Commissioner-Bashing Free Zone?

The always engaging Mark Heisler tackles the NBA's crackdown on complaining in this week's L.A. Times NBA column and dropped this juicy little item:

If commentators like Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy slash away boldly, Stern's name never comes up, even on edgy, freewheeling shows like ESPN's "SportsCenter."

Of course, ESPN is a broadcast partner — and I've heard the NBA deal includes language barring any criticism of Stern.

If it doesn't, then it's a curious, universal omission.

(It's also true for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whose name never comes up in the gnashing of teeth over his more frequent and controversial moves.)

Needless to say, I think Tim Finchem should demand similar language in the next golf television contract since he appears to be following the Castro succession model.

Comments

[Claude]

Hey, give your readership fair warning. Reading Mark Heisler in the morning is a sure way to rip apart half the synapses in your brain. I pity the fool who reads this and then has to use the English language sometime before sundown.

[themerk]

with the alleged language that broadcast partners can't bash them they (Stern & Goodell) are still in the same boat as Finchem - hated. Stern is the proud mayor of Thugville, Goodell makes up rules as he goes along and is trying to "take over the world" and Finchem can't seem to release control of his empire. The only one left is Bud Selig and quite frankly I stay away from picking on the elderly.