I WANT MY LTV

Thanks to ESPN’s Stein, it’s clear we need a camera devoted to LeBron

From now until LeBron James retires, the NBA’s network TV partners should assign a dedicated camera to isolate on the Cavs superstar. This brilliant idea came to us after reading Marc Stein’s ESPN. com piece on LBJ treating David Blatt like a smelly sweat sock during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Stein, an NBA reporter for the Bristol Faculty, was working as a courtside snoop during ESPN Radio’s coverage of Warriors-Cavs.

Stein’s radio role made him a human camera for all of us listening. He was in close proximity to the Cavs bench and wrote that James “essentially called timeouts and made substitutions” and “openly barked” at Blatt.

Stein also wrote: “There was James, in one instance I witnessed from right behind the bench, shaking his head vociferously in protest after one play Blatt drew up in the third quarter of Game 5, amounting to the loudest nonverbal scolding you could imagine — which forced Blatt, in front of his whole team, to wipe the board clean and draw up something else.”

That’s hot stuff. Stein’s ESPN.com story ran on June 18, two days after the Finals ended. Why didn’t Stein deliver the word on the radio during Game 5 after he saw James thoroughly embarrass his coach? Stein did make mention of the situation during the Game 6 radio pregame show. Stein said he felt James’ treatment of Blatt was unbecoming.

And it appears no one involved on the radio side got wrapped up in the LBJ-Blatt thing immediately after it happened in Game 5. Two sources said Stein was on the air only “a couple” of times after the fact for a total of 60 seconds.

“And he was called on to talk about game-play, not to discuss that (LeBron big-footing Blatt),” one source said.

Stein was used sparingly during the ESPN radiocasts of Finals games we listened to. He did not have the time to deliver any extended soliloquies. Then again, this is radio where the play-by-play man — in this case Mike Tirico (Hubie Brown was the analyst) — is the key mouth. The sideline reporter amounts to half a hood ornament.

On TV, sideline reporters have juice. They have more time to discuss controversy or an off-court issue. Viewers can see what’s happening on the hardwood while the sideline reporter dishes, which leads us to other questions: Doris Burke, ABC courtside Finals reporter, was stationed in close proximity to the benches. Wonder if she saw James diss Blatt?

For that matter did anyone on ESPN/ABC TV’s crew (Shecky Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Mike Breen) see what was going on? Was Stein the only cat in the building with Guiding Eyes?

This is why there must be a dedicated LeBron Cam. He is bigger than the game. We need to keep track of this cat. We need to see what he’s doing on the court and during timeouts. His every move must be chronicled.

And reported — immediately.

TAPS DANCE

Besides believing in his “upside,” there was another reason Phil Jackson felt secure in selecting Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick in the NBA draft.

It’s a proven fact Knicks fans, among the most gullible in the NBA, will support their team no matter how pathetic it is, no matter what decisions management makes.

James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan knows, and Jackson found out last season during his team’s 17-65 “run” that Knicks fans like to whine but will always show up, paying top dollar for the privilege of just sitting in “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

It’s all about marketing. Now Gulag suits will again sell hope in the form of 19-year-old Porzingis. Same old con job, er, plan, just a different player.

BOXED IN

With all the moo-la-dee Al Haymon is paying multiple networks to air his Premier Boxing Champions series you would think the suits would show him some love.

When it comes to CBS Sports, that is not the case. Boxing moles say Haymon is ticked at CBS for using talent on its PBC telecasts that has little marquee value.

CBS came out of the box with Kevin Harlan (primarily a football, basketball voice) as its blow-by-blow voice, and analysts Paulie Malignaggi and trainer Virgil Hunter. Harlan was recently replaced by Brian (Mr.) Custer.

Haymon, sources said, believes CBS should follow NBC Sports’ blueprint. That network has rolled out marquee voices like Marv Albert, Al (Exigente) Michaels, Sugar Ray Leonard and Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas to work PBC telecasts.

Comparing that glitzy lineup to CBS Sports’ boxing crew only reinforces Haymon’s point.

HARD TIMES

At least New York City dwellers won’t have to worry about more pollution in the air.

That’s the first thing that came to what’s left of our mind when the Faculty of Bristol Clown Community College deep-sixed its plan to move Mike Greenburg/Mike Golic’s ESPN Radio morning show to a Times Square studio.

Seriously though, the decision is strange. The official manifesto on the Mike & Mike recall in part read: “After carefully considering and working through all aspects of a potential move, we have decided the show will remain in Bristol for now.”

Is it not logical to think that before ESPN, with much fanfare, announced last month that its morning Gasbags were moving to NYC, it would have worked through all aspects of a potential move? That everything would be locked down? Then came a report about Greenburg/Golic holding ESPN up without a gun, demanding more money to make the move. The deal never got done. Whatever. The whole thing is a total embarrassment. Fortunately they will all get over it. Or will they?

NY1 & ONLY

The folks over at NY1 done good. And have been doing it for awhile.

Since 1999, the cable network dedicated to everything New York, has honored scholar athletes. NY1 held a luncheon on Friday honoring 25 area student athletes.

These NY1 scholar-athlete awards have provided about a million dollars in total scholarships to more than 400 students.

That’s known as serving the community.