Live from Cleveland: Game 2, and the Mayor is mad at me!
Cleveland – I don’t like doing television. Heck, I don’t like watching television. But a local station asked if I’d come on live from courtside at the Q before tonight’s game because one of the anchors took umbrage with this scandalous line from the live Game 1 blog:
“For one thing, they have to live in Cleveland.”
It was, I’ll grant you, a bad little joke. But I’d also submit that, as Cleveland jokes go, it was about the mildest ever. Because I don’t really get into that make-fun-of-the-other-city thing. (Except for Birmingham, Ala. — don’t get me started on Birmingham, Ala.)
Anyway, I was asked to go on the local Fox affiliate with some guy named Bob — or maybe it was Bill — who bills (or bobs) himself as the Mayor of the City of Champions. (Yes, that would, in Bob/Bill’s mind, be Cleveland, Ohio, which hasn’t seen a professional championship since 1964. But I digress.)
So there I am, trying to be a good sport, and Bob/Bill comes on, calls me a knothead, calls my employer the Journal-Constipation (hey, new one!) and starts ranting. Being a Kentuckian and therefore a diplomat on the order of Henry Clay, I seek to calm the waters.
I call him, “Your honor.” I say, “We all know the Braves were lucky to beat the Indians in 1995 [they weren't, but I was trying to be conciliatory] and we have a sneaking suspicion the Hawks won’t win a game against the Cavaliers [I wasn't kidding about that one] and we’ve had such a difficult winter with all the snow [what'd we have, an inch?] — I was just trying to give us Atlantans something to feel good about.”
Well, Bob/Bill wasn’t having it. He ranted about our “dreadful airport” — if you want to see a dreadful airport, take a stroll through the one up here — and the byzantine nature of Peachtree Street and called ours “a dreadful, dreadful city.” And I stood there deadpan. And then he started going on about Cleveland, and said he was glad he lived there.
And I said: “And we’re [meaning Atlantans] glad you live here, too.”
Apparently deadpan doesn’t register up here because the Mayor had no rejoinder. And apparently this wasn’t making for the kind of Good TV this fine station had in mind. So Bob/Bill’s co-anchor — I believe her name was Stacey, though it might have been Cindy — said: “Mark, you know this is all in fun?”
And I said: “Actually, I thought this was supposed to be a serious discussion.”
So then the folks back in the studio decided to cut it off because I wasn’t yelling back, but not before Bob/Bill threatened to beat me up. Twice. And he told me I’d better hide. And finally I dropped the poker face and started laughing.
“Yeah,” I said, “I’m hiding from you.”
And I probably shouldn’t report this because they might get exiled by the Mayor, but the technicians on my end of the camera laughed, too. I felt I’d kept my dignity, such as it is. And I also felt that, alongside Bob/Bill, Russ Spencer is David Brinkley.
OK, enough about me: While I was waiting to do my calamitous spot, none other than LeBron James was shooting 40 footers over my head. He was shooting from the walkway adjacent to the Cavs’ bench. He was shooting over the backboard.
He airballed the first half-dozen. Then he hit the rim. Then he airballed two more. Then he swished one. This pleased him so much that he leaped up and touched the exit sign above the tunnel, which is about 11 feet from the floor.
Speaking of which: The Plain Dealer’s lead sports story, written by Brian Windhorst, posed this stumper — who jumps higher, LeBron or Josh Smith? No consensus was reached, save for the belief that LeBron jumps stronger but Smoove jumps prettier.
Reading the story on the morning of Game 2, the first thought that crossed my mind was: The Cleveland folks must think there’s not much to say about this series if they’re already trotting out the feature-y stuff. And there might not be.
Major basketball news!!!! Mike Woodson just announced that Al Horford and Marvin Williams won’t play tonight. Zaza Pachulia will start in Horfy’s stead. Woodson described the two injured Hawks as “day to day” and said that Williams (wrist) was closer to being fit for Game 2 than Horford (ankle).
Woodson: “We’ve got no excuses. Guys have to step up and play. I expect [bench guys] to step up and play, and I’m going to push them to step up.”
Ramifications of this breaking news: Let’s assume the Hawks lose tonight. They’ll have to win Game 3 to keep hope alive, but can they manage that with Horfy and Marvin gimpy at best and sidelined at worst? The skeptic in me says no. But I’m also the guy who figured the Celtics would sweep a year ago.
