James Carville, Magic Johnson, Mike Fratello, etc.
Commenter "Neil Castiglione Palin Glauber Best," which I'm assuming is not his or her real name, wondered a couple of posts down whether I am aware of a sports media conference call for journalists that attracted zero callers.
I am not. But I was once on a call that had zero questions.
James Carville and Luke Russert were promoting their sports talk show on XM Satellite Radio. I called in, even though I did not have any questions. I guess I was not alone.
After each made an opening statement, the call was opened for questions. None were asked. That was the end of the call.
Did I ever mention that in 1992 I had a high school friend working for the Clinton campaign and on a visit to Little Rock got to sit in on a Carville staff meeting?
I have no comment on Carville or Clinton or Gov. Palin, because this is not a political blog.
Click below for ESPN/ABC's news release about Magic Johnson joining the studio show, effective Dec. 25.
(P.S. YES just made official what has been suspected for several weeks, that Mike Fratello will join Marv Albert on Nets games this season.)
(UPDATE: Neil Castiglione Palin Glauber Best's concerns were unfounded. I am on the call with Magic right now and there is no shortage of big-name writers and newspapers represented.)
(UPDATE: Here's an NY Times story from Monday about that famed 1992 war room.)
Earvin “Magic” Johnson has joined ESPN as an NBA studio analyst and will mainly work with Stuart Scott, Mike Wilbon and Jon Barry on ABC's GMC NBA Countdown. He will provide analysis on Christmas Day – when ABC and ESPN combine to showcase an NBA tripleheader (beginning at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN) – and contribute to the networks' post-season studio coverage. The announcement was made by Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production.
“Magic has always been one of the most accomplished people in every field he has endeavored. He was an incomparable player and has become one of the best NBA analysts in the business. His unique insights, perspective and personality will be the perfect complement to Stuart (Scott), Mike (Wilbon) and Jon (Barry),” said Williamson.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the ESPN family. I look forward to working with a great team and covering all the big NBA events,” said Johnson. “Christmas Day can’t come soon enough for me.”
Johnson comes to ESPN from Turner Sports, where he was an NBA analyst for seven years, primarily on TNT’s Thursday night NBA coverage. Johnson appeared on ESPN and ABC as a guest studio analyst during Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
He is one of the NBA's 50 greatest players in history and won five NBA championships with the L.A. Lakers, an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and a NCAA championship. He is one of only seven players in the history of the sport to capture the latter three accolades. He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player three times (1987, 1989, 1990). He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Comments (1)
I have now officially arrived (throwing my hat in the air).
A few many years back I worked for the Lt Gov in CT writing speeches and we called a press conference and n one was asking quetions.
I had to call in pretending to be a reporter and asked several questions - very funny and sad at the same time