Sports Media With Richard Deitsch

Episode 114 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features two guests. First up is Jeff  Pearlman, the author Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty. He is followed by Donnovan Bennett, a senior writer and host for Sportsnet Canada (where I also work). In this podcast, Pearlman discusses his reporting on Kobe Bryant and what it was like to report and write critically on Bryant; reporting on the 1996 to 2004 Lakers, interviewing more than 300 people for his book; his reporting interactions with Shaq, Phil Jackson and J.R. Rider; why he thinks people spoke with him; how he views Bryant today, and much more. Bennett discusses the differences and similarities of Canadian sports coverage versus U.S. sports coverage; debate versus conversation in sports;  the intersection of the sports media and social justice and racism in the U.S. and Canada; counsel culture; what kind of NBA Finals the Lakers-Heat will be; his take on American college football playing, and much