The vile video: Here, if you dare, is my alleged conversation with the alleged Mayor. I would not recommend anyone watch, unless you’re fond of disasters. Even Channel 8 describes it as “one of the strangest moments in the station’s history.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
522 comments Add your comment
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:46 pm
Joe out…..his time to hit the beach on the Mediterranean………better than South Beach…….topless chicks…….. wonderful food……. 14 million buys allot !
Might even run into some movie stars !
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
10:47 pm
Sunday, four or five days ago, does that really matter?
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
10:49 pm
Now I’m free…..
I’m free falling…..
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:49 pm
Mark you felt good…….. to an organization losing Millions each year……….they need a bailout from Obama !
Stat Man
May 7th, 2009
10:50 pm
Thank God we have a NASCAR race on television Saturday night – any kind of alternative sports programming is welcomed!!!
marty
May 7th, 2009
10:50 pm
I should have yelled at the tv louder…maybe they couldn’t hear me.
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
10:50 pm
Mark, don’t forget to punch Schultz when you get home. He gets Miami, you get Cleveland, oh the inhumanity…..
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:51 pm
Can anyone here tell the crowd how much the Atlanta Spirit lost this year in revenue ?
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:52 pm
How can you run a business in the RED and expect to WIN ?
The Grim Reaper
May 7th, 2009
10:52 pm
Horrible effort from the starters tonight. Woody can’t coach on the road, and unfortunately, that means he has to go next year. He has taken this team as far as it can go. We aren’t even COMPETITIVE on the road. I just can’t believe I didn’t take the Cavs and lay the points (-12). Idiot I am.
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:53 pm
Winning starts at the top………..then the attitude is carried on by the players !
Iheath
May 7th, 2009
10:53 pm
I know that we were down a few players going into this game, but until the second unit got in at the end of the game I didn’t see a hawks player play with passion the whole game. The one thing you can control is your effort and there was none of it. That is inexcusable in a junior high game let alone in the nba playoffs….disappointed
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
10:53 pm
Actually, reading my previous comment, I now stand by “They are who we thought we are.” Thanks, I’ll be back..(insert scary Arnold look)
Peter
May 7th, 2009
10:57 pm
We have made strides this year………..next year we need some passion !
I saw Marvin in Sandy Spring at a Petco……..I thought……does the guy even lift weights ?
Aaron from CLE
May 7th, 2009
10:59 pm
I think Bill/Bob was teasing you, Mark. He’s not the mayor either. Just some “news” guy.
Not much going on in Cleveland or Atlanta, so this feud prolly wont work out. Can’t we just hate on NY and Boston?
jbo
May 7th, 2009
10:59 pm
WOW FIRE WOODSON AFTER THE SEASON, WHY DOESENT HE PLAY LAW UNTIL THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, THE SECOND UNIT ACTUALLY PLAYED HARDER THEN THE FIRST UNIT HAS PLAYED ALL PLAYOFFS, FIRE WOODSON PLEASE, I DNT CARE ABOUT HIM GETTING THE HAWKS THIS FAR, HAWKS SHOULD HAVE GOT D’ANTONI LAST YEAR.
nunna yo bizznezz
May 7th, 2009
11:00 pm
HEY MARK..
I TOLD U SO..
YEA I KNOW ITS THE 2ND UNIT THEY PLAYED AGAINST BUT OTHELLO AND GARDNER ARE OUR 3RD UNIT,AND SHOWED JUST WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THEM..
I KNOW THEY ARE NOT WORLD BEATERS,BUT,WITH SOME PLAYING TIME EARLIER THIS YEAR AND OUR STARTERS NOT HaVING TO HaVE PLaYED PLAYOFF MINUTES DURING THE REGULAR SEASON,WHO KNOWS HOW GOOD WE WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR..
AND,WITH THE PLAY OF GARDNER AND HUNTER TONITE,MIGHT HAVE CLOSED THE DOOR ON WOODY TO RETURN NEXT SEASON..
THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING..
jbo
May 7th, 2009
11:01 pm
I WISH WOODSON COULD READ ALL OF OUR POSTINGS, CAUSE IF HE DOES HE WILL BECOME A BETTER COACH, LITERALY THEIR ARE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES OUT BETTER THEN HIM
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:02 pm
Mark, I let my extremely old for her age, twelve year old daughter watch your video with the idiot. She got it. I guess Southerners understand sarcastic humor much better than self-proclaimed Mayors of “Champion Town”. And don’t give me any krapola about you being born within a rocks throw of the frozen tundra, I mean the North.
Oh and the Hawks are the “not ready for prime time players, part dos”.
As everyone else, I tuned out early and just left it on because I could not find any M*A*S*H re-runs.
Falcons Fan
May 7th, 2009
11:09 pm
Lebron get away with anything. When I played ball he would be called every play for palming the ball. This new basketball is just stupid and it really ain’t basketball. It’s showball. Bunch of overpaid stupid idiots won’y get a dime of my money!
Falcons Fan
May 7th, 2009
11:09 pm
Lebron get away with anything. When I played ball he would be called every play for palming the ball. This new basketball is just stupid and it really ain’t basketball. It’s showball. Bunch of overpaid stupid idiots won’y get a dime of my money!
Jerry Grillo
May 7th, 2009
11:10 pm
Hey Mark, ripping on the other city is a time-honored tradition in sports column writing (Jim Murray turned it into an art-form). You gotta do what you gotta do.
Prasad
May 7th, 2009
11:11 pm
Mike Woodson needs to GO….he just doesnt know how to use his bench..he forced Joe to play a lot of minutes during the regular season and drained him out physically…Dont blame it on Joe..Hes doing all he can…If Woody did a lot of rotations and gave Joe enough rest during the season..he could have been physically sound and a much better competitor.. In my opinion.. Atlanta needs to get a good coach like Flip Saunders..they have great players..we beat all the top teams during the regular season when our players were fresh.Woody is getting on my nerves..Just the sight of that bald idiot makes me wanna punch my neighbour in the face..
justanotherWITmvpNESS
May 7th, 2009
11:19 pm
I agree the Hawks got stiffed on several calls but don’t think you cover the 13 if those calls go the other way. Not sure I’ve ever seen a team give up the way the Hawks did in the 2nd half.
UGA
May 7th, 2009
11:20 pm
To all you so called Hawks fans:
It’s hard to win without Al and Marvin. Plus, only the Lakers won up there all year (I don’t include the Sixers win at the end of the year)
UGA
May 7th, 2009
11:27 pm
For those that keep stats, please count any Josh Smith jump shot as a turnover. That ball has no chance at going in.
Mark Bradley
May 7th, 2009
11:29 pm
LeBron just said: “We think every game is challenging … We look forward to going down to their arena — their fans are unbelievable for them.”
Sekou Smith says Joe left the locker room with a walking boot on his foot. But he was walking.
justanotherWITmvpNESS
May 7th, 2009
11:30 pm
Falcons Fan what’s so new about this basketball, Jordan and others had the same treatment 20 years ago. Lets face it, one of the great upsides of being so good with such deceiving body control is a bias from the refs. Oh, just by watching the game you’re supporting NBA television ratings and hence their revenue stream.
UGA
May 7th, 2009
11:31 pm
“It’s no thing, I’ll be there Saturday night for Game 3.” Joe Johnson
Yes, I get down on him too, I wish he was more aggressive. But, if not for him, we would be talking about the Draft Lottery again. If not for him, we do not win Game 7.
Horford was huge Game 7 on the defensive end and rebound-wise. We need him.
Marvin is better than people think, he is a reason we have the home-court.
Everyone is so down, look at the Boston series last year, no game was close there. They have LeBron, even Jordan could not guard this guy!!
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:32 pm
And then depression set in.
Larry
May 7th, 2009
11:35 pm
Mark,
What will it take to fire Woody? Would Avery Johnson come to Atlanta? We need someone to inspire this team emotionally and that is no player who has that type of personality type on our roster. I also propose a trade for Tyson Chandler, the Hornets will be giving him way for a 2nd round pick and a ham sandwich this summer.
Danny
May 7th, 2009
11:36 pm
Don’t worry Mark, in a year or 2 your paper will be out of business and you won’t have a job. Keep making yourself feel important now while you still have one.
nunna yo bizznezz
May 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
HEY MARK,
WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE’LL SEE MARVIN,AL,AND JOE PLAY SATURDAY NIGHT..
AND,WHAT ARE THE COACHES SAYING ABOUT THE PLAY OF OUR 2ND UNIT,NAMELY,HUNTER AND GARDNER??
ONE MORE THING,I LOVE FLIP,BUT ONCE THE STARTERS ARE OUT,HE DOE NOT PLAY TEAM BALL..HE IS A BALL HAWK..U CAN BE OPEN LIKE GARDNER WAS TWICE ON THE WING,AND FLIP LOOKS THE OTHER WAY,AND DRIVES INTO DOUBLE TEAMS
Dave
May 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
LOL at the elitist folks from Georgia, didn’t you people used to own people as property until we had to come down there and tell you it was wrong?
justanotherWITmvpNESS
May 7th, 2009
11:40 pm
Where does game 3 open? Figure the Hawks get no love, even at home, given the first two. Could be Cavs laying double digits. Have to take the points in my opinion even with the injuries. At this point coaches/players are playing for their jobs, not the series. Then again when LBJ is hitting 36 footers at the buzzer because he felt like it I think maybe there’s only 3 ways to play this: flat, long the cavs, or really long the cavs.
UGABAN1111
May 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
HAWKS PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR IN MY OPINION.
1. TRADE MARVIN, SPEEDY, AND CHILDRESS RIGHT FOR CHRIS CAMAN A TRUE CENTER.
2. RESIGN FLIP AND BIBBY.
3. STARTING 5 SHOULD BE
Pg. Bibby << Backup – Acie
Sg. Joe << Backup – Flip (Flip is not a Pg IMO)
Sf. Josh S << Backup – Mo
Pf. Horford << Backup – Solo
C. Kaman << Backup – Zaza
4. THE HAWKS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN THERE DEFENSE NOT THERE OFFENSE. NOBODY ON OUR TEAM SET CHARGES!!! ALMOST EVERY PLAYER ON CLEVELAND SETS CHARGES!! INSTEAD WE TRY TO BLOCK EVERY SHOT AND THEN WONDER HOW WE IN FOUL TROUBLE. ARE TEAM ISNT DEFENSIVE MINDED. WE WOULD RATHER HOPE THEY DNT MAKE THE SHOT INSTEAD OF PLAYING HELP DEFENSE AND CLOSING OUT. WATCH THE CELTICS THEY GOT REAL DEFENSE. (With Garnett)
5. Our Coach Has No Plays For Our Best Player!!! Are Only Play For Joe Johnson Is ISO.
6. Joe Johnson Would Be SOOOOOOO Much Better If He Didnt Wait For The Double Team, Instead Faceup His Defender And Take Him To The Hole Before They Double Him. Woodson Probably Told Him To Wait For The Double. (Dumbass Coach)
7. Zaza Is Playing Too Many Minutes. I Love His Intensity But He Shouldnt Play No More Than 15 Mins A Nite. Sometimes He Plays 25 to 30. He’s Mainly A Energy Guy. Something Like Ben Wallace or Birdman.
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:44 pm
Brrrr….Danny, that is so cold. And what is it about the truth that you don’t like. The Hawks so far have shown that they cannot play with the Cavs. Don’t get me wrong, I hope they make an idiot out of me and any other naysayer and win the next four games. But as someone who lives in a place called REALITY. I don’t think so. However, I will come on this or anyone else’s blog and eat crow, feathers and all, if we win the next two games, heck just two games. Promise and I hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.
UGABAN1111
May 7th, 2009
11:45 pm
HAWKS PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR IN MY OPINION.
1. TRADE MARVIN, SPEEDY, AND CHILDRESS RIGHT FOR CHRIS CAMAN A TRUE CENTER.
2. RESIGN FLIP AND BIBBY.
3. STARTING 5 SHOULD BE
Pg. Bibby << Backup – Acie
Sg. Joe << Backup – Flip (Flip is not a Pg IMO)
Sf. Josh S << Backup – Mo
Pf. Horford << Backup – Solo
C. Kaman << Backup – Zaza
4. THE HAWKS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN THERE DEFENSE NOT THERE OFFENSE. NOBODY ON OUR TEAM SET CHARGES!!! ALMOST EVERY PLAYER ON CLEVELAND SETS CHARGES!! INSTEAD WE TRY TO BLOCK EVERY SHOT AND THEN WONDER HOW WE IN FOUL TROUBLE. ARE TEAM ISNT DEFENSIVE MINDED. WE WOULD RATHER HOPE THEY DNT MAKE THE SHOT INSTEAD OF PLAYING HELP DEFENSE AND CLOSING OUT. WATCH THE CELTICS THEY GOT REAL DEFENSE. (With Garnett)
5. Our Coach Has No Plays For Our Best Player!!! Are Only Play For Joe Johnson Is ISO.
6. Joe Johnson Would Be SOOOOOOO Much Better If He Didnt Wait For The Double Team, Instead Faceup His Defender And Take Him To The Hole Before They Double Him. Woodson Probably Told Him To Wait For The Double. (Dumbass Coach)
7. Zaza Is Playing Too Many Minutes. I Love His Intensity But He Shouldnt Play No More Than 15 Mins A Nite. Sometimes He Plays 25 to 30. He’s Mainly A Energy Guy. Something Like Ben Wallace or Birdman.
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:46 pm
Dave, when did you come down here and tell me it was wrong to own someone? I have personally never owned anyone, my children excluded. So when did you tell that to me?
Paul From Milton
May 7th, 2009
11:46 pm
It will be interesting to see where the fingers point after this game. Once again, no discipline and no fight. Our only hope is that LeBron gets winded from all the uncontested drives to the hoop we are giving him.
czervik
May 7th, 2009
11:50 pm
If all you’ve got is THAT! Have at it. Who cares? I live in Cleveland and have much better Cleveland slams. I laughed when I read it. It could apply to dozens of major US cities. This country is going downhill and Atlanta might as well enjoy the ride down with the new president.
UGABAN1111
May 7th, 2009
11:51 pm
Hakws Other Problems.
1. Josh Smith – I Love His Defense And His Exciting Plays But Somebody Has To Sit Him Down And Tell Him If He Shoots Another Jumper They Are Going To Fine Him. Over The Summer Mark Price Needs To Work With Him Too Like He Did Marvin’s Shot!! And Josh Also Need To Learn How To Dribble Better And Stop Getting Defensive Rebounds And Running The Fastbreak Like He Is A Point Guard.
2. We Need To Run More Pick And Rolls. (Greatest Play Ever In Basketball)
3. We Need Shooters Who Can Shoot Off Screens!! Joe, Bibby, Flip, Mo All Can Shoot But They Have To Be Set Before They Shoot. Someone Like Ray Allen
4. Learn How To Play Help Defense. Almost At Least 5 Times A Game A Player From The Other Team Has A Wide Open Shot. Thats Bad Defense.
5. Joe Is Playing Too Many Minutes. If I Was Joe I Would Say Coach Take Me Out, Damn Im Tired Lol.
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:54 pm
Czervik, loved you in Caddyshack. “I bet you buy this hat you get a free bowl of soup.. Oh but it looks good on you.”
Ptolemy
May 7th, 2009
11:55 pm
Does Calgary need a basketball team?
Cuz
May 7th, 2009
11:57 pm
UGABAN, number 5. Did you miss Joe being pushed in a wheelchair? That pic will be plastered on his locker by the lockeroom comedian wannabe.
Sarah
May 7th, 2009
11:58 pm
I’m not going through the many pages of comments on this blog, so I do apologize if I repeat something, but the news anchor that wanted to “fight” you, his name is Bill. At least in Cleveland, and all throughout Northeast Ohio, we get people’s names right.
You looked like a scared little boy when you were live from the Q.
That’s so pathetic. I’m glad that I’m from Northeast Ohio, and I am able to see some fairly decent broadcast journalists on the air. You my friend, have a face for radio and a voice for silent movies.
czervik
May 7th, 2009
11:59 pm
The funny thing is that half the folks in Hotlanta came from HERE to begin with. Now the freakin sissies can’t take an inch of snow (all thoroughfares shut down).
Believe me, the people in Cleveland are great at being the brunt of jokes. Some lame’O reporter from the ACJ isn’t throwin’ anything down we haven’t seen before.
Our news people are joke….just like yours.
Mark, thanks for being a gamer and coming here to do your little schick (sp?). In the end, you’ll be reporting about Josh and Joe’s meltdowns. We’ll move on to the next victims.
It is FINALLY good to be a Cleveland fan. Let me lean back and FINALLY enjoy it without the buzzing of a few Atlanta knats.
Cuz
May 8th, 2009
12:01 am
Lebron is the number one and three top highlights of the day on ESPN. Embarrassment, thy name is Hawks.
790TheZoneIntern
May 8th, 2009
12:02 am
The bench guys almost made it interesting. They had a shot to cut it to 13. Joe or not Saturday night will rock the Phil and the Hawks will put a win on the board.
czervik
May 8th, 2009
12:04 am
Guessing we’ll see 5, maybe 10 thou at Phillips. The rest will be at the local BBQ eating pulled pork and Brunswick stew.
Perhaps they’ll be trolling underground Atlanta. How appropriate it.
Couldn’t be worst than the “Stone Mountain” shooting of Joe…if he can find the will to extricate himself from the wheel chair. Funny as sh**!