| | NEW YORK -- The Seattle SuperSonics and Toronto Raptors were
fined $100,000 each by the NBA on Monday for their coaches' refusal to
wear microphones during a game.
|  | | Sonics coach Paul Westphal read a prepared statement to the media about why he has refused to wear a microphone. |
The Sonics' Paul Westphal and Toronto's Butch Carter rebuffed a
league directive to wear the mikes during Sunday's nationally
televised game in Seattle that the Raptors won 99-97.
The fines were assessed against the teams. However, Westphal
said Sunday that if the Sonics were fined, he would pay the money
himself. The Raptors on Monday refused to say precisely who would pay
their fine.
Carter said Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald asked him to
wear the mike. The coach said he then spoke with veteran players Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis, and they asked him not to wear it.
"They thought it was an invasion," he said. "I can't afford
to lose the respect of my players. If I have to, I'll pay the fine
myself."
The NBA and NBC are trying to increase TV ratings, which have
fallen dramatically since Michael Jordan retired before the
lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. They decided to mike coaches
during games, hoping to tap into conversations with players and
others.
A week ago, Miami Heat coach Pat Riley refused to wear a mike.
The league said any coach refusing in the future would have to pay.
The Sonics are in Vancouver, British Columbia, for a game
Monday night against the Grizzlies and Westphal could not immediately be
reached for comment.
On Sunday, Westphal said wearing a microphone would hamper his
ability to coach, and worried that tapes of his instructions to
players could be used by other teams.
"It really is not to be defiant," he said. "I simply cannot
do what I truly believe seriously impedes my ability to compete."
| |
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Raptors race to 17-point lead but have to hold off Sonics
NBA to coaches: Be miked or be fined $100,000
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