10 Questions with ... Rob Parker

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Print - The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, Daily News in New York, The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Detroit Free Press, New York Newsday, and The Detroit News. Local TV - WDIV Detroit, WWJ Detroit, WXYZ Detroit and KNBC Los Angeles. Local radio - WDFN Detroit, WKRK Detroit, ESPN New York and KLAC Los Angeles. National TV - NewSport, Fox News Channel, ESPN and FS1.

1. You trained as a journalist and started as a sportswriter -- what drew you to reporting on sports? When did you decide that writing (or talking) about sports was what you wanted to do?

I wanted to play first base for the Mets growing up, but early on, I wanted a backup plan in case I didn’t make it. I loved sports and was a good writer. And at age nine, I read three newspapers a day. Way back then, I always wanted my own column.

2. And as for radio (on which you've done a lot, including a long run with "Parker and the Man" on Detroit radio), how did that come about? How did you make that move from print to radio, and, for that matter, television?

Parker and The Man was a wonderful show -- it was both fun and informative. Mark Wilson, “The Man,” and I enjoyed a 10-year run. We were paired by the PD and we just clicked. At the height of our show, we were the No. 1 nighttime program in Detroit. We even beat music stations from 7-11pm. The transition from print was easy because I was opinionated when I was a guest on TV and radio. I just continued that approach, even if players and the local teams hated me for it. I worked for the fans.

3. You've long been a columnist as well as a radio and TV host and commentator, so you've been on the opinion side of the sports media (as opposed to beat reporting) for a long time. Was that the plan from the beginning -- was it your goal to be hired for your opinions from the start, or did that part evolve? As I asked your "Odd Couple" co-host, when did you, pardon the slogan, "embrace debate"?

The funny thing is that I always wanted to be a columnist. In fact, I wanted to be Oscar Madison, the sports columnist from the '70s sitcom, “The Odd Couple.” I thought it was the best job -- go to ballgames for free and give my opinion about what happened. Hence, I’ve always embraced debate. It’s powerful, and what fans want is to make sense of what happened.

4. You've been very vocal in your criticism of the NBA lately, especially with the Warriors' dominance. Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel? How long do you expect it to be before there's more competitive balance in the league and not the season-long expectation that Golden State will breeze through the finals?

LeBron James ruined the NBA with the Super Team stuff he started in Miami when he teamed up with DWade and Chris Bosh. James, I like to say, started MySpace and the Warriors countered and formed Facebook. They one-upped him when they added Kevin Durant. Sadly, we probably have a chance to see Golden State win a few more times before the team eventually breaks up. The lack of balance in the league stinks. I’ve been covering the league since 1987. The regular season is almost unwatchable.

5. You've recently started teaching as an adjunct professor at USC; what prompted you to teach, and what was your opening semester like for you? What do you think students' expectations are for careers in sports communications -- are they looking towards traditional careers (sportswriter, broadcaster) or something different?

I’ve always been a mentor. Hence, teaching seemed like the natural next step. What a great experience. The students were fully engaged. I was impressed with how much they wanted to learn. I had practically100 percent attendance and other students, who weren’t even registered, would come and sit in on my class. Students want to cover sports, and be sports writers in any form that will be available to them in the future. The biz isn’t dead, just rebooting.

6. Who in the industry have been your inspirations, mentors, and/or influences?

Dick Young, a longtime New York Daily News columnist; Warner Wolf, a New York local sports anchor legend; Ralph Wiley, a former Sports Illustrated writer; and Bryan Burrell, a former football columnist at the New York Daily News. I took a lot from those guys in the biz to mold myself. mostly to be honest, and hold executives, coaches and players accountable for the paying fans.

7. Of what are you most proud?

Two things. First, I have helped mentor over 30 young journalists in the biz, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and The Undefeated’s Marc Spears. Secondly, I was the first African American sports columnist in the history of the Detroit Free Press. When they hired me in 1993, the paper was 161 years old.

8. I asked this of Chris, but let's flip it and ask you about your current radio partner -- describe how you see your roles on the show. You're being touted as "polar opposites," but what commonalities have you found between you? What are the areas in which you most differ, and what things do you agree upon?

Chris and I are both seasoned newspaper reporters. We understand the importance of being accurate and responsible. Neither one of us will just throw anything out to the public to make the phones ring. We both have great mutual respect for each other. Chris thinks the NBA is just fine in its current state. I believe the league is broken. We both agree LeBron James is the second-best player of all time and that Jordan is the G.O.A.T.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________.

...a Golden Girls rerun. I love that show.

10. What's the most valuable lesson you've learned so far in your career?

To be fair and honest about the people you write and talk about. If I couldn’t face them after saying something negative about them, I never should have written or said it.