While the news got out on Tuesday that the Warriors fired their coach, Mark Jackson, immediately, fans migrated to the Internet and Twitter and yes, of course the talk shows too.
On KNBR, Warriors TV Play-By-Play broadcaster and talk host, Bob Fitzgerald gauged feedback. It should be noted Fitzgerald works for the Warriors. There's a conflict there --a direct conflict and it reared itself once again, awkwardly too when a few callers who were able to get in and criticized the move. And immediately there was a fair amount of rancor by Fitz and his partner directed toward the callers. Not a good sound and nothing new.
Fitzgerald is a pretty good TV guy; matter of fact, a superior analyst too very adept with statistics and all but his performance as a sports-radio talk show host is abysmal. And I'm being kind which is a shame because we hate to rip a guy who is talented enough but should really refrain from the radio gig when it comes to the Warriors because the Warriors butter his bread.
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Jackson like Hue Jackson,won,and got fired. Its more of what I post all the time..American big business will lose money before admitting anybody else has a better way,or just another way. And why when the right wing posts "Business doesn't care about color,its all merit"..lol. Sure.
ReplyDeleteLook at Nelson..small ball and lots of "his way"..and owners couldn't pay him enough or give a new chance. Paterno..Sterling...Califari.
Sure Jackson will be replaced..and then forgotten when the new coach wins. Its what the culture has evolved as self perpetuating.
Stan buy "Dragon Naturally Speaking" and have the computer type it for you. Things will come out so much clearer.
DeleteYou just don't appreciate creative prose. Or,as I pointed out, an alternative way. In fact,you make my point perfectly. My modesty at rubbing it in is more of my perfection...
Delete+1
DeleteI guess KNBR is the Chinese government of the radio world while Fitz and Brooks are the lapdogs for the Warriors.
ReplyDeleteI've always given Fitzgerald the benefit of the doubt, even as so many bloggers and commenters mounted these "Fire Fitz" campaigns, etc. I think he does a good job on the telecasts and have been willing to overlook his annoying and looking-down-his-nose personality on his radio show.
ReplyDeleteToday he lost me. I swear on his show, even though i have a life and don't want to go back and find the specific quotes, he's been a pretty consistent Mjax supporter. He's been the guy extolling the fact that he led the team to more wins each year... that he did so much despite the injuries etc.
And today I turn on KNBR when i hear the news, expecting to hear him... i don't know... a little sad over the decision. Instead the first thing i hear is him berating one caller after another who took Jackson's side. To me, it's so transparent: Fitz is the ultimate political hanger-on, and he doesn't care if he's a joke and a flip-flopper, so long as he keeps his job.
One caller said somehting like "I didn't realize i'd called the joe lacob show today." that about sums it up.
Our boy Fitz has a very selective memory.
DeleteThose are some of the reasons why I can't stand listening to Fitz and Brooks. Rich has reported Fitz's KNBR salary is paid by the Warriors. Nothing more needs to be said.
DeletePaid by the Warriors? You have to be kidding me. Is that true Rich? If so, please write an article on this, I would love more details. Thanks.
DeleteSo now all the Mark Jackson Fans (if they exist in any great numbers) have their turn seeing a treasured icon toppled to the ground like Saddam Hussain. I'm referring to all of us Barbara Simpson acolytes, who remain 'all shook up' by her shocking 'displacement' from that there radio station. I get the impression this Mark Jackson was quite a high maintenance Diva in his own way, not like our Barbara, who remained a dignified "Woman of Heart & Mind" till the end of that chapter. Her work is not done yet. Barbara shall return in some manifestation very soon, is what I think.
ReplyDeleteIf this coach was such a winning machine as I have heard, he will also find a new place to go, perhaps ever so slightly chastened by the harsh backhand slaps of fate.
Giggles Fitzgerald was the same at Serra HS and Touchdown Jesus. Daddy was mayor of Foster City and Bobby never wanted for anything.
ReplyDeleteHe was a male cheer leader at Serra. Like Ralph Barbieri who attended Mills HS in Millbrae and USF - neither EVER played one single sport.
I have it on pretty good authority that he made his HS soccer team because it looks good for any Catholic high school to have a Notre Dame grad. I wouldn't be surprised if he or his dad didn't lobby for it either.
DeleteI went to school with Bobby and don't recall if he MADE the soccer team, I should have said - he never played in a match. He could not make FC LL and everyone made FC LL make in the day...
DeleteA friend of mine who graduated the same year at Serra as Fitzgerald told me this story.
DeleteRichard Lieberman I wholeheartedly I agree with you regarding Fitzgerald's conflict of interest and I find it interesting that when YOUR own conflict of interest was pointed out as a radio host and media critic you resorted to name calling. No matter. I'm still hoping you get on air ASAP at KSCO. How can there be motorcycle, fishing and karaoke shows on KSCO yet no Lieberman Live!? Come on MZ wtf baby!!??
ReplyDeleteI think Game 7 said it all. Jackson's team gave him a winning effort, but he couldn't turn that effort into a win. Switch Jackson and Rivers the other night, and Warriors advance. Jackson is a good coach, just not a championship coach.
ReplyDeleteYou mean Bob and Rod were defensive about the Warriors dismissal of Mark Jackson?
ReplyDeleteFitz and Brooks are two examples of homerism at its best
Both Fitz and Brooks are arrogant. Sometimes I think they pick topics just so they can one-up listeners. Fitz seems to imply some insider knowledge on the Warriors because he takes the same plane to games as the team. But I agree, he and Barnett are a good play-by-play team.
ReplyDeleteIf Warriors come out smelling like roses like they did with the Monta trade, I'll never doubt them again. Some folks might argue that Bogut has never panned out, but he helped pan out to the tune of helping to get 50 wins this year.
I woulda thunk that since Jackson was supposedly Lacob's choice, they would've cut Jackson more slack with the wins and overall team support. Iguodala took less dough partly to play for him, I thought.
Fitzgerald is an a--hole as is the primary owner of the Warriors. Big mistake on their part!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to hear a possible Warriors press conference, so I tuned into KNBR. What a mistake. There's that goofy guy Brooks trying to sound cool. And then there's Fitzgerald, the world's biggest ass-kissing brown nosing mouth that should keep quiet. I'll wait for the youtube.com version.
ReplyDeleteBrooks is a HUGE Oreo cookie
DeleteI've said it for years...I think he's a big time Oreo who takes pride in kissing White Butt Cheeks.
DeleteBrooks is not an Oreo. His is not well educated nor does he speak proper English.
ReplyDeleteI have him as the unholy spawn of Cosby's character 'Mushmouth' and Beaver's 'Eddie Haskell'.
Hopefully, Lacob isn't done, and will replace Fitzgerald. He's as authentic as Joan River's face.
ReplyDeleteKGO radio had Bruce McGowan doing live reports from the Warriors' facilities in Oakland for their sports and news updates. They also ran a lot of the press conference highlights throughout their afternoon news blocks. KCBS radio had news reporter Anna Duckworth over at the Bob Myers press conference. She also got sound and did live reports from their east bay bureau. KNBR carried the news conference live but didn't seem to have any reporter there asking questions.
ReplyDeleteRich, KNBR has got a little egg on its face letting The Game get the first post-firing interview with Jackson. Then again, makes perfect sense as to why. Too much inherint filtering going being the flagship station to the team (not to mention schmoozing with the owners).
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the reason I've started listening to The Game more and more. Today was interesting and a good day for the FM sports guys.
Mark Jackson talking to The Game was petty and immature. A red flag to any future team. I like Jackson but he's a little too butt hurt over his firing.
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