Tricks of the Media: No Treat for the Players

An average athlete’s job goes beyond the playing field. These are the leaders of our favorite teams and role models to our children. An athlete's secondary job however seems to be the most tedious. Every week after the big game or series the players are asked to present themselves in front of the media and answer any questions the media may pose. These are questions that the players are never prepared to answer, yet they are expected to answer each question without flaw. Facing locker room reporters is a task that is becoming more and more difficult because the media representatives are choosing their questions wisely in order to get their big story. Every deliberately probing question is cleverly worded to create a trap. Now our favorite players not only have to watch what they say to preserve their own reputation, but also the reputations of their teammates, coaches, owner, and fans. This obvious line of questioning exhibited by each reporter takes away from the most important aspect of any athletic event (the game itself), and turns a post-game interview into a monetary pursuit.

An article by Ray Ratto entitled, “Media Minds: Read the following 755 words – then quit it!” refers to the dreaded question asked to Ray Lewis (seen above) of the Baltimore Ravens about his coaches' play calling. This, as Ratto puts it, leaves the player with two options, “be politically correct and sound weak and spineless, or attack the coach as requested and then get ripped for being a mutinous hyena.” In either case it is a losing situation. And we wonder why athletes hate the media.

As a result of this questioning tactic some sports figures, such as former NFL coach Bill Parcells and NCAA basketball coach Bobby Knight (seen to the right), have decided that they will no longer answer any questions that they think put them in such a trap by yelling for the next question, simple saying "That's a terrible question," or even insulting the reporter . By handling potentially harmful questions in this way, the person interviewed preserves the dignity of the team and rejects the only question the journalist or reporter is allowed to ask. With Coach Parcells and Knight reporters are now tentative about asking a trapping question knowing that it may be dismissed and they will go home without their story. Unfortunately, these two figures are scrutinized by the fans for their actions. I, on the other hand, believe that we should excuse them for taking this course of action. As John Feinstein points out in his article about coach Knight entitled, "Good Knight, Bad Knight," "Knight plays by the rules" when it comes to the NCAA and that includes dealing with the media. This response does not warrant criticism and should be accepted as a form of dealing with the media in order to protect those being interviewed if they so choose.

With these types of questions making their way into locker rooms and post-game interviews, it is important to ask what this does to the sport they are covering? Being a purist when it comes to the world of sports, I am against this form of “investigative journalism." All reporters seem to be doing is soiling the names of men to sell their products by partaking in the media trap phenomena . This by no means shows any respect for the athletes, but characterizes the news, radio, and television businesses. As a result, these athletes are given bad labels that in turn can hurt their careers. With the actions of competitors on and off the field now being spotlighted in all sports as a barometer of their character, and leading to suspensions and fines in the case of detrimental character, those who are caught in these traps and answer the question receive negative stigma and a possible "week off". Too much of this could not only make the player who was loved by the fans last week into a disgrace to the team name, but also diminish his spot as a role model for America's youth.

I am by no means saying that the players in any of the three most popular American sports (baseball, basketball, and football) should not be made to address the media for a post game interview. Actually, I believe players in each sport should be questioned about a controversial play or action that has caused a rift in character. Current Titans football player Pacman Jones (seen to the left) is an exceptional example of someone who has dug their own media grave and is fair game in my eyes. However, the line of questioning involved in the specific situations I have highlighted here does not cause the character flaw. It is the distinct word trap posed by the reporter that is the problem. I am not advocating the removal of all media figures from the locker rooms but simply asking them not to become a distraction from the game. Report on the play calling, the already troubled athlete, or the fourth quarter comeback, but leave the athletes to play the games on the field and entertain the public; do not make them play games in the media room. This is seemingly another path to unintentionally deface the sports we love.