Has the Coverage of Sports Always Been so Toxic?
The internet is exhausting.
Navigating the internet in 2024 is like attempting to leave Washington D.C during rush hour on Connecticut Avenue.
It sucks!
The internet is filled to the brim with ads, drama, and more ads. Everyone from social media influencers to dorks with a blog about nostalgia desperately wants their audiences’ money, hits, and engagement. Unfortunately for me, the internet has succeeded in capturing both my wallet and attention. Not only am I making unnecessary Starting Lineup figure purchases on eBay, but I’m also wasting my limited free time by consuming click-bait, contentious content that has invaded my algorithm.
Thanks to the internet, I’m broke and tired
Clickbait posts and engagement farming content is far more troublesome than the countless ads that dominate the internet, though. Not only does it spread misinformation, but it also is a catalyst for divisiveness and unnecessary drama in the world. This is especially evident when it comes to the coverage of sports. Thanks to polarizing figures like Stephen A. Smith, shows like First Take and Undisputed have transformed discussions surrounding sports. Now everything is a debate, and everyone has a hot take designed to rile up the audience with the goal boost online engagement. This is problematic because sports media prioritizes talking about players like Caitlin Clark, Bronny James, or Harrison Butker, instead of providing insightful commentary on the latest games in the sports world. While many of the debate shows are still show on television, the most contentious clips make there way online and invade home feeds on all platforms. At times it feels like the internet has ruined how sports are covered.
I want to see the highlights from the Wizards game, I don’t want to feel like I’m watching a Presidential debate!
Sometimes, you gotta disconnect.
Reading can be a great way to distance yourself from all of the online noise. One day while I was in the sports section of Half Price Books (I read other genres of books, too. I’m not a complete degenerate), I stumbled across this really neat book, The Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball 1997: 1997 Edition, edited by Zander Hollander. Man, what a great phind! This handbook provided everything I was looking for; roster breakdowns, free agent signings, trades, team blunders, and rookie insights for 1996-1997 NBA season!
Even though I closely follow the never-ending carousel of NBA roster moves, and have watched countless hours of Al Jefferson post move highlights on YouTube, I have a lot to learn about the eras before my time. What better way to gain insight into this era of hoops than through a medium that isn’t as contentious and toxic as today’s internet!
Right?
Philbin's Phinds
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Philbin's Phinds -
Junior Burrough
“There’s a place for him in the game. But it’s probably in Europe…Now starting for YOUR Bologna Buckaroos” (pg.57)
Wait a second, I thought that books were supposed to be less toxic than the internet?! We’re just getting started, buckle up!
Now if this was written in 2024 it probably would have said, “Now starting for YOUR Shanghai Sharks!" and commenters online would be saying things like, “Time to learn Mandarin, buddy!”
Yes, this take on Junior is pretty funny, but it is actually incredibly accurate. The following season, not only was Junior playing overseas, but he was playing in Italy for Olimpia Basket Pistoia (Phun Phact, Joe Bryant also played for this club). His Basketball journey did not stop in Italy, however. From 1995 to 2009, he played for 27 different teams across the globe. He ended up playing in Argentina, Venezuela, Germany, Japan, France, Puerto Rico, Greece, Korea and Mexico. Now that’s one hell of a career. Even though he may not have had the greatest run in the NBA, he was able to play professional basketball for almost three decades while traveling the world. Many people, including myself, dream about having a long career of playing hoops professionally.
Don’t listen to the haters, Junior. We here at Philbin’s Phinds think you had a dope career.
BRAD LOHAUS
“Quick. What’s nearly 7-0 and invisible under the backboards?
Perimeter game is his best asset. May be his only asset…Can’t rebound. Can’t Defend. Makes a mean latte though…” (pg.161)
If I didn’t know this was a quote about Brad Lohaus, I would have guessed this was about Myers Leonard. Clumsy centers that chuck threes and avoid the paint like I avoid exercise are my least favorite type of center. Unless you’re Brook Lopez, you better be knocking down hook shots, or up and unders.
Get in the paint big fella!
I haven’t seen a whole lot of Lohaus highlights, but I did phind one on YouTube where he blocked a shot from Michael Jordan. I can make a mean latte, but I can’t say that I’ve blocked the goat’s shot in an NBA game before. For that accomplishment, I want to apologize to Brad for the Myers Leonard comparison.
STEVE KERR
“The anti-Jordan … A guy who stands out at the three-point line and waits for an open shot…
Until he wins a big game out there, he won’t be remembered as fondly as John Paxon” (pg.174)
Ok, this one isn’t necessarily toxic or anything, but I could totally see this as a talking point online in 2024. This is kind of like the rings debate that we see online, but for role players.
