# Tell me again why journos interview sportspeople?? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 1, 2011, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741 "2011-04-01T08:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/21 "2011-04-02T09:49:12Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > That’s how I feel about it, too. Then again, if I was Supreme Editor And Arbiter Of What Was And Wasn’t Newsworthy For The Entire Universe there would be almost _nothing_ sports related that would be permitted in the mainstream media, with exceptions for stuff like the Olympics or Commonwealth Games. Run for PM next election, please? I can really get behind thoughtful, moderate policies like that. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/22 "2011-04-02T10:36:36Z")
I recently listened to [Matthew Syed](http://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/)’s book _Bounce_ which is largely about the myth of innate ability. He makes the point that talent is achieved through 10,000 hours of purposeful practice. One of the things he discusses is the way sports people speak and why they do it. And it’s all about maintaining a fiction that they need to continue to perform. They have to say things that convince themselves all is well, even if they “know” that it isn’t. It was an epiphany for me. I just assumed they all talked in clichés because they were copying their predecessors. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/23 "2011-04-02T10:43:10Z")
I thought it was because front rowers were as thick as two short planks. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/24 "2011-04-02T16:09:17Z")
The OP also forgot about about the huge rile that God plays in sports. God’s greatest mystery is how he is responsible for so many victories, but never any losses. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/25 "2011-04-02T22:46:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The OP also forgot about about the huge rile that God plays in sports. > > God’s greatest mystery is how he is responsible for so many victories, but never any losses. Actually, very _very_ rarely will you hear God’s name invoked in a team-sports match here in Australia. In fact in my living memory (and I’m happy for someone to contradict me here) I cannot remember one single instance of this happening. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/26 "2011-04-02T23:47:26Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Actually, very _very_ rarely will you hear God’s name invoked in a team-sports match here in Australia. In fact in my living memory (and I’m happy for someone to contradict me here) I cannot remember one single instance of this happening. I’m sure you’re correct as far as Australia and the rest of the civilized world is concerned. Thanking god for sports wins, Grammy awards, Oscars and the like is ridiculously common here in the US. The frequent references to god in the public sphere is one of the most unpleasant things about living here, IMO. Even Obama frequently throws in a “God Bless America” at the end of most of his speeches. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/27 "2011-04-03T02:13:32Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Oh, I agree completely. But look at it this way: Next time you’re on the train/bus/tram or having lunch in public, have a look at all the people actually reading the sports section of the paper. It’s frightening, especially when you see how many of them go straight to the sports section and skip the (what passes for) actual news at the front. Next time you’re at the airport, see all the people reading the news section and then the business section and then (maybe) the arts section. It also makes a difference what newspaper they are reading. Many of them will be reading _The Wall Street Journal_. They don’t have time to read any sports section. Others may be reading the local city newspaper, in which case, they are probably reading the sports section first. There is no reason for them not to read the other sections of the newspaper; however, since they most likely have nothing else to do while waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/28 "2011-04-03T05:04:21Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Yes, yes, there is a lot of slogging through oceans of cliches, but when the journalist has successfully baited the poor, dumb bastard into a mouth-foaming, howling, apoplectic fit of rage suitable for being rerun on television and the Internet until the heat death of the universe, it’s really worth it, isn’t it? This is the real reason. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/29 "2011-04-03T06:56:50Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Next time you’re at the airport, see all the people reading the news section and then the business section and then (maybe) the arts section. It also makes a difference what newspaper they are reading. Many of them will be reading _The Wall Street Journal_. They don’t have time to read any sports section. Others may be reading the local city newspaper, in which case, they are probably reading the sports section first. There is no reason for them not to read the other sections of the newspaper; however, since they most likely have nothing else to do while waiting. I doubt many people waiting at airports in Australia will be reading the _Wall Street Journal_. 😉 I see quite a few people reading _The Australian_ or one of the Major Newspapers like the _Sydney Morning Herald_ or _Daily Telegraph_ though. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/30 "2011-04-03T17:14:54Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I doubt many people waiting at airports in Australia will be reading the _Wall Street Journal_. Why do Australians hate America? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/31 "2011-04-03T17:48:37Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If by “journos” you mean “journalists,” they don’t interview sports figures; _sportswriters_ do. > > And they do it so they can pretend that they’re journalists. 