It wasn't fun to watch the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Despite some talented players, the team never got its act together. The team was mercifully eliminated from the postseason following Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns.
At least one member of the organization was glad to put the 2021-22 NBA season behind him. Lakers announcer Stu Lantz was caught on a hot mic asking the Suns to "put [the Lakers] out of our misery" prior to Tuesday's game.
I agree with Stu Lantz on this. Put the Lakers out of our misery Suns. pic.twitter.com/xcHEslFPQs
— Gieson Cacho (@gcacho) April 6, 2022
The audio was likely never meant to go public. Lantz was most likely performing a mic check. Audio engineers will often ask broadcasters to talk to get an accurate reading on their audio levels. Mic checks aren't supposed to be broadcast publicly. They usually just go to the control room or the audio engineer, who then adjusts the broadcaster's volume for the viewing audience at home.
That appears to be what's going on here. Lantz gets on the mic and says, "Hello, Anthony. SOS, DD. Get this over with. Put us out of our misery."
As hot mic incidents go, this is extremely tame. The phrase "SOS, DD" apparently stands for "same old s***, different day." You can tell Lantz is a professional because he knows not to curse while mic'd up.
Stu Lantz has been with Lakers since 1987
It's also fair and relatable criticism from Lantz. It's probably a slog to be a broadcaster for a bad team, especially when expectations were high. Lantz knows the Lakers haven't played to their true talent. He sees it every night. It shouldn't come as a surprise that he feels the same way most fans do watching the team.
Lantz has been the team's color commentator since 1987. He's experienced some excellent basketball over that period, calling multiple title runs with the franchise. The 2021-22 NBA season wasn't the most enjoyable year for the Lakers.
Lantz shouldn't be blamed for expressing some frustration with the team. It was a relatable moment, and Lantz deserves credit for keeping it PG.
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