There are some events that I just don’t like to witness, simply because I get embarrassed for the people involved. Somewhere near the top of my list are serious attempts at karaoke ballads and the supremely awkward reality television moment where the slightly freakish and unpopular high school boy/girl asks out the hot and popular girl/boy in the school hallway.
The opening stages of the Tour de France have allowed me to add another: Television interviews with Team CSC cyclist and overall leader of Stages 1 through 3, David Zabriskie.
Seriously, this was painful to watch. Yes, Zabriskie’s No. 1 job is to be the best cyclist he can be, not a media darling. But in an interview with an Outdoor Life Network correspondent after he emerged from Stage 1’s individual time trial as the first wearer of the yellow jersey, Zabriskie looked like it was his first day speaking. Or at least his first time on camera. Here’s a quick excerpt:
Interviewer: Did you think your Tour de France would turn out so special?
Zabriskie (complete with the “Why are you asking me this?” face): I was hoping. But it’s, uh, really unexpected and I’m really, really happy.
It was so bad that after the interview, OLN call man Phil Liggett expressed his sympathy to the correspondent, wishing him luck in his future interviews with Zabriskie over the next few days.
Since I know very little about Zabriskie, I did some homework and surprisingly found that people who know him call the cyclist a “shy” guy with a “big brain.” He’s even known to crack jokes. Wouldn’t have guessed that from the interview he gave.
But I’m going to give Zabriskie a break. He clearly looked nervous and some people just freeze in front of the camera. I can understand that.
It’s partially why you are reading my words right now instead of watching me say them.
But Zabriskie’s interviewing debacles got me thinking about which athletes do give great interviews full of colorful, entertaining and honest responses. This is hard to find in the PR-heavy world of sports. Well-known athletes are so bombarded by the media every day that it’s become commonplace to hear generic and manufactured responses like “We’re just taking it one game at a time,” and “(Insert name here) really stepped up today.” So I put together my top five media-savvy athletes, those interviewees who make me stop whatever I’m doing and lean closer to the television to hear what they’re saying. In no particular order:
Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq used to annoy me to no end. But I love the guy now. He speaks his mind and makes controversy funny. Better yet, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Sports are supposed to be fun and Shaq keeps it that way. Ripping Kobe has earned him bonus points, too.
Diana Taurasi. The current Phoenix Mercury and former UConn guard entertained me to no end back in her glory days as a Husky. She never pulls punches when it comes to post-game analysis, yet always gives people a laugh. My favorite interview antic: When asked if she chose UConn because of coach Geno Auriemma’s “pretty face,” the point guard replied, “No, I joined because of the athletic director,” and blew a kiss to then-UConn AD Lew Perkins.
Mike Tyson. The craziest athlete out there, with the exception of Dennis Rodman, this guy needs no explanation.
Andy Roddick. Following his loss to Roger Federer Saturday in the Wimbledon final, Roddick acknowledged he was “more in the mood for a beer” than a post-match interview. Anyone who says that on the all-traditional Centre Court of Wimbledon makes this list. And that’s just classic Andy Roddick. You never know what’s going to come out of his mouth – but you know it’s not passing through a filter.
Svetlana Khorkina. Some “villain” athletes, like the Russian gymnast, claim they’re being victimized and that they’re not really the bad seed everyone thinks they are. Not Khorkina. She pretty much embraces the fact that everyone hates her – and makes no apologies. She shows no mercy to her rivals as well by pretty much saying what we know every athlete is thinking about his or her most hated rivals. “I’ve seen a much tougher opposition than her,” Khorkina said about Carly Patterson, who edged her out for the gold medal in the all-around competition in Athens. “Let’s see how long she can remain on top. Can she keep going and compete in two more Olympics like myself?”
