Michele Roberts: Media "just standing there, staring at players"

[StocktonShorts]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... cker-room/

She sure seems to be picking a lot of unnecessary fights. I can't figure out if she has some cohesive long-term strategy or if she's just reckless.

Having said that, I really like Dan Feldman's take on the issue. He concludes by saying this:

I believe the solution is allowing athletes to shower and dress in private and then entering a room designed for interviews.

[Slava]

She comes across as a miserable person. Between this lady and CP3, the owners have a fight on their hands next time there is a negotiation.

[irie]

You know, I do kind of find the media storming the locker room right after the game to be pretty obnoxious. They just got off the court a few minutes ago. I'd be fine if the NBAPA told told the media they have to wait outside the locker room and can have their availability as players are exiting the locker room.

Although in general I find sports media to be on the whole terrible, so I'm pretty biased.

[DaddyCool19]

What happens to a player who is unconformtable at talking with press guys and flat out ignores them in the locker room? Would Silver fine him for that?

And why are they sometimes interviewing players who have their towels around them and aren't even fully dressed? Can't they just wait 10 minutes longer?

[ceremony816]

What happens to a player who is unconformtable at talking with press guys and flat out ignores them in the locker room? Would Silver fine him for that?

And why are they sometimes interviewing players who have their towels around them and aren't even fully dressed? Can't they just wait 10 minutes longer?

Hasn't Westbrook pulled a few Marshon Lynch type interviews? I don't think he's been fined before.

[StocktonShorts]

And why are they sometimes interviewing players who have their towels around them and aren't even fully dressed? Can't they just wait 10 minutes longer?

That's why Roberts' complaint doesn't make a lot of sense. The reporters spend a bunch of time waiting around for players to dress. They're not there to gawk at the players. They're waiting for them to be dressed and ready to speak.

[laploutocratie]

A person that can't get over trivial details and can't look at the big picture isn't the best negotiator to have, IMO.

[StocktonShorts]

A person that can't get over trivial details and can't look at the big picture isn't the best negotiator to have, IMO.

Is it possible she is conjuring bargaining chips out of thin air by raising all of these "trivial details?"

[TKainZero]

The women that will cause the next NBA lockout

[Blanky53]

The women that will cause the next NBA lockout

A union boss cannot start a lockout. Only owners can.

If a union causes a work stoppage, then it is called a strike.

[MitchellUK]

Seems from this thread that I might be in the minority, but I agree with her. I think it's bizarre that the media access is done while players are showering and changing. Even more so given that the journos just stand awkwardly by while the players are dressing, waiting for them to be ready to talk. Just have a separate room for post-game interviews.

[Naija Boy]

Seems from this thread that I might be in the minority, but I agree with her. I think it's bizarre that the media access is done while players are showering and changing. Even more so given that the journos just stand awkwardly by while the players are dressing, waiting for them to be ready to talk. Just have a separate room for post-game interviews.

Most of RealGM was on the side of the owners during the last lockout, so I'm not surprised by the reactions of people in this thread.

Gotta make sure those players shut up, keep working like horses and the owners keep the whips-a-crackin.

Pathetic that people still have this slave-driver mentality in 2015.

[Blanky53]

This is the kind of stuff union bosses are supposed to do on behalf of the players they represent. If employees have a problem with the conditions of their workplace (in this case the locker room), then it is the job of the union to represent those interests on their behalf and fight management until they get what the employees want.

Also, I think part of why she is constantly coming up in the news with all of these "small complaints" and not focusing on the bigger issues is that these are topics that quickly put management on the defensive. Instead of spending their time putting their message out there, they have to spend time responding to the NBPA. Michelle Roberts, at least as I see, it working extra hard to control the narrative that will surround the lockout. Controlling the narrative is very important when you come to the bargaining table.

Billy Hunter failed miserably on this count in the last lockout. Say what you will about Roberts, but she is certainly causing a lot more discussion than Hunter ever did.

[irie]

A person that can't get over trivial details and can't look at the big picture isn't the best negotiator to have, IMO.

Is it possible she is conjuring bargaining chips out of thin air by raising all of these "trivial details?"

That is likely what she is trying to do, given her position. I'm not sure how it helps the PA though. I guess she's just nitpicking on an issue that players have complained about at least privately, and probably to the union. I can't imagine players like having the media in the locker room while they're changing / showering / whatever.

[PaulieWal]

I can't imagine players like having the media in the locker room while they're changing / showering / whatever.

That's my takeaway as well from this. She's probably speaking about this at the behest of the players.

[Blanky53]

Seems from this thread that I might be in the minority, but I agree with her. I think it's bizarre that the media access is done while players are showering and changing. Even more so given that the journos just stand awkwardly by while the players are dressing, waiting for them to be ready to talk. Just have a separate room for post-game interviews.

Most of RealGM was on the side of the owners during the last lockout, so I'm not surprised by the reactions of people in this thread.

Gotta make sure those players shut up, keep working like horses and the owners keep the whips-a-crackin.

Pathetic that people still have this slave-driver mentality in 2015.

I don't know how people side with management in the NBA. These owners are billionaires and they still extract HUGE tax breaks and uproot entire neighborhoods using eminent domain, just to get their stadium built. And the fruits of building the new stadium rarely, if ever, show up!

Personally, I'm of the belief that if you can't build your own stadium without using tax payer's money then you shouldn't be allowed to own a team in the first place.

[Slava]

I can't imagine players like having the media in the locker room while they're changing / showering / whatever.

That's my takeaway as well from this. She's probably speaking about this at the behest of the players.

Not sure if this thread is more about when the media should let in rather the tone the NBPA rep is assuming in her choice of words:

If you don’t have a f—ing question, leave

I mean that's completely unprofessional for someone who needs the media to leak out stories when it comes time for negotiating a new CBA.

[gustofwind]

I agree with those who believe Roberts has been unnecessarily antagonistic. I don't think alienating people is an effective strategy in life. However, I know there are people like this confrontational approach.

At the same time, I also agree with her (and the author of the article) that locker room should not be public space. Players should have a right to privacy.

[PaulieWal]

I can't imagine players like having the media in the locker room while they're changing / showering / whatever.

That's my takeaway as well from this. She's probably speaking about this at the behest of the players.

Not sure if this thread is more about when the media should let in rather the tone the NBPA rep is assuming in her choice of words:

If you don’t have a f—ing question, leave

I mean that's completely unprofessional for someone who needs the media to leak out stories when it comes time for negotiating a new CBA.

Oh yeah, I agree. She's been combative as hell already and I can tell she will fight the owners for more money. In some ways I think she's overcompensating for the way Fisher and Hunter before her operated. Weren't there articles saying how the players felt that Fisher and Hunter didn't look after them?

[Nolan]

This is the kind of stuff union bosses are supposed to do on behalf of the players they represent. If employees have a problem with the conditions of their workplace (in this case the locker room), then it is the job of the union to represent those interests on their behalf and fight management until they get what the employees want.

Also, I think part of why she is constantly coming up in the news with all of these "small complaints" and not focusing on the bigger issues is that these are topics that quickly put management on the defensive. Instead of spending their time putting their message out there, they have to spend time responding to the NBPA. Michelle Roberts, at least as I see, it working extra hard to control the narrative that will surround the lockout. Controlling the narrative is very important when you come to the bargaining table.

Billy Hunter failed miserably on this count in the last lockout. Say what you will about Roberts, but she is certainly causing a lot more discussion than Hunter ever did.

^
This. Plus she's got a pretty valid point.