In case you were’t aware (or alive yet), Steve Kerr ended up knocking down a game-winning shot in the ‘97 finals which not only went down as one of the biggest moments in Bulls history, but also in NBA History in the 97 Finals. I think it’s safe to say that Zander (Editor) was spot-on with this take. Thanks to this clutch shot, Kerr is now remembered as fondly and perhaps even more fondly than John Paxon by Bulls fans.
JON BARRY
“Reputation in Milwaukee was as someone who couldn’t shoot and then sulked when he didn’t play, but Warriors liked what they saw.”(pg.150)
I’ve always felt that Jon Barry sounds super annoyed whenever he is on an NBA broadcast. I don’t get it, your job is to watch basketball. Lighten up! It turns out that he isn’t just a cranky broadcaster, he was also a cranky NBA player! I did some digging online to try and phind any quotes from John Barry voicing displeasure about playing time but had trouble locating any. So instead, let’s imagine how this situation would have most likely played out in 2024.
Yeah, maybe Jon Barry would’ve had posted a cryptic tweet online and then demand a trade. It’s a players league in 2024!
TODD DAY
“Should be an All-Star. But there should also be justice in this world... Has the talent. Understands the game…Just doesn’t seem to do what he should…Was spotted playing defense once. Back in Highschool…Takes lots of bad shots…Think that might have something to do with that spiffy .366 shooting?”(pg.54)
You ever get a text from your boomer parents that include way too many ellipses? Are they upset, confused, or sarcastic? Which one is it, boomer?! Maybe I’m just triggered by reading texts from my Dad who loves using ellipses a bit too much.
Ellipses aside, this breakdown is brutal. Despite averaging over 10ppg in six seasons, Todd Day never managed to reach his all-star potential. It’s unfortunate because he had great scoring ability, and was very explosive. However, if you’re not the star player, you better be able to play defense and knock down open shots as a wing. If not, your time in the league will be short.
There’s a looonng list of players who had the potential to be an all-star caliber player but had trouble piecing it all together. Mario Hezonja is one of the first players that comes to mind for me. He’s got the frame, athleticism, and skill to be a top player in the NBA, but he never consistently combined all of these attributes.
I’ll never forget watching his Summer league highlights thinking he’d be the next LeBron!
JOHN “hot Rod” WILLIAMS
“Next! … Not the answer at center
Averaging just 0.9 blocks his first 42 outings? Centers should get more by accident.”(pg.373)
I’m going to disagree with Zander on this take. I believe that a blocked shot is one of basketball's most overrated plays and stats. Why? Being a good shot blocker does NOT make you a good defender. I’m going to give you two players who are great shot blockers to prove my point.
Rudy Gobert and Luke Philbin.
If we get switched onto a quick guard, it’s BBQ chicken! Being able to provide rim protection is great, but when you’re a traffic cone out there, are you really that great of a defender? Shot blockers CAN be defensive liabilities.
So, let’s give Hot Rod a break for not averaging a high number of blocks!
John Starks
“Think they regret that long-term contract? Entering third year of four-year, $13.4-million extension…Has trade value of Ebola Virus.”(pg.95)
If this was 2024 it would have probably said Corona Virus instead of Ebola, but either way, this sounds like something you would read on one of those hater twitter accounts!
It is safe to say that the Knicks did not regret offering Starks a contract extension. Starks proved he still had it by averaging 13.8 points per game, knocking down a team-high 150 threes, and winning the Sixth Man of the Year trophy for the ‘97 season. Every team needs a spark off the bench, and Starks brought it every night!
Winners of the Sixth Man of the Year trophy are some of my favorite players to watch because they are usually either great scorers or high-energy players. Here are my top 3 favorite Sixth Man of the Year winners:
Jamal Crawford:
Naz Reid
Lou Williams
What do all three of these players have in common? No analytics here, just buckets!
Sarunas Marciulionis
“How do you say ‘journeyman’ in Lithuanian? “(pg.260)
It’s Keliautojas according to Google. If there are any Lithuanian Philbin’s Phinds readers out there, please let me know if this is accurate or not (and send me a ‘92 Lithuanian x Grateful Dead basketball shirt ).
Jokes aside, put some respect on Sarunas’ name! No one should be called a journeyman if they’re a Hall of Famer, and a pioneer of one of the most iconic moves in the sport, the Euro-Step. Plus, Sarunas only played for four teams, I’d hardly consider that to be a journeyman. Leave that title for guys like Ish Smith (he’s played for 13 teams!).
