Do I really need to see the coach or player interviewed during the game? Nope. Not at halftime and not during commercial breaks. The sideline reporter trying to get the inside story is played out thank you very much. I don’t need Suzy Kolber or Michelle Tafoya trying to be more important than the game and injecting some lame ESPN/Stuart Scott-type hyperbole, or coming up with some insane theory on why Reggie Bush was limping two minutes earlier.And no, it’s not because of some weird voodoo curse fan logic that says talking to a coach or player during a game can distract them and affect the outcome, but because reporters aren’t part of the actual game: Who cares what they think? (Not to mention holding the mic with your fingertips that way, like some bad lounge singer.)
After though? Ask all the questions you want. Piss off the Big Tuna after the Cowboys lose; I expect this. But during the game? Stay out of the way and let me watch, please. I learn more from the camera guy looking over the coach’s shoulder to catch a shot of the clipboard than I do your brilliant hindsights.
And that’s why Jim McKay was great. It wasn’t about him.
1 comment:
This is one of the most annoying modern traditions of sports broadcasts. And the coaches always looks plenty peeved, but I suspect they endure it for the "honorarium" they are paid by the networks.
"Well, there's still another half to play and we just need to execute more carefully, stop making mistakes and come out here in the second half and play a better game."
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