Actually, I'd say those veterans give the boringest monotonous answers--the young guns would often give the most colorful answers with the most flair. But for discussion on a forum/blog? I agree and disagree with your statement. For a topic and material to discuss on a forum? Yes Shane and Adelman would provide the answers with the most depth. But for the headlines and controversy? Terrence Williams and DeMarcus Cousins would give the most material to discuss. It all depends on which way you look at it. Its not a co-incidence people call Battier Mr President...or...Mr future coach and governor of Texas. Like hes got a completely different personality than someone like Terrence Williams. Terrence Williams makes the news. Battier doesn't. Terrence Williams parties late and comes late constantly to practices and gets punished with demotions to the d-league. Battier comes 1 hour early to practice and talks his way into the realms of superstardom. Its no wonder Battier is rarely criticised despite his d-league like performances--because HE CAN TALK. My point is, interviewing players like Battier and Patterson is easy. They are NICE GUYS. They are educated, has a great family background, and they are natural speakers. Again, its whichever way you look at it. 50 year olds are going to say those guys are mature and intelligent because they are akin to polished gentlemen when they speak. 20 year olds are going to say they are boring and monotonous because they don't carry that swagger and aren't cool. Now interviewing TERRENCE WILLIAMS...man, you gotta hav dat swagger. yhu c wat im sayin' dawg? wen it cumz 2 ma mayne man t-will, u gotta tohtli chill man. u kant jus b a virgin nerd readin' owt sum kongress bill script ya kno? u gotta b lyk...yo homie..da word on da streetz s yhu gna b da nxt tmac..watchu rekkn? I'm just saying, ask Battier/Patterson/Hayes any question and they'll politely answer with full enthusiasm. But ask Terrence Williams, if you don't got the style and the swagger, he isn't going to respect you. The questions matter, but I think the way the interview is conducted also matters. (actually the questions weren't too bad, but they really weren't that good either. and when your material isn't that good, you gotta add the extras to make it come off good. A bit like how if you're rich, any girl will come to you. But if you aren't so rich, you need other factors to achieve the same--like personality, etc etc)
contradict yourself much? It's as simple as poor presentation/questions on his part. That's it. With most players you need to keep it short, right to the point, and speak up inside a noisy locker room. You also can't ask questions with obvious answers like "Do you think you can be an elite option with enough work". Of course Hill will say he can, whether he believes it or not. The New York question is also something that's been beaten to death, so he's automatically going to get a shrug and a short cliche answer. Perhaps cabbage can learn to change with time and more experience. Right now he's stuck in blog mode. It really has nothing to do with culture or his IQ. Mainly he needs to adapt to the player he's interviewing. Battier naturally will give you longer answers, so you don't have to lead him and can ask a detailed question. Other guys are not as talkative or interested in giving longer answers. With them, you have to ask short and direct questions and keep leading them to keep them talking, especially with a foreign player like Scola. It's not about talking like them. That being said, i didnt talk anyone blatantly ignored him or was that disinterested, as some stated. When players do one on one interviews they're usually easily distracted by what's going on in the lockerroom or by trying to get dressed. It's not the same as right after the game where you have so many reporters around you that it forces them to stop what they're doing and answer questions.
Thank you, that's an intelligent and well-balanced opinion. I for one could deduce some interesting stuff from the interview, but the guy needs to understand that to be able to be a good journalist, you have to adapt. It's a sort of acting skill that one need to have to get the best out of his interview partner. W22_Streak did say some truth about the culture at CF, what people don't get though that this is quite general. The Internetz is an evil place where everyone can pretend to be a high-flyer and dismiss anything. The thing is: since most people are straight bluffing, you just don't have to take them for granted.
I also liked some questions, and don't think players attitude was that bad, except -a little- for Williams. They are used to doing many interviews, almost daily. Remember they're in HIS locker room. It's normal.
http://rockets.clutchfans.net/1294/is-terrence-williams-a-point-guard-he-thinks-so/ Funny because when thacabbage asked him that question he didn't know that there were positions. He said he is a basketball player. "1, 2, 3, 4? I just know how to play basketball" or something to that effect. :grin:
Haha exactly. He said I dont know what I am or what a one, two, or three is. I'm just a basketball player.
Nah, he essentially said he doesn't like to be constrained to a single position. He considers himself a "basketball player," not simply a PG, SG, or SF. Plus, he was irritated with the fact that he was being nagged by an amateur interviewer. thacabbage approached him like a timid 13-year-old kid, and Terrence responded accordingly.
