I put it on the reporters.

If I ask a dude a question like, "How was that play set up"? and he comes back with, "I'm very thankful", I'm walking away and never sticking a microphone in his face again.

My opinion on this is that these guys(pro athletes and etc) are not obligated to give the media anything. I think it 's funny to hear Greg Popovich and Belichick answer questions to the media.

My opinion on this is that these guys(pro athletes and etc) are not obligated to give the media anything. I think it 's funny to hear Greg Popovich and Belichick answer questions to the media.

I hadn't thought about Popovich, you've certainly got a point. But "not obligated" is your opinion, not the NBA standard. They MUST talk to the press or they get fined, that's the only reason guys like Westbrook and Popovich do it at all. Since you've got to do it.............why not just be amenable?

And I can see the NBA's stance. The fans are the ones who buy tickets and merchandise and watch the TV commercials. They want to hear comments from coaches and players. Here in the Bay area you would not BELIEVE how courteous every single Warriors player and coach is to the press. Is it really that hard to do?

[Edited on 1/20/2015 by robslob]

My opinion on this is that these guys(pro athletes and etc) are not obligated to give the media anything. I think it 's funny to hear Greg Popovich and Belichick answer questions to the media.

I hadn't thought about Popovich, you've certainly got a point. But "not obligated" is your opinion, not the NBA standard. They MUST talk to the press or they get fined, that's the only reason guys like Westbrook and Popovich do it at all. Since you've got to do it.............why not just be amenable?

And I can see the NBA's stance. The fans are the ones who buy tickets and merchandise and watch the TV commercials. They want to hear comments from coaches and players. Here in the Bay area you would not BELIEVE how courteous every single Warriors player and coach is to the press. Is it really that hard to do?

[Edited on 1/20/2015 by robslob]

You are right they can get fined. funny rule, but oh well.
Kind of a different subject
I remember it was maybe 2yrs ago he(Pop) got a huge fine for sitting some of his players in a game against the Heat. I got a kick out of it .

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/page/instantawesome-popovich-150119/gregg-popovich-master-awkward-interviews-geometry
Gregg Popovich, master of awkward interviews and geometry

Interviewing Gregg Popovich requires a certain level of fearlessness. Before Sunday's game against the Utah Jazz, one reporter engaged in a particularly entertaining Q&A session with the San Antonio Spurs' head coach.

It started with the reporter asking what the Jazz had improved on since the last time Popovich faced the team. His response? "I haven't watched them." Then, it gets interesting ...

Does five-time NBA championship coach Gregg Popovich know anything at all? BOLD.

And just like that, you've been Pop'd. With a geometry lesson. Does anyone feel just a little bit bad for reporters?

In Marc Stein's 2013 feature, Tim Duncan was asked that question and said, "I think I'm laughing too hard to feel bad for anyone."

More pressing question: Shouldn't the Knicks be the team focused on triangles? I'll see myself out now.

Best of Pop

[Edited on 1/20/2015 by jszfunk]

[Edited on 1/20/2015 by jszfunk]

My opinion on this is that these guys(pro athletes and etc) are not obligated to give the media anything. I think it 's funny to hear Greg Popovich and Belichick answer questions to the media.

I hadn't thought about Popovich, you've certainly got a point. But "not obligated" is your opinion, not the NBA standard. They MUST talk to the press or they get fined, that's the only reason guys like Westbrook and Popovich do it at all. Since you've got to do it.............why not just be amenable?

And I can see the NBA's stance. The fans are the ones who buy tickets and merchandise and watch the TV commercials. They want to hear comments from coaches and players. Here in the Bay area you would not BELIEVE how courteous every single Warriors player and coach is to the press. Is it really that hard to do?

[Edited on 1/20/2015 by robslob]

Are the answers they give insightful or are they the normal bs athletes give.

Here's my classic Popovich, I'm guessing it was three years ago:

Female commentator at courtside: "Are you happy with your defense against OKC in the first half?"

Popovich (growling): "HAPPY?? Nobody's HAPPY here! WE'RE AT WAR!!!"

God, I nearly fell off the sofa laughing.

Here's my classic Popovich, I'm guessing it was three years ago:

Female commentator at courtside: "Are you happy with your defense against OKC in the first half?"

Popovich (growling): "HAPPY?? Nobody's HAPPY here! WE'RE AT WAR!!!"

God, I nearly fell off the sofa laughing.

HA!!! Thats pretty funny!!!!
Ya know...he is right and I agree.
This is my opinion, but when you are playing sports
the other team is the" enemy" , and you should be at war.
You want to win.

I put it on the reporters.

If I ask a dude a question like, "How was that play set up"? and he comes back with, "I'm very thankful", I'm walking away and never sticking a microphone in his face again.

Sorry, but there are many things people do not like about their jobs; tasks you are required to do.

Do you want to do them all, probably not but you do them because your employment is dependent on it.

Answering the media is a requirement of their jobs that these guys signed a contract for.

The kicker that can let pro athletes get away with it is that if they don't want to do something, they can afford to just pay the fine and move on. You or I would probably lose our jobs.

quote:
I put it on the reporters.

If I ask a dude a question like, "How was that play set up"? and he comes back with, "I'm very thankful", I'm walking away and never sticking a microphone in his face again.

Sorry, but there are many things people do not like about their jobs; tasks you are required to do.

Do you want to do them all, probably not but you do them because your employment is dependent on it.

Answering the media is a requirement of their jobs that these guys signed a contract for.

The kicker that can let pro athletes get away with it is that if they don't want to do something, they can afford to just pay the fine and move on. You or I would probably lose our jobs.

I agree with Lee 100% on this. But Popovich, Westbrook and Lynch are standing in front of mics and giving terse, short remarks to AVOID the fines, they are not just avoiding doing it. I do not agree with what they are doing...........as Lee just said, it's part of their job. Wake up and join us working class peons who do something we don't want to do every single day that we go to work!
The real world is tough, man.............

At least Popovich is funny..........I actually have come to look forward to what he is going to say.

I put it on the reporters.

If I ask a dude a question like, "How was that play set up"? and he comes back with, "I'm very thankful", I'm walking away and never sticking a microphone in his face again.

Sorry, but there are many things people do not like about their jobs; tasks you are required to do.

Do you want to do them all, probably not but you do them because your employment is dependent on it.

Answering the media is a requirement of their jobs that these guys signed a contract for.

The kicker that can let pro athletes get away with it is that if they don't want to do something, they can afford to just pay the fine and move on. You or I would probably lose our jobs.

ok...then expect the Marshawn Lynch's of the world to reply to every question with, "I'm very thankful" and thus fulfilling his requirements or as you stated, tell 'em to bug off and pay the 50k.

and as a reporter, I'd ignore him.

Interesting next week: he's "required" to speak to the media, Tues., Wed., Thurs. 😛