Despite the recent outrage and calls to end court-storming, the act of bum-rushing the hardwood (or gridiron), will not suddenly be going out of style.
For if anything is apparent in all the consternation and controversy included in the fallout after Wake Forest fans spilled on to the court following their team’s 83-79 over Duke last Saturday, it’s that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all issue.
The many pontificators who preached for an end to these spontaneous hoopla sessions were challenged by those who vehemently support expressions of school spirit on steroids. And don’t discount the schools that use video of “controlled chaos” as recruiting tools for transfer portal players looking for some inspiration to go along with their NIL booty.
Absent in the debate were any edicts, at least publicly, delivered by executives of college basketball’s biggest TV partners. Apparently, no suit is ready to say: “If fans run on the court, we won’t be glorifying the moment. We won’t be airing pictures of the mob scene.”
It’s not as if TV outlets covering the games are not prepared to handle the chaos. There are many things to consider, including the safety of those working the game. Nonetheless, the options don’t currently include blacking out the celebrating stampeders, which could lead to accusations of an outlet ignoring significant news.
Still, if there was any doubt TV is a major catalyst for these “celebrations,” Jay Bilas, ESPN’s college hoops analyst, added credence to the theory during a recent appearance on “First Take.”
“Years ago, when fans would run out on the field or court during a game it was network policy not to show that because we didn’t want to encourage it,” Bilas said. “So, what does that say about how we in media use these images now. We can’t deny that we encourage it. Or at least tacitly approve it.”
On his radio show, Dan Patrick took it a step beyond. “Well, ESPN helped glamorize this [court-storming]. Because when it’s Championship Week and Leigh beats Bucknell and the students rush the floor it’s like ‘That’s awesome. Hey let’s lead ‘SportsCenter’ with that,’” Patrick said.
Would blacking out these celebrations prevent them? Would fans still risk being trampled if they weren’t being trampled on TV? Or are these celebrations more about acquiring five seconds of fame than celebrating victory?
Other TV outlets, covering MLB and the NFL, don’t give fans who run on the field any face time. Their broadcasters will often do a radio-like call of the extracurricular “action.”
Yet there’s too much at stake for the college basketball cameras to go dark on celebrations. Especially in a busine$$ where One Shining Moment can include a dangerous mob scene.
A FOUL FINISH
The chaos in their voices cut through the crowd noise.
For Alex Faust and Monica McNutt, on Knicks radio Monday night, the sounds reflected what was going down between the Knicks and Pistons in the final seconds at the Garden.
Unfortunately, the voices were overwhelmed by the frantic finish. Neither voice really zoned in on a foul that should’ve been called on Donte DiVincenzo near the end of the Knicks’ controversial 113-111 win.
Faust’s call, with McNutt interjecting, would’ve sufficed if they were on the TV side. But on radio, more description of the craziness and the DiVincenzo non-call was needed.
As time ran out, McNutt did ask two appropriate questions: “What just happened here? What just happened here?”
We were wondering the same thing.
MURPHY’S A HIT
Daniel Murphy’s low-key broadcasting approach may require some added volume, but his two-day trial in the SNY booth established what his niche could be behind a microphone.
Murphy, working last Wednesday and Thursday, gravitated toward detailed hitting analysis. On Thursday, answering questions from Gary Cohen, Murphy got very precise when describing his hitting approach while hyper-analyzing what other batters were doing.
He also displayed a subtle sense of humor. Murphy showed potential. The SNY crew should bring him back for a spring training encore.
HARD CONVERSATION
The drumbeat of dysfunction, perceived or otherwise, continues for the Jets.
This time it was former Gang Green wideout (and Super Bowl Touchdown Maker) Mecole Hardman providing the juice, albeit squeezed from sour grapes.
He also provided further evidence how Valley of the Stupid Gasbags are willing to simply use quotes from a podcast, where guys like Hardman sound off, and present them as fact.
Apparently, it didn’t matter that Hardman’s critique of the Jets culture and offensive coaching staff was self-serving. It gave the talkies something to bloviate about to fill four-plus hours of stale air.
AROUND THE DIAL
While it’s hard to agree with his take on the Wake fans court-storming, Chris Canty, on ESPN, had a unique angle. Canty actually took the “victim” Duke’s Kyle Filipowski to task. “He has to have more awareness of the situation and have urgency about getting the hell off the court,” Canty said. Filipowski was nearly knocked to the floor during the melee and had to be helped off the court. … In their debut last Saturday night (Celtics-Knicks), ABC/ESPN’s new No. 1 NBA broadcast team, Doris Burke, JJ Redick, Mike Breen, showed it might take some time for them to click. They provided viewers with a rough ride (as they verbally bumped into each other). The potholes will eventually be filled after they get more chances to work together. … One thing we will miss after Peter King leaves (the veteran NFL multi-media scribe announced his retirement last week) the world of football are his weekly Tuesday spots on SXM with Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo. King and Russo laughed, sometimes argued, but they always provided appointment radio. As he saluted the reporter last week, Doggie revealed that King, who started doing the one-on-one sessions with Russo in 2008, did not get paid for his SXM appearances. What a bargain! … King also appeared frequently on WFAN’s “Mike and the Mad Dog” show throughout the 1990s. … The Jets have ended their long association with ESPN NY radio and are moving to iHeart Media’s Q104.3. The multi-year deal kicks in this coming season. Veteran Jets voices Bob Wischusen and Marty Lyons are expected to continue as the radio broadcast team. The end of ESPN-98.7-Jets relationship means Robert Saleh’s weekly interview, during the season, on “The Michael Kay Show” are over. Considering the pressure Saleh will be under this season, the Jets coach won’t be crying over losing what was an added media responsibility. … Amazon Prime Video will exclusively stream 21 Yankees Wednesday night games beginning April 10 when the Bombers play Miami at the Stadium.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: DEMAR DEROZAN
For his new digital series “Dinners with DeMar,” which focusses on mental health issues. The groundbreaking work, available on DeRozan’s YouTube channel, attempts to bust barriers that have existed for years in professional sports. The Bulls star recently introduced the series at his alma mater, the University of Southern California.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: JAY WILLIAMS
If the ESPN basketball analyst was looking to ignite controversy he succeeded. Yet knocking Caitlin Clark because she hasn’t won a championship is shaky, at best. If Williams has a problem with those who give Clark GOAT status, he should also include ESPN. The network is constantly reminding viewers of the Iowa star’s greatness, right?
DOUBLE TALK
What Josh Hart said: “We’re playing our asses off.”
What Josh Hart meant to say: “We need to get healthy.”
