Note to the Media: The Athletes are the Talent

A big deal was made about Marshawn Lynch not talking to the media during the Seahawks run to the Super Bowl. Here's just one instance of his protest against the media.

I, for one, love it. I love seeing the media squirm when they're not due the respect they think they deserve. Other athletes have also made headlines over the years for not performing like puppets in the way the media expects them to behave.


'That's a Clown Question Bro'

Back during his rookie year, Bryce Harper was asked a hard-hitting question about his beer of choice. Problem was, Bryce had yet to turn 21. The question obviously has nothing to do with baseball, and was asked to try to create a headline where there was none.

Editor's Note: Question happened because they were playing in Canada - where Bryce was allowed to drink to his heart's content. (And look at that good-looking guy, obviously he's enjoyed a beer or two in his day)


Russell Westbrook Tells a Reporter He Doesn't Like Him

Russell Westbrook, tired of the local media constantly ragging on him, had the following exchange with a reporter from The Oklahoman.

Are you upset with something?
I just don't like you.

You don't?
No.

Do you not like Nick [a writer for the Thunder's website] either?
I love Nick. I don't like you.

Well you gave us about the same answers.
Yeah. Do you have another question?

To be perfectly fair to Westbrook, the reporter had written, "They look like nothing more than glorified impostors, a group of guys living on reputation and past achievements." So, why should Westbrook act like he likes this reporter, who has gone out of his way to badmouth one of the top players at the team he purportedly supports. He is required by the NBA to speak to this reporter. If he had his own way, I imagine he would not.


KD Tell the Media That They Don't Know Shit

Westbrook's Thunder teammate, Kevin Durant, has also been slamming the media lately, telling them that "You guys really don't know shit." I tend to agree with KD on that point.

Wiz - The media is right about one thing: KD to DC 2016


Arian Foster Provides the Same Answer for 11 Questions

Or there's the instance of Arian Foster repeating the same statement to a reporter in various forms 11 times. In response to the Texans being called "a dumpster on fire" by CBS Houston (again, a local station), Arian refused to answer questions with anything more than some form of "I'm just trying to be a good teammate." Shouldn't that be his right though?


James Harden Gets in a Reporter's Face and Calls Him a "Weirdo"

After a Game 2 loss to Portland in the first round of the playoffs last year, James Harden was repeatedly asked about his offensive struggles.  He asked Harden why he was shooting 14-47 through the first two games of the series, and what he was going to do to fix that. He asked THREE questions about this. The thing is, James Harden knows he is struggling. He's a basketball player, and basketball players sometimes go through cold patches. Anyone familiar with basketball would know that. You can't fix a jump shot with a sound bite.

Anyway, Harden gets in this guy's face and calls him a 'weirdo'. He asked the same question three times. In normal civilized conversation, the proper number of times to ask someone a question is once. Maybe twice for clarification. But THREE TIMES is a red flag. That tells me that maybe the reporter may not have personal experience interacting with other humans. Or at the least, that he doesn't respect Harden enough to treat him like one.


All of these cases are instances of the media misunderstanding their role. Their role is to report, not to instigate. I stand with the athletes here. Win or lose, you see athletes asked the same asinine questions over and over again. It seems that any hack with a media pass can harass athletes as they walk back, often half-dressed, to their lockers. Athletes are forced to answer to the same guys who have been trashing the athletes, their coaches and their teammates. I'm surprised athletes don't protest more often. I know I wouldn't be cordial if someone got in my face and told me I sucked at my job.

A lot is made of athletes lacking deference for the media. Something that is often ignored is the lack of respect that the reporters provide back to the athletes. Maybe reporters are the ones who should be grateful to the athletes that provide so many additional media jobs.

TL;DR Athletes have an exceptional skill set. Reporters do not. They are a dime a dozen. The media does not inherently deserve respect just because some clown has a journalism degree.