Media Day

October 4, 2005

What a difference a day makes?! Yesterday, the Rockets held the necessary evil that is Media Day and the owner, the head coach, and the players told the media about the great chemistry last year's team had. Less than 24 hours later, the Rockets announced the acquisition of point guard Rafer Alston from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for fan favorite Mike James. I guess team chemistry wasn't so great that a move to improve the team couldn't wait any longer.

I write all of this to simply state this: Media Days are full of ... fluff.

Please do not misunderstand me. I'm quite honored to be a member of the media; and, I'm glad to attend Media Day because it means I'm still credentialed by basketball teams. However, the overall importance of Media Day is overblown. Media Day is an event; and, it's not really made for the media in the first place.

Team employees from the owner down to the security personnel pose for pictures for the media guides and the organization's staff directory. The players walk from "point A" to "point J, K, L or M" and pose for photo opportunities. While the pictures are being taken, the media spends a lot of time talking with colleagues about predictions for the team this upcoming season; other local sports teams; or, quite frankly, why is Media Day taking so long and why didn't it start on time?

Once we get the opportunity to interview the owner and the team, much of what we hear is more fluff. Cliches are flying fast and furious on Media Day: "I like our team this season." "This season is going to be special for us." "We have a chance to win it all this year." "I'm looking forward to doing my part to help the team win this season."

Media Day gives every team the opportunity to tout hope and promise for a successful season. Media Day is a day everyone puts on a happy face and looks forward to the upcoming season. Media Day can be so sugary sweet I feel like I need to visit the dentist's office and have a cavity filled when Media Day is over.

Thank goodness for a pessimist like Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy because though its coach speak, JVG cuts through the fluff with his sharp, sardonic wit. Jeff doesn't want to hear or read the Rockets may be one of the top teams in the Western Conference in 2005. He discusses what the team needs to do in order to win one ball game let alone the 60 wins some of his players have predicted for this season.

On paper, the Rockets appear to have a very good team; but, games are not won on paper, they're won on the basketball court. Games are won by properly executing on offense and defense. Games are won by doing the "little things" correctly such as being in the right spot on the court at the right time; setting the proper screen; switching defenses properly; making the right pass; knocking down the open shot; getting back on defense; etc.

Games are not won at Media Day.

Personally, I like practice; and, thankfully, practice has begun with the first day of training camp and the two-a-day sessions. Two-a-days means preseason games are not far from being played. Preseason games being played means the regular season is just around the corner. Regular season games signal the journey to a title has begun. The journey does not begin at Media Day.