Hilariously Bad Interview Questions

[EStreetJoe]

Questions asked of the kid who just hit the game-winning home run in a high school baseball game:
"What kind of pitch was it you hit?"

OK, I'll bite, probably to my regret.

What's wrong with that question?

Actually, both. To the second, response could be "I thought it was out," "I thought I missed it" or whatever....

For the first one, it's one I usually ask because I can't always tell what kind of pitch it is. However I included it because I'm sure the regular baseball beat writers would know what kind of pitch it was from watching the game and thus don't need to ask the hitter what he hit.

For the second question, another one I've asked, the answer usually is something along the lines of "hopefully I got enough of it to get out" or "please fall in" or something like that. For a home run, rarely, if ever, will you hear a batter say "I thought I had missed it" or "I didn't think I got enough of it"

Chances are even that when a kid hits a homer in a HS game, it would be impossible to tell what kind of pitch it was: Most HS homers are hit on nothing-balls or hanging breaking balls.

I've asked that question many times, and don't see anything wrong with it. If it's a big enough game, I've asked those same two questions to both the hitter and the pitcher.

I don't see anything wrong with them either since I've asked both myself, but figured someone else might see something wrong with them. But it looks like I'm wrong and there is nothing wrong with the questions.

 

[leo1]

I've asked my share of stupid questions.
I've heard my share of stupid questions.
Who cares?
Everyone has their own stories to report. And maybe what's obvious to you, (the smartest, bestest reporter in the room) isn't so obvious to others. At least they're asking them.

bob, i don't think most people are doing this maliciously. listening to (and asking) stupid questions comes with the territory.

so here's mine: i'm covering one of the golf majors about four or five years ago. this was around the time tiger woods had been on a roll, winning two or three of the previous four majors. the details escape me but this is well before he went into his little slump.

it's a day or two before the tournament and i'm doing a preview about how although tiger woods is great for golf, that song is getting tiresome and it would be nice for golf for woods to lose if only so someone else could have a chance. so i asked a few golfers if they agreed. in general they fed the typical platitudes about tiger being great for the game and then gave stock answers about how obviously they would like to be the one winning instead of tiger.

then tiger woods comes into the interview room. this is is a large room with a lot of people. it's kind of an intimidating setting and this is one of the biggest big-time events i've ever covered. a bunch of the big shot golf writers ask questions. then it's my turn. i ask tiger woods if it would be good for golf it he lost. he briefly shoots me a look of death, smiles that shirt-eating tiger grin and says 'no, dude, sorry, i can't give you that.' he's not stupid. he knew the angle i was going for.

everyone laughs. i'm embarrassed. i get dirty stares from a few of the veteran writers the rest of the weekend. i don't ask any more questions the rest of the tournament.

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

That's a good question in my book, leo. Just because Tiger didn't give you anything doesn't make it a bad point.

 

[da man]

Plus, I think that's a great quote and a humorous way to lead into the story.

 

[Taylee]

After a high school playoff game a few years ago, local team gets beat in OT. Reporter asked coach: "How does it feel to lose?"
Coach give stock reply about team playing hard and it's a tough way to lose. Reporter walks away. Coach looks at me and says," How does it feel to lose? What I wanted to say was ..." and he went off on a rant, ending with "I don't expect sportswriters to have played the game, but they have to understand it and what it means."
Then he adds, "Taylee, any questions?"
"Sure, just one. So how does it feel to lose?"
We still laugh at that one and it's been several years later.

 

[Appgrad05]

Major college football game last season, played on a Thursday night on ESPN (so everyone is crunched for deadline).
Student reporter: Coach, were you suprised the other team chose to kickoff instead of receive?
Coach: No. Should I have been?

 

[skippy05]

While it has been widely debunked, but to just to keep the legend going, this Super Bowl presser gem ... So Doug [Williams], how long have you been a black quarterback?

I think the person who actually posed the question posted on here.

I think once most people realized the guy who asked the question was black, they realized it wasn't a serious question...

Couple problems with that.

1. The writer wasn't black.

2. It was a serious question.

(What happened was the writer asked how long it mattered that Williams was both black and a quarterback and Williams said, "What? How long have I been a black quarterback?" And then answered it.)

Here's the info (http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/williams.asp). And you're right: he wasn't black. His name was Butch John. I could have sworn I saw a SuperBowl documentary and there was a black guy talking about how he asked the question, but I'm obviously wrong...

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

Wingman's correct.

I smile every time I see these words.

 

[SoSueMe]

Wingman's correct.

And from your description of it, Leo, I think Tiger understood the question, too. He just chose not to go there, which is perfectly logical given the subject. Doesn't make it a stupid question at all.

Agreed. Sometimes no answer is actually the one that validates/proves your point or angle.

 

[for_the_hunt]

My favorite awful question came a few months ago during a JoePa post-game at Penn State. It was easily the most embarrassing and awkward situation I've ever seen.
Guy must've been new. He gets the microphone ... and turns it upside down. He starts talking into it, and then realizes nothing's coming out. People are trying to motion with their hands to flip it over. He smiles to us, nods --- and then flicks the switch off ... while continuing to talk into it upside down.
But that's not the end of it.
Since he can't seem to get the mic to work, he decides to yell his question across the room. He wants to know if one of PSU's second-stringers is anything like Michael Robinson. JoePa looks at him for a second before saying, "I'm sorry. I'm gonna be honest. That's just a stupid question --- no, they're not alike."
But the reporter (or tv/radio guy) persists. "But could be, right coach? Could be?"
JoePa responds: "Could be?! Could be?! And I COULD BE God." Everyone starts laughing, Paterno gets up and walks out. End of press conference. The look on that guy was priceless.
I never saw him again.

 

[FantasyAlliance.cm]

A few days after John Kerry's infamous joke, he was on Larry King Live, and it ended like this:
Kerry-"We have a great opportunity to lift America and change the constituent's perception of Congress. I can't wait to get in there and get at it."
King-"Will you?"
(long pause)
Kerry-"Will I what?"
King-"Get at it?"
Kerry-"You bet I'm gonna get at it."

 

[Ike Broflovski]

That was Kerry's fault for not understanding Larry King's brilliant, tough question.