http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/2009/06/abc_unconcerned_about_ma\
gic_jo.html

Much has been made about ABC/ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy's conflict of interest
for the NBA Finals, what with his brother, Stan, coaching the Magic.

But speaking of Magic, what about Earvin Johnson, part-owner of the Lakers and a
studio analyst for ABC/ESPN?

I asked ESPN executive VP Norby Williamson about that Tuesday. Click below for
his answer.

That's all for today. Enjoy the PBA's 2009 H&R Block Tournament of Champions at
10 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

Photo: Getty

"Obviously, Magic is always a Laker and will be a Laker,'' he said. "At the end
of the day you have to gauge the objectivity of the person you're putting out
there. In the sports world you always have people coming from different areas,
whether they're coaches, players, allegiances, relationships. By the way, not
just the sports world but in all walks of life.

"At the end of the day you look at it and the performance and the comments and
the message. You're not trying to fool anybody. At the end of the day if you're
putting people out there that are objective, gather information, talk to people,
take the viewer inside the game and give an objective presentation, that's what
the goal is: Take the fan and the viewer someplace they can't go."

Does Williamson think Magic has done a good job navigating the treacherous
waters of being a Lakers guy in a national TV studio?

"Yeah, I do. I think the fans and you as a watcher of our products would have
just as good an assessment of that. I'd ask you. But I will tell you there are a
lot of ways to look not only at comments on different players around the league,
but we tend to focus on what those perceived areas of conflict may be, and I
think rightfully so.

"I've talked to Magic about that, comments on the Lakers. He is going to
interview Kobe Bryant tomorrow, and that piece will air Thursday night. He's
done that previously in the regular season. He's had comments that he's been
tough on Kobe Bryant. He's been tough on Lamar Odom. He called the Lakers soft
two weeks ago or 10 days ago.

"Magic is a guy who's confident in who he is. He certainly should be confident
for what he's accomplished in the league and in business. I don't think he has
any real concerns about that. He's going to call it as he sees them and be
balanced and do his homework and hopefully you'll give people a perspective they
can't get other places."