MPR’s Jim Bickal critiques sport writer’s interviewing and question practices.
Awarded:
1987 Minnesota AP Award, honorable mention in Sports category
MPR’s Jim Bickal critiques sport writer’s interviewing and question practices.
Awarded:
1987 Minnesota AP Award, honorable mention in Sports category
JIM BICKEL: In the early days of baseball writing, the reporter would watch the game and describe what he saw. The comments of the players were not considered relevant. But as the popularity grew and the games became available on radio and television, the job of the sports reporter changed. The locker room interview became essential. But what athletes are good at is playing the game. Talking about it is a very different skill, and there often isn't much to say. As a result, the art of sports interviewing has evolved into an odd craft.
A big problem is that there aren't all that many good questions to ask. So to avoid questions altogether, there's the Jeopardy-style interview, where the reporter gives the answer and tries to get the player to figure out what the question is.
SPEAKER: The team is obviously pleased but remains low key, I think, knowing they're only halfway home right now.
SPEAKER: When you're standing out there at second base, you got quite an applause there.
SPEAKER: You came on big time the last couple of games when the chips were down. You went through seven at-bats, got six hits in seven at-bats. You really did it.
SPEAKER: You talk about 100 losses. You talk about starting in 1982. There's so much that's transpired on this club.
SPEAKER: 2-0, just what you needed to be at home.
SPEAKER: The fans, really, I mean, 2 million fans, that's really quite an accomplishment.
JIM BICKEL: Sometimes the reporter has a real good idea of what he'd like the answer to be and uses what a lawyer might consider a leading question.
SPEAKER: Are you guys still learning to believe in yourself?
SPEAKER: Is this team on a particular roll right now?
SPEAKER: You were kind of stunned on the bench after it. Was it kind of a blur after that?
SPEAKER: Do you think you guys made a statement by winning tonight?
SPEAKER: Is this team growing up before our eyes or what?
SPEAKER: Do you guys feel like it's going to be the measuring stick to actually find out just how good this team really is?
SPEAKER: Tim, is it like a snowball effect, where the confidence just keeps rolling along?
JIM BICKEL: And then there are the classics, those questions that should be in the locker room interview Hall of Fame.
SPEAKER: Has it hit you yet that you just hit a grand slam home run in a World Series game?
SPEAKER: When you saw the ball go over the fence, what were you saying to yourself on the inside?
SPEAKER: After all the ups and downs of a career, do you pinch yourself at this point now that you finally got the big one?
SPEAKER: As a kid, did you ever dream about hitting a home run in the World Series?
SPEAKER: What was going through your mind?
SPEAKER: How does this rank as a career highlight?
SPEAKER: Can there be any doubters anymore?
SPEAKER: Can you describe this feeling?
JIM BICKEL: For the answers to those questions and more, tune in next year. I'm Jim Bickel reporting.
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