Who is demanding this blogger demonization of David Stern? Players? Furious fans? A lot of what we see coming out of Stern's press conferences is blatant demagougery, playing on the fears and easy half-truths of a financially disenfranchised public. Has everyone seen Sin City?
Power don't come from a badge or a gun. Power comes from lying. Lying big, and gettin' the whole damn world to play along with you. Once you got everybody agreeing with what they know in their hearts ain't true, you've got 'em by the balls.
When the sentiment of demonization comes up, it's about the doer stooping to malicious characterization. In a blogger's case, I suppose that comes down to being accused of manufacturing a polarizing controversy to drive site traffic. It's an idea honest writers find offensive, but it's another distraction from the main point; David Stern is scamming the public with his slant, and that is tantamount to daring the free press to do something about it. If the biggest sports media outlet is more business than sport oriented, I'm glad to know someone is willing to pick up the slack and give the lie to Stern's spin.
Is using the news to deceive the public to obtain better leverage over the NBPA to get the owners more money and more power over the NBA's labor force? Yup. The biggest insult is that his half-truths aren't particularly well-concealed. A little careful analysis brings that house of cards down like a Texas tornado. But Stern has stuck to his guns and there is no equally credible (public figure-wise) voice calling him out.
In America we can't outright lie, instead we discredit the ones who call shenanigans. In this case, it's the people trying to expose the economic reality of Stern's negotiating position.
A few weeks ago, when asked if he could see the framework of a deal in the league's negotiations with the players' union, Stern dismissively joked that he'd leave that to the "bloggers."
Tom Ziller via SB Nation
Translation: You don't need information from the source when you're imagining it! XD lolol zomg! Except as Sharp points out when it comes to information from the "source";
There would be no lies, because there never are. But no truth, either.
Andrew Sharp via SB Nation
And that's what it all comes down to. In the end Stern must offer something to the media, but what he offers amounts to doubletalk and talking points. And just like any political debate, the talking points are repeated and amplified regardless of inherent logical or logistical fallacies.
A lie can't last in America, but a pithy half-truth sounds more real than reality. You get enough people repeating it, then you own the perception. Is there a David Stern witch hunt going on? Nope. Unless peeling the lacquer finish off those finely tuned press conferences count. But in the modern American political parlance, maybe it is. At least that's what Stern or someone in his camp might say. And when it happens, it won't be stooping to malicious characterization. When you've got the loudest voice, it's just calling a spade a spade...right?