Covering the Lakers: Like a 'shot of espresso'
Reflecting fans' opinions about the Lakers, Sports reporter Mike Bresnahan's stories tend to be either loathed or loved.
Fans agree on one thing, though: Bresnahan's stories have to be read. His articles on the pro basketball team typically rank among the most viewed on latimes.com, no matter what other news breaks out, be it business, politics or sports. Covering the team keeps him busy...too busy, as he says. As Deputy Sports Editor Mike James puts it, "Basically, Mike starts working in September and doesn't have a day off until June."
And, as Bresnahan himself puts it, "It's pretty much guaranteed that many of my stories about the Lakers will be loved by half the readers and hated by the other half. Fans demand that the team wins the NBA championship every year and then get agitated when it doesn't happen."
Bresnahan follows the team through nearly 90 games that stretch from the preseason in September through April -- or late June, depending on how the team fares. Reader interest is year-round, so being the beat writer for Los Angeles' most popular pro team is, too: In 2007, Bresnahan wrote 343 stories about the Lakers.
The sports writer, who has covered the team for four years and been with The Times for 14 years, answers a few questions about the wit and wisdom of athletes he's reported on, and what it's like to have to file a story on a game only 15 minutes after it's ended.