Josh Howard's Weed 'Habit': Suddenly News

A year ago, ESPN blogger Henry Abbott published an interview with Josh Howard at ESPN.com. Near the end of said post:

I think a lot of people have that problem [smoking marijuana]. How that could stop me from getting drafted, though? How many guys in the lottery smoke pot? The weed thing, just about everybody smokes.

Last week, Dallas Morning News writer Brad Townsend penned a story presumably ~~sparked~~ spurred by the year-old TrueHoop post (which is referenced in Townsend's second paragraph). The most relevant passage:

Asked whether he caught any flak for that interview, Howard said no. When asked to quantify the extent of his use, he said he got "a little crazy" in high school but uses it "less" now and never during the season.

He emphasizes that marijuana is "nothing I'm needing," unlike some NBA players who "have to have it."

Today, ESPN is promo'ing the Hades out of a Sportscenter segment on the subject, roughly two hours before Howard's Mavericks tip off Game 3 ... on ESPN. Tuned-in Brinson quotes the promo: "And did Josh Howard admit using marijuana in a radio interview? Oh-ho. You bet he did! Don't miss his shocking comments!" The radio interview? On Michael Irvin's ESPN Radio show.

There was (surprisingly) no mainstream attention paid to Abbott's post (published on ESPN.com, and probably featured on ESPN's NBA landing) last year. Little attention (and no attention from ESPN) has been paid in the week since one of the nation's largest newspapers ran a story -- with a direct quote admitting use -- on the matter. Yet today the subject is headline news? ESPN waited a week so they could get both their own soundbite and the proper marketing platform ... despite having the scoop a year ago. Bizarre, bizarre synergy.

Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld has a sensible opinion on the matter.