The Press Box Trump’s Iran Head Fakes, a CBS News Defection, and Tales From the Lakers Locker Room With Howard Beck
Mar 11, 2026
Howard Beck, veteran NBA reporter, shares locker-room tales from covering the Lakers, Shaq, and Kobe. He recounts playful Shaq moments, early rapport with Kobe, Phil Jackson’s press style, surreal locker-room encounters like Muhammad Ali, and the ethics of accepting gifts such as U2 tickets. Short, vivid stories paint a behind-the-scenes picture of basketball life.
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Press Confronts Trump Over School Strike Attribution
- Trump suggested Iran bombed its own school; reporters pushed back with evidence pointing to a U.S. Tomahawk missile.
- Sean McCreish pressed Trump, who replied, I just don't know enough and said it's under investigation.
Word Choice Shapes Perception Of Military Action
- Trump avoids calling the conflict a war, using terms like excursion or incursion to downplay it.
- That choice matters legally and politically because public debate and congressional authorization hinge on defining the action.
'Off-Ramp' Makes War Sound Like A Highway Exit
- Media jargon like off-ramp trivializes war endings and makes policy seem like traffic maneuvers.
- Bryan Curtis argues off-ramp reads too casual compared with exit strategy or formal political/legal processes.
