players and the owners, and sure the notable NBA media has generally gotten rich/famous the last couple decades so they've been pretty happy and positive so far in their coverage, but TBD if it continues, especially after this. sooner or later though, the other part of the ecosystem, the fans, can't be an afterthought that "loses" each time difficult decisions/conversations come up.
I remember Ethan saying that the reporters who were actually physically close to the players were less inclined to view their arguments as the romantic workers struggle compared to more distant sportswriters. After reading this, I can see why.
Sorry, Sir Charles. Locker rooms may be a lot of things, but I have it on good authority that: "We don't disrespect women in no shape or fashion in our locker rooms. That never comes up."
I wonder if UFC has shaped Silver's view on the subject of locker room access. (I say this as a former MMA journo who was credentialed for dozens of events.)
Rank and file reporters have never been allowed into fighter dressing rooms. Their only official access is during post-show pressers and pre-show hype events. None of these limitations have prevented UFC from having an ecosystem where journalists break scoops, do hype features, cover stories that stem from events, etc.
UFC seems to get the word out about their product just fine; if we're honest, UFC has a better overall public reputation than the NBA nowadays, despite fistfighting being an inherently niche sport.
Great article. I do agree Adam Silver wants to ban media because too much is being said in the locker room that he doesn't want to get out. NBA ratings are dropping with the potential of circling the drain very soon. I believe he fears the wrong things said will cause either cancel culture or their biggest investors to put the final nails in their coffin. Also it makes me question if journalists are allowed in the locker rooms of the CBA. If not, that may be another reason he wants to shut down access. Is the biggest revenue contributor to the NBA, looking to fashion a league after the United States or are they demanding the United States fashion our league after them?
This frequently comes up in MLS when big Euro stars come over and are weirded the hell out that reporters come in the locker room (not since covid obviously). I see both sides but it is kind of annoying when teams only make a couple random low level players available in the post game sessions after a loss. I've noticed this happening with my team the Sixers more than a few times this year. I think the reporters should push for as much access as possible, I'm sure the players are capable of not saying fa**** for 45 minutes in the same room as dozens of people with microphones.
This reminds me of what you wrote about The Last Dance. The reality is that a big part of the appeal of sports is how remarkably un-sanitized it all is. So much of our media for basically all of history has had all the edges and idiosyncrasies sanded off, and sports was decidedly not that. The way you describe it David Stern seemed to understand that; the Warriors trash-talking the Warriors wasn't a crisis it was a story, and people like stories.
I was initially pretty warm on the Silver era, but it's becoming pretty obvious that he's afraid to really throw the NBA's massive weight around in the way Stern was. The NBA does not need to follow social trends or conform to outside standards. It's the fucking NBA it should be setting those standards! Stern's biggest strength as a commissioner in retrospect is his extreme willingness to sacrifice the short-term reputation of the league and frankly of himself - I seem to recall him not exactly being the most popular commissioner to say the very least - in bold attempts to increase the NBA's cultural weight. Silver is the polar opposite and would seemingly sacrifice what's left of that cultural weight for the sake of a nice write-up in the NYT.
Interesting article. Been hoping for a silver hit piece from you. NBA product has gotten worse and he deserves criticism for it. He tries to play nice too often and doesn’t seem to have much of a backbone at least from the outside looking in. He seems to be turning to a lot of gimmicks on the fringes to save the league instead of making some difficult decisions and fixing the big issues. Sad
Your writing has been extra awesome lately. I enjoy learning more about how the nba media and agencies work. I ultimately love the league for the games themselves but understanding the rest of what goes on is fun. Keep up the great work! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"You can call it self-serving, but there’s nothing more pathetic than cheering on your own disempowerment."
Fully agreed and well-put. I think this is why there's something particularly obnoxious about sports journalists who cheer on the cancellation of games / seasons of the sports they cover. It's fine to be concerned about particulars (and chime in on how to mitigate), but the apparent glee from some sports blue checks around games being cancelled over the last two years definitely causes a reflexive disdain, at least for me.
