Most inappropriate questions ever asked at a press conference

From a program that exists no longer: Long Beach State.

 

Gotcha.

 

From Posnanski's blog:

I believe I have mentioned two of the more remarkable questions I ever heard at the Olympics. One was directed toward a weightlifter, I believe — a few of us actually have been arguing whether it was a weightlifter or a water polo goalie — but either way the question was translated like so: “You are a national disgrace. Please respond.” The other question was definitely directed toward the great Moroccan runner Hiram El Guerrouj, and it came shortly after he only won silver in the 1,500 meter men when everyone expected two gold medals. The question was, and I’m paraphrasing here, “How does it feel to let down 30 million people?”

 

Has Mike Gundy made it onto this thread yet?

 

I grew up following the Montreal Canadiens, including the few eyars in which Peter Mahovlich and his older brother Frank were teammates. Pete was about 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds and Frank about 6-0, 200.

Years later, when Pete Mahovlich was named coach of the CHL team in Fort Worth, I asked him, "Pete, I've always wondered why they called Frank 'The Big M.' Clearly, you are the bigger of the two'."

Pete's response: "Obviously, you never saw him in the shower."

 

Any TV guy that thinks it is "cute" to ask joke-type questions to coaches after losses. Ask appropriate quiestions about the game. Don't ask cute-sy stupid ass questions of the losing coach. Guys like that are an embarrassment to the business.

 

Douchebag Intern Young College-Preppy Reporter: Mr. Kelly, would you say your team is having problems melding together out there?

Tom Kelly: What, what does "meld" mean?

Douchebag: Uhh, you know, meld together. You know?

Tom Kelly: Meld...what the fuck are you talking about?

Douchebag: I don't know.

Tom Kelly: That's obvious...meld, what kind of a fucking word is that? Are there any legitimate questions here tonight?

 

After Local U. has a big collapse against a Top 5 opponent, they bring in some players and spread them out throughout the room.
Guy from the college paper goes up to one of the big defensive players who is obviously very emotional about the loss and goes, "You really seemed to do