NBA Hall of Fame trainwreck ... Peter Vecsey

[joe king]

Can't vouch for that one. Never saw Mitch speak to other reporters, let alone play ball. But I played in a media game during the Finals somewhere in the Bad Boys era in Detroit when Pete and Jere Longman, then of the Philadelphia Inquirer, got into a fist fight. Mike Abdenour, the trainer, came out and cleaned things up. "It's this damn court," he said. There were a lot of fights in Auburn Hills then. Like Pete as an NBA lifer. As a Hall of Famer, don't think so. In fact, it's a joke.

Apparently, you weren't at the Super Bowl back when I used to be there. Granted, it's been a few years, but back in the day, the night before the game (when everyone was finally done with all their crap for the week), Mitch would manage to find a piano in the hotel and he'd play while a bunch of reporters sang off-key to whatever oldies we could think of. Mitch could play any tune you could name, just like that. It was uncanny, and lots of fun, too.

[YGBFKM]

Albom collaborated with Warren Zevon, I believe. I think he co-wrote "The Hockey Song," if I'm not mistaken.

[old_tony]

Vecsey is very good at what he does. That goes without saying.

I don't think I've ever met someone who likes him as a person.

As someone who covered an NBA team for nearly a decade, here's what you need to know about Vecsey: He wants your help but he will never help you.

[wilt100]

It is nothing short of amazing to see people who think the NBA started with Michael Jordan ripping a guy like Peter Vecsey. What a complete joke.

Here is a guy who has devoted his life to covering the game, but he gets knocked by people who couldn't hold his jock on his worst day. The reality is that he has forgotten more about basketball than most folks on this board will ever know.

Since when does somebody have to be a nice guy or well-liked to get the job done? Give me a break.

Peter has always done it his way and never kissed anybody's ass. That's why he has enemies.

Over the course of his career he has gotten a lot more stories right than wrong. He isn't afraid to take chances, which sadly separates him from many in the field today. The NY Post, USA TODAY, NBC, TNT, NBA-TV all hired him for a reason.

Read further down on Pearlman's blog and you will see somebody claiming to have sat at Peter's table writing that Jordan left before Peter started speaking, not during the speech.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

[BigDog]

Fact: Jordan walked out during the speech.
Fact: Event organizers were wildly giving him the throat-slash-cut sign for at least 15 minutes.
Fact: Vescey walked up to two of those guys afterward and said, "It's my night. These people were here for me."
Fact: A way-up-there NBA person said afterward, "He was worse than we even hoped."
Fact: He was told that an outburst Friday night would get him ejected.

I do agree with Wilt on this point: "Peter Vescey. What a complete joke."

[BTExpress]

Over the course of his career he has gotten a lot more stories right than wrong.

Old-timers like me remember stickers that said "Accuracy! Accuracy! Accuracy!" on our desks.

Something tells me it does not mean "a lot more stories right than wrong."

[Ace]

I guess "not afraid to take chances" means willing to publish poorly sourced crap. Bravo!

[Small Town Guy]

From the descriptions of how bad it was, Vecsey should have turned the tables and walked out on Jordan's speech.

[Bubbler]

SO HOW THE HELL DID HE GET IN THE HOF?

No one seems to know.

[goalmouth]

When Vecsey said on NBC that Jordan's gambling in AC during Knicks playoff series wasn't a story, that should have trashed his HoF -- and journo credentials -- right then and there.

But then, maybe HoF voters were just throwing stuff on the wall to see what sticks...

[kleeda]

Having never had as much as a passing interest in the NBA, I have no idea who Peter Vescey is.
Having had a moderate interest in women's hoops, I do know who C. Vivian Stringer is, and the one time I interacted with her came away impressed.
Seems like I got the best end of the deal.

[Ace]

I am shocked that PV hasn't had his pants sued off of him with all the haymakers he has reportedly thrown.

[Mizzougrad96]

I am shocked that PV hasn't had his pants sued off of him with all the haymakers he has reportedly thrown.

I'm guessing the people he covers have more important things to worry about and they know nobody takes the guy that seriously.

It's a disgrace he's in the Hall.

[Sam Mills 51]

Would gladly check out the Basketball Hall of Fame for John Stockton and C. Vivian Stringer.

Michael Jordan? Pass. Peter Vecsey? Not only pass, but his brother is also a much better writer and an infinitely better person.

[TwoGloves]

It is nothing short of amazing to see people who think the NBA started with Michael Jordan ripping a guy like Peter Vecsey. What a complete joke.

Here is a guy who has devoted his life to covering the game, but he gets knocked by people who couldn't hold his jock on his worst day. The reality is that he has forgotten more about basketball than most folks on this board will ever know.

Since when does somebody have to be a nice guy or well-liked to get the job done? Give me a break.

Peter has always done it his way and never kissed anybody's ass. That's why he has enemies.

Over the course of his career he has gotten a lot more stories right than wrong. He isn't afraid to take chances, which sadly separates him from many in the field today. The NY Post, USA TODAY, NBC, TNT, NBA-TV all hired him for a reason.

Read further down on Pearlman's blog and you will see somebody claiming to have sat at Peter's table writing that Jordan left before Peter started speaking, not during the speech.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Whatever you say, Pete.

[wilt100]

The majority of the people knocking Vecsey on this board couldn't get into all of the places he has worked on a guided tour, much less the Hall of Fame.

The jealousy is absolutely pathetic. Get a life.

[kleeda]

I still don't know who he is.

[TwoGloves]

The majority of the people knocking Vecsey on this board couldn't get into all of the places he has worked on a guided tour, much less the Hall of Fame.

The jealousy is absolutely pathetic. Get a life.

Pete, you're assuming all of us give a shit about where you've been. I couldn't fucking care any less.

[TrooperBari]

The majority of the people knocking Vecsey on this board couldn't get into all of the places he has worked on a guided tour, much less the Hall of Fame.

The jealousy is absolutely pathetic. Get a life.

Because you undoubtedly have intimate knowledge of the CVs of all the posters here.

[Den1983]

I've NEVER been a big fan of Vecsey. Sure, he's gotten a nice share of scoops, but he's thrown out atleast thrice as much crap that has been so off base.

He's far from a "top notch" NBA journalist, and shouldn't even be mentioned in McCallum's or Ryan's league.

[Fredrick]

Yahoo.com has a column blasting MJ's speech as well. Made some valid points. Jordan actually told his kids, "I'd hate to be you." My gosh. MJ had a bad night as well. Said many NBA players in crowd were amazed at MJ's lack of class.

[kleeda]

I'm surprised I couldn't find a thread on the entire show. I thought MJ's speech was bad, but I expected it to be.

[Mizzougrad96]

MJ's showing his true colors. Yet another example of people thinking the guy in the commercials is like that in real life.

Call it Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, Michael Jordan syndrome. Perfect on TV, insufferable douches in real life.

[Some Guy]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Seems to be PV's career motto ...

[Elliotte Friedman]

Watch it and judge for yourself -- while it's still online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tY6NlVdI0A