😃 I came in to say exactly this, in pretty much those exact words. Now I don’t have to. ETA: But I wouldn’t have included the smilie, because I mean it. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/32 "2011-04-04T08:16:43Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Why do Australians hate America? I wouldn’t call it “Hate”, but I’m sure a list of “Things about America that annoy, amuse, frustrate, or bewilder us” could be put together eventually if you were desperate to know. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TerryNtius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@TerryNtius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TerryNtius)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/33 "2011-04-04T14:10:32Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Why on earth do TV journos bother shoving a microphone into a sports-person’s mouth?😃 While the footballer/boxer/track athlete/swimmer/jockey is coming off that focused breathless high of extreme effort, sucking air in hard, struggling to get their breath and gather their thoughts together, at the same time they are expected to form coherent answers to inane and insignificant questions by egotistical ex-jocks helping them fulfill their sports star contracts. Before they can be in the moment with their coaches, mentors, team-mates, assistants, medical observers and supporters who really are the people that they need around them at that crucial and emotional time that is at the end of any hugely physical sports event before full recovery begins. A meat-loaf in a very ordinary suit does not a Journo’ or a sports broadcaster make, they are more like an old athletic supporter of sorts looking for some faux scoop for the broadcaster. All parties excell in the repetitive and predictable pro forma sport speak questions and answers that are so blitheringly snoringly boring. Ahh jes’ hates it!! ---
**Author:** ![TerryNtius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@TerryNtius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TerryNtius)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/34 "2011-04-04T14:13:15Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Why do Australians hate America? I agree with Martini Enfield, we could make a list-s. :\> I’ve never known any Aussies who hate America or Americans. Aussies find 'em a little unusual at times, they also drive on the wrong side of the road and they talk funny…they call me “Tearee”. Aussie’s have always envied and copied the music as well as the diverse cultures, the cars and the bikes. And they’ve always been as jealous as hell of the low cost of the grog and the fuel! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/35 "2011-04-04T16:51:08Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I recently listened to [Matthew Syed](http://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/)’s book _Bounce_ which is largely about the myth of innate ability. He makes the point that talent is achieved through 10,000 hours of purposeful practice.\ But you have to start with some innate talent; I do agree that innate talent only takes you a (small) way - the rest is working harder than just about everyone else. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The OP also forgot about about the huge rile that God plays in sports. > > God’s greatest mystery is how he is responsible for so many victories, but never any losses. “Well, I’ve been a real asshole lately, so I figure God’s mad at me and made us lose. Sorry, guys.” ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/36 "2011-04-04T17:03:18Z")
One thing I enjoyed out of the whole New England Patriots spygate thing was the press conferences. The team was clearly pissed off at the world and the interview responses were just bare bones, chip on the shoulder, one cliche after another every week. “They have a good team. We were just able to make a few more good plays, and that was the difference in the game.” “We’re just going one game at a time.” Etc. etc. etc. It came off as, “The NFL requires we do a press conference, so here’s your fucking press conference.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/37 "2011-04-04T21:05:47Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Why on earth do TV journos bother shoving a microphone into a sports-person’s mouth? Because the sportspersons may go on to careers in sports broadcasting, and they need the practice. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/38 "2011-04-04T22:32:53Z")
I love this one… [QUOTE=Winning Nascar Race Driver] Well, the (insert car number) (insert sponsor name) (insert car manufacturer) was great today! I didn’t know if we had enough to pull it off, (name of driver finishing second) was pretty close at the end, but we somehow did it! I want to thank (insert endless list of sponsors) for all their support, the fans, Sprint, the crew at the shop, everyone at (car manufacturer), and my wife/girlfriend. WOOO!!! [/QUOTE] Unless it’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Words just don’t come easy to him. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/39 "2011-04-04T23:48:32Z")
Let’s not forget the cliched questions they are asked as well. You can guess in advance what is going to be asked. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741/40 "2011-04-05T00:27:40Z")
We’re in the middle of a national election campaign here in Canada. When they interview politicians, you know what we get? Bullshit. Talking points. Pre-determined canned responses that say very little of substance or truth. Explain to me why interviewing politicians is any more informative than interviewing athletes - because from what I can tell, it’s equally tedius mounds of cliched baloney. > [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > . It’s frightening, especially when you see how many of them go straight to the sports section and skip the (what passes for) actual news at the front. Ooooh, how scary, people like sports. No, wait, it isn’t scary at all. Get over it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-journos-interview-sportspeople/576741.md?page=3)