An open letter to Mark Cuban
My name is Andrew Kamenetzky. Along with my brother Brian, I cover the Lakers for the Los Angeles Times' Lakers Blog. The work we do complements our paper's beat writer and columnists. In some ways, we bridge the two parties, combining a style similar to the latter with a goal of spending as much time around the team as the former. We attend and cover practice whenever possible. We attend every home game, doing extensive pre/in/post-game reports. We occasionally go on the road (I'm actually planning on being in Dallas a week from today for their game against the Mavericks). We've covered the Lakers since 2006 and through a combination of hard work, creativity and professionalism, have garnered ourselves a loyal, intelligent readership. I would also imagine we're not the only bloggers who've found similar success with a newspaper.
Because of this, I must say your decision to ban any writers with the word "blog" attached from the Mavs locker room is nothing short of a slap in the face. Not simply because it makes any work we'd do that much harder, but because the explanation provided on your own blog (irony alert!) doesn't even do us the respect of creating a plausible rationale. Your locker room is too small to house a few more writers? That's really what you're running with? A premium on elbow room? If things start getting really crowded come playoff time, will you demand that scribes lose a few pounds or find their credential yanked?
(By the way, I've been in your locker room. Not particularly small, by any means. And if you're looking to prove this weak point by linking a photo into your essay, you should have selected one with people actually clogging up the works. In your pic, the area looks sort of... well... big. Just a suggestion.)
The explanations you provide in backing your case are equally flimsy. For example, to say that ESPN's Marc Stein can write a blog, but escape "blogger" classification because of his reports on ESPN.com or ESPN's airwaves is not only a leap in logic, but actually undercuts your blog-banning premise. Stein's credibility doesn't come from whatever medium employed, but his employer. Are you telling me that if Stein wrote formal features for a low-profile website, then dropped by Wayne and Garth's pad to do his TV broadcast, he'd be treated the same way? I seriously doubt it. Stein is (and should be) issued a credential because he's with "The Four Letter Network" and they have credibility. As does a newspaper such as the Los Angeles Times. I'd say we've pretty much reached "on the map" status. As such, a certain amount of respect is expected. And in every case but yours, accorded.
Which brings me to my next point. Your theory that it's unfair to penalize certain bloggers because they're not backed by a paper is absurd. That's literally the job of your media relations department. They receive credential requests and evaluate their legitimacy. And I'm willing to bet a substantial sum (by my standards, at least) that they occasionally deny someone access, likely because the outlet they represent doesn't have enough clout, a scenario that goes beyond the cyberworld. I guarantee there's been a time when favor was granted to a writer from Sports Illustrated, but denied to a writer from Mom and Pop's Basketball leaflet. And guess what? That's exactly the way it should be, whether you're talking TV, newspapers, magazines, Internet, etc. Certain people have business brewing in the locker room, while others may desire that access, but either don't need it or haven't earned it. And at the risk of sounding like a snob, I should be in the Dallas' locker room and a guy who created an absolutely killer Mavericks blog in his spare time shouldn't. Why? Because this is my job and that's his hobby.
I can also put it to you in a way that paraphrases your own logic. "A blogger isn't a blogger isn't a blogger."
In making this dubious decision, you'll inevitably end up granting better access to various "non-blog" reporters who spend less time around the NBA (much less a specific team) than somebody in the trenches that happens to go by a certain title. By focusing on the semantics of "blog" and not actually bothering to evaluate content and context (one phone call to the Times would assure you that we're indeed held to strict standards, which is far closer to the norm than exception), you're punishing an entire group of writers with generalizations. Not to mention undercutting your own credibility.
I'm sorry, but this decision is miles beyond "curious." I can believe it's vindictive, considering this issue just "happened" to strike you as pressing right around the time you booted the Dallas Morning News' Tim MacMahon from these apparently tight quarters. It's rather coincidental that MacMahon has blogged about a team you own in your city's largest paper since 2006, but the day you learned of his existence "happened" to coincide with the day he wrote a post critical of Avery Johnson sitting Jason Kidd-- and doubting the honesty of your thoughts on the matter-- down the stretch of a 97-94 loss to the Spurs. I can also believe that you're looking to distract from the fact that the Mavs are an unimpressive 6-5 since acquiring Jason Kidd. I can also believe this is simply you craving a little spotlight. What I can't believe, however, is that a man who made a fortune through the Internet and can legitimately pride himself on an innovative nature is unable to distinguish between what I do as employment and a fan blogging in his basement. I ask that you please stop insulting my intelligence by claiming otherwise.
