For those of you that don’t know, Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks has instituted a “no bloggers” policy for the Maverick’s locker room, as a result of a decision to keep out a reporter who blogs for the Dallas Morning News. You can read about it here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3286971
First off, I think that Cuban is being a bit hypocritical, considering he made his wealth and name via the Internet. He is famous for being a blogger, but to say that bloggers don't require as much access to do their job is ludicrous.
If the point of the blog is to provide coverage, insight, and opinion, then how does this not require access? After all, isn't this what a beat writer is doing? The difference is a question of legitimacy. To have a blog, all you need is an internet account and a keyboard. To have a column, you need journalistic training, or at least enough experience/talent to get hired. But the intent and purpose of the two job descriptions is quite similar.
This legitimacy can also be reflected in whether or not the job is considered a career or not. For instance, the average blogger probably does the job as a side gig. I have my own “day job” as a writer and I do the Fan Voice blogs in my limited spare time. Anyone working for a major media outlet is probably doing it full time. But consider that people like Brian Schmitz and John Denton also have blogs on their respective newspapers' websites.
The main beat writers, the local news stations, and the national media outlets all have pretty much unlimited access to the Magic, with a few exceptions. Any member of the media that doesn't fall into one of those categories, does not have the same level of access. I fall into this last category. Even though I am technically an agent of the Magic, if not an employee, I still do not have all the rights that someone like Brian Schmitz does. I think the level of access can be directly reflected in the end product (i.e., the column/blog).
The one thing I do agree with Cuban on is the limited space. The Internet has created a surplus of websites dedicated to basketball. These sites hire people to cover the various NBA teams. These sites make requests to the teams for media credentials. At some point, the NBA teams reach maximum capacity and must make decisions about who is given credentials and who isn't. For instance, Hoopsworld.com is a well-known, reputable basketball website. The Magic have granted media credentials to at least four representatives of this website. I know this because at each game, as I look for my seat up on media row, I see at least four nameplates for Hoopsworld personnel. However, I have only ever seen one Hoopsworld representative at the games.
If a team like the Dallas Mavericks, who play in a large state-of-the-art facility, have to limit their media credentials, then surely the same is true for the Magic, who play in the much smaller Amway Arena. Last year when the Magic added "Jack Nicholson seats," it further limited the number of seats available for the media. There will likely be much more space for accommodating media requests when the Magic move into their new basketball venue in a few years.
I think that Cuban could have saved himself some headache by simply limiting the number of credentials his team granted. Surely he could have done this on a case-by-case basis, if necessary, instead of creating a blanket policy that is sure draw the ire of many people. Considering that the terms “blog” and “blogger” already are developing a stigma in the Internet lexicon, especially in the sports and political arenas, he isn’t helping matters by doing something like this.
In the meantime, I think that Marc Cuban has not likely heard the end of this. If a "blogger" who is representing a major Dallas daily is kept out of the locker room, it is likely going to lead to that same daily taking issue with it. The Internet may be the fastest medium for spreading information, but I think Cuban should have remembered this old adage: "Never pick a fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel full."
This message was not subject of approval by the NBA or the Orlando Magic. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of the Orlando Magic or the NBA, but solely the writer.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
If the point of the blog is to provide coverage, insight, and opinion, then how does this not require access? After all, isn't this what a beat writer is doing? The difference is a question of legitimacy. To have a blog, all you need is an internet account and a keyboard. To have a column, you need journalistic training, or at least enough experience/talent to get hired. But the intent and purpose of the two job descriptions is quite similar.
Good thing you have a internet account and a keyboard.
Posts: 6245 | Location: Getting a stew going | Registered: July 03, 2007
If the point of the blog is to provide coverage, insight, and opinion, then how does this not require access? After all, isn't this what a beat writer is doing? The difference is a question of legitimacy. To have a blog, all you need is an internet account and a keyboard. To have a column, you need journalistic training, or at least enough experience/talent to get hired. But the intent and purpose of the two job descriptions is quite similar.
Good thing you have a internet account and a keyboard.
Good thing I have a sense of humor too!
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
If the point of the blog is to provide coverage, insight, and opinion, then how does this not require access? After all, isn't this what a beat writer is doing? The difference is a question of legitimacy. To have a blog, all you need is an internet account and a keyboard. To have a column, you need journalistic training, or at least enough experience/talent to get hired. But the intent and purpose of the two job descriptions is quite similar.
Good thing you have a internet account and a keyboard.
Good thing I have a sense of humor too!
Good thing I'm not joking, so said sense of humor need not apply here.
Posts: 6245 | Location: Getting a stew going | Registered: July 03, 2007
Fine, then you're just being mean for no reason. Thanks for reading at least.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
I agree with you LOD. The funny thing here is that all these outlets that have been around forever, such as the Sentinel, are becoming more and more like Hoopsworld.
Like you mentioned, Schmitz has a blog. I'm willing to bet it wasn't his idea, but that it came from the top. Considering the dive that paper circulation has gone though over the last several years, papers are ever more relying on their websites. I'm willing to bet more people read Schmitz's game article on orlandosentinel.com then in the actual paper. It will continue to go in this direction, and before you know it Schmitz will be pretty much just a blogger. Cuban is a media giant. There is no way he doesn't know that.
That said, Cuban is being too specific. The Mavs should just say, "No little Billy, your blog isn't important enough to us to give you media access, sorry." That is all you have to do. Cuban is making it sound like everyone and their sister is trying to get media access. I doubt it.
Posts: 5001 | Location: The Magic Castle | Registered: November 16, 2006
^^^^^^^^ Now THAT'S how you respond! Thanks WP for your insight and for adding to the weight of our argument.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Originally posted by Live or Die Magic: Fine, then you're just being mean for no reason. Thanks for reading at least.
I was just kidding you silly blogger you.
"Blog." The other other four letter word.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
Thanks for the sentiment JD, but I'm not sure if this issue really affects the players at all.
Also, Mark Cuban is a great guy and one of the best owners in the league. I just think he misread this issue.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
At last night's game against the Cavs, I spoke with a representative from "Hoopsworld" that lives in Texas and covers the Mavs and Rockets.
I asked him about this issue with Cuban keeping bloggers out of the Mavericks' locker room. He said that the issue was really more of a personal issue with this one particular guy from the Dallas Morning News. Apparently the blogger was mentioning a "Fire Avery" (Mavs coach Avery Johnson) website in his blog and also being particularly critical of Johnson.
Here is a link to a story from the Dallas Morning News that provides some additional insight:
[Special thanks to the Hoopsworld guys for this info.]
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
There was a great quote from one of the newspapers, it said: "Marc Cuban hates all bloggers who are not him."
Bhnole, make sure to check out my two more recent entries "Marching On" and "Short Clips"....good stuff I hope.
"My life will go on, this much I know. Cars and games will come and go. But never once will I forgetta, the way we danced, dear Dick Bavetta." - from "I Left My Heart In Dick Bavetta"
Posts: 8092 | Location: Catching up with the OCTB. | Registered: February 09, 2006
orlandomagiczone.com 
