Spring Cleaning Needed at NBA

In the midst of what should be the NBA’s finest hour, The Finals, allegations have surfaced, albeit from a dubious source, that basically say that the NBA is dirty, and that the fish stinks from the head.

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has stated that the pins were set up as far as the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the L.A. Lakers and Sacramento Kings were concerned. The Kings had a sno-cone’s chance in a microwave oven.

Donaghy has hinted strongly that the league wanted this. It needed a series to go seven games. This series was the only one that went the distance that year. That meant more ticket and television revenue. And, it’s so alleged that Shaquille O’Neal was a bigger TV attraction than the Kings’ Vlade Divac.

Before Game 3 of the Finals in Los Angeles, NBA Commissioner David Stern dismissed Donaghy’s assertions as being from a desparate man trying to get a lesser prison sentence.

If one surfs the Internet, the thinking might be different.

Even before the playoffs, bloggers and journalists both have stated that the league and ABC badly wanted a Celtics-Lakers Final. Well Go-LLeeee, lookie what happened in the playoffs.

In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs sure appeared to get screwed by a horrible non-call at the end of the game that potentially could have tied the game and sent it into overtime.

Allegations like these have surfaced before. I had always dismissed them as being from disgruntled, malcontented fans who didn’t know what the hell they were talking about. Now I wonder.

It’s bad enough that most of the fun we used to have with sports has been taken away from us. Expensive ticket prices, outrageous salaries, drugs, sleazebag behavior, relocation anxieties, and erratic ownerships have taken a heavy psychological toll on fans, causing many to give up on sports as they get older.

One of the few things we seemed to have leftover from the good earlier days was the officiating. It always appeared to be solid and on the up-and-up. Now there are stains on it. Dark, grimy, slimy, dirty stains.

Officiating is supposed to be above reproach. With these allegations, it now appears to be barely above a roach. The fact that these alleagations were even mentioned in the first place has to make fans wonder. Officiating, especially in the NBA, is obviously NOT above reproach.

Ralph Nader himself, who is not a sports fan, questioned the officiating after the 2002 Western Confernce Final, and wanted a federal investigation into the matter. He was scorned and laughed at. I was one of the laughers. I’m not laughing now.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Mr. Nader head an independent committee to investigate these allegations. And to have said committee make recommendations on needed changes and adjustments.

For all of its’ gloss, the NBA is still looking good. But there sure seems to be a peculiar odor coming from it’s direction.

Who Goofed? I’ve Got To Know!

This past Sunday, a game was played in Oakland between the hometown Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The game went long, and was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the 12th inning.

The game was telecast to Southern California on KCOP/13 of Los Angeles.

The A’s loaded the bases in the bottom of the 12th. Chris Bootcheck was pitching for the Angels. The batter was Oakland 2nd baseman Mark Ellis.

Bootcheck goes into his windup and delivers. Ellis swings and hits a walkoff grand slam home run for a 7-3 Athletics’ win. The crowd at McAfee Coliseum goes crazy. The entire A’s bench greets Ellis at home plate. Joy permeates the air in Oakland.

Oh, and one other thing: The viewers in Southern California never see it.

Just before the pitch is thrown, color bars appear on the screen. Then, the screen goes black with the KCOP logo in one corner. Then a commercial runs. Following that, the 1997 movie “Smilla’s Sense of Snow”, starring Julia Ormond, begins running. No game. No announcement. Nothing.

Angels Vice President Tim Mead blames the snafu on miscommunications on the production end. “It was some kind of miscommunication between the parties who oversee the satellite feed.”

Production staff in Oakland took the necessary steps to extend the satellite time window as the game went long, nearly four hours. However, the connection went black at precisely 5 p.m.

The glitch apparently resulted from problems between AT&T and Vyvx, the satellite carrier for Sunday’s game.

Added an obviously angry Mead: “We’re going to get answers.”

I’ll betcha Heidi was never like this.

Jim McKay: Remembered and Appreciated

Millions of words will be written about Jim McKay, and his great abilities, if they haven’t been already.

What will be under-emphasized will be the uncanny ability he had to be able to relate to the average viewer. He didn’t talk up or down to people. He just talked like a friend or relative would. People liked that.

He came across as someone you wish you were related to. Not for material gain, but because he seemed like someone you could go to with a personal problem, for advice, or just to get something off your chest. And he appeared to be the type who would understand, and give you constructive feedback in response.

Since we changed centuries a few years back, icons have been disappearing at a rapid rate. Bob Hope, Bo Diddly, and Johnny Carson are just a few familiar names that we’ve had to say goodbye to recently. Now we must add another. The song “Time Passages” by Al Stewart comes to mind.

Jim McKay is burned permanently into America’s minds, memories, and consciences. His marathon coverage at the tragic Munich Olympics in 1972 will never be forgotten. Happy moments at places like Lake Placid, Los Angeles, and Churchill Downs will rank among sports broadcasting’s finest hours.

It would be apropos if the American Broadcasting Company, the International Olympic Committee, the US Olympic Committee, or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences would find something fitting to name in Jim McKay’s honor. It would be a great way of keeping his memory with us.

