Adam Himmelsbach

ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com

In this edition of 'Adam Asks' we bring you ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke. Burke, who was born on Long Island and grew up in Manasquan, N.J., discussed interviewing LeBron James, the pressures on female sports broadcasters, and awkward interactions with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Was basketball your first love?

I spent every waking hour at the park next to our house. We played basketball, football, Whiffle ball, you name it. Kids weren't always around, but the ball and basket were always there. I'd make a point of watching the national games on TV on weekend afternoons. And you'll laugh at this, but I'd won this purple jacket in a shooting contest, so I'd put it on as my warmup jacket and run out of these bushes and onto the court like I was running out of the tunnel, like I'd seen on the college games on TV. Even if it meant shoveling off the court on February, I'd do that.

Not many people know you left Providence as the school's all-time assist leader.

I'm the last of eight children, a very Irish-Catholic family, so funding college would have been a stretch for my parents. An athletic scholarship changed my world. I was the first in my family to graduate from college. I think my brothers and sisters were proud. One of my brothers, Danny, was actually shot and killed when I was in high school.

I'm so sorry to hear that. What happened?

When I was a sophomore in high school he'd gone back to New York and was working part-time in construction and part-time at a gas station. He put himself through community college. And at the gas station on this particular night he was held up for $300 and shot and killed for that. It was about 500 yards from the house most of my siblings grew up in.

How did you get through that?

You're gonna make me cry. I distinctly remember, my dad was a big, tough guy, and I remember we drove to New York in the middle of the night, and the next morning they had to go and basically identify my brother, and it's the one time in my life I saw my father cry.

I'll try to switch gears. You received an undergraduate degree in health administration and social work, so you didn't intend to become a broadcaster?

Yes, after I graduated I was a counselor at a school for kids who had different kinds of challenges. I did that for six months, and then I coached at Providence for two years. Some women have gracefully pulled off the tandem of coaching and being a mom and being married, and I didn't think I could do that. So I left coaching and got my Masters in the year I was pregnant with my first child. And to be honest, I fell into broadcasting. After I left coaching, they put Providence women's games on a local radio station. The athletic director at the time, John Marinatto, said 'Why don't you try this?' And my career seemed to grow a bit each year.

What advice would you give to a female journalist trying to get into sports?

Work hard, be as prepared as humanly possible and be as professional as possible, and don't worry about who has what assignment. As an announcer coming up, you can get caught up in the decisions of employers, but to me that's a waste of energy. Do the best you can do where you happen to be on assignment, and let the chips fall. It's a waste of time to say 'I should have gotten this job or that job.'

Adam Asks | Q & A with Yahoo's Pat Forde

Do you think female sports broadcasters get a fair chance?

I'm incredibly excited about the women who are doing this. One example of an analyst who I think is as good as there is is Kara Lawson. I'm thrilled at the progress women have made. I'm excited for the women who are coming up, and there are a lot of really talented ones, Rebecca Lobo, Stephanie White.

People ask me all the time what kind of resistance I've faced and what's the reaction to me as a broadcaster, because I've covered the NBA as an analyst. And this is the truth: From the coaches to the players, I've found nothing but acceptance. When discussion turns to the games, gender goes out the window, as long as you take the time and ask the right questions and show up and are prepared as possible, the players and coaches notice that.

You're obviously very well-liked, but there are also many viewers who are very critical of you. Why do you think that is?

I try very hard not to pay attention to it, and I'm not going to tell you it's not hurtful, because of course it's hurtful. Part of it is because it's a subjective business, and sometimes people like an announcer and sometimes they don't. I just try to block it out and not feed into the negativity. But I won't sit here and tell you that when you can't ignore it, it doesn't hurt. Everyone wants to be liked and thought of as doing a good job.

Adam Asks | WHAS sportscaster Adam Lefkoe, who enjoyed his time in Lou...

Have you ever felt pressure or a need to focus on your physical appearance more than a male analyst might?

That's a great question. I will say that it's a visual medium and appearance is important, and certainly it seems as though on the distaff side, appearance could be perceived as being more important. So, yes. Yes, I am aware that women can be judged differently. But I'll say this: Last year, Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated had a media column talking about the NBA Countdown show that I'm a part of, and he gave kudos to ESPN, because, you know, I'm 49 years old. And I don't know how old Sage Steele or Michelle Beadle are, but I think Michelle is a little closer to me than Sage is. But the fact that I'd be given that job basically at 48 years old is important. Change takes time and change needs a beginning, and I'm hopeful we keep moving forward.

Not that appearance isn't important. I think you have to be dressed reasonably. Makeup helps everybody--women and men—you can't get around that. But I'm hopeful appearance becomes less and less a part of how women are evaluated.

What's a good personal story from a sideline or postgame interview?

After the first title that LeBron James won, that interview to me was extraordinary, if only because of the blowback he experienced when he made the decision to go to Miami. We covered the lead-up to that and the vitriol that came at that man for probably 24 months before he won his first title. Not that we know these athletes, but having seen LeBron James with his boys and to know that in his first year in Miami he struggled because his then-fiancée, now-wife was not with him that first year, and it was a difficult time for him. So being able to be the person who interviewed LeBron after his first title, with all the challenges he had to overcome, that's one I'll remember. I knew I had to ask the right questions.

Adam Asks | Card Chronicle's Mike Rutherford

How did you prepare for that moment?

It can be hard to prepare ahead of time. In Game 6 in 2013, when [Miami's] Ray Allen hit that shot [to beat San Antonio], I had my notes on a card for [Spurs coach] Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, and that went by the wayside. But when LeBron won his first title, you knew it was coming. The night before I said 'OK, if LeBron wins this, what am I going to ask?' I was ready.

Last January, after an Oklahoma City Thunder game, you asked Kevin Durant about his big night, and he said it was all because of God. And you kind of smiled and said 'Didn't you have something to do with it, too?' That response elicited a pretty strong reaction from people who felt you were dismissing Durant a bit. What feedback did you receive?

That game I covered for Heather Cox, who has two young kids and had something that night and basically asked if I could replace her. It was a hectic day. To preface it, the year before in the NBA finals, I'd interviewed Danny Green after his big game, and he kept thanking God and then would answer the question. And that summer I got 10 photocopies from an anonymous man with anti-God, anti-religion sentiment. It was kind of a weird thing, but whatever.

Durant's sort of caught me off guard, because usually when someone acknowledges God they then move on to the question I asked. Looking back, I regret being sort of caught off-guard, because I didn't mean to in any way belittle his beliefs as a Christian. But I was unaware of the furor until the next day when I got off a plane in Louisville and there were messages from my bosses and ESPN PR saying we may need to think about addressing this.

Was it addressed?

There was an Oklahoma City columnist who basically ripped me pretty good. I basically said, 'Listen, I'm a Christian. I'm in no way, shape or form trying to belittle Kevin Durant's beliefs. He surprised me a little bit with his humility, frankly, and for not taking any credit for his play.'

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is notorious for giving short, terse in-game interviews that border between funny and rude. How do you approach these interviews?

I am absolutely scared to death every single time. You laugh, but I'm serious. [ESPN announcer] Mike Breen has asked me if he could say on air how much Pop actually likes me and respects me. I said he can do what he would like, but it doesn't make those interviews easier. I don't want to be made a fool of on TV. That's an awful experience. And I'm not joking; I'm absolutely terrified. My heart is pounding and I'm trying to make it look like I'm not sweating. The key with Gregg is he does not want to be led in any way. So I offer no opinion. I ask the most open-ended question so Pop can give me his explanation.

There was one time where he answered both of your questions by just saying 'turnovers,' right?

Yes. We tape those during the breaks so the coaches can get back to their huddles as quickly as possible. So I asked him what I believed were two very good questions and he says 'Turnovers. Turnovers.' So I'm walking back to my seat and blinking back tears and my producer is in my ear, 'You've got to tell me when he's that funny.' But I didn't think it was funny. To the rest of America it's entertaining and must-watch TV, but not to the person going through it. And I'm not the only one who's scared.

It does seem like now it's a bit more shtick on his part, like he does it because everyone's waiting for it, no?

Well if it's a former player or former coach, he's totally different. He'll answer the question if you're in the NBA fraternity.

What do you make of the Kentucky/Louisville basketball rivalry?

Kentucky's fan base is unlike any other. It seems like Kentucky fans are as invested in the milieu of that program as any fans I've ever seen. And Louisville fans pay attention to every word that's said on a broadcast. It all makes me smile, when I think of the passion that comes from both fan bases. It's extraordinary. It's almost palpable how much those fans love their teams, and only certain programs have that kind of passion.

A story from a bad day on the job, a day something went wrong?

Well, Pop is probably responsible for the best and worst day of my career, and he's unaware of both. I explained the worst. The best was I was the color analyst on a San Antonio game and in the pregame interviews, he kind of looked at me and said 'Doris, you're a basketball person. You get this.' And he'd never remember saying that, but for me it meant the world. It validated me being the color analyst of that game. It's those small moments, when coaches or players reach out to you and show they respect the job that you do. These are basketball people, and they think I'm OK.

What's a dream assignment you'd like to have someday?

The NCAA tournament. I grew up as a kid watching 'One Shining Moment' and I love March Madness.

Favorite interview subject?

David West of the Pacers is an exceptional interview. His answers are always well thought-out and really honest. When you get the real, hard truth, that's always the best stuff.

A journalist you admire?

I could go on and on, but Jay Bilas is the guy on men's college basketball. I've always felt he's the best in the business, and it's not even close. The thing about Jay and Jeff Van Gundy is that because of the respect they have, the weight of their words can be a magnet for change. They are unafraid to take a stand and then passionately defend that stand.

Adam Asks | Oscar Combs

What are you doing when you're not working or watching basketball?

I'm lucky this year because my daughter is home. She's working for a year before attending law school. I love the beach on Rhode Island. I do a ton of cooking and I love to eat. My daughter Sarah and I cook together and my son Matthew and I play golf together.

Favorite road city?

New York is very high on the list because you can get a great meal regardless of the hour. I love Portland. I love Seattle, but obviously don't go there for games anymore. I love Washington DC. And I'm in Los Angeles a lot.

Marriott points, are you a saver or spender?

I save for the splurges. My daughter and I went to Paris, and my Marriott and Westin points served us very well on that trip.

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach