Players and Media

[Guest mindfly]

You can tell almost every time what the player/coach will tell the media/journalists and it's so freakin boring to hear, i think zetterberg is the prime example of this... I also heard it's some mandatory thing the rookies have to do, Tavares had to do it before the World juniors I read because he tended to be a bit "too honest"... What is up with that anyways!? Why do they have to be politically correct all the time, why not be honest? Is it because of Bettman?

You never hear like:

Reporter:

-What went wrong in this game

Player:

- Our goalie didn't play very well, 4th line didn't have the jump and didn't provide energy and hits etc"

It's so boring with the same answers

"they played better" "bottom line is we didn't skate enough" "bad bounces/bad breaks"

EDIT: Yeah if they attack someone personally with words he might hurt that players confidence but they are professionals and earn big money aren't they?

Edited February 18, 2009 by mindfly

[lets go pavel 2]

You can tell almost every time what the player/coach will tell the media/journalists and it's so freakin boring to hear, i think zetterberg is the prime example of this... I also heard it's some mandatory thing the rookies have to do, Tavares had to do it before the World juniors I read because he tended to be a bit "too honest"... What is up with that anyways!? Why do they have to be politically correct all the time, why not be honest? Is it because of Bettman?

You never hear like:

Reporter:

-What went wrong in this game

Player:

- Our goalie didn't play very well, 4th line didn't have the jump and didn't provide energy och hits etc"

It's so boring with the same answers

"they played better" "bottom line is we didn't skate enough" "bad bounces/bad breaks"

EDIT: Yeah if they attack someone personally with words he might hurt that players confidence but they are professionals and earn big money aren't they?

It's not about hurting their confidence, it's about team chemistry and unity, something I would imagine it's hard to foster if everyone calls each other out in the media all the time. That's not to say players have to be boring, but realistically, most people aren't funny or they'd all be comedians. If a boring reporter asks a boring question to a boring person, they're almost certain to get a boring answer. There are a few who have the sense of humor and/or charisma to take a boring question and give an interesting answer ... Datsyuk and Ovechkin come to mind, Roenick, Avery (to his own detriment), Hull ...

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

EDIT: Yeah if they attack someone personally with words he might hurt that players confidence but they are professionals and earn big money aren't they?

Being a pro just means you get paid to do something. You could be doing any kind of work, and if a co-worker you trust says "You suck!" you'll probably feel bad. Money's got nothing to do with it.

The majority of sports interviews are boring because no one wants to cause any trouble. That may not entertain you, but it's a perfectly reasonable goal.

[Guest Shoreline]

Almost everything in the media is politically correct. Kind of a dumb question. If you say one politically incorrect thing, the media analyzes it, buttf***s it, and goes in an even further overanalyzing frenzy over it. No wonder players just stick to boring s***.

There's other reasons too, like maybe the player's head is in the game (rather than how to entertain us during interviews) when doing an in-game or pre-game interview. Or, for post-game interviews, maybe he's thinking about getting laid at the hotel or sleeping on the plane. Again, can't really blame them. Their job is to entertain us on the ice.

Edited February 18, 2009 by Shoreline

[Guest mindfly]

Yeah you have a few points there, maybe they should skip the whole interview thingy, especially before and during games because they are all obvious/boring anyways

[Echolalia 2,961]

Datsyuk recently had a pretty entertaining interview. You should check that out.

[Guest Shoreline]

Yeah you have a few points there, maybe they should skip the whole interview thingy, especially before and during games because they are all obvious/boring anyways

It isn't just hockey, it's every sport. Watch football, soccer, basketball.. they all say boring crap. If it's really a problem just ignore it. Some people actually like to see their favorite player interviewed. And once in a blue moon they can be entertaining.

[esteef 2,679]

I hear Avery's good for a few laughs...

esteef

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

Look at Avery. Any player that states his real opinions will get suspended 6 games and sent to anger management.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

I liked when Homer said of one of O'Halleren "no-goal" calls it was an embarrassing call for the NHL. Classic!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

A few months ago Homer was being interviewed after the first period and he told the FSND interviewer that the penalty he was currently serving was a "garbage call...and lets leave it at that". He was pissed and the interviewer knew not to ask anything regarding the call the rest of the interview.

Then he was asked about when he gets a goalie to take a penalty due to him crowding the crease. He asked him, when the goalie retaliates if that meant he got "in their head"? Homer replied, "I'm in your head".

One of the best interviews of the season.

[esteef 2,679]

A few months ago Homer was being interviewed after the first period and he told the FSND interviewer that the penalty that he was currently serving was a "garbage call...and lets leave it at that". He was pissed and the interviewer knew not to ask anything regarding the call the rest of the interview.

Then he was asked about when he gets a goalie to take a penalty due to him crowding the crease. He asked him, when the goalie retaliates if that meant he got "in their head"? Homer replied, "I'm in your head".

One of the best interviews of the season.

I saw that! It was an interview with Keating! There was a Lilja interview around that time too where all his answers were one word.

esteef

[miller76 463]

Last year during the Cup final, Homer was asked something about Crosby, and his response was "who?" was classic. I know we all here were loving it. It was pretty obvious, Homer didn't hear the reporter very well, but the way it came out, you couldn't help but laugh.

And yes, if you want to keep your job in any workplace these days; you have to be politically correct. Even in hockey.

