# Classic Sports Interview Meltdowns **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 15, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422 "2011-09-15T18:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/1 "2011-09-15T18:38:22Z")
Inspired by the thread about insipid post-game interviews, I figured I’d start a thread on the best televised sports meltdowns. [Jim Everett vs. Jim Rome](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uczUKTwgqeY). [PLAYOFFS?!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oSFYxDGKy8) Incidentally, when you type the word “playoffs” into Youtube, this is the first thing that comes up. [I’m a man! I’m 40!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E) What are some of your favorites? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/2 "2011-09-15T19:11:44Z")
A somewhat forgotten classic: [John Chaney vs. Jim Calipari](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51-4sJTf7iQ) [Hal McRae](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kamDqL-AGzI&feature=related)…don’t ask him any stupid-ass f’in questions. You wouldn’t think women’s college basketball would inspire an interview meltdown, but [Kevin Borseth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvo5XO1kH1c&feature=related) begs to differ. Incredible rant! ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/3 "2011-09-15T19:17:16Z")
[They are who we thought they are.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/4 "2011-09-15T19:21:17Z")
In 1983, Cubs manager [Lee Elia](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-lee-elia-rant-mp3,0,5241709.mp3file) lost his cool after his team lost a game. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/5 "2011-09-15T20:13:35Z")
Allen Iverson becoming increasing frustrated because [We talkin’ about _practice_!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI) ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/6 "2011-09-15T20:39:13Z")
[Earl Weaver’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKxf3OkpJc) amazingly NSFW spot on Manager’s Corner! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/7 "2011-09-15T21:18:05Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > [Earl Weaver’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKxf3OkpJc) amazingly NSFW spot on Manager’s Corner! Wow. I had never heard that one before. That is classic. And I, for one, was rooting for Jim Everett to smack Rome in the head repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/8 "2011-09-15T22:47:32Z")
[“All the negativity in this town _sucks_!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRik9erWgQ8) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/9 "2011-09-15T22:53:52Z")
[UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX6FDEDbesE) on failing to recruit Ryan Gomes. “If you want me to say I fucked up, I fucked up.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/10 "2011-09-15T23:23:35Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > [Earl Weaver’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKxf3OkpJc) amazingly NSFW spot on Manager’s Corner! Wow, that was impressive. No foreplay, no ramp up, just nuclear from word one. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/11 "2011-09-15T23:43:45Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Wow, that was impressive. No foreplay, no ramp up, just nuclear from word one. It was a prank. That’s not to say that it wasn’t authentic frontier Earl Weaver. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/12 "2011-09-16T01:23:27Z")
Tommy Lasorda on Kirk Bevacqua. [He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a fucking boat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRhu9jUal2Q) ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/13 "2011-09-16T03:15:24Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Tommy Lasorda on Kirk Bevacqua. [He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a fucking boat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRhu9jUal2Q) I came in to say this. Lasorda has several that are awesome! Joe ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/14 "2011-09-16T03:36:31Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It was a prank. Sadly, true. > [@](#): > > That’s not to say that it wasn’t authentic frontier Earl Weaver. Also true. That’s a hell of a lot closer to Earl’s actual personality than anything that might have made it to the airwaves. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/15 "2011-09-16T03:58:30Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > In 1983, Cubs manager [Lee Elia](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-lee-elia-rant-mp3,0,5241709.mp3file) lost his cool after his team lost a game. For my money, if they play sports for a thousand years, that one will never be topped. The pre-lights Cubs had been hyping the purity and sanctity of day baseball for decades, and here comes the manager to opine that only motherfuckin’ unemployed bums come to the ballpark during the day. It was classic. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/16 "2011-09-16T04:57:48Z")
There was an incident, which I can’t find a record of, that occurred just before half time of a Monday Night football game. I think the year was 1973. Anyway, it was the early days of MNF and Howard Cosell was in the booth. It so happened that George Foreman showed up at the booth just before half time for an interview. Cosell started to interview Foreman and George lit into Cosell. He said things like, “I don’t like you Howard, you are a racist, etc.”. Foreman kept repeating his rant. The weird thing about it was that while the rant went on and after it had ended, the production people kept the cameras on Cosell. He had those Mickey Mouse headphones on and stood there speechless looking like a total fool. It seemed that the production people took the opportunity to intentionally humiliate Cosell. I was thinking, WTF??? They then cut to the halftime highlights of the previous day that were pre-recorded. There was almost no mention of the incident in the second half or afterwards. Gifford and Meredith were probably in the lavatory sucking down a bottle of scotch trying to figure out what they should do. I think Howard and George settled matters afterwards but it was an almost surreal moment that has pretty much been forgotten even though it was broadcast live on ABC. If anybody could resurrect a video of the incident I would love to revisit it. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/17 "2011-09-16T13:17:42Z")
There was a meltdown by Joe Frazier and to a lesser extant Muhammed Ali in 1974. They had been making the rounds together promoting the first TV broadcast of their 1971 fight in 1971. They were on Dick cavett’s show together and Ali was a far better speaker. Later they were on with Howard Cosell analyzing the fight. Sometime around the 12th round Frazier remarked this is the punch I put you in the hospital with. Ali replied I was in for a day, you were in the hospital for a week. You should shut up, you are so ignorant. Frazier clearly didn’t like being called ignorant after a couple hours of abuse by someone he didn’t like. Cosell was smar, he kept sitting down instead of trying to break it up. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/18 "2011-09-17T13:57:14Z")
And who could forget Joe Namath telling Suzy Kolber [“I want to kiss you. I couldn’t care less about the team strugg-a-ling”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqIQyT-RuM&feature=related) ? Give Joe credit, though. The incident embarrassed him into getting alcoholism treatment. Agreed, the Lee Elia rant can never be topped. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-sports-interview-meltdowns/596422/19 "2011-09-21T02:36:32Z")
Not a meltdown exactly, but I distinctly remember Dodgers’ GM [Al Campanis on Nightline](http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video?id=3034970)saying blacks may not have “the necessities” to be baseball managers or general managers. What the clip didn’t show is that later in the show, both Ted Koppel and Roger Kahn (the other guest) tried to give Campanis an opportunity to explain, clarify, retract, apologize or in any way possible dig the bullet out of his foot, but Campanis didn’t/couldn’t. He was pushed out of his job two days later, despite some of his black former teammates defending him. [Campanis apologized, but never tried to deny his responsibility for what he said.](http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/05/sports/sp-campanis5)