The mere mention of Michael Jordan agreeing to join NBC Sports’ new NBA talent roster created a quality of buzz the league’s other national TV partners cannot duplicate.
Not only will Jordan’s presence appeal to those who were around for the ride he took NBA fans on, but will also introduce him to those who were not on the scene for the most memorable chapters of his eye-popping, tongue-wagging career.
There is still a mystique surrounding His Airness as he approaches TV. The job description NBC suits have attached to Jordan is the vague one of “Special Contributor.” This likely means Jordan’s appearances will be limited (less is more) and he will have the right to reject an assignment he doesn’t feel comfortable with.
And why not? Many a TV executive tried (and failed) to get Jordan in front of a camera when he retired (for the second time) on Jan. 13, 1999. Instead, he decided to take the team ownership route.
Besides, back then, the suits were not paying Tom Brady or Tony Romo-like TV money. Compared to what Jordan was earning at the time he retired; TV money was chump-change.
Another consideration: When Jordan left the game, he had no valid reasons to criticize players and coaches he once competed with, at least in public. It would serve no motivational purpose to come to the microphone with a chip on his shoulder.
So, what’s changed now? Money is still not an issue for Jordan. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.5 billion. On SiriusXM’s “The Starting Lineup” with Brian Scalabrine and Frank Isola, Scalabrine wondered what “NBC’s initial [financial] offer” to Jordan was?
“Maybe he [Jordan] got the standard sportswriter offer? Five hundred dollars an appearance. And make sure to get your invoice in,” Isola, in standup mode, said on a recent SXM show.
Or maybe Jordan’s marketing team sees NBC’s NBA package as a way of creating increased visibility for Jordan, the kind of exposure that can only help his various business interests, which include co-owning a NASCAR team and an interest in DraftKings.
Yet, once he starts at NBC, Jordan will have to apply his “special contributor” status to a specific assignment.
Will it be game analyst? Highly doubtful. That would mean being immediately thrown into the deep end. A recipe for embarrassment.
What about studio analyst? Not on a full-time basis. Yet Jordan could be used when the subject is something he wants to talk about. Also, working the studio each week could turn into a grind for Jordan.
CNBC reported the possibility of Jordan doing taped segments for pregame or halftime shows.
With NBC looking to reconnect with its own NBA TV past (1990-2002) which Jordan and his Bulls starred in, why not have him sit down for one-on-one’s with other stars, teammates, and rivals, to put those glory days in perspective.
DIDN’T NEED TO LOWER THE BOOM
For reasons known only to him, WFAN’s Norman Julius Esiason decided to make an issue of Dave Sims taking a few days off “only 40 games into his career” as radio voice of the Yankees.
Sims did not work the A’s series (May 9-11) in Sacramento. Instead, he went directly to Seattle (he was the voice of the Mariners for 18 years) to spend a few days visiting with his family.
On his morning-drive show, Esiason professed his “love” for Sims, “But I’m going to call it as I see it.” He then proceeded to question Sims work ethic stopping short of calling him a slacker.
Why? Over him missing three — 1, 2, 3 — early season games.
When we last checked, Esiason is not Sims’ boss. Although we would not argue with anyone who believes Esiason is considered by some, including himself, as the de facto Grand Poobah of the radio station.
“It could be in his [Sims] contract” NJE said on the air. “I just found it very interesting that 40 games in, we’re already taking a weekend off.”
“Interesting?” That Sims might miss his family and wants to see them?
During his Sims soliloquy, Esiason, also, explained how he, when he was the “Monday Night Football” analyst, would fly back to New York after the game to be on time for the Tuesday morning FAN show.
This was a not-so-subtle way of highlighting his own diligence in the middle of his spiel where he was questioning Sims’ dedication to the Yankees radio gig.
And for what? To provide “controversial” content for the “Boomer and Gio Show” at the expense of Sims, a colleague, a professional, who did absolutely nothing to deserve a gratuitous shot from Esiason.
Strange. Very strange.
IT’S NO CONSPIRACY
It’s not surprising when conspiracy theories surround the NBA during playoff time, especially inside The Valley of the Stupid.
A true believer, Joe Benigno dusted off an oldie on his May 10 FAN show. He complained about the Celtics getting “all” the calls. “The NBA wants the Celtics to win,” Benigno proclaimed. Mind you, the Knicks were up 2-0 in the series on this particular Saturday morning.
From a business perspective, Benigno’s belief made no sense. The Knicks represent the biggest media market in the USA which, duh, will maximize Eastern Conference Finals TV ratings. If Adam Silver was concocting conspiracies — which he isn’t — he would want the Knicks to go as far as possible.
Nonetheless, Benigno must still be credited for being one of the few — maybe the only — local Gasbags to lament how many loyal Knicks fans have been “priced out” of the playoff ticket market by the NBA/Knickerbockers’ organization.
KNICK RADIO WOES
Anyone listening to Knicks playoff games on the radio gets a quality broadcast with play-by-play voice Tyler Murray and analyst Monica McNutt at the microphones — that is if you can hear them.
Since the Mets 880-AM contract takes precedence over the Knicks 880-AM pact, the ‘Bockers are bumped over to the weaker 1050-AM (two Solo Cups attached with string) signal when a Mets game conflicts with a Knicks playoff tilt.
Also, during the Knicks games, and other ESPN Radio shows on 1050-AM, the sound totally disappears until it decides to return. We would suggest someone fix this but the Brainiacs running the show either don’t know, or don’t care, that it’s broken.
AROUND THE DIAL
Four can’t miss segments on MSG’s Knicks hour-long playoff postgame shows: 1) Wally Szczerbiak’s opening statement. He gets right to THE key strategy that changed the game. 2) The Tom Thibodeau news conference. Yet, the volume needs to be turned up. 3) Each time the underrated Bill Pidto interrupts Szczerbiak or Alan Hahn. It makes us laugh. Me thinks Pidto, The Disrupter, gets under their skin. … Maybe it’s taking Aaron Rodgers longer to commit to the Steelers because he’s waiting for the organization to promise they won’t appear on “Hard Knocks.” … ”Someone” maintains media outlets worldwide have messed up big-time calling new Pope Leo XIX, the first Pope from the USA. “Someone [think Al Albuquerque]” believes the first American Pope is Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: MIKE GREENBERG
For his “First Take” soliloquy on why the NBA’s lottery system works. And why “incentivizing losing,” aka tanking, is a disgrace. Greenberg called tanking “the worst thing” in sports: “People saying ‘oh, this [the NBA lottery] isn’t working because the worst teams aren’t getting the pick,’ Shutup!” Strong!
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: JANE FORBES CLARK
For further prolonging the process. After Pete Rose and Joe Jackson were taken off the permanently ineligible list, Clark, the chairwoman of the Baseball Hall of Fame, said they, and others, will be considered for induction by the Classic Baseball Era Committee but not until December 2027. Hey, we know Rose and Shoeless Joe have nothing but time on their hands, but haven’t they, and their families, already waited long enough?
DOUBLE TALK
What Aaron Glenn said: “When you get a new regime, that’s the one thing you want to make sure you just get the trust of the players.”
What Aaron Glenn meant to say: “Will they still trust me in December?”
