2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[Doctor MJ]

For all this talk about new media, Draymond has quickly turned into old media - saying outlandish things to try to get eyeballs to the point of even dissing the guy most responsible for his success.

To me that IS new media.

Old media was guys like The Sports Reporters, where you had a bunch intelligent, established journalists putting thought into every word they say because it would do massive damage to their reputation if they just made something up for attention and it turned out to be ridiculous.

I get that people want to make a distinction between a player's podcast and stuff like radio & TV, but to me the shift in approach really came as ESPN embraced the same stuff the 24 hour news networks embraced, and it had the same effect: Toxic polarization and superficial understandings.

I'd say PTI was a big turning point. It debuted in 2001 and while it had serious journalists they were clearly in shoot the **** mode. It was fun tv and I loved it when it came out.

But the carbon copies which progressively got worse monopolized tv. I'm much more ambivilant on the show given the people it has led too.

I think it started on TV with CNN's Crossfire in 1982, but yeah, I think PTI was massively influential taking the concept into sports TV.

I personally thought PTI was fantastic, but it was clearly a gateway drug that led to ESPN letting itself be defined by Stephen A. Smith at a time where there are many great teachers of basketball available on the internet, some of them on their own staff, and a YouTube channel like Thinking Basketball spawned out of the public internet exists.

As someone who basically worshipped at the alter of ESPN as a kid (it was THE reason I wanted my parents to get cable!), it's sad what they've decided to focus on.

[sp6r=underrated]

To me that IS new media.

Old media was guys like The Sports Reporters, where you had a bunch intelligent, established journalists putting thought into every word they say because it would do massive damage to their reputation if they just made something up for attention and it turned out to be ridiculous.

I get that people want to make a distinction between a player's podcast and stuff like radio & TV, but to me the shift in approach really came as ESPN embraced the same stuff the 24 hour news networks embraced, and it had the same effect: Toxic polarization and superficial understandings.

I'd say PTI was a big turning point. It debuted in 2001 and while it had serious journalists they were clearly in shoot the **** mode. It was fun tv and I loved it when it came out.

But the carbon copies which progressively got worse monopolized tv. I'm much more ambivilant on the show given the people it has led too.

I think it started on TV with CNN's Crossfire in 1982, but yeah, I think PTI was massively influential taking the concept into sports TV.

I personally thought PTI was fantastic, but it was clearly a gateway drug that led to ESPN letting itself be defined by Stephen A. Smith at a time where there are many great teachers of basketball available on the internet, some of them on their own staff, and a YouTube channel like Thinking Basketball spawned out of the public internet exists.

As someone who basically worshipped at the alter of ESPN as a kid (it was THE reason I wanted my parents to get cable!), it's sad what they've decided to focus on.

I don't know if you read the poster Sedalle Threatt on this board, named after one of my favorite random NBA players. Anyway he has a funny story. He works in journalism and a colleague was on a program with Stephen A Smith when Smith was still working his way up.

Smith asked him we're discussing topic A, B and C what is your stance. Guy told him Smith said that's fine I'll argue the other way

[Clyde Frazier]

Locking thread. I'm glad these have been such a success! A lot of great discussion over the last few years. New season thread here:

viewtopic.php?t=2208049