Welcome to a weekly grab bag of thoughts and observations from the past few days in the world of Miami Heat basketball and the NBA.
Beating a Brian Windhorst
By now, you’ve seen this charming post by ESPN’s Brain Windhorst that tries to cut down Pat Riley.
Hopefully, you read our very own David Ramil’s counter post, as well as Chris Posada’s explanation on loyalty.
Both of those guys do a fantastic job in pointing out the holes in Windhorst’s swiss cheese of a story. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and here are my two cents.
Windhorst, apparently, is allowed to write columns for ESPN. A column is a writer’s opinion and, while they are created to be polarizing, I won’t attack a writer because of a differing sentiment.
However, when your primary job is to be a reporter for the World Wide Leader, I, and many others, are expecting a certain standard.
That standard is thorough reporting. That’s it. Don’t spin or bend the quote-unquote facts to make a point. Even us measly bloggers won’t go to such a length and, if you’re someone like Windhorst who has ridden the coattails of LeBron to a dream job, I wouldn’t tempt fate.
Let’s take a look at another ESPN employee who was recently suspended for accusing a major sports figure on a foundation-less platform. The company delivered the following statement when it suspended Bill Simmons for his comments about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"“Every employee must be accountable to ESPN and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN’s journalistic standards,” ESPN said in a statement. “We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria.”"
Simmons’ “tirade” on Goodell came on a podcast as fringe commentary. Throw away comments. Windhorst’s post was directly aimed at critiquing Riley behind a flimsy battering ram of an fact-buffet style post laced with hyperbole. The only thing he didn’t do was call him a “liar” or another kind of label. But where, ESPN, are those “journalistic standards?”
And, you know what, Windhorst? There is something about Riley you’re still not getting. He isn’t allegedly upset with LeBron because of a business decision. He’s upset with how it happened. How LeBron dangled his position and allowed the Heat to go nearly an entire off-season without knowing his intentions. That, even after LeBron turned his letter into Sports Illustrated stating that he would sign in Cleveland, Riley and Co. were still operating as if LeBron would still be in Miami.
When Riley made his moves, however controversial, he was deliberate. When he decided to go, he went. He didn’t leave people waiting on a high five that would never happen.
Birdzilla on Instagram
How have we gone so long with a Chris Andersen Instagram account?
This is appointment viewing, people. Get Birdzilla.ro on your feed.
That first picture showing his “Give Me War” Tattoo? Holy crap! Is that not the most insane thing ever?! Bird is one scary dude.
While his teammates are posting pics of their latest fashion decisions or riding large animals in India, Bird is posting selfies of his grill, tats and friends. Just like us.
Dwyane Wade is Thinking About Life After the NBA
Wade has a player option this off-season and has not decided whether or not he’ll use it. In a CBS Miami story, Wade talked about his thinking this off-season.
"“I signed my deal the way I did for a reason … and the organization did it for a reason,” Wade said. “It’s my option. I’ll decide when the time is right. Everyone knows I always try to do what’s best for the organization, but I also have to do what’s best for Dwyane Wade as well.”"
Wade goes on to talk about his business ventures–in fashion, with Tie Bar and more–and admits he’s thinking about his retirement. At 33, retirement isn’t around the corner, but it’s on the horizon.
Whiteside’s Off-Season Program
If you take anything away from the round of exit interviews, take away that the Heat are rightfully concerned with Whiteside’s activities this off-season and, through a slyly titled “specific player-development program,” are intent on keeping him around the team as much as possible.
Sure, the Heat will take time to work on Whiteside’s skills as he continues to develop and coaches continue to learn how tall his ceiling is, but they wouldn’t develop the program if they didn’t think he could do it himself.
By keeping him around the organization, the Heat can keep those concerns over his work ethic and motivation in check. It’s smart, and something Whiteside will benefit from.