As the Orlando Magic flirted with elimination and a 3-1 deficit last night heading into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy and Pardon the Interruption host Michael Wilbon were locked in a war of words. Wilbon, who moonlights as a NBA analyst, started the brouhaha on Monday by telling Dan LeBatard on his Miami radio show that he had heard “rumblings” about Van Gundy’s job being in trouble if the No. 2 seed Magic lose to the Celtics in this series. Van Gundy responded by screaming incoherently, throwing his hands in the air and finally giving Brandon Bass playing time.
Van Gundy actually lashed out at Wilbon yesterday prior to the Magic’s 21-point slaughter of the Celtics by calling Wilbon a “talking head” and questioning the integrity of a man who has never suited up to play nor been in a locker room. Van Gundy added that Wilbon has it out for him because he’s chosen not to appear on PTI and that hosts of such shows choose their friends based on favors. Wilbon, a self-proclaimed journalist, responded to Van Gundy’s comments in a phone interview later yesterday, name-dropping a bunch of athletes and coaches who have appeared on PTI, and ripped right back at Stan.
Tell us one side of the story, Shannon Owens of the Orlando Sentinel:
“He may want to check his facts first before he shoots off his mouth. He can criticize me, I’m not above taking it publicly, but he may want to get his facts straight. And I will tell him that when I see him.”
Michael Wilbon added, “There’s no deal in place that if you come on our show, you don’t get criticized. Charles Barkley is one of my close friends and there’s praise for Charles and we have to criticize Charles. Larry Brown, same thing. Mike Brown was just on the show and we had to criticize him after the playoffs. I don’t know where that comes from and before [Stan Van Gundy] questions my integrity, he needs to check his facts.”
Owens went on to defend her “mentor” Wilbon, saying that Van Gundy was way off base and the guy is just doing his job and blah blah blah. As a Magic fan, season ticket holder, and former sports journalist, I can say from an Orlando media standpoint that Wilbon’s claim about Stan’s job being in trouble is far-fetched. He’s the first media personality to mention it and the only rumor source I’ve heard of. Then again, for the sake of the journalistic integrity that I once went to school for, my best sources are a couple homeless people who I make sing popular 80s songs for loose change. Also, this whole thing is stupid and embarrassing for the NBA Playoffs.
Wilbon will address the issue on PTI today at 5:30, and Van Gundy will respond by screaming at traffic and taking JJ Redick out of the game when he’s nailing shots from the MTV Rock and Jock 10-point circle. Then Vince Carter will show up, yawn, and ask anyone if they’ve seen his Snuggie.
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I will defend Van Gundy based on the fact he bears a striking resemblance to Ron Jeremy.
“Van Gundy responded by screaming incoherently, throwing his hands in the air and finally giving Brandon Bass playing time.”
well said.
Tony Kornheiser has always hated me because I have never accepted the invitation to appear on PTI that has never been offered to me. So unfair!!!
/no way in hell that PTI wants that troglodyte on the air
Whenever you’re done rambling incoherently about Wilbon, here’s what he ACTUALLY said:
“I’m not one of those guys who likes to pound on Stan Van Gundy. I thought he got completely hosed in Miami. … I think there are things that Stan does very well. I think he was sabotaged in this case by the trading — not the trading but the letting go to free agency — of his best offensive player (Hedo Turkoglu) … I think that Stan probably will be fired (if Magic lose to Celtics). I don’t know how you fire him. I really don’t … I’ve already heard the rumblings that he will be fired if they don’t win this series.”
(Source: [blogs.orlandosentinel.com])
Notice the part where he says “I don’t know how you fire him. I really don’t”?
Wilbon wasn’t criticizing Ron Jeremy, he was saying he’s heard his job might be on the line. That’s all. Eat a Xanax or something.
Hedgehog>Wilbon
These two just need to fuck and get it over with.
Burnsy! Never give up your sources! Stand strong and wave the constitution in the air.
“questioning the integrity of a man who has never suited up to play nor been in a locker room.”
Did Van Gundy imply he’d suited up to play ball and if so is there video? I need a good laugh today.
“As a Magic fan, season ticket holder, and former sports journalist, I can say from an Orlando media standpoint that Wilbon’s claim about Stan’s job being in trouble is far-fetched” Are you being for real with this comment? Far-fetched that they would fire van-gundy if they lose to the celts? Disagreements between himself and the players have been well-known. They stunk it up in the finals last year. They overpaid Rashard Lewis, Gortat. The worst move was trading courtney lee for Carter and letting turk go. Despite having had great teams and well above average talent, he hasn’t gotten it done. Its unreal to me that Brandon Bass didnt’ play until game 4. Pietrus needs to get way more burn. It would be expected if he were to be fired, not far-fetched. Shocking that the writer of the with leather blog would claim its far-fetched b/c mainstream media has not lessed the idea. I’m dissapointed as a reader.
Nick, I appreciate your points and opinions and your disappointment will only make me strive to do better, but allow me to ask you two questions:
1) Do you live in Orlando? Because, from an Orlando media standpoint, these rumblings do not exist. From an Orlando media standpoint, the local media writers have never called for SVG to be fired if the Magic lose this series. With that said, where are the rumblings coming from? It’s not ESPN, with the exception of Michael Wilbon. It’s not CBS Sports, Fox Sports or CNNSI. So where are the rumblings? Are they within the front offices of other organizations? That would mean Otis Smith is telling other GMs, players and coaches that he’s going to fire Stan. What kind of GM would do that? So yes, I am serious when I say that Otis Smith, a man who has stood by SVG at every turn and incident, firing Stan is far-fetched.
2) Why would Stan be fired or even blamed for signings and trades that management made? Otis makes the deals. In fact, it’s been well-noted that Stan did not like the Vince trade. But of course he’d be fired for Otis matching Dallas’ offer on Gortat. Makes perfect sense.
Ha good response. I was just surprised that you would seek ratifcation from other media sources before agreeing with the suggestion Stan is treading on thin ice, when it appears that is the case here.
1) I don’t live in Orlando and after re-reading your article I realize I missed the context of you statement being limited to Orlando media standpoint. I agree I haven’t heard the rumblings anywhere. But if you think about the performance of this very talented team in the playoffs, they have not met the high expectations their roster suggests they should meet. I don’t doubt Otis has “stood by” stan, but at some point after not living up to expecatations, the coach has to go. Maybe there is no fan pressure in Orlando for that, but having followed them in the past years I would say Stan has not passed muster in the playoffs.
2) I don’t think Stan is responsible for the trades. My post conflated the two issues. I meant to separately comment that I thought those moves were all foolish. I also brought up the moves to show that, Stan has had the following players come thru his team in the past years: Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Turkolou, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, deep bench. Great role players Matt Barnes, Brandon bass, Pietrus….I’m saying that with all the resources he has had available, I’m not at all surprised that he would get fired after this atrocious series agaisnt the Celts. I realize the series is not over, and there has been improvement, but I do not think it is at all far-fetched to suggest he would be fired. I think its similar to the situation Mike Brown found himself in, where he had good teams (not as good as the magic talent wise), had great regular seasons, and poor playoff performances.
On a side note, Mike Brown winning coach of the year was the most ridiculosu thing I’ve ever heard, and hes among the worst offensive coaches in the league and was rightly axed by the cavs this year.
Trust me, I agree on pretty much anything involving Stan’s mismanagement of the lineups. It took a game and a half to put Barnes on Pierce and then Bass comes in and people are all like, “So that’s why you gave him all that money…”