I'm on the players side here. Why do certain persons called the media get access to my private space just because my job is playing a sport?
If you think mainstream folks would be shocked at racism + sexism from NBA players, wait till they hear what Wall Street traders say when they go to bars after work. I don't see any media there.
So the main issue is that the NBA is full of normie dudes who say normie dude stuff. God forbid the media capture that.
Pre-covid, every season had a couple thousand unique opportunities for media to report on "racist, homophobic and sexist” happenings in locker rooms, and I cant remember any public controversies over locker room reporting other than with Ben Dowsett. So Im not convinced thats whats actually behind Silver's position. It seems more likely that in the battle between the league and players for control, media access is an easy common target that gets offered up as shallow appeasement. It does follow that Silver is misreading the value of quality reporting and narrative building for the leagues appeal. And Id bet Andre has some strong opinions on which Jews control the government.
in my opinion, the NBA media pretended Silver is/was (the first person in history?) capable of leading a multi-billion dollar industry/marketplace without really stepping on toes or upsetting people. They pretended this stuff isn't THAT hard, and it's just a matter of listening to everyone, and making good reasonable decisions....that with the "respect" of everyone around the NBA and his good intentioned nature, an NBA utopia was possible (bigger than the NFL!!!!!!!! lol). It ignores human nature and history completely in how markets behave. The owners/players/media were buoyed by a massive influx in cash, but it seems obvious to me Silver is a peacetime guy while Stern was a wartime guy. Silver can do his best to placate the players and the owners, and sure the notable NBA media has generally gotten rich/famous the last couple decades so they've been pretty happy and positive so far in their coverage, but TBD if it continues, especially after this. sooner or later though, the other part of the ecosystem, the fans, can't be an afterthought that "loses" each time difficult decisions/conversations come up.
I remember Ethan saying that the reporters who were actually physically close to the players were less inclined to view their arguments as the romantic workers struggle compared to more distant sportswriters. After reading this, I can see why.
“Adam Silver can’t say, … “ I’m sitting in a restaurant laughing for quite some time. Well done.
Sorry, Sir Charles. Locker rooms may be a lot of things, but I have it on good authority that: "We don't disrespect women in no shape or fashion in our locker rooms. That never comes up."
(Awesome (correct f-word)-ing piece, Ethan!)
Another masterpiece. Keep it up Ethan.
I wonder if UFC has shaped Silver's view on the subject of locker room access. (I say this as a former MMA journo who was credentialed for dozens of events.)
Rank and file reporters have never been allowed into fighter dressing rooms. Their only official access is during post-show pressers and pre-show hype events. None of these limitations have prevented UFC from having an ecosystem where journalists break scoops, do hype features, cover stories that stem from events, etc.
UFC seems to get the word out about their product just fine; if we're honest, UFC has a better overall public reputation than the NBA nowadays, despite fistfighting being an inherently niche sport.
Great article. I do agree Adam Silver wants to ban media because too much is being said in the locker room that he doesn't want to get out. NBA ratings are dropping with the potential of circling the drain very soon. I believe he fears the wrong things said will cause either cancel culture or their biggest investors to put the final nails in their coffin. Also it makes me question if journalists are allowed in the locker rooms of the CBA. If not, that may be another reason he wants to shut down access. Is the biggest revenue contributor to the NBA, looking to fashion a league after the United States or are they demanding the United States fashion our league after them?
What the hell is a Coach Nat?
This frequently comes up in MLS when big Euro stars come over and are weirded the hell out that reporters come in the locker room (not since covid obviously). I see both sides but it is kind of annoying when teams only make a couple random low level players available in the post game sessions after a loss. I've noticed this happening with my team the Sixers more than a few times this year. I think the reporters should push for as much access as possible, I'm sure the players are capable of not saying fa**** for 45 minutes in the same room as dozens of people with microphones.