Getting The Silent Treatment In The Locker Room (Jesse Kurtz)

Getting The Silent Treatment In The Locker Room (Jesse Kurtz)

Topic Author: Jesse Kurtz

Posted: 9:51 PM Dec 21, 2009

Replies Posted: 4 comments

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I'll be the first to admit that I have a pretty cool job. I get paid to talk about sports. We are granted unbelievable access to some of your favorite players. But sometimes, that access is not so cool and it can make doing this job as tough as trying to crack the safe code at Fort Knox. Case and point, Sunday's Broncos loss to the Raiders.

As the media, our job is to bring you closer to the players. The interviews we conduct with players and coaches are played on television so you can better understand what went well, and what went wrong.. Sometimes when things go wrong, really wrong (like a 20-19 loss to the rival Raiders) the players zip their lips. That was the case on Sunday. Many players opted not to talk to the media which can be VERY FRUSTRATING because we have a job to do, regardless of a win or loss.

The NFL asks all its players to make themselves available to the media. Just a few moments to answer some questions... I'll admit, some are good, some are not so good (I have been guilty of asking both). But the fact remains, you can measure the true character of a man (player in this case) in how he handles adversity. Kyle Orton, Dan Graham, Brian Dawkins and Vonnie Holliday all are very gracious with their time regardless of the score. They all are stand-up players who end up coming off looking like pro's pros because they answer the question honestly, critically and professionally. Those four did just that after a tough loss to Oakland.

As for the silent types (I won't name names) they are the true losers in the situation. Yes, we don't get the interview that our viewers expect. But the player loses out on a chance to show his true character. I understand it's tough to put your heart and soul into a game for 60 minutes only to have it come crashing down in a matter of seconds. I understand it's tough to take a moment for self-reflection with cameras rolling on your every word just minutes after the heartbreak. But, that's the job you signed up for. It's the job that pays you millions of dollars. It's what you get paid to do!...

I get paid to be there win or lose. Anybody can put on a smile and talk after a win. That's the fun part of their job. That's the fun part of my job. I appreciate the player who can be a pro during AND after the game.

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by Anonymous on Dec 27, 2009 at 02:40 PM

Agree with you 100%, Jesse! We fans are the reason players are so well-paid. They work for us fans. Therefore, like discussing a job failure or success with your boss, players need to talk to their bosses-their fans-regardless of win or loss. Egos should be set aside.

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by PJ Location: Colorado Springs on Dec 23, 2009 at 08:23 PM

Jesse, we appreciate what you do for us viewers and Sports Fans as our New Sports Director, and we all know you have a tough job to do as a sports caster. But when our home teams lose a tough game and the players don't want to talk about it, I don't blame them for the way they feel, I know it must hurt them to lose a tough game, especially if they were favored to win it. So out of respect to all the players who don't want to be interviewed, why not try and work around the story without the interviews, I know it would be tough to do, but why not try it? I'm sure that us viewers and sports fans would understand, and I know the players would respect you more if you worked around the story, I know I would. Because if you were to put yourself in the players position, I'm sure you would not want or feel like being interviewed by a bunch of sports casters and sports writers, especially after losing a tough game that you gave your heart and soul to try and win it, I know I wouldn't want to.

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by ERICB Location: CS on Dec 23, 2009 at 12:46 PM

I WOULD GIVE YOU THE SILENT TREATMENT TO ,IF YOU ASK ME HOW I FELT AFTER LOSING A TOUGH GAME .OR IF YOU ASK ME WHAT HAPPEN ON THAT FUMBLE THAT COST MY TEAM A TOUCHDOWN MOST OF YOU REPORTERS ASK THE DUMBEST QUESTIONS TRYING TO GET UNDER A PLAYERS SKIN SO THEY SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN REALLY USE ,TO CREATE A NON-STORY .LIKE WHATS GOING WITH FARVE AND HIS COACH .JUST REPORT THE EVENT DONT TRY TO CREATE A STORY !!!!!!!!!!!

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by Citizen K on Dec 22, 2009 at 04:44 PM

You should definitely mention names. For all of the money that these people are paid, and for the price of their tickets, their merchandise, and everything else TEAM related- they can spare three minutes of their time to answer questions. We want to know if Mr. Whatever is a jerk to reporters. We also want to know if Mr. Whomever is a stand up guy.... calling them out on their immature and pouty behavior may change their attitudes the next time somebody pops a mic near their face.

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