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David Locke gets good interviews, but I always feel like I'm listening to an interview done by a 16 year old.

It really illustrates the difference between national level talent and local. Jim Nance is one example. I can't imagine Nance making some of the silly comments Locke does during interviews.

At least Locke is a high energy guy that produces a lot of material, even in the off season. Props to him for that.

Jim Nantz is boring.

Locke's redeeming attributes are his shrill voice and "I'm incredibly smarter than all you fans" attitude.

Neon Black wrote:Locke's redeeming attributes are his shrill voice and "I'm incredibly smarter than all you fans" attitude.

Which he totally is.

A lot better than the boring garbage that the rest of Utah radio/sports media puts out. Locke puts out good stuff. I'd rather listen to a Locke interview or even Tip-Off (even with the stupid intro) than anything radio wise.

by UtahJazzFan88 on Sat Aug 11, 2012 12:43 am
A lot better than the boring garbage that the rest of Utah radio/sports media puts out. Locke puts out good stuff. I'd rather listen to a Locke interview or even Tip-Off (even with the stupid intro) than anything radio wise.

In most ways I agree with you. I like a lot of his work.

It's just unfortunate for both him and us he has to throw in dumb ass stuff like that intro you were referring to or make immature silly comments during interviews. The really unfortunate part is what it costs David himself. I just don't think he can see the downside to some of his silliness. And I don't think he can prevent it.

When he's doing an interview or recording tip-off, his brain goes into auto drive and the crap just seems to work its way into every conversation. So he winds up only partially benefiting from his hard work, good ideas and knowledge.

Considering the gig he has, and the work on his resume, I think it's safe to say either he's excellent at his job, or the people inside of his industry really respect him. My guess is both, you don't get those interviews if people don't like you, and you don't get that job if you aren't better at it than those around you.

I'm willing to bet Locke works as hard at his job as anyone in the industry, he puts out a ton of material.

by Bat on Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:38 pm
Considering the gig he has, and the work on his resume, I think it's safe to say either he's excellent at his job, or the people inside of his industry really respect him. My guess is both, you don't get those interviews if people don't like you, and you don't get that job if you aren't better at it than those around you.

I'm willing to bet Locke works as hard at his job as anyone in the industry, he puts out a ton of material.

Well, that's a lot of my point. I'm just taking what you're saying a step farther. Sometimes less is more, and in this case a little less of wrong humor equals national gig.

Maybe he doesn't have that ambition. Hot Rod stayed here forever and maybe Locke will too. Maybe that's all he wants.

I do like that he isn't ashamed to show he's a Jazz fan, which is more than some of the other radio personalities do.

Neon Black wrote:I do like that he isn't ashamed to show he's a Jazz fan, which is more than some of the other radio personalities do.

Or to mention (often unprompted) that he hates the freakin' Lakers

I like Locke bc he trys to keep Jazz fans engaged throughout the year. He really goes out of his way for the fans. You can also see he really enjoys basketball and tells it the way it is about other teams. But does have rose colored glasses about the Jazz maybe bc he works for them. He banned me from his twitter account bc I criticized Corbin for some of his amazing bad game management. I didnt criticize him but he banned me for talking bad about Corbin. I was right about my comments on Corbin too.

Overall Locke is good for the Jazz and their fans but he does spread Jazz propoganda a little too much without considering the bad things about the Jazz. For instance, it is clear he dislikes Big Al's game a lot but goes out of his way to try and hide his distaste for Big Al's game.

Inigo Montoya wrote:

Neon Black wrote:I do like that he isn't ashamed to show he's a Jazz fan, which is more than some of the other radio personalities do.

Or to mention (often unprompted) that he hates the freakin' Lakers

Yep!

How in the hell does someone in that position write an article about Utah's offseason options, in which he talks about using the amnesty on Raja while completely forgeting the Memo trade exception?

Nice enough guy I suppose, but definately a hack.

Amish Mafioso wrote:How in the hell does someone in that position write an article about Utah's offseason options, in which he talks about using the amnesty on Raja while completely forgeting the Memo trade exception?

Nice enough guy I suppose, but definately a hack.

Wasn't your theory that Locke is a hack because you thought he was trying to hide the TPE from fans because he'd been told by the Jazz that they weren't going to use it, and so in an attempt to hide their frugal ways he would conveniently leave it out of an article he posted on KSL?

And then your theory was completely busted when the Jazz used the TPE to get Mo.

So what exactly about forgetting to mention a TPE makes him a hack again?

David Locke is many things but I wouldn't call him a hack. He puts more into his research on the Jazz than anyone else in this market. He's a flawed writer -- and he readily admits that -- but his analysis is well-thought out.

As I've said before, his ability to be an objective journalist is compromised by his job as team play-by-play guy, but I think he does a decent job despite that.

Locke is embarrassingly childlike in his desire -- no, burning need -- to make people believe he's friends with the players and the guys in the front office. It's pathetic and insufferable. The actual information he's imparting is fine; I agree that he's a solid researcher and loves the game.

The59Sound wrote:Locke is embarrassingly childlike in his desire -- no, burning need -- to make people believe he's friends with the players and the guys in the front office. It's pathetic and insufferable. The actual information he's imparting is fine; I agree that he's a solid researcher and loves the game.

I think you nailed it. It's that point combined with the way he distances himself from fans in an air of superiority - and the fact that a journalist can get away with such horrific writing - that really bothers me.
He's got some great insights more often than not, to be fair, but even then sometimes (albeit rarely) he uses very, very flawed arguments to back himself in certain disagreements.

Has anyone ever actually talked to Locke? At Jazz games or anything or when he made radio appearances? Anybody know what he's actually like?

I feel like he uses stats in a cherry pick manner to confirm his emotional feelings as a fan. Almost all of his research is done to ostensibly validate
an optimistic projection or assumption that is pro Jazz.

by Spottieottie on Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:55 am
I feel like he uses stats in a cherry pick manner to confirm his emotional feelings as a fan. Almost all of his research is done to ostensibly validate
an optimistic projection or assumption that is pro Jazz.

I used a lot of metrics before I retired. Having looked at the numbers Locke has come up with in the past, I didn't see ANY cherry picking.

Often times Kevin Pelton, who is a better stats guy than Locke, uses stats to refute David's thinking. David knows people like me who understand APBRmetrics are watching and checking. Some of the analysis David is doing is complex and is calculated with his spreadsheet programs. From time to time, he may be off in his computations but not enough to change the conclusions that I've seen.

So gushing immature kid, yes. Cherry picking, no.