Examining the Lakers IST banner debate | Devine Intervention
Yahoo Sports NBA writer Dan Devine is joined by Josh Gondelman to discuss Los Angeles’ plans to raise a banner for their In-Season Tournament title. Hear the full conversation on “Devine Intervention” - part of the “Ball Don’t Lie” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
JOSH GONDELMAN: Lakers hang a banner for the in-season tournament.
DAN DEVINE: I love this because mine is the opposite side of this--
JOSH GONDELMAN: I was--
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
-- because I think we're on the same side of this. I think it is like fine to do, but then the fans-- I brought this up earlier, but the people celebrating it-- like, you get to hang the banner. That's cloth. I'm not I'm not here to oppose textiles.
I'm-- America needs to go back to its manufacturing roots. I don't believe that. I don't think that's true. But, I'm not mad at the banner. That's-- it's something to celebrate.
But, the like-- fans, act like you've been there before. Even though you haven't, because this has never happened before, which is why it doesn't mean anything that much. But hang the banner. Just shut up. You're trying to have it both ways, which I'm also trying to do, which is why I hate when you do it.
DAN DEVINE: If you have real feelings about this. Like, there are people who either feel like it is preposterous and like a stain on the sanctity of the game and people who feel like anyone who is arguing against the validity of an in-season tournament championship disrespects the soul of competition. Like, if you are staking out an extreme position on either side of this, consider chilling the (BLEEP) out entirely about this.
We need not rend garments over the sanctity of cloth hung in arenas. Some examples of other cloths that hang up in arenas, Madison Square Garden, they've got banners for Billy Joel, Harry Styles, and Phish selling out a lot of concerts. Barclays had one that was just the Notorious B.I.G. 72. I don't know exactly-- like, I mean, I get why, but, like, also, I don't get why. Staples Center had one for Taylor Swift, and then they apparently took that down because the Los Angeles Kings complained about it. They thought they were cursed--
JOSH GONDELMAN: I didn't know that.
-- Taylor Swift banner, which I love. And then, talking about The Heat there with their nastiest, hardest playing, best conditioned, et cetera, raised banners for Michael Jordan who never played for them and Dan Marino, who never played basketball. So there are-- the Lakers won a competition.
Whether that competition is of equal weight and value to-- of course, it's not-- to an NBA championship. They're going to-- love the fact they're going to hang one that is a different shape and color just so no one gets confused. Totally fine.
JOSH GONDELMAN: It's a different thing. Cool.
DAN DEVINE: What I would like most, though, is that if we open that up to the public and have everybody vote on what shape it is, like-- I mean, I think that we could end up with something very interesting there. Maybe like the silhouette of Alfred Hitchcock or something. I don't know.
Maybe get Hollywood involved in some capacity. It would be good. But if you are-- there are so many things in the world to feel aggrieved about. I guess broadly speaking, if this is one that you're choosing, there could be worse things. But like, you can allow the blood pressure to reduce on this.
JOSH GONDELMAN: Because-- look, this-- I think hang whatever as a banner. Player of the month, put up a banner. Why-- why-- they do it at Subway, why not at an NBA arena?