Wilbon
on Pardon the Interruption; Barkley on Wolves, Green
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota
Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 5/26/2004
The Timberwolves are in the Western Conference Finals for
the first time in franchise history. It’s Indiana,
Detroit, Minnesota and Los Angeles -- one of these four
teams is going to win the 2004 NBA Championship. Just like
last year when the Minnesota Wild reached the Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals, the hometown team is under the
national media spotlight.
I interviewed two observers with unique perspectives after
Sunday night’s game two at Target Center: Washington
Post columnist Michael Wilbon, co-host of ESPN’s
award-winning, highly successful “Pardon the
Interruption”; and Charles Barkley, the former league
MVP who is now TNT’s highly regarded NBA studio analyst.
Wilbon, a native of Chicago and a graduate of Northwestern
University, talked about the success of Pardon the
Interruption. “We’re just grateful that ESPN put us
on,” he said, “and we’re grateful that people still
watch, and grateful that no one has pulled the plug and
thrown us off the air yet. It’s been so well received,
the most shocked two people in the world are Tony
Kornhiser and myself.”
The program appeals to both the hard-core sports fan and
those that like entertainment or are not fans of sports.
“I’m flattered when people who don’t otherwise pay
attention to sports come up and say they watch the show.
Often, women who say they don’t otherwise follow sports
tell us they watch the show.
“We’ve certainly drawn some teenagers in. Our biggest
demo is probably high school and college kids, which is
different for two old dudes, for two old bald cats who are
attracting that type of audience. So it’s totally a
surprise in a lot of ways,” said Wilbon.
Charles Barkley is famous for his outspoken comments on
issues in and out of sports. He was the man who said years
ago, “Athletes are not role models.”
Barkley said after the Lakers’ game-one win that the
Timberwolves were better off without Sam Cassell in game
two. Cassell has a painful hip injury and back spasms. The
rest allows him more time to heal while receiving
treatment.
“Minnesota is one of the best defensive teams in the
league,” said Barkley. They play the best zone, and
Kevin Garnett would not let them lose tonight in game
two.”
Barkley has lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for the last
decade. “I’ll tell you, that’s the one thing I
don’t think people understand [about Arizona],”
Barkley said. “There are so many famous people
celebrities and a lot of jocks who are going there for
baseball and the Cactus League. They’re the guys that
are moving there that are bugging us more than
anything.”
In my column last week on execution being the bottom line
in the playoffs, I made a point that the NBA’s use of
the zone was bad for the league. Sir Charles agreed.
Barkley said, “The zone is not good for the NBA, for the
simple fact [that] guys don’t have to learn how to play,
and you compound that with guys coming out of high school,
which I disagree with.
“That’s one of the reasons the league is struggling
somewhat right now, and that makes the game easier. And
you don’t want to make the game easier, you want them to
learn how to play.”
On Dennis Green as head coach of the Cardinals, Barkley
said, “Anytime they hire a brother I’m excited. I
think it’s unfortunate that every year we have to
struggle as Blacks to get head coaching jobs in the NFL
and they retread some of these other coaches.
“That proves to me that the Arizona Cardinals want to
win, and we’ve got some very special young men coming
out to the valley. That’s going to make it fun for me.
I’ve been there for 10 years, and we’ve only had one
season above .500. I want them to do well, and Dennis
Green, I think, is the man for the job.”
Fitz Notes & Quotes
On Wednesday, May 26, a community recognition was held at
the Minneapolis Urban League for Carl Eller and his
family. Eller, a longtime Minneapolis Northside resident,
will be inducted into the National Football League Hall of
Fame in August this year.
