Tristan Thompson working on finishing quicker
September 29, 2014Akron upsets Pittsburgh; Hudson new No. 1
September 29, 2014There was a moment. A singular moment that if not for the level of celebrity involved would have been otherwise lost in the choreography of the most anticipated gatherings of the local media in at least four years. There was Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James standing statuesque, getting photographed by long-time Cavs photographer (and former professional basketball player) David Liam Kyle1. Kyle would instruct the 6-foot-9-inch James to turn 90 degrees and a flash bulb would go off—the sequence would repeat three more times before the two exchanged pleasantries. Kyle asked about James’ kids, easily the go-to by anyone who wishes to get a non-robotic reply from a 29-year-old who has heard every question in the world, to which the four-time MVP gladly engaged.
As James and Kyle were wrapping up, several Cavs employees waited off-set to his right, waiting to usher the All-World star to the next line on his agenda. James, however, had other plans. James utilized his endless legs to hurdle the wires and equipment and bags that formed a barricade to his right, and took roughly three steps to travel 10 yards, and leapt up on to the SportsCenter set that was erected in the southeastern corner of Cleveland Clinic Courts. His goal: Give a quick hello to ESPN anchor (and Ohio native) Jay Crawford who was broadcasting live. The two executed a flawless bro hug and then posed for a few pictures. Crawford, after being somewhat startled by the 250 pounds that had lunged onto the makeshift set, was elated. The Cavs employees tasked with guiding James throughout the day—not so much.
After quickly shuffling through the horde, slaloming around the NBATV set and the meandering humans who filled the gym, the Cavs once again latched on to James and took him over to the rest of the camera-toting media members who were anxiously awaiting his arrival.
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To be a part of any Media Day, you quickly become aware of the scheduled appearances involved for each of the players. Each member of the team has an employee flanking them, ensuring that they check all of the boxes on the paperwork which is nestled within their very own black folder. The group interviews are just one part of an otherwise circus-like atmosphere. There is the required interview with WTAM/1100 AM—the team’s flagship station—in addition to Cavaliers Live and every other outlet looking to get a few words with the player of their choice. But there’s also the other half of the gym where the photography areas are set up. Kyle gets his first crack for NBAE, but there’s Getty, and the Associated Press, and NEOMG, and…You catching on yet? But on this Media Day, the one with LeBron and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love and Shawn Marion, things were wildly different.
You see, Media Days in the past, even those with James, were a little looser. There used to be pub-style tables set up in the middle of the gym. These tables were where a handful of media members could interview the likes of Manny Harris, Semih Erden, Christian Eyenga and Tyler Zeller. These interviews were low-key, and lasted just a few minutes as other players and camp invites would cycle in and out. The more quote-worthy players, those with a bit of a higher profile, would post up in the southwestern corner where a pad littered with Cavs and Cleveland Clinic logs adorns the wall. Cameras would set up in a half circle and those with voice recorders or note pads would stand nearby and loft questions their way. This time around, the pub tables were largely gone. The padded wall was still there, but replacing it’s importance was a giant stage with a table and a microphone with roughly 200 chairs and two microphones being passed around.
This time around, Media Day was a televised event, no different than the week leading up to the Super Bowl. The room where our computers used to be housed was moved into a giant white tent outside of the complex, tucked behind all of the local satellite trucks with their engines still running. One no different than a gambling tent or petting zoo at a local fair—but this one had WiFi and complimentary bottled water. And in years past, the team would host roughly 100 individuals ranging from print to video to independent website types. This time around, there were three times as many people, coming in from all corners of the world—Brazil, Israel, Los Angeles, Bristol. ESPN was well represented as Crawford was joined by Brian Windhorst, Dave McMenamin, Ramona Shelburne, and others. Former players like Avery Johnson and Brad Sellers roamed about, striking up conversations with other players-turned-media types like Austin Carr and Jim Chones.
Where parking anywhere near the complex was attainable in years past, even those who showed up hours before the festivities would tip off were forced to park at a nearby restaurant and take a shuttle due south.
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The entire day is overwhelming. There’s always something happening2. It’s all happening. If you want to listen to James or Love or Shawn Marion give their group interview, you may miss Mike Miller and Kyrie Irving share NBATV time with David Aldridge. If you set out to get some one-on-one time with Matthew Dellavedova, you were likely sacrificing similar time with Dion Waiters. Want to talk to Anderson Varejao? You’ll have to wait for the Brazilian news outlet to be done. It’s the ultimate divide-and-conquer extravaganza. It’s one that, as a member of the media, would be more worthwhile with a plan of attack already in mind, but also one that could easily spiral out of control if not for the tight grip that the Cavs had put in place well before the doors opened for business.
David Griffin and David Blatt led things off. The team could have easily made folks wait for James to come to the podium, as larger names had typically been last in line, but he was instead the first player to take questions, doing so with the look that made it very apparent that while everyone in house was excited, there was still no party to be had. Though many had been playing pick-up for weeks, the team was hours away from taking to the practice floor together for the first time. Media Day was simply the part that they had to get out of the way before they could finally get to work.
