Kyle Dorau / Sports Editor
To score a goal, hit a home run, or set a new personal best is a tremendous accomplishment at the collegiate level, especially in Division I. Watching the athletes here at Central on a daily basis has reinforced my thoughts on just how talented these students are.
Yet one thing still amazes me. For all their talent on the field and confidence in what they do, if I stick a microphone in their face after the game, they become a deer in headlights.
With Central Connecticut State being one of the smaller D-I schools in the Northeast, we won’t get as much media attention and recognition as some of the others in our backyard. Part of the issue may be the fact that our athletes did not get a lot of exposure as they came up through high school. Maybe the post-game interviews are a new, and almost shocking concept.
That’s what I’m here for. Welcome to Athlete Interviews 101. Today, I’m going to instruct all of you on the finer points of talking to us media types.
Obviously, you’re all exhausted and I’m sure mentally drained after a competition, and the last thing you want to do is have to sit down with us for 10 minutes. But the thing is, none of us are looking for you to speak that long. If you can tell us what we want to hear in a minute or two, that’s perfect for everyone involved.
The first lesson is to avoid technicalities. When we ask what’s been different for you as of late, don’t go into mechanics of your game. There are too many athletes for all of us to understand the intricacies of each one’s physical skills. And if it’s the god’s honest truth that your elbow has been flying out and that’s the only difference in your performance, use it as an opportunity to talk about the coaching staff and what a great job they did of helping you with it.
Secondly, show some personality. We see you guys joking, laughing, having fun on the field, so let your character show in the interview. Make a little joke to get comfortable. We’ll laugh. Just be yourself.
In our most important lesson of the day, don’t spout cliches. Please. I know you’ve heard other athletes say that they “give it 100 percent” and “take it one game at a time,” but you’re better than that. Phrases like those are just meaningless buzzwords that professionals say so they can get home faster.
Our preferred athletes and coaches are the ones who don’t even have to be prompted to speak. That’s why I love covering Men’s Basketball. When Howie sits down, you better have your recorder on, because he’s going to fly right into ten minutes of article-writing gold. If you can just give thoughts on your performance and the game in general when we point our microphone your way, you’ll quickly become one of our favorite athletes instantly.
The underlying theme here is that we, as the media, are here to help you. Sometimes we have to ask the tough questions when you fail. While it may be tough to acknowledge that you just didn’t have it today or your best just wasn’t good enough, it’s a great opportunity to show perseverance and maturity. If you can put it in perspective and handle it with grace and class, we’re going to make sure that you are recognized for doing so. Maybe it’s not true for every reporter out there, but I think that goes for the vast majority, myself included.
If we aren’t interviewing you and you feel you‘ve made an impact on the game, come seek us out. Getting quotes from athletes fills a lot of space in our stories. We’re not going to turn down an opportunity at freebies. If it makes our job easier, we’re all for it.
Look at the interview as another facet of the game. Display the same amount of skill and talent that you show in the actual competition itself, and it will be a breeze.
