The Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals with a Game 5 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. A jubilant post-game celebration featured one awkward moment.
During the ABC broadcast, Lisa Salters interviewed Wyc Grousbeck. The decorated sideline reporter, who’s worked for ESPN since 2000, asked the Celtics owner how the team handled lofty expectations.
Before delivering a fitting response that praised head coach Joe Mazzulla, Grousbeck called Salters by the wrong name.
“Michelle, the brilliance of Joe Mazzulla is that he wouldn’t let expectations get in the way,” Grousbeck said, via Awful Announcing. “Joe Mazzulla said, ‘There’s no expectations. You got to win or die trying.’ Joe set a plan, and he kept everybody focused. And these guys played team basketball. Great Celtics basketball. It wasn’t about expectations. It was about getting it done. Banner 18.”
Michelle Tafoya occupied the same role for ABC and ESPN when the Celtics won their last championship in 2008. That was her last NBA Finals assignment, but maybe Grousbeck hasn’t watched ESPN in the last 16 years.
Hopefully Grousbeck didn’t also call Jaylen Brown “Paul,” marvel over Kevin Garnett’s tenacity when discussing Jayson Tatum, or credit Danny Ainge for acquiring Rajon Rondo from the Portland Trail Blazers last offseason.
Salters let the blunder slide, because what else is she supposed to do at that moment? Grousbeck can only hope for another chance to speak to her again at another championship ceremony.
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