Check out this sweet Euro-Step at:14 in the video below ⬇
Dontonio Wingfield
“Let’s see. Two pro seasons, three teams. Yeah, great decision to leave school early.”(pg.387)
Dontonio Wingfield had a short 4-year stint in the NBA averaging 3.7PPG on 10.1 MPG. Perhaps if he stayed in College a few more years he could have further developed his craft and had a longer NBA career. There are many other players out there who could have benefitted from a few more years in college like Dontonio. Some other players that come to mind are Johnny Davis, James Wiseman, and Anthony Bennett.
It’s hard to blame any player for leaving early, though. What if you blow out your knee or tear your achilles your senior year of college? That’s a lot of money you could potentially lose out on.
Andrew DeClercq
“Runs the floor and rebounds…In practice…Games, forget it....”(pg.387)
I’m the Andrew DeClercq of Street Fighter 6. In training mode, I can land all the combos, super moves, and anti-airs with ease, however playing online is a different story. Once the bright lights are on, I’m a deer in headlights 👁👄👁
For a 2nd round pick, DeClercq had a solid run in the NBA. He played 10 seasons and was able to earn a solid $17,908,500! His role was pretty simple. Grab some rebounds and set good screens. Whenever I start up a NBA 2k franchise I always have one of these types of players on my squad. They can be really useful against big centers who cause havoc in the paint. Some underrated 2K '“bruiser” centers that were integral parts of some of my best squads were Reggie Evans, Ed Davis, and Ha-Sueng-Jin. With teams going smaller and smaller, these types of players are getting lost in history. Maybe one day we’ll see a Reggie Evans-type player who can shoot threes. Kenneth Lofton jr.??
Bo Outlaw
“Blocks a lot of shots for a small guy…Please, just stop making him taking shots beyond three feet…Give team a spark with hustle…Gives team nightmares with lousy free throw shooting.”(pg.351)
One of my favorite player archetypes is a lockdown defender who can’t shoot. It’s like in an RPG video game where their stats got maxed out on defense and they literally can’t put any more skill points on magic of attack.
Andre Roberson, and Tony Allen are two of my favorite examples of this type of player archetype. High-scoring shooting guards HATED playing against them. Well, on the offensive end, you can sag off like crazy on defense at least.
I have a fun idea for a starting 5:
PG-Rajon Rondo SG-Tony Allen SF-Andre Roberson PF-Bo Outlaw C-Ben Wallace
All defense but ZERO outside shooting. The final score of the games would probably be 50-62. I’d watch it.
RASHEED WALLACE
“Will somebody please stop this guy? … Showed the emotional stability of Hitler during the bunker days. Drew 19 technical fouls. Lost his temper at the drop of a hat…Work habits of a cadaver...And he’s a trash-talker…Sad part is, he has talent”(pg.388)
This piece on Rasheed Wallace is what inspired me to write this piece in the first place. As a Trail Blazers fan, the first thing I did was jump to the section on their roster to learn a little bit about their squad that season. I certainly did not expect a Hitler reference that’s for sure. It felt like I was reading something off of Twitter, not a stinky old book from the late 90s!
Zander comes off as a major hater here. I may be biased because Rasheed Wallace is one of my favorite players of all time, but everything he mentioned is what makes him such an iconic player. He had so much talent, but at the same time couldn’t help himself from getting techs left and right. Sometimes he’s even ejected from just staring at a ref!
“Get away from me, Steve!!”
Anyways, I hate these types of takes about players who are loud, outspoken, or cocky. Athletes like this make sports so much fun. There’s a reason why people love athletes like Connor McGregor, he’s incredibly entertaining. At the end of the day, that’s all sports are, entertainment. So I don’t think anyone needed to stop Rasheed from being Rasheed. I’m glad he was unapologetically him.
It turns out that 1996 isn’t too different from 2024.
One thing the internet loves to do is talk shit about a player’s performance, career, or fails. While I thought this book would spare me from that type of discourse, it turns out this handbook is just as guilty. The player summaries are full of one-liners, and disses that would have done numbers if it were a post on social media today. Even though I wanted to disconnect from this type of content, I couldn’t put the book down. Some of the takes are hilarious, some are super accurate, and some of it is just downright hating! I still think that despite some of the cheap shots and Stephen A. Smith-esque takes, The Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball 1997: 1997 Edition is still an entertaining read well worth it for any NBA fan out there.
Philbin's Phinds
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Philbin's Phinds -
If you’re curious as to where all the images of each player came from, it’s from NBA Live 97 for PS1! I scored with each player in the game for you all to enjoy.
Written by Luke
