[Rant Sports] James Harden Needs To Improve His Relationship With Media by*John Raffel

Interesting, didn't know this. Any link to the story?

 

http://www.pacifictakes.com/2012/2/...-ucla-bruins-cal-harvard-palo-alto-recruiting

His dream school was UCLA and Cal State. No basketball player wants to play for an Ivy League school as their first choice, it's not exactly the best conference. Ultimately, he didn't get any D-1 scholarship offers, meaning they didn't want him as their PG since it's no thing for a D-1 school to offer a athletic scholarship. He ended up playing for Harvard instead, pretty sure they don't give athletic scholarships, but they were the only school who actually wanted him and seriously recruited him. He preferred going to Stanford over Harvard too, but they reneged on a scholarship offer, and he took offense to that and didn't want to play for them.

 

as long as hes dropping points and helping us win, why the fuuk would u care how his media relations are? stupid thread

 

It's funny how there are so many Universities in the US. But Harvard keeps on ending up with the biggest winners. So many schools whiffed on Lin, and somehow the people at Harvard were 1 of 2 Universities that saw something in him.

The world's richest men, the world's biggest philanthropists, some of the most important policy makers in the world, famous scientists, renown doctors, the biggest names in business and entertainment. Harvard sure has a way of finding the great ones.

 

Personally, I had issue with this as well.

However, that was the first time that Lin had ducked the media and there was also conjecture that he was being instructed to duck the media.

I know that sounds strange, but if you were a fan of the Knicks and were familiar with James Dolan and his track record when it comes to being up front with player injury status, you would understand why that became a possible explanation.

Dolan has a track record of putting gag orders on the team and restricting the flow of information. And given that Lin had addressed the media freely and completely prior to that day and on much tougher days, it was very strange that he was suddenly playing hide and seek with the media that day (which coincidentally was lining up with the impending season ticket holder sales deadline).

You would have had to have been there... it really was a different situation.

Still, if Lin was the one calling the shots, he should have spoken to the media. Unfortunately, there were serious questions as to whether the gag order was Lin's decision or that of the higher ups in the Knicks FO.

 

thread SUX, on to the next 1

 

Don't like that one? Ok, here's another for you.

Neither Duncan nor Parker were made available after Monday’s practice.
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/12/03/nba-spurs-decline-comment-on-halloween-photo/

A big deal was made about a silly picture from a party and Duncan and Parker didn't want to deal with it so they didn't talk to the media. No big deal.

BTW here's the NBA's rules on player's media availablility on practice days:

1) Practice: All off-day practices must be open to the Media for the final 30 minutes. Immediately upon the conclusion of practice all players are to remain on the floor or in the locker room for a minimum of 15 minutes up to a maximum of 30 minutes for Media interviews. If Media interviews are held on the court, the Media must be given access to the entire court area during the interview period. If Media interview are in the locker room, Media must have access to the primary locker room area for the interview session. Each team PR Director is responsible for determining the length of each interview session depending upon Media needs. Coaches may leave the interview area for the first 5-10 minutes, but must make themselves available no later than the 10-minute mark.

I don't disagree that Duncan is a "true champion" but not talking to reporters has nothing to do with it. It's really not that big of a thing and it happens all of the time and the NBA rarely fines anyone for it. Check out the quote that I posted about Shaq, he hadn't talked to the press for a month.

The NBA has their rules and if you break them then they can fine you...that's the way it works. So if a player doesn't talk to the press then they can be fined,fair enough. If Harden or any other player is fined for not talking to the press then they'll pay the fine, that is their choice.

Back in Jordan's rookie year the league had a rule that all of a team's players had to wear shoes with a uniform color scheme. Jordan's original Air Jordans violated that rule and the league fined Jordan $5,000 per game that he wore the shoes. Jordan wore the shoes every game and Nike paid the fines. It didn't make Jordan any less of a star or leader or any less classy.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/27892/why-michael-jordans-fancy-new-sneakers-cost-5000-game

Another Jordan example is when he made his comeback from retirement in '95. Jordan was wearing #45 that season rather than his usual #23. In game 2 of the playoffs against Orlando Jordan switched back to #23 which violated league rules. The Bulls were fined $25,000 for allowing Jordan to switch numbers without getting league approval. They paid the fine and he kept on wearing #23.
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/12/s...st-of-jordan-switch-is-25000-and-on-rise.html

If a player is willing to pay the fines associated with breaking an NBA rule on media access or uniforms, then I really don't have a problem with it. It's not that big of a deal.

 

So does this apply to everyone else in professional sports who did not attend that University?

 

You forgot to mention a couple of other notable Harvard graduates...Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Enron's Jeff Skilling.

 

First, I think you are a good poster and don't have a beef with you.

You are however giving Lin the benefit of the doubt that you did not give Harden, alluding to a gag order that there is no evidence existed. It isn't much different than a poster on here saying Harden may have been ill.

Concerning Lin, I don't care if he ducked the media in NY or in the future in Houston from time to time. It does not change my opinion of him as a player, leader or man. The same goes for Harden.

I don't have a single criticism of Lin in how he has handled the media, his personal business. The same goes for Harden. Neither of them are criminals or have serious personal issues off the court and both work hard in practice and want to be good players.

If Harden leaving early 2X out of 65 games is one of the biggest issues we have with him, then he is doing something right.

So, I respect your opinion... Do the Rockets win tonight?

 

What are you talking about?

He missed ONE media session, he has always consistently showed up.

You don't need to make your agenda this obvious.

 

The main question I have is-

Why do you folks (who love one player so much that you hate any other player that is better than your one love) care SO FREAKING MUCH about Harden or McHales relationship with the media????

The only thing that matters is leaving it all out there on the court, and generally not being a complete idiot off the court.

So who seriously gives a SH&$ unless you are just looking for something to rag on the guys about. Knicks and Boston fans can be harsh, but this particular fan base is just annoyingly whiny, and very petty.

 

Harden is the team assassin; assassins avoid the watchful eye of the public and strike from stealth helicopters. That's how Harden likes it. Let Lin be the politician and work the team and the public with words.

 

And my agenda is?

 

A 23 year first time starter shouldering this team and passionate about winning stormed off from a media session after suffering a humiliating loss to a rival.

You use that as evidence that James Harden has character issues, that he is diverting responsibility, that he isn't there for the team and that he is being unfair to his team.

 

Here here!

 

Lol. I write one criticism of Harden and you label me already. Nice. If you actually read my posts in this thread, I wrote I didn't like this one incident but you already have a preconceived opinion of me already. Some of you Harden fans are just as sensitive as some of the Lin fans here.

As a fan of Harden, I would prefer he spoke to the media after a bad loss since he is a leader and superstar on the team. I think that shows maturity and leadership and I hope he does it in the future. It is okay if you disagree with me. Don't worry I'm not going to try and discredit your opinion by claiming you have some kind of agenda. Sometimes people just disagree.

 

Harvard's a great school, but there are many less expensive schools that put out better talent than Harvard. Not to slight anything from Harvard grads, but they are probably the best-networked in the country. It does have it's perks, though. If Harvard really were a cut above everyone else (by a distinguishable margin), they'd horde talent far better than they already do.

 

I'm no more a Harden fan than I am a Lin fan.

But strangely hypocritical of you to bring up sensitivity when you are the one claiming Harden is being unfair to his team and diverting responsibility because he missed a mere media session after a humiliating and disappointing loss.

I have rarely, if ever, seen this become an issue in my tenure on this board. There are more concerning issues for Harden such as his tendency to ball watch or to hold the ball too long before doing anything with it or inconsistent effort on D, but no it's missing one media session that says he is an unfair teammate who avoids responsibility.

It's honestly not a big deal.

 

I'm sensitive because I criticized Harden? I didn't like what he did. I posted as such. I tried to explain why I didn't like it. People replying to me are bringing up Lin. You are telling me I have an agenda. But I'm sensitive. LOL