Whoa, that whole LeBron James whispering to the Lakers thing was crazy.
This blogging stuff is all brand new for all of us. And it’s changing every day as more and more websites and blogs come online giving more and more people power and voice, not just to write but to interpret things.
I spend months and months writing a book while I teach about 100 media writing students per semester. That doesn’t allow much time for blogging until my book is finished. Then I wade back into blogging and reporting, which is highly experimental these days.
We bloggers are on the edge of the world, the tip of the wave of thousands of years of human history.
The world of sports blogging is a rapidly changing and evolving thing. But it’s great fun to be a part of that.
My crazy work schedule leads to a strange pace here at lakernoise.com. I’m away intensely working on a book for months at time. Then I’m back. Lakernoise contributor and good friend Jorge Ribeiro has been able to help out by posting. And I look forward to his doing more, as well as more from any readers, regular or otherwise, who want to have their say.
Then there’s the online community. I can always count on certain sites, LA Times Lakers blog, FB&G, now Kurt Helin over at NBC’s pro basketball talk and the always reliable K brothers and Henry at Truehoop for an intelligent discussion of things. They and the many posters and readers are the heart of all the Lakers and pro hoops sites. They don’t always agree with what I write, but they take the time to read it and offer honest opinions.
Frankly, I love that sense of community and so do most of you.
And many of you have had opinions about my recent posting about LeBron James and the Lakers inner conflict on hoopshype.com. Frankly, it pissed off a lot of folks. Thanks, by the way, to those who took the time to defend me.
It was a gnarly story to write. There were two elements to the story: 1) LeBron’s quiet approach to the Lakers’ facilitators, 2) a more in-depth view of the conflict in Lakers ownership, management and coaching. I could have written about Jeanie and Phil and Jerry and Jim Buss at the top of the piece, but if I had put LeBron second I would have buried the lead. The big news is LeBron’s overture, and even if I had hidden that news down in my story, that’s what all the crazy websites of the sports world would have hyped.
Yet it’s all a subset of Phil Jackson. LeBron is a 25-year-old looking around at the major options in his life. Isn’t exactly thrilled with certain things about the Knicks and other options. Is a bit weary of Cleveland/Ohio where he’s lived all his life. He’s like Lloyd Dobler, really trying to figure out what he wants in life. Loves LA. The Lakers are cool, Phil is cool. Will Phil be available? That’s the option that LeBron finds very intriguing. He’s the most powerful person in the NBA besides David Stern and a few owners. He has the power of youth and talent.
In his world, the world of media and money and power, you very discreetly explore what you want.
But it’s upsetting to a lot of people that he would do that, and that I would report it.
The whole experience reminds me yet again how deeply people invest their emotions in their sports teams. Fans are insane about their teams. And that’s how it should be.
As for the intrigue of the Lakers, it’s a story that some want to know about. Others don’t.
In writing sports history, I am reminded every day that people, athletes and coaches and their agents, usually wait years to tell what really happened during a season.
My goal is not just to try to get the truth out about yesteryear. I also try to provide as much information as I can about what’s going on behind the scenes right now. It’s not always easy to get at that information, but I think it’s important to try.
I think fans have a right to know.
I also understand that such information can be jarring to fans and their teams.
But I like to emphasize what a lot of owners and commissioners and agents and certain fat cat players and coaches all too easily forget — it’s the fans who pay the bills, the fans who truly own the teams and the leagues.
And it’s the fans who have a right to know.
So I’ll continue to report stories and blogs just as I presented the LeBron James overture story.
If you like it or don’t like it, I trust you’ll let me know about it either way.
Peace,
RL
Roland Lazenby is the author of Jerry West, The Life And Legend Of A Basketball Icon, just released by ESPN Books.
9 Comments
Roland,
Anything that involves Kobe and LeBron, especially the subject of LeBron on the Lakers is going to draw a large share of people who can’t understand that there’s actually a dirty business aspect to pro sports.
I fully believe you when you say these overtures are made. I don’t understand why others can’t take it for what it’s worth. Or even understand the real point of the article.
I do feel that Phil has a lot to gain with info like this leaking. I’m guessing that you may have read what I wrote about it, judging from your comment on Lakersnation’s facebook page. That said, I didn’t mean any disrespect in calling you “the puppet” in the situation. It was just the fitting word. Not sure if you took as a slight (if you read it). Just wanted to clear that up.
wondahbap
Your reputation as a credible author remains untarnished, and your perspective continues to illuminate.
Gil,
Thank you.
Wonda,
No problem whatsoever. Debate is what it’s all about.
Thanks to both.
RL
When you put it like that, Ron, it’s hard to not appreciate your perspective. Just wish you didn’t put this stuff out there when you have a new book coming out, because it LOOKS like you’re trying to create drama to get your name out there.
Serious, Lazenby your 3 days of fame are over. It’s amazing how much buzz a hack writer looking for publicity can generate when he makes a sensational statement who’s only claim of proof is “unnmaed sources”. I have unnamed sources that say making general statements like “Lebron was reached out to” doesn’t a story make! This is the same type of yellow journalism like we say from the LA Times writer in regard to the NBA blocking the Z trade recently. There were “unnamed sources” quoted there as well. All you have done is outer yourself as another writer starving for attention in hopes of selling more books. Congrats, you have shown us how shallow “journalism” has remainder since the days of Hearst…
You may well be right. At least I’m not a coward. I sign all of my writings with my name.
And I have gotten a laugh out of an unnamed blogger blasting me for anonymous sources.
OH Roland Lazenby, you truly are a King of Trolls with your supposed “journalism” yet engaging in FlameWars with Internet Critics. Your cred goes down by the millisecond. You rag on people for not signing their name when the only reason you sign your is so people know who’s book to look for at the store. You seem to be a reactionary LA fan in guise of an author and jealous/hateful of the Cleve. Cavaliers. Yes it is true, Roland Lazenby is just like that LA Times writer inventing hate simply because he is caught up in the “Lakers Superiority Complex”. Well Roland, LA choked for 7 years after Kobe’s whining dumped Shaq, now they win a Title and act as if this current Lakers Squad has been winning for the entire decade. Kobe is the only holdover left for the Shaq years- and it took him 8 years to Win. LA cant support Lebrons Cap space. Please stop writing fantasy in order to generate publicity for yourself. We all intend to forget your name as quickly as we first learned it 4 days ago.
Hey – quality write-up. So I have finally come to terms with the whole incredulous Lebron James “Decision” situation. What a moron! First, he fakes his elbow injury and blows off the playoffs so that nobody is surprised when he’s done. Next, these clowns make a total media circus out of it all so that everyone in the country is totally sick of it. After that, this moron gets on TV in front of the entire country to stab his hometown fans backs for an hour, all while ticking off all other big cities except Miami, just to play on someone else’s team! Talk about stupid marketing! Anyway… nice site – I’m subscribed to your RSS feed now so thanks again!