Jim McKay showed what sports broadcasts can be, and should be.

And we were lucky to be able to see it.

Celtic Fans, You Are Sooo Denounced!

(Poster’s note: This was written tounge in cheek, and should not be taken seriously.:) If any part angers you, than please, while you’re out getting a life, please acquire a sense of humor while you’re at it. -dg-)

Attention Boston Celtic fans:

I denounce you.

Former Celtic Rick Fox denounces you.

Elgin Baylor denounces you.

Laker season ticket holders denounce you.

Jack Nicholson denounces you.

Penny Marshall denounces you.

Joe McDonnell of KLAC radio denounces you.

Doug Krikorian of the Long Beach Press Telegram denounces you.

World Famous KROQ denounces you.

Dustin Hoffman denounces you.

Ex-girlfriends Donna Dover and Judy Essman denounce you.

Southern California fashion designer Penelope Gregg denounces you.

Raider Nation denounces you.

New York Yankee fans worldwide denounce you.

Doris Day denounces you.

Nature Boy Ric Flair denounces you.

Uh Huh Her lead singer Leisha Hailey denounces you.

The inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison denounce you.

The bottlers of RC Cola denounce you.

The sports book operators in Las Vegas denounce you.

The curator of reptiles at the San Diego Zoo denounces you.

The Los Angeles Police Department denounces you.

The Mayor of Los Angeles denounces you.

The LeBron James Fan Club denounces you.

All the Quakers west of the Mississippi denounce you.

The elevator operator at the Eiffel Tower denounces you.

The employees of AstroBurger at Melrose & Gower in Hollywood denounce you. In Spanish.

The Daughters of the American Revolution denounce you.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir denounces you.

The entire nation of Belize denounces you.

The bats that hang under the Congress St. bridge in Austin, Tx. denounce you.

Stay tuned. Same bat-time. Same bat-blog.

KMPC: Jim Lange

When I was hired at 710/KMPC in August of 1987, one of the first people I got introduced to was afternoon drive personality Jim Lange. He is best-known as the longtime host of “The Dating Game”, among numerous other game shows. He was cordial and very friendly as we shook hands. That’s something that didn’t change in the 3 years I was associated with him.

In addition to game shows and radio, Jim also has an extensive sports background. He was a longtime color commentator with the San Francisco 49ers radio team. He goes back to the time when they played home games at Kezar Stadium, and John Brodie was their quarterback.

He loves golf. I would sometimes go into the KMPC newsroom, a large room with 4 desks and a few teletypes off to the side, and would hear Jim and News Director Bob Steinbrink talking about golf the same way any two guys would be talking about the NBA or football. He attended many PGA events, sometimes participating either as a pro-am or an MC.

He was in Hog Heaven when he got hired as a part-time golf commentator by ESPN. I remember seeing him that day. He was lark-happy. And very deserving.

He was very knowledgeable about sports. He talked with me and other staffers about any sport there was. And with expertise. I would throw obscure baseball trivia at him, and he usually always got it right. And always with a smile because I didn’t get him on a tough question.

He very much had a rascally sense of humor. One time, I walked by a bulletin board in the hallway, and there, thumbtacked to the board, was a picture of former Nicaraguan dictator Manuel Noriega’s mug shot, clipped from a newspaper. Someone had written a caption that read: “Dave Gaytan after using NutriSystem.” I did need to lose a few pounds then, and NutriSystem was a major advertiser on KMPC.

I wasn’t mad. I have a sense of humor, but I wondered who did it, and figured no one would own up to it. A few minutes later, Jim walks out of the control room, sees me, has a bad mood-type of look on his face, and I figure I better not bother him. Suddenly, the look on his face morphs into a big smile and he starts laughing. He ‘fessed up. He had done it. We were both laughing.

In addition to hosting The Dating Game, Jim also worked for Chuck Barris Productions in other projects. One such project was a variety show for the military called “Operation: Entertainment”, which would bring shows for the troops to various stateside military installations. Jim, a former Marine officer, had no problem taking on that assignment.

At the time, Chuck Barris, thanks in large part to The Gong Show, was considered something of a controversial figure. I asked Jim if he liked Chuck Barris, and would he work for him again, and to both he said “Hell, yes!”

I don’t know if Jim would agree with me, but he’s led something of a charmed life. His one and only wife Nancy is a former Miss America. How often do you run into somebody who’s married to a former Miss America?

Jim left Golden West Broadcasters in 1990, after a 31-year affiliation. I couldn’t attend the going-away party, but I did see him in his office as he was cleaning his items out, and I told him I loved working with him, that I thought he was a great guy, and that I hope our paths would cross again somewhere down the road. None of that has changed on my part.

Jim took a radio job in San Francisco after leaving KMPC. I understand that he has now retired. I’m sure he’s getting a lot of golf in.

Hard to believe that later this year, Jim will turn 75. If anyone should stay 40 forever, it’s him. I was lucky to meet him. I was luckier to know him. I wish I had stayed in touch with him.

If anyone was a star at The Station of the Stars, it was definitely Jim Lange.