Like I said, I'll be in town for the Lakers-Mavs game. If you take exception to my thoughts, I'd be happy to discuss the matter with you in person. We can meet in front of the visitor's locker room. Or in the media room. Or the area where I'm seated for the game (which I'm now concerned might be up in the nosebleeds). Or your office. Or a particularly cozy AAC parking lot. Anywhere that's not inside the Mavs locker room works fine with me.
Thanks for your time,
Andrew Kamenetzky
Mr. Cuban,
I'm Tim-4-Show, and I approve Andrew's message!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 11, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Nice one AK! Support this letter! Strength in numbers!!!
Posted by: Charles | March 11, 2008 at 02:36 PM
YOU GO GET HIM, AK!
MARK CUBAN IS A TOOL!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 11, 2008 at 02:37 PM
nicely said, I sure hope Mr. Cuban reads this.
Posted by: Brandon Tyler | March 11, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Preach it K bros!
Lets I remind you guys I lived in Dallas for a painful 3 years...and it was great making fun of Cuban and his "antics" and just his stupidity in general.
The idiot is just a billionaire, that is all, he doesnt know squat about the game of basketball..dont let it fool you.
I find it ridiculous he is banning bloggers...he is a big TECHIE himself..what a dufus...
It can only hurt his ballclub ...oh well...yet another reason to hate the Mavs....
And make fun of them and their fans..and their 0 titles.
awesome.
Lakers for LIFE!
Posted by: lakers4Realz | March 11, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Good letter AK. Let us know if he responds or if you do end up meeting with him.
Posted by: Gabe | March 11, 2008 at 02:41 PM
not 1st
Posted by: che | March 11, 2008 at 02:41 PM
PAU RIGHT IN THE KISSER!!!
Posted by: du ma | March 11, 2008 at 02:41 PM
AK:
I assure you you will have the undivided support of the Laker Nation on this..............
Be sure to cc David Stern!
Posted by: toad | March 11, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Whoo! Preach brother! Damn, that should shut that pompous @$$*** up. Glad to see that someone has the cajones to tell him off...
Posted by: bozz | March 11, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Mavs will not, have not, and will NEVER
win a championship.
write it down quote me..whatever
AK tell him (f#@$$#@ cuban) that he can go cry in HIS locker room when this season goes to waste again....
AK 4 pres!.haha.
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | March 11, 2008 at 02:44 PM
AK
The Laker Nation supports you.........Cuban is indeed a TOOL!
Be sure to cc Davis Stern!
Posted by: toad | March 11, 2008 at 02:50 PM
THat should be "complements" in the third sentence.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | March 11, 2008 at 02:51 PM
The L.A. Times should just give you guys a monthly column in the paper. That would qualify you guys as "writers" then, right?
It's ridiculous what Cuban is doing, so you gotta just circumvent his flawed logic.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 11, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Wow..nice write up! And to think..when I ask for you do a similiar write up about the descrepencies (sp?) with the mvp voting and criteria to obtain said harware not only was your answer non-existent..but you also did a pretty good job of glossing over my question by not just answering mines..but by attempting to answer 3 or more at one time. Now low and behold..a topic that hits closer to home! The Blogger community has been banished from Mavs lockerroom..and as a wroter I suppose you had to take a stand (wether or not your open letter was serious or not) and you did a good job of it. As always I must commend you on your job of covering the Lake Show and providing us blogger with insightful information concerning our team..again Thanks!!..To bad you couldn't do a "OPEN LETTER TO ALL SPORTS WRITERS ABOUT THE BIAS AND EVER CHANGING MVP CRITERIA"...ahh..who am I kidding..sorry to beat a dead horse..im sure this topic was very important you and other bloggers..so ill just follow suit.
Boo Marc Cuban
Posted by: lakeraholic | March 11, 2008 at 02:52 PM
You're a good guy Mark, but don't get fooled into thinking you're doing the right thing on this one. Just apologize, give the worthy bloggers their access back, and the whole thing will disappear before you know it.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | March 11, 2008 at 02:53 PM
power to the people!
oh wait wrong century..
power to the bloggers!
Posted by: tp | March 11, 2008 at 02:53 PM
no more MVP bias talk til next month, we could lose the next 20 games and everything will be moot.
Posted by: tp | March 11, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Very good, legitimate letter, but will he respond? Responding would tend to validate your stance, and invalidate his. Which (from what I have observed) he doesn't like to do.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | March 11, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Amazing_Happens,
I agree. I mean, we'd all rather see either of the K Brothers have a column... and see T.J. Simers fired.
