I get that the fine folks in the media (hey wait, I guess that includes me too kinda) rely on players talking to make their livelyhood. But I'm not sure I get the righteous indignation Chris Sheridan has over Rondo's ducking of the media the other night.
Rondo blows of the media after leading Celtics over Bulls with triple-double
Shame on Rajon Rondo, shame on the Boston Celtics … and shame on David Stern and the NBA if they let Rondo and the Celtics get away with a clear breach of NBA rules and locker room etiquette.
Back in the day, a quote like that would earn a team a $25,000 fine, with a similar fine being assessed to the player for breaking the rules. NBA players are supposed to be available to the media for 45 minutes before the game (although a majority of them make themselves unavailable by hiding in the players' lounge) and also after the game. The public wants to know what they have to say, the reporters are there to convey that message to the public, and the media rules are in place to assure that the NBA is properly publicized. And when a player such as Rondo decides the rules do not apply to him, there are supposed to be consequences.
I don't get it. Do you really want Rondo to sit there and give you more cliched quotes that you can tell by his expression he doesn't even care about? Is that worth getting riled up about? If he doesn't want to talk once in a while, so what? I guess I just don't get it. Feel free to educate me.
0 recs | 46 comments
Jeff....
Are you flaming Sheridan? ;)
Sam Levin - February 13, 2012
He's sick of you people.
You guys talk so much ish about him on a day to day basis, running stories about why he should be traded, and why he shouldn’t be an all-star. Then you want him to sit around and answer your questions like everything should be all smiles and hallmark cards. Come off it! Rondo just can’t get a break.
Celtics_Diva - February 13, 2012
misthtek! lol
blows off*
maybe he should do what belichik does and give a very vaguely thorough answer
SDK - February 13, 2012
rondo is more boring then belichick when he talks to the media
and bill tries his hardest to say absolutely nothing. i think its funny that sheridan had a hissy fit.
rm81 - February 13, 2012
sometimes its easier to just say "both teams played hard" like a former celtic did...
Karasu - February 13, 2012
I dont care much what they have to say
I mainly care about their on court performance.
I feel being wrongly represented by Mr. Sheridan here. It’s not like that Rondo avoids the media all the time. When he doesn’t feel like talking, give him a break.
Karasu - February 13, 2012
Who cares if he blows you off every now and again he’s not in the mood for all the stupid questions these guys ask. They need to first start asking better question if they want better answers. If I’m Rondo and I read this BS I wouldn’t be too happy with Sheridan asking/begging for the league to fine him.
mr1313 - February 13, 2012
Perfectly said, I could do without the post game press conferences too. I think the press wants too much access to players.
jpd985 - February 13, 2012
The reports are sooo dumb with NO brains.
They intimidate the players soo much that is why they ignore them.
The reporters should be fined $50,000 for being a lame reporter.
What are the rules for reporter?
They will learn when they get ignored.
Great Job RONDO. Let the reporters go and pick their nose.
CelticsFAN - February 13, 2012
agree!
he is looking to make headlines out of nothing.
APC - February 13, 2012
would rather have a player on my team like rondo
And only care about what he does on the court and leave the papers to talk about that, then a player like lebron who after one playoff series win cries on the court and rushes over to the reporter talking about how his two buddies came together to beat us after trying so hard their whole careers. Yeah LeBron, we all saw Game 5
OFWG1554 - February 13, 2012 via iPhone app
If he wins then I don't care
These guys are basketball players and shouldn’t have to be media personalities unless they want to. I’m a celtics fan for basketball they can do the talking out on the court.
Of course I’m interested to hear what they have to say but if they don’t want to talk every now and then it doesn’t bother me at all, especially if they’re winning. I know I’m not always in the mood to be interviewed.
p-peazy - February 13, 2012
that whole article is garbage. sheridan trying to call out RR too to do his off court job as well as his on court job blah blah blah. why would anyone want to talk to the likes of that?
CaliforniaGreen - February 13, 2012
I don't see what the problem is.
A lot of players don’t speak before games, even though they’re supposed to be available, and none of them ever get called out on it. Pierce has skipped talking to the media after a game once or twice this year, and he didn’t get backlash for it. So why is Rondo being attacked now?
Rondo had a rough day, according to KG. He didn’t want to deal with having 30 microphones shoved under his nose. He wanted privacy, and that’s his right. Lay off, Sheridan.
bleedgreen5 - February 13, 2012
What a whiny article by Sheridan...
Get over yourself, dude. Rondo doesn’t owe you a quote.
Roy_Hobbs - February 13, 2012
one word came to mind after reading Sheridan...
WAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
joeb - February 14, 2012
Yes, disgusting article
Actually calling for the league to fine Rondo? For missing ONE interview? Wow.
JR99 - February 13, 2012
If it is part of your job and you are supposed to do it, then you do it
The quotes are usually moronic, but if your contract or the NBA or someone in authority says you are supposed to make yourself available to the press after the game then you should do it. Seems pretty cut and dried to me. I don’t care who the player is. Most of them get paid huge dollars and can spend 15 minutes talking to the press after a game. Suck it up and do your job.
vinnie - February 13, 2012
+1
As a former sportswriter, and still freelance reporting from time to time, I believe in transparency, accessibility and accountability. To expect less diminishes everyone, including the press. Skipping one interview session may not be a. It deal, but given that there are rules, shouldn’t we hold players to them? I would agree that with the proliferation of blogs, cable and sports talk radio, sports media have become more varied in quality and professionalism. Dumb questions are asked, opinions are offen overheated and/or ill informed. But we all have a job to do. Respect that.
Big_Easy - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Maybe after playing a tough game, they just want to be left alone
And as a fan I have to respect that. Personally if Rondo want to or dosen’t want to talk to the media that’s his right. He has a job to do and that’s to play a game which he did. After that he dosen’t owe the press nothing.
Bradley James McEachern - February 14, 2012
That said...
Shouldn’t the highly qualified members of the media be able to cultivate working relationships with players (and others in the league/organizations) in order to do their jobs, rather than rely on a league dictate that sets the table for stupid question/stupid answer scenarios?
Makes me wonder exactly how the edict came to be and where it came from (driven by the league or the media), since I would imagine it hasn’t always been this way.
AGuinness - February 14, 2012
Is it possible that Rondo had a legitimate reason for not staying to talk to reporters?
Do you ever have to miss a meeting? Got a Doctor’s appt? Got a family matter to deal with? Not feeling well? Suck it up and do your job.
Sheridan’s “article” consists of blasting Rondo for this. But did he ask anyone connected with the team the all important, “Why?” question? Did he wait to get a reason from the player? If he did, it is not represented at all in the article. That’s not journalism. That’s ranting. In basic high-school journalism they would teach you that the first part of writing a story like this is to ask the key question. Dig a little. Do the research. Oh – that’s much harder than just jumping on your laptop and ranting! Suck it up and do your job.
mmmmm - February 14, 2012
Let me speculate -- he is a petulant guy who just didn't feel like talking
I agree that Sheridan was over the top and that stiffing reporters once after a game is not that big of a deal. However, a rule is a rule. If he does it a few more times, he should be fined by the league. As I said, suck it up and do your job. From everything I read, he was in and out of the trainer’s room, etc. He was there. He just did not want to talk to the press. “Suck it up and do your job, Rondo”
vinnie - February 14, 2012
agree with all that
virtually identical to what I would have posted
KGHurtYourFeelings - February 14, 2012
Well, I totally agree that he should pay any fine required by the rules.
But I don’t get the harsh, negative attitude conveyed by your ‘Suck it up’.
Seriously, and again, have YOU never had to miss out on or skip a meeting or work function for whatever reason?
Speculate all you want but that’s exactly what it is – speculation. Unless you can claim to know Rondo or any of these players you have no clue what is going on in his head or personal life. And frankly, you, me and the rest of the public don’t have any right to that knowledge until they volunteer it.
The whole ‘righteous indignation’ stance that some media and fans love to revel in is tired and lame.
mmmmm - February 14, 2012
agree with jeff
Master Po - February 13, 2012
45 mins before every game
Shouldn’t the players and coaches be doing final preparation getting ready for the game this close to tipoff? The least important thing they should do 45 mins before the game is saying dumb empty things like : " Yeah,, we are just going to come out and play hard"
getthat18now - February 13, 2012
Actually, Rondo did respond to questions from an ESPN reporter after the game.
alley oop - February 13, 2012
He did because Pietrus came screaming at him while she was interviewing him
Blackberry33 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
I wish there was a clip just of the Pietrus scream and the context of it.
alley oop - February 14, 2012
He wouldn't have cared if Rondo didnt get a Triple Double
Jay-D21 - February 13, 2012
Rondo let his play speak for him
Blackberry33 - February 13, 2012 via mobile
LOL what a joke rondo is
stand up like a man and take the good with the bad!
mdowell04 - February 14, 2012
Yeah a guy getting a triple-double during a game is a real joke
Wow.
Bradley James McEachern - February 14, 2012
Sheridan can go pound sand
For that matter, any reporter who thinks they are owed a qoute from any player can kiss it as well.
Yeah sure, maybe contracts state players have a certain responsibility to speak with the media, but that to me is wrong. My philosphy is simple. If I don’t want to talk to you, I ain’t talking to you. Don’t like it, too bad.
Sometimes I wish we could just get rid of all reporters or media members like Sheridan. Throw them off a cliff or something. Freedom of the press doesn’t mean freedom to harass.
KG's Knee - February 14, 2012
Well, SheridanHoops.com must be right..
The (27th) Worldwide Leader in sports probably had an “article” in the can and wanted some original language in it to drive up the traffic.. Frankly, he can go suck an egg.
MiracleMilt - February 14, 2012 via mobile
Chris Sheridan must have a lil crush on Rondo and was upset he diddnt get to see him.
ianboyextreme - February 14, 2012
As a freelance photojournalist [ now semi-retired ] I can see both sides.
Most athletes are willing to talk and give quotes after a win, or even after a loss [ not always ] but there are times when an athlete does not want to talk with anybody, and that should be respected.
It’s unprofessional for a sportswriter to whine in an article about not getting a quote from this or that person. If he can’t make contact with one person in a team sport, for whatever reason, let him go and find someone else to get his quote from, and not rant about one player’s behavior.
Lygafe.
Lionel gaffen / Fotomix.
lygafe - February 14, 2012
I concur with Jeff
Sheridan article wreaks of the kind of unearned self- importance that makes folks dislike the media and is yet another sign of the decline of sports “journalism”.
mmmmm - February 14, 2012 via iPhone app
Reeks, perhaps?
lygafe - February 14, 2012
LOL - posted that one from my iPhone!
‘Should be ’reeks’.
mmmmm - February 14, 2012
I beg to differ, Jeff
It’s part of their job and goes with the territory. Are there parts of my job every day that I dislike and would rather not do? You bet. Do I still have to do them? Yes. And I’m not making anywhere close to the money these guys are. If Rondo wants to spout cliches and make us decide whether or not to believe him, I guess that’s his prerogative, but totally ducking the media? No.
34green - February 14, 2012
Actually, no. Ducking the reporters is in his prerogative.
He just may have to pay a fine for that prerogative.
Technically, since he did speak to ESPN, he didn’t “totally” duck the media, of course.
mmmmm - February 14, 2012
+1
vinnie - February 14, 2012
Do The Players Need To Talk To The Media?
If it’s in their contract, yes. If not, no. I didn’t read all the above posts, but I get the jist that the questions are meaningless as are the answers.
From the past, I don’t know why, but I remember an interview Dave Cowens had after a game. The asked a question, trying to heap praise on Cowens who had a good game and Cowens tried to give an intelligent answer that it was not about him, but about his teammates. They cut him off.
Larry Bird didn’t like to talk to reporters. In college he insisted that if reporters wanted to interview him, they also needed to interview his teammates in which the reporters had no interest. When he came to the NBA he didn’t like the interviews. In one of his books I remember him saying that one time he did interviews and he watched the clock noticing that it took about 10 minutes. He then decided it was easier to do the 10 minutes than spending more time fending off reporters.
I enjoy Doc’s interviews because you get some insight and because of his sense of humor. Player’s usually go thru the motions just to get the reporters off their backs. I don’t know if they still do it, but after home games Pierce and KG did like a press conference. Both were polite, gave answers depending on their mood and KG was great at saying things that were so confusing that one just had to laugh. The questions were often repetitive, but the guys were polite and when they had enough they just looked at each other and one got up and then the other and they left.
If we’re talking here only about post-game interviews, the players are often emotional about the game, they’re tired, maybe they’re hurting and maybe they just want to get out of there and get something to eat. There are crowds around them almost pushing them into their lockers. Maybe the post-game conference is the best way to do it and the players should take turns doing them.
This is much ado about nothing in my opinion.
If we want good answers and insight into the players make a rule that only Jackie MacMullen can do the interviews.
TrueGreen - February 14, 2012
Coming from a cue over at CelticsHub:
I’d like to see the official rules set first about players and speaking to the media. Or else we’d really have nothing to talk about. (which is truly the case)
paolost - February 14, 2012
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