Talk about Friday Feedback, which doesn’t like when coaches or athletes get cute in the press conference and act like they don’t understand a question, or a tactic, when in reality they’ve heard all the questions and understand all the tactics.
That said, there are exceptions and this behavior is, in fact, encouraged.
Q. Can you talk about the match‑up with LeBron? It seemed like he was able to get to the basket basically when he wanted to until he put up that three there late in the ballgame. Talk about his ability to get to the basket.
KEVIN DURANT: Was that a question?
Interesting question, Mr. Durant. The first part was. Had it been left at that, it’s passable. The second part, in which the reporter likely rambled on nervously? Nope!
Now, I doubt that happens if Oklahoma City’s Thunder wins the game last night and I suspect the response was born out of postgame frustration, but, man, so cool to see someone disarm “talk about” like that.
Look, there are so many places and so many ways to write now that the styles and the deliveries and the expectations vary. Truth be told, you don’t even have to be taught to be good at sportswriting these days. At least, not in the classical sense.
What drives a lot of us crazy is the way that people can’t conduct themselves in press conferences. That’s something that should be taught, or at least learned by teaching yourself. The ridiculous fan activity, prevalent incollege is one thing. The way people ask questions is another and usually draws a line between two crowds.
I don’t know who asked the question in this case. He or she could be a legend with a lot of awards for all I know, but “talk about” is a lazy way to ask a question and should be dismissed with prejudice.
Book! Check out Decision Makers Sunday morning (or the clips that’ll be online Sunday morning, though I don’t know where they’ll be). It was an issue-driven discussion about the texting ban, the next batch of state elections, mining legislation and a bit about the book and WVU football. One wonders what makes air!
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, be a family guy.
I love you, Doug! said:
Apparently, Mike has written a new book, working off the first book’s theme:
“And after a few days we’ll pick a winner of the best caption on this picture, with the winner will receive a free copy of the new West Virginia football book “Waiting For Next Year” by Mike Casazza, on us. It’s that easy, that simple, and the book can be yours.”
http://bloguin.com/crystalballrun/2012-articles/june/caption-contest-dana-holgorsen-goes-shootin.html
Meanwhile, this edited version of the Holgo shootin’ pix is much better, courtesy the brilliant EDSBS.com:
http://goo.gl/uLJDF
The funny part about this? Check out the “Waiting For Next Year” blog. How about that?
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