I feel like Martin Sheen’s bewildered character in “Wall Street” as he listened to Gordon Gecko’s plan to take over the company at which Sheen worked for decades.
He said, “I guess if a man lives long enough, he’s bound to see everything.”
Case in point: the Portland Trail Blazers’ impulsive modification in their media policy.
Stung by what they consider unfair media coverage and a desire to augment the team’s Web site, the Blazers will insist that all interviews will run through the team’s media relations department. In all honesty, that isn’t completely out of line. Most university athletic departments have a similar policy and it’s workable.
But the Blazers take it one step further. They will require that all interviews with team executives and players will be recorded and a transcript or audio file of the interview will be posted on the Blazers’ Web site.
OK, fine. Most reporters tape interviews for accuracy. And if team honchos want the media to program their Web site material for them, we can accept that – albeit grudgingly and not without considerable public ridicule.
Which, of course, the Blazers won’t like at all.
This is the killer, though: In some cases, they will ask reporters to submit a written list of questions before being granted an interview.
To which we say: See ya.
The Blazers are taking the first step in disseminating their own news and interfering with the public’s need to know. It seems a short step until the Trailblazers extend it to a policy that calls for retaliation against a news body that dares write a negative story.
The only reason Tyrone Willingham hasn’t done the same thing with Washington football is that he hasn’t yet thought of it.
How long will it be until other teams adopt a similar policy and allow only questions such as: 1) Zach, if you were a flower, what flower would you be?; 2) Crazy weather we’re having, eh, Nate?; 3) Basketball shorts can’t get any longer, can they, Bob?
The Blazers are simply reacting to what used to be almost daily stories of player misconduct, which ultimately took a toll on its formerly wildly passionate fan base.
Over the years, we’ve seen Qyntel Woods, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire and Zach Randolph connected with drug use. We’ve seen Bonzi Wells fined for making obscene gestures at Philadelphia 76ers fans and suspended for cursing out coach Nate McMillan. We’ve seen Ruben Patterson in hot water for a domestic-abuse call, although his wife later refused to prosecute.
Jailblazers, indeed.
Management shipped out most of the societal offenders. Now they’re trying to rid themselves of everything distasteful by limiting media access. In reality, all they’re doing is further deteriorating their relationship with the press. It was bad before this. It’ll get worse now and ultimately backfire on them.
It’s nothing illegal. But it’s unconscionably dense.
Questions: If the Blazers want to control the news output, how far are they willing to go? Will they be open enough to permit reports on the team’s impending sale? How will they allow the media cover the upcoming draft?
It wasn’t the media’s fault that the team couldn’t keep their players out of jail. The press didn’t sponsor Woods’ pit bull that he used for dog fighting.
The Trailblazers are taking the low road in hopes to improve their public relations – a step, they hope, toward getting back their fans and again filling up the Rose Garden.
Instead, they’re making an even bigger mess that may well result in the once-storied franchise moving out of Portland.
That is, if another city is willing to put up with them.
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