[CanadaBoy 151]

A few months ago Homer was being interviewed after the first period and he told the FSND interviewer that the penalty he was currently serving was a "garbage call...and lets leave it at that". He was pissed and the interviewer knew not to ask anything regarding the call the rest of the interview.

Then he was asked about when he gets a goalie to take a penalty due to him crowding the crease. He asked him, when the goalie retaliates if that meant he got "in their head"? Homer replied, "I'm in your head".

One of the best interviews of the season.

reminds me of this:

Edited February 19, 2009 by CanadaBoy

[sureWhyNot 19]

Almost everything in the media is politically correct. Kind of a dumb question. If you say one politically incorrect thing, the media analyzes it, buttf***s it, and goes in an even further overanalyzing frenzy over it. No wonder players just stick to boring s***.

There's other reasons too, like maybe the player's head is in the game (rather than how to entertain us during interviews) when doing an in-game or pre-game interview. Or, for post-game interviews, maybe he's thinking about getting laid at the hotel or sleeping on the plane. Again, can't really blame them. Their job is to entertain us on the ice.

The above is pretty much a complete bulls*** answer. Truth be told European players actually give ten times better interviews that often tip toe the line of great with certain media figures. Off the top of my head the interviews PuckDaddy, Yahoo's hockey blog, with Datsyuk, Malkin, A. Kostitsyn (I think it was Andrei, it may have been his brother though).

They are incredibly honest, and open to just about everything - not to mention pretty damn funny as well. But ya, you should check them out - they are 10x better then the generic "ya we played hard, and the bounces went our way" interviews that we are inundated with night after night.

[seeinred 1,488]

The above is pretty much a complete bulls*** answer. Truth be told European players actually give ten times better interviews that often tip toe the line of great with certain media figures. Off the top of my head the interviews PuckDaddy, Yahoo's hockey blog, with Datsyuk, Malkin, A. Kostitsyn (I think it was Andrei, it may have been his brother though).

They are incredibly honest, and open to just about everything - not to mention pretty damn funny as well. But ya, you should check them out - they are 10x better then the generic "ya we played hard, and the bounces went our way" interviews that we are inundated with night after night.

I think those interviews with the Russians at least are conducted in Russian by some dude. They players probably feel more relaxed and less like it's an actual interview and open up a little more. Datsyuk calling himself the most underrated player is a prime example.

[shadow47 1]

Player interviews are scripted...the players get coached on how to answer questions in the media. It's all bulls***, there's no point, it's all PR. What did you guys think?

[skacore 2]

If this is actually a serious quesiton, it's because they aren't complete dicks. You respect your team mates, if your goalie is bad, EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR GOALIE WAS BAD. It's a dumb question to ask "what went wrong?" when the goalie obviously had a bad game. Interviews mean nothing to the players, you get in, get out, it's over with. It's always the same questions they ask anyways.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Almost everything in the media is politically correct. Kind of a dumb question. If you say one politically incorrect thing, the media analyzes it, buttf***s it, and goes in an even further overanalyzing frenzy over it. No wonder players just stick to boring s***.

There's other reasons too, like maybe the player's head is in the game (rather than how to entertain us during interviews) when doing an in-game or pre-game interview. Or, for post-game interviews, maybe he's thinking about getting laid at the hotel or sleeping on the plane. Again, can't really blame them. Their job is to entertain us on the ice.

If this is actually a serious quesiton, it's because they aren't complete dicks. You respect your team mates, if your goalie is bad, EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR GOALIE WAS BAD. It's a dumb question to ask "what went wrong?" when the goalie obviously had a bad game. Interviews mean nothing to the players, you get in, get out, it's over with. It's always the same questions they ask anyways.

These two things.

There are obviously exceptions to this in any sport. Sean Avery, Charles Barkley, Terrell Owens, etc. have always had the knack to stir up unnecessary drama, but a major reason why a lot of these brief interviews are so bland is because guys have answered these questions thousands of times, people interviewing them have asked them thousands of times, that you are going to get the same answers more/less. And, it is usually better for the career to be boring and not stir up controversy etc. b/c media in general can be pretty stupid and overanalyzing if that happens.

[maltbymaniac 13]

A few months ago Homer was being interviewed after the first period and he told the FSND interviewer that the penalty he was currently serving was a "garbage call...and lets leave it at that". He was pissed and the interviewer knew not to ask anything regarding the call the rest of the interview.

Then he was asked about when he gets a goalie to take a penalty due to him crowding the crease. He asked him, when the goalie retaliates if that meant he got "in their head"? Homer replied, "I'm in your head".

One of the best interviews of the season.

lmao,that was a good one. see not all interviews are boring.lol

[Guest Shoreline]

The above is pretty much a complete bulls*** answer. Truth be told European players actually give ten times better interviews that often tip toe the line of great with certain media figures. Off the top of my head the interviews PuckDaddy, Yahoo's hockey blog, with Datsyuk, Malkin, A. Kostitsyn (I think it was Andrei, it may have been his brother though).

Obviously this post I'm quoting is a one-sided and complete croc of s*** answer not even related to the assertions made in my post. If you actually read the post you are calling bulls*** you'd have realized I said in-game and most post-game interviews. Of course some set aside interview or near OTR interview done willingly, not even at the game, or in some set venue like the VIP bar, will have a far greater chance of being better.