While many players fail to offer much in the way of quotable material—save for James’ description of how he spoke with his two sons before deciding to return to Cleveland3—it was interesting to piece together how everything came to be. Irving was undoubtedly the first domino to fall this past summer, but no one in their right mind even knew the other dominos existed. James admitted that Irving’s place in Cleveland was one of the main reasons he wanted to come back. Marion, in what was his 16th Media Day4, admitted that James being in Cleveland would not have been enough for him to be willing to leave money on the table—but Kevin Love sure was. And listening to Love, in a Cavs jersey, describe the excruciating month that all in Cleveland shared—the 30-day window where a trade of Andrew Wiggins could not be completed, but sort of was—it was all very humanizing and served to add even more to the entire surreal experience.
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The Cavs are still in Independence, having completed what is just the third day of preseason practice, all donning Cavalier wine and gold. There’s LeBron, and Kyrie. There’s Kevin and Shawn. And don’t forget Mike and James. They’re still the main feature on ESPN.com, possessing the more real estate than Ted Turner. When The Essay was penned, many believed that Media Day would provide some sort of closure—that the entire offseason, one that will go down as one of the best (if not the best) ever, would finally have some tangible evidence of not being a three-month fantasy. But leaving Independence, heading back to the tent to upload a few pictures and gather my belongings, then taking the long walk out toward Brecksville Road where my chariot (or shuttle) would await, I couldn’t help but feel as if it added to the anticipation.
Cleveland: It’s all very real and very exciting. Just ask Jay Crawford.
- You’ve certainly seen his byline, but did you know Kyle was the first All-American to play at Cleveland State? [↩]
- Much of which was video bombable, by the way [↩]
- It was adorable. [↩]
- “You can call me ‘Trix'” [↩]
10 Comments
Nice description, Scott. Had no idea it was this overwhelming an event. Two things:
– It must have taken quite a battle plan by the organization to put something this size together in a competent way. Maybe this is one of the good things about the Cavs’ relative stability in the FO: there’s an institutional memory among staffers about how to entertain hordes of media after the previous playoff runs with LeBron.
– Since camp is now opened does it mean Ray Allen is retired? You’d think he would want to leave sufficient time to get himself ready, even if at his own pace. And that Blatt would want him practicing with Kyrie and the rest.
You are only retired in sports if you file retirement w/ a league office. Albert Belle was out of baseball several years w/ a bad hip before he decided to retire. Some of this is for medical/insurance/pension reasons.
“It must have taken quite a battle plan by the organization to put something this size together in a competent way. Maybe this is one of the good things about the Cavs’ relative stability in the FO: there’s an institutional memory among staffers about how to entertain hordes of media after the previous playoff runs with LeBron.”
It’s funny you mention this. Wherein the Browns are on their third Comm team in three years, I’ve dealt with largely the same group with the Cavs since 2009 despite all of the turnover at GM/HC. They’re all terrific to deal with—they reply to requests or inquires in a timely fashion; they get what we do here. They’ve actually been a bit of a “coaching tree” of sorts, with assistants taking gigs with other teams throughout the league. Are they vague or sometimes reluctant to answer some questions? Sure, but I think that’s their job. I have nothing but great things to say about the Cavs, especially when compared to the other two teams, historically. (I’d be remiss to not mention that Curtis Danburg is nothing but a class act, and that I do believe the Browns *finally* have a good group in place.)
Not relevant to my point. Allen isn’t hurt, he’s old and supposedly making a legit decision if and where he wants to grind out the NBA schedule yet another year. Guys in his position usually decide well before camp.
I can’t wait for the opening tip!
Not surprised. Gilbert may be tempestuous at times, but clearly he gets the fundamentals of promotion and running a service profession. If he had bought the Browns I doubt they would have gone so long without improving the video quality, sound system and long delays entering the stadium.
me too, man. All I ask for is legit sports entertainment to get me to the next season and this seems as much of a sure thing as any team in my life. Whether they get a ring this year, whether the start is rocky, I know it will make what’s simultaneously happening with the Browns and the Tribe early next season much more palatable.
Legit team. Stars in their prime. Happy guy. (But I’m a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall me before the season starts, if I’m struck by a bolt of lightning, then I’m going to blame some of the people in this website).
The scuttle I;ve heard is he’s doing the Clay Matthews approach, basically not wanting to be at a full training camp or maybe come out near mid-year.
We won’t utter that three word phrase starting with what and ending in wrong but I think, no I hope, we are in for some serious winning fun. As someone who has constantly begged and pleaded for one of these professional sports franchises in Cleveland to spend and go all out I am on cloud 9 when it comes to this years Cavaliers. That being said I’m going to take it one game at a time with a focus on how it ends rather then how it starts. I’m expecting an up and down first month while everyone starts to gel but I’m optimistic that it’ll still be a very good month. The only real worry I have is health primarily for Anderson Varejao but also the freaky injuries both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have suffered. But that’s a normal worry and goes with the territory.
If you need any names for people to blame let me know I can give you a few! 😉
I would think it’s the former and not the latter it makes no sense starting with a new team at mid-year. By then rotations as well as players knowing each other would have taken effect. I honestly think it’s just missing camp while he decides between the Spurs and Cavaliers. Honestly I couldn’t blame him for either choice. Part of me kind of hopes he picks San Antonio only because I think a big man makes more sense for the Cavaliers then another shooter even if that shooter is the NBA’s best 3-point shooter of all time.