Part 2:

I tell Doris Burke how much I admire her work.

She responds, “I appreciate you saying that. It isn’t unanimous.”

Indeed, it hasn’t been easy being a trailblazer in TV sports. As an analyst on NBA and men’s college basketball games, she has heard it all from various segments who object to a woman in that role.

Burke (link to her bio) also has faced questions from colleagues about whether she is hindering her analyst career by also being a sideline reporter, a job typically done by women.

In part two of my Q/A, Burke talked frankly about all of those subjects on the eve of serving as the sideline reporter for ABC’s coverage of the NBA Finals. In part one, she discussed the challenge of trying to do an in-game interview with Gregg Popovich.

How do you answer questions about  sideline reporters and the perceptions that those jobs go mainly to young, attractive women?

I was in a college classroom. We did a Q/A at the end of the session, and a couple of women said, “It’s ridiculous that (looks) are the only criteria they use to fill those jobs.”

My response is always the same. If you enter television, and you allow yourself to be bothered by the reasons you believe someone was hired, then you’re wasting energy. I tell young women who want to be in the business–in fact, I implore them–to be as professional as possible.

This is a visual medium. Are women evaluated differently than men? Is an attractive woman likely to get the job ahead of someone who is perceived as less attractive? Well, the answer is probably yes.

My whole thing in 23 years of being in this business is that I try to be prepared and professional as possible. I can’t worry about why this woman may have gotten the job and I didn’t. You just keep plugging. The reality is, if you don’t have a thick skin, this is going to be a tough business for you.

How do you respond to criticisms about your work?

I so appreciate you saying you think well of my work. It’s not unanimous. Opinions about announcers are very subjective. I get blown up on social media all the time. “She’s ugly.” What’s a woman doing the NBA?” “She has no credibility.”

It’s the nature of it. People will like you or hate you. If you allow that to bother, boy…

My kids get more upset about it than I do.

Really, you’re telling me the criticism and cheap shots don’t bother you?

I’m not going to sit here and tell you it doesn’t hurt. We all want to be well liked. We all want to be thought of as exceptional on the job.

Does it hurt? Of course it does. But it can’t have an impact when you go to do a job.

How do you like being an analyst compared to a sideline reporter?

Yeah, it’s an entirely different job. I have come over the course of time to appreciate the value of the sideline role. I grew up in the business as an analyst. Obviously on much lesser games, but that was my background. I was not a communications major. My strength always was breaking down the game. So I had to learn a few things when I was asked to do sideline work.

The first person I called was Al Trautwig. He gave me the best piece of advice. I have to remember it sometimes. He said, ‘There are going to be days when you get off the air as a sideline reporter, and you’re going to feel like you were an integral part of that telecast. In fact, you helped raise its level.’ He said, ‘There are going to be far many more nights when you get off the air and you say, ‘They just paid me do to that?'”

You have to be willing to sit there and know you researched and worked as hard as the play-by-play and color man, and you’re not going to get 90 percent of your content in. You have to be OK with it.

My preference is to be the analyst. You have far more input. You’re so much more engaged.

But the day I worked the Celtics game as a sideline reporter and Rajon Rondo tore his ACL, I had all this information and I was on all the time. That’s the nature of this assignment.

Given your work as analyst, do you come in with a level of credibility that might be higher than other sideline reporters?

I don’t know about that. I have had colleagues who have asked whether I should keep being a sideline reporter. They have questioned whether that hurts my credibility. I recently asked Jeff Van Gundy about this. I said, “I don’t think it does, but do you think it does?” He said, “Absolutely not. No way.”

Do your colleagues think you’re getting pigeon-holed as a sideline reporter?

Perhaps. I think that’s their suggestion.

Both jobs require some level of relationship of the people you’re covering. So the more Tony Parker sees me on NBA coverage in either role, he’s more familiar with the job that I do. As long as I am completely professional in both jobs, I think it helps me in the long run.

And finally, Burke talked about her roots in the business.

I’ll be honest, I was a good player at Providence College. I was an All-Big East player at a time (when the conference) wasn’t as powerful as it is today. I think it would be a lot more difficult for me to get in the business now. I was not an All-American. I was not the face of my sport, so to speak. I think those that are better known have a better chance of getting these jobs today.

I entered the business at a time (1991) when women’s basketball coverage was exploding. I had patient people who helped me overcome my mistakes and teach me along the way. I always will be indebted to Madison Square Garden. They taught me TV.

My timing was great. I feel fortunate for the opportunities I’ve gotten.

A man approached Doris Burke while she was taking a tour of St. Jude Hospital in Memphis during the Western Conference Finals.

“This gentleman said, ‘(The in-game interview with) Gregg Popovich is my favorite part of the game,” Burke said. “I said, ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying it.'”

For Burke, it always is a thrill ride with a distinct possibility of a crash landing. And guess what? Burke will get another full dose of the San Antonio coach during ABC’s coverage of the upcoming NBA Finals. She will be in her usual role as sideline reporter.

There will be no turning away when it comes time for Popovich’s in-game interviews. Not after a now infamous exchange between Burke and Popovich during the Western Finals. Popovich tersely said “turnovers” twice in response to Burke’s questions.

The interview received quite a bit of attention, and Popovich was roundly criticized. Not that it matters to him.

However, it does matter to Burke. She is one of the best sideline reporters in the business with her direct questions and observations about basketball.

In the first of a two-part interview, Burke discusses her in-game experiences and relationship with Popovich; dealing with LeBron James; and the value of the in-game interview.

How do you approach an NBA Finals that you know includes Greg Popovich?

There’s no coach in the league, including Phil Jackson when he was in the league, where I feel more angst for the (in-game interview) than Gregg Popovich. Do I go into the finals with the idea in the back of my head that seven more times at the end of the quarter I have to interview him? You bet you I do. There’s no question about it.

I try very hard not to take his reactions personally. I’ll be honest with you. It is not easy.

What is your relationship with him?

He makes it clear in every conversation we have how much respect he has for me.

Gregg Popovich is one of my favorite coaches in the league in terms of his approach and what he stands for. I’ll give you a contrast when it comes to me and Gregg Popovich. He’s responsible for one of the greatest moments of my career. And one of my worst.

The worst was the first time I had to interview him for his in-game interview. Keep in mind, I have great admiration for him. Instead of just asking him a simple question, I tried to be smart. In doing so, I think the final line, the lead-in to my question was, “What was the problem with your defense?”

Well, he crossed his arms, he got the scariest smile on his face I’ve ever seen, his face got a little red. I really do not have any recollection what he said. When I went back to my seat, the producer came in my ear and said, ‘Doris, do you mind if we don’t run it?’ I said, ‘Thank you for not humiliating me.’ It literally was that bad.

Well, fast forward three years and I’m doing the color analyst work. A different job. We go to his office during the pregame. Some subject came up, and he looked directly at me, ‘Doris, you’re a basketball person. You know what I’m talking about.’ He wouldn’t remember it, but for me, a woman doing that job, he’ll never have any idea how much that meant to me. And how much confidence that gave me.

Has he ever told you how much he doesn’t like doing the in-game interview?

Well, it’s blatantly obvious how much he objects to it. He wants to be in the huddle with his team. It’s not optional for him. Unfortunately for the sideline reporters, it’s not optional for us either. If he doesn’t want to do it, he has to effort that kind of change with the league. We’re going in whether he wants to do it or not.

I think he has a great feel for human beings. He could sense if you’re less than secure. Or he could sense if the person asking the question is making it about (the interviewer) and as opposed to being about the game.

My worry is how he comes across to the viewing public. The one-word answer isn’t the true representation of Gregg Popovich, the man. In fact, it’s 180-degrees from the man.

You mentioned Phil Jackson as someone who also caused you “angst.” How so?

When the in-game interview first was instituted, so many coaches objected to doing it. They made it clear by the brevity of their answer or their tone of their answer, or their body language.

Phil is like Gregg Popovich. If you come with a question he doesn’t feel is appropriate, he will not hide his displeasure.

Who are the players and coaches who get it?

When Indiana upset the Knicks, David West in the post-game interview, gave me two well-thought, interesting responses. I don’t remember specifically what he said, but as he was leaving the court, I made a point of saying to him, “David, I so appreciate you taking the time to think about my question.” It was that good.

Doc Rivers is tremendous. If he’s angry, he’s going to let you know. He’s going to lay it on the line.

How about LeBron James?

I give him a lot of credit. He’s the big star and he has to answer questions after every game. It’s basketball. You can’t reinvent the wheel, and there’s only so many ways you can ask a question.

After the Heat won last year, I asked him, ‘Put this championship in perspective in light of everything you’ve gone through.’ I don’t have the exact quote, but it was excellent.

He is another very thoughtful guy. He tries to respond to the question that is asked as opposed to going in the direction he wants to go in.

How do you feel about the purpose of the in-game interviews?

I don’t think my feelings are necessarily important. There are times where we get great answers. What the percentage is relative to poor answers or pat answers, I don’t know. I will say this: I know that ESPN is very proactive in terms of focus groups. They are constantly asking viewers about what they like and don’t like. My sense is the in-game interviews get some positive feedback. Otherwise, they would serve no purpose.

The fans want to hear from the coaches, from the players. The only thing I’m trying to do when I ask a question is, “What would I be curious about if I was watching the game at home?”

As difficult as it was when Popovich said, ‘Turnovers, turnovers’ to me, I got three different texts from people in the business who said, ‘It is must-see TV.’ They understand the kind of reaction Popovich is going to have, and for them, it is entertaining content.

Part 2: On whether being a sideline reporter hurts Burke’s credibility as an analyst?