Mark Cuban is a tedious narcissist.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 11, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Here is an idea....(_)
Why don't you invest in 300 T'shirts? When Lakers go to Dallas or LA, wear these shirts and give it to Lakers Blogs member residing the area.
MARK CUBAN IS ENEMY NO. 1 OF FREE PRESS
(Banned Lakers Blog in the Dallas locker room)
Distribute a petittion to the mainstream media like ESPN, FoxSports, NY Yimes, Sports Illustrated, MSNBC sports, CBS sportsline, CNN Sports. One these news get widespread, be aware of potential legal action and the billionaire have lots of mullah on a prolonged legal case, so I hope you will be backed by LA Times legal department.
Goodluck, Cuban is a small-time JERK and a well to do RED NECK & everyone in LA knows that.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 11, 2008 at 03:02 PM
akr_68, PsychedLakerGirl , justanothermambafan,
Thanks for the reply from the previous thread!
Posted by: Charles | March 11, 2008 at 03:02 PM
As a member/fan of this blog,
I ban all HDnet owners / NBA franchise owners from posting here.
AK, well written and great points!! You would think someone who made millions on the internet who would have more respect for a blog, not too mention one who is a blog writer himself.
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | March 11, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Ex,
Thanks. That's actually one of those items spell check won't catch. And as we've established over the years, I'm a terrible speller. I guess that's why I'm not worthy of entrance into the Mavs locker room. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | March 11, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Why don't we all write to David Stern, and threaten to boycott the NBA finals if the Mavericks win the western conference.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | March 11, 2008 at 03:06 PM
OFF WITH CUBANS HEAD!
lol just kidding..
Nice writing AK! I guess thats why you do it for a living. You tore his argument up and ate it too.
Cuban just stepped in the biggest pile of e-doo-doo we've ever seen.
"A blogger isn't a blogger isn't a blogger".
I loved that haha
GO LAKERS! #1 seed
Posted by: DEREK | March 11, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Ex,
Actually, it wouldn't shock me if he did respond. I've had to email Cuban with questions for ESPN work in the past and he not only responded, but responded incredibly fast. We shall see.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | March 11, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Firstly, Mark Cuban is a Total Jerk to do such a thing or a matter of fact any NBA Owner I would say.
Secondly, What Harm does a Blogger do to a Team?
I can be a news reporter and might give some of the locker room information to bloggers to put it on their site.. then what? How is Cuban going to stop that.
Blogging is new way of interactive communication which brings News media closer to the Readers. This would in no way will hurt any Team in any way.
This will Bite back Cuban's Butt soon.
Posted by: Disgruntled, Frustrated Laker Fan | March 11, 2008 at 03:10 PM
By Cuban's logic, the average 7th grade journalism student has a greater right to access than a blog writer for LA Times.
Now that's some sound reasoning. Tell Cuban if he's paper and ink are the sine qua non of true journalism, he can feel free to print out the K Bros numerous outstanding blog articles and user comments. Several reams (!) later, he'll regard you guys as real journalists.
If he wanted to be principled, Cuban could just say something like, "no more than 'x' reporters per media outlet; print periodicals and blogs operating under their aegis together count as one"
But that would require principle.
I particularly enjoyed the transparently thin excuse about if I allow one, I have to allow all.
Um.... why?
Posted by: The D | March 11, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Oh wait a minute, one more observation....
Is Mark Cuban cross-eyed or crossed eyes? I'm curious, he could not look straight, his eyes always look inwards. In medical terms, the condition is called strabismus. Or maybe, I'm the one who have a biased eyes. lol!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 11, 2008 at 03:11 PM
You are right Cuban got strabismus. He might have stared at a Busty young blogger and she might have cracked his Nuts. who knows..
" Edwin Gueco
Oh wait a minute, one more observation....
Is Mark Cuban cross-eyed or crossed eyes? I'm curious, he could not look straight, his eyes always look inwards. In medical terms, the condition is called strabismus. Or maybe, I'm the one who have a biased eyes. lol! "
Posted by: Disgruntled, Frustrated Laker Fan | March 11, 2008 at 03:16 PM
AK/BK,
I don't post much, but I come here almost every day. I just want to say thank you for all the hard work you've been putting into this website. It's been nothing short of professionalism and dedication every day. In fact, I actually think that keeping a 'round the clock blog is more time consuming than what a typical beat writer might do.
So I just want to say thank you, and I hope that this place will continue to be the gathering place of all online Lakers fans.
Posted by: JusmanX | March 11, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Edwin Gueco,
Great idea.
Well, we of this blog have even more reason to truculently root against the Mavs next time they play the Lakers.
MARK CUBAN IS A TOOL!
NO MVP? NO PEACE!
T.J. SIMERS? NO! KAREEM? YES!
DIT DA JOW FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 11, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Edwin Gueco,
No, Mark Cuban has the beady black eyes of a serial killer or a deviant. That's what it is.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 11, 2008 at 03:20 PM
A blogger is a blogger is a blogger...
unless its a Laker Blogger!!
1st Quarter:
Kam Brothers 1
Cuban 0
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | March 11, 2008 at 03:21 PM
AK,
Great letter. But I'd stay away from Dealey Plaza, if I were you. Weren't the Cubans linked to.... ???
What's ridiculous is that Cuban actually has the legal right to do this. But I do like the suggestion above that the Times make you "legitimate" print columnists. It would serve the Mavs' owner right.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | March 11, 2008 at 03:24 PM
SCATHING AK.... JUST SCATHING!
Posted by: Romy R. | March 11, 2008 at 03:27 PM
AK IN THE HOUSE!! Telling Cuban like it is! Too funny!
I, like so many others, would be very interested to see if he responds and how he would rationalize the valid points made. What a cross-eyed troll.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 11, 2008 at 03:32 PM
dudes...you guys are great writers and do a wonderful job. But, isn't this a waste of time? Are you feeding the beast?
Any media relations department for any sports team can refuse access to any journalist they want, so what's the difference?
Move on...
Laker Fan.
Posted by: dg | March 11, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Great read.
Posted by: passionate Lakers fan | March 11, 2008 at 03:38 PM
AK,
Well, that Cuban was smoked!
But with the embargo still in place, hopefully the Feds won't be coming after you.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | March 11, 2008 at 03:40 PM
AK you did that!
ladies and gents... That's how you smoke a Cuban!
Easy to say you got about 300+ of us riding shotgun with you on this one. Kbros, just say the word..........
Posted by: LakerFaze | March 11, 2008 at 03:40 PM
AK,
There's an easy solution to this! All you have to do is simply stop calling this a blog -- so that you and BK are technically no longer "bloggers".
Now, following the general sentiment of commenters on this "site", might I suggest changing the name from "Lakers Blog" to "Constantly Updated, Brian and Andrew's Notable Internet Site with Admirers' and Trolls' Opinions Of the Lakers" (CUBAN IS A TOOL).
Posted by: DK | March 11, 2008 at 03:41 PM
AK/BK - I also would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for the hard work & effort you put into giving the fans an excellent, intelligent forum for our beloved Laker-chat. You are true professionals - thanks for your dedication.
That being said, Cuban is a tool not to allow you guys in. A cross-eyed, serial-killer looking, tool.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 11, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Just a couple of hours to tip-off - yyyyeeeaaaahhhh!!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 11, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Nice letter, AK. Cuban's logic in this instance is absurd. By his logic and his desire to keep things equal I, as a writer for my college paper should be able to receive a credential to a Mavs game and have a right to enter their locker room at my leisure.
I've never covered an NBA game, or any other pro sporting event. I've never interviewed a pro athlete other than Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Taurean Green, and that was a couple days after they were drafted last summer. I've done some work for SI though so I'm sure Mark would love that. But by Cuban's estimation, as a 21 year old, inexperienced sports writer, I am more qualified to be in an NBA locker room than AK/BK. That makes sense.
Posted by: Xodus | March 11, 2008 at 03:55 PM
AK -
Fantastic for you to put that man on blast! Maybe he'll recant later this week.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | March 11, 2008 at 03:55 PM
"That's how you smoke a Cuban!"
Nice...
Posted by: Charles | March 11, 2008 at 03:56 PM
I'm probably going to get banned for life on this blog, but I actually agree with Mark on this one..
Everyone is arguing that every reporter does blogging now. Did you guys read his statement? He said anyone whose "primary" job is to blog. He's banning all people who blog all day long because he doesn't have enough room or passes. Can you blame the guy? Pretty soon everyone and their mother will be blogging. Does that mean they all should have a free pass to the locker room?
I think thats the point he's getting at.
Posted by: zen | March 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Re...Mark Cuban.....If his team was on fire and not in the position its in ...even termites would be allowed in that locker room...This team is not going to win it all and massive changes will be made...The coach first..Then the players...Its like kids playing in the schoolyard....When your winning you want to play ...BUT WHEN YOUR LOSING >>>YOU WANT TO GO HOME>>>WITH YOUR BAT AND BALL.........This guy is such a child.....Whats he going to next buy the neverland ranch..?
Posted by: Thirty2 | March 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM