NBA, Coaches at Peace
The NBA on Friday withdrew $100,000 fines levied against the Seattle SuperSonics and Toronto Raptors after their coaches refused to wear microphones for an NBC telecast.
The league also said it will continue to give coaches the option for the rest of the season of whether to wear a wireless microphone or have a boom microphone lowered into their huddles during selected national broadcasts.
The compromise was first offered Tuesday following an outcry among coaches who felt the microphone policy was heavy-handed and intrusive.
“We have had several discussions with the coaches’ association,” deputy commissioner Russ Granik said, “and we believe that all of our coaches should be comfortable with this new approach.
“We will continue to allow this option for the remainder of this season and the playoffs, and we’ve agreed to sit down with the coaches’ association at the end of the season.”
The NBA handed out the fines last week. Paul Westphal and Butch Carter had said they were willing to pay the $100,000 fines out of their own pockets.
Some coaches and players have also complained about other new media rules, including the use of an unmanned camera to give viewers a glimpse of what an NBA locker room looks like during a typical halftime.
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