And look how Owens career ended because he was way too much in the spotlight and wouldn't be quiet. There's a point where digging yourself out of a hole just gets you deeper in and the only solution is to stop talking.
And look how Owens career ended because he was way too much in the spotlight and wouldn't be quiet. There's a point where digging yourself out of a hole just gets you deeper in and the only solution is to stop talking.
Sure. But the point is outspoken athletes with personality are appealing to U.S. sports fans in a way that they aren't to Canadian fans. You don't have to go late-career Owens, but if you just put your head down and mutter platitudes, you aren't going to sell many jerseys in the U.S. market. That may loosen things up in the NHL. They are in the entertainment industry, after all.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Oh I totally agree, the opportunity for self promotion should definitely be taken advantage of. Guys like Owens are the reason athletes are told to be quiet is what I meant.
The basketball and football coaches interviews after the half are worse than anything hockey players put out.
I think we (fans, media, twitter, the internet) need to be less critical when we get a real reponse. Look at all the faux outrage when Thorton had is whip it out line overheard and reported on in the locker room.
The way we react and make a big deal about it is why we can't have nice things.
Location: Down by the sea, where the watermelons grow, back to my home, I dare not go...
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Originally Posted by Buzzard
The worst interview possible.
The time you get up to get a drink, have a whiz, maybe go check your mail.
I hate player interviews. I can sit and listen to Pat Steinberg and Rob Kerr chase each others tails all afternoon long before I can sit through 48 seconds of an interview with Josh Jooris or Joni Ortio, or Sid Crosby for that matter. In their defense, the interviewer is often just as at fault. The same dull, boring questions get asked over and over. I'm not sure who's worse.
The odd, VERY odd interviewee comes along once in a while that might be half ass interesting, or maybe entertaining. They're far and few between though. PK Subban, Drew Doughty come to mind. Maybe Brizghalov or whatever his name is. He can be unpredictable and good as well. Conroy was alright, but the guy was mostly psycho babble. He's a little more reigned in now as management, and can be quite interesting.
To me it seems like a bit of that "Cherryist" line of traditional thinking that keeps hockey interviews reserved, and probably stems a bit from reserved Canadian nature as well.
I get bored with them also, but the code of respect that exists off the ice with interviews and whatnot may be a good thing. Fighting, in my personal opinion, is already enough of a violent and goofy sideshow within hockey that you don't also need to have players describing how lame the other goalie is, or have Engelland looking directly into the camera and calling out another player like he's Triple H. General humour though I always enjoy. Guys like Pronger and Bryzgalov were always fun to listen to.
David Jones can give a decent interview. I remember Hrudey quoting him earlier in the season as having said something like "if I'm not skating hard, I'm actually pretty lousy...".
Two years ago, as part of the promo "fan experience package", a group I was in was taken downstairs after the game to meet and talk to a Flames player in front of the locker room. It happened to be Sven. Before he was allowed to talk to us, he had gotten a long instruction from a woman who I presume was some kind of a Flames press agent and who probably told or reminded Sven what he can what he can't say. She stood beside him during the photo-op and through our very brief conversation and he kept looking at her before answering our questions. Also, she was the one who had ended the conversation and told Sven that he was free to go.
So, yeah, I suspect there is a "code" regarding player interviews. I am just not sure who is dictating this code - NHL/Owners/Management or the players themselves.
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"An idea is always a generalization, and generalization is a property of thinking. To generalize means to think." Georg Hegel
“To generalize is to be an idiot.” William Blake
Personally I think the only time players should be interviewed is during those "get to know the players" type of videos where you can actually learn about who they are as people and get to see their personality.
Interviews between periods or before games are terrible.
100 percent agree with you. Post game scrums add nothing, I don't watch those behind the scenes videos a lot but you can get a feel for a players personality more from that than some cliched scrum. The monahan bouma toaster/vacuuming video was great.
Personally I blame the reporters for being entitled and lazy. In fact, most of them dont even ask questions they just say "talk about how it feels to....". Drives me nuts, and then they get all indignant when athletes like marshawn lynch or kevin durant don't talk or give them smart ass answers.
Dont have to be Owens. Guys like Drew Brees and JJ Watt do great interviews. They can do 15 minute radio spots. Its something hockey players need to do more of.
Also NFL Films OMG!
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Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
Personally I blame the reporters for being entitled and lazy. In fact, most of them dont even ask questions they just say "talk about how it feels to....". Drives me nuts, and then they get all indignant when athletes like marshawn lynch or kevin durant don't talk or give them smart ass answers.
Entitled and lazy? Reporters work hard.
Most reporters probably aren't happy with what they get out of these interviews either. It is tough though - you are in a position where you also have to maintain the relationship - if you don't - then you don't get the interviews at a later date.
The between period stuff is the worst. A good interview takes time - let's the player relax and then they become more natural. Look at the old After Hours stuff as an example.
Grabbing a guy as he's leaving the ice and expecting anything more than cliches is just not realistic. It is awful for the player and for the reporter.
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You can ask a question to which players can give an interesting answer.
Something like:
"What do you think was the best play made by someone on your team so far tonight?"
"Who do you think has been having a quiet but strong game that might not be getting noticed?"
"Are there any players from the other team that you've played with before? Do you still keep in touch with anybody from that team? Is there any friendly banter, or is it all business?"
"If the NHL had to contract back down to 28 teams, would you miss having the Oilers around? Or would you be glad that they're gone?"
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I am a lunatic whose world revolves around hockey and Oilers hate.
100 percent agree with you. Post game scrums add nothing, I don't watch those behind the scenes videos a lot but you can get a feel for a players personality more from that than some cliched scrum. The monahan bouma toaster/vacuuming video was great.
Personally I blame the reporters for being entitled and lazy. In fact, most of them dont even ask questions they just say "talk about how it feels to....". Drives me nuts, and then they get all indignant when athletes like marshawn lynch or kevin durant don't talk or give them smart ass answers.
Kelley Hrudey was on Fan960 yesterday aft. He touched on the player interview thing and was quite candid about lazy journalism and how much it bothered him. He said starting an interview with, "Talk about....." was something he really hated. Hrudey also mentioned how over the years there'd be players that would never give more than they absolutely had to in an interview, but when their career was wrapping up, or finished, they'd be asking questions and looking for advice on broadcasting. Didn't mention names, but sounded like something that pisses him off quite a bit.
Great interview with him by the way. Hrudey's one of the best. Really enjoy listening to him.
