Question for the college and pro beat writers among us...

Does anyone else get the feeling that there's a LOT of people in press conferences/conference calls/locker rooms/etc. asking questions that team PR staffs want them to ask as a diversionary tactic?

 

Can't say, but it wouldn't surprise me.

 

I think it's more that there are so many people from blogs, team web sites etc. that not only don't know how to ask good questions, but are basically writing PR releases.

 

Yeah, they're called broadcasters... ;D

 

Don't know that it's some calculated preemptive strike by PR/SID staffs, but there are certainly more cronies.
The SEC school I cover part-time this season seems to have doubled in "media" participation since I covered the same school in 2004.

 

The last home game (D-I) I covered, the home coach was asked two questions by the former SID that's now retired. I was floored.

 

The last time I covered a college football game, there were boosters in the postgame press conference and some of these idiots actually asked questions...

"Coach, how great does it feel to be a member of the Tiger nation today?"

I've been at hundreds of press conferences where there is an issue of the day, one where the coach might not be thrilled by the topic. The beat writers go back and forth with the coach on said topic and the coach is pulling a Belichick and saying (Can we talk about the game, etc...) and then a TV guy jumps in like he's on the team payroll and says, "Coach, focusing back on the game, can you talk about the challenges your team will face tonight?"

Drives me insane...

 

I've honestly never covered a college football in which an SID <i>didn't</i> ask a question. And never once has said question gone without audible scoffs.

 

In 16 years covering everything from college football to college basketball to baseball to the NFL and the NBA, I have NEVER seen a SID or PR guy ask a coach a question in a press conference unless it's "Can we have your opening remarks coach?"

 

Me too. Never heard of such a thing.

 

Odd. I'm not saying it's been a splatterfest with an SID rambling after question after question, more just trying to get a fluff-ball for the school website or next season's media guide. Stuff like, "Coach can you talk about the impact of Random O. Lineman?"

 

I believe you. I've seen guys who write for the team's website ask that kind of shit, but never the SID or PR guy.