Bull Butter
04-29-2007, 11:37 AM
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/archives/2007/04/richard_oliver_9.html
April 28, 2007
Richard Oliver: Broadcast blues
Express-News columnist Richard Oliver is on site for tonight's Game 3 showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Spurs.
Jeff Vexler and Walter Pasacrita, co-hosts of an afternoon sports talk show on KTKR-AM 760, The Ticket, have had their Spurs postseason credentials revoked after a controversial skit the show ran Wednesday that included a faked interview with Nuggets star Allen Iverson.
According to one Spurs source who heard the segment, it included a faux chat with Iverson in which it's mentioned that San Antonio was sluggish in the opening game because he and teammate Carmelo Anthony gave the opponents something from their "special stash." Additionally, there is a mention of Denver players cruising the Riverwalk looking for sex and of Iverson firing a pistol into the air to celebrate the opening victory, with the bullet coming down to hit a homeless person.
The segment included several references perceived to be racist by the Spurs and sources close to the station.
"We thought the skit was highly offensive and very inappropriate," Spurs spokesman Tom James said this afternoon. "As a result of that skit, we don't want them involved in any way, shape or form with Spurs programming."
As a result, James confirmed that the team has severed all ties with the hosts and their show, and head coach Gregg Popovich will no longer do his weekly appearance for the station through at least the remainder of the playoffs.
"I don't like nothing negative like that," Iverson said after Game 3. "I don't smoke weed and I'm married. For them to put out something like that is awful. It shows what type of class (the Spurs) have as an organization (to separate themselves from the show). And for the guys that did that it shows what type of class they got."
Attempts to reach George King, the station's operations manager, were unsuccessful. Both Pasacrita and Vexler also were unavailable, and those reached at the station declined to comment.
The Spurs hold sponsorship and contractual relationships with Clear Channel, which owns KTKR. It is the reason, James said, that the team felt it could pull the station's credentials for its postseason games.
"Obviously, we are not in the position to dictate control with every media outlet," he said. "But in this situation, it's a bit different. We felt strongly enough about the content of that skit that we deemed action was necessary."
With Vexler, one of the usual Spurs game-night studio hosts, sidelined, Andrew Monaco is handling the duties tonight.
April 28, 2007
Richard Oliver: Broadcast blues
Express-News columnist Richard Oliver is on site for tonight's Game 3 showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Spurs.
Jeff Vexler and Walter Pasacrita, co-hosts of an afternoon sports talk show on KTKR-AM 760, The Ticket, have had their Spurs postseason credentials revoked after a controversial skit the show ran Wednesday that included a faked interview with Nuggets star Allen Iverson.
According to one Spurs source who heard the segment, it included a faux chat with Iverson in which it's mentioned that San Antonio was sluggish in the opening game because he and teammate Carmelo Anthony gave the opponents something from their "special stash." Additionally, there is a mention of Denver players cruising the Riverwalk looking for sex and of Iverson firing a pistol into the air to celebrate the opening victory, with the bullet coming down to hit a homeless person.
The segment included several references perceived to be racist by the Spurs and sources close to the station.
"We thought the skit was highly offensive and very inappropriate," Spurs spokesman Tom James said this afternoon. "As a result of that skit, we don't want them involved in any way, shape or form with Spurs programming."
As a result, James confirmed that the team has severed all ties with the hosts and their show, and head coach Gregg Popovich will no longer do his weekly appearance for the station through at least the remainder of the playoffs.
"I don't like nothing negative like that," Iverson said after Game 3. "I don't smoke weed and I'm married. For them to put out something like that is awful. It shows what type of class (the Spurs) have as an organization (to separate themselves from the show). And for the guys that did that it shows what type of class they got."
Attempts to reach George King, the station's operations manager, were unsuccessful. Both Pasacrita and Vexler also were unavailable, and those reached at the station declined to comment.
The Spurs hold sponsorship and contractual relationships with Clear Channel, which owns KTKR. It is the reason, James said, that the team felt it could pull the station's credentials for its postseason games.
"Obviously, we are not in the position to dictate control with every media outlet," he said. "But in this situation, it's a bit different. We felt strongly enough about the content of that skit that we deemed action was necessary."
With Vexler, one of the usual Spurs game-night studio hosts, sidelined, Andrew Monaco is handling the duties tonight.