“Is it AH-sheek?”
“I think it’s pronounced Ah-SHICK.”
Sometimes this is how it goes on press row in Milwaukee, like when Omer Asik and the Rockets visited earlier this month.
I am going to have a bookshelf of Media Guides one day.
Even in the age of the Internet, I collect certain tangible items every NBA season. There is the Fear The Dear towel that drapes over my stereo and the 2010 Game 4 playoff press credential on my refrigerator. Bobbleheads are around. And my collection of Milwaukee Bucks Media Guides grows every year.
The 2012-13 version is pretty slick. You can check out the online version here. All 272 pages.
In the print version, there is no backspace button. Over the summer, Jim Paschke asked me what source I go to when I find conflicting information for a Bucks story that I am crafting. His answer was my answer: the Media Guide. When I worked in the Media Relations Department for the Milwaukee Brewers, I helped edit a portion of the Media Guide. Such a demanding task. Such a rewarding task. Such is life.
The Bucks have a great Public Relations staff. Just ask the Pro Basketball Writers Association.
Every time I read a book, I take notes, so many notes, as a way to remember my favorite passages, quotes, lines. Here are 10 of my favorite pages from this year’s Media Guide, because I don’t want to give it all away.
Oh, and for the record, it’s O-mair AH-shick, according to the most recent NBA Pronunciation Guide.
P. 28 – Pronunciation Guide
Clearing it up, once and for all.
It is BEN-oh OO-dreeh.
I spend so much time reading and not necessarily as much time hearing (because I read a lot on the internet and spend home games on press row rather than viewing on television), so this is a wonderful resource. You can do as much research as possible before interviewing a player, and you could still get the most basic thing wrong – the introduction – right away. If you don’t consult the Media Guide.
P. 71 – Off-Site Games
The Bucks continued a tradition of playing preseason games in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee, hosting games in La Crosse and Green Bay before the 2012-13 campaign. It always provides fans throughout the state a nice opportunity to see the team without needing to travel so far.
The Bucks actually played their first playoff home games in Madison. And they played 25 games in Madison from 1968 through 1975, going 16-9.
P. 73 – Top Opening Night Scorers
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar kicked off the team’s NBA championship 1970-71 season with 39 points in a double-overtime 122-120 home-opening win over the Baltimore Bullets. LeBron James went for 31 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in Milwaukee’s home opener in 2004, but the Bucks prevailed 102-88.
On Nov. 2, 1991, Michael Jordan visited for opening night in Milwaukee, fresh off his first of six NBA championships. Jordan scored 46 points – the most ever by any player in a Bucks road or home opener – and led the Bulls to a 109-107 win.
P. 86 – All-Time Playoff Results
This section actually runs for six pages. Hopefully this carries on for even more pages in editions soon to come…
P. 96 – All-Time Jersey Numbers
Every player to ever suit up for the Bucks, sorted by jersey number. Why is this so fun to look at? Why is Andrew Lang the only Buck to ever choose #28?
The most common jersey number picked by Bucks? Close call, but #12 is the most popular, current choice of Luc Mbah a Moute and worn by 20 Bucks in franchise history. Next is a tie between #5 and #7, worn by 19 players each. Scott Skiles donned #5 when he played for the Bucks. Some really good ones wore #7, including Nate Archibald, Dale Ellis, Toni Kukoc – and currently, Ersan Ilyasova. The lowest number that no Buck has yet picked is #29. Four players have worn #00, but Drew Gooden is the only one to wear #0.
P. 98 – 1968-69 Team Photo
The first Bucks.
The original Buck, Jon McGlocklin (an All-Star that season), stands fifth from the left on the top row, flashing that trademark smile. Rich Niemann, bottom left, appears caught in between expressions. Dick Cunningham has his game face on. Wayne Embry is cool as can be, holding the basketball in the middle. Lenny Chappell is a bit cramped on the lower right. Just a classic shot.
P. 216 – Draft History
The Bucks won a coin flip and the opportunity to select a player then known as Lew Alcindor with the first overall choice in the 1969 NBA Draft. Also worth noting: The Bucks picked 18 players in that draft, back when there were 20 rounds.
P. 232 – Playoff Format & Tie Breakers
With the crowded Eastern Conference, might need to reference these playoff seeding tiebreakers.
P. 240 – Bucks vs Mavericks
An entire section is devoted to how the Bucks have fared against each team in the league. Here you learn that the team is 24-6 at home in franchise history against the Mavericks, good for an .800 winning percentage. Naturally, the first time I reported on press row for a home game against the Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki hit a game-winner at the buzzer.
P. 269 – All-Time Preseason Records
A couple things pop off this page. For one, the Bucks went 7-0 in the preseason in 1997. They went 36-46. The team also went 10-0 in the preseason in 1970. They won the championship that season.