Slight Wind of Change

Well, it's gameday, and we are just three days past what the ESPN analysts thought was a "disgusting" disaster--a Dallas win over Miami. But what's that I am feeling? A breeze? This morning's ESPN broadcast included a segment on SportsCenter along with an NBA show (I am drawing a blank on the show's name) with John Saunders, Greg Anthony, and Tim Legler. The segment on SC had Stu Scott replacing Saunders, and added the darling Stephen A. Smith, lover of all things Shaq (was Kobe referring to Smith when he pondered a possible lack of affection as a child?).

Greg's Not Drinking the Kool-Aid...

This morning's assortment included a much more aggressive Greg Anthony trying to get his point across that Dallas is, quite simply, a much better team with more depth, speed, scoring, and defense. Legler continued to offer opinions that made it clear that he is trying to work out in his mind a rationale that would comfort him that Miami can win. Saunders was professional as usual. On SC, Anthony's work is much more cut out for him as he has to face a veritable Shaq fan club in Scott, Legler, and Smith. However, one has to wonder if some network execs mentioned to Smith and the others that they need to tone down the Miami love fest, as Dallas just happens to be, oh, a MAJOR tv market, and openly admitting your bias against their team doesn't make for a happy tv audience, little fella. Nonetheless, Smith was still visibly angry (yeah, I know, isn't he always--that's his gimmick) when he nearly vomited up the opinion that if Miami loses game 2, they probably can't win the series.

Is Miami The Only Team in the Finals?

Which is another interesting point. If you watch carefully, you will note that all of these analysts, with the exception of Anthony, consistently focus on whether "Miami can win" or "Miami will lose" the series, NEVER whether "Dallas will win," or "Dallas will lose." Has anyone read the book Bias, by Bernard Goldberg? He notes that constantly focusing on how an issue affects only one side is a clear, albeit subtle, media bias. In my previous post I noted that in both the Phoenix and San Antonio series, the announcers constantly referenced the score as it related to only Phoenix or San Antonio, almost never Dallas. That is bias. Now, when all we hear are stories about what Miami is doing, or what they will do, or need to do, that is also a very clear cut bias.

But honestly, you don't have to pick it apart like I do. Just watch and see Stephen A. Smith rage like a retarded rhino over how "Miami has no choice, but 'dey mus' git' da ball in to Shaq, peeriut...Das' what I'm tawkin' 'bout," and you will end up getting hit with bias shrapnel. In other words, you don't have to look as hard as I do.

Tonight will be interesting. Let's listen carefully to which team the announcers focus on at every stoppage of play, and listen to their energy when Miami makes a big play versus when Dallas does.

More later.