Few annual media tours rival that of David Stern in the week leading up to the NBA All-Star Game.
During what should be a wonderful time for the league, he somehow always manages to sound grumpy, condescending or just plain uncooperative. He does not play "what-if" games and sounds either better than the folks he's talking with or bored.
With the All-Star Game set to attrack a record crowd to Cowboys Stadium on Sunday, Stern, the league's forth commissioner, who has been in charge since Feb. 1, 1984, has been making the rounds again this week.
He has spent part of his time on ESPN Radio shows, discussing the NCAA's one-and-done rule and how it impacts his league with "Mike and Mike in the Morning," and avoiding discussion of the league's labor situation while on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd."
When Cowherd broached the labor deal, Stern corrected the host on the facts, positioned the discussion in an adversarial manner and refused to play along when Cowherd tried a more light-hearted aproach. LISTEN HERE
While the NBA has one of the better mid-season all-star events in pro sports with its dunk contest and weekend full of activities -- something that can eat up a couple nights of TV time with decent programming -- this almost reliable approach by the commissioner inevitably takes some of the lustre off the overall event.
The three days of TV coverage of All-Star Weekend activities begins Friday. As follows ...
Friday
7 p.m., All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN)
Saturday
7 p.m., H.O.R.S.E. (TNT)
8 p.m., NBA All-Star Saturday Night (TNT)
9 p.m., T-Mobile Rookie Challenge (TNT)
Sunday
8 p.m., All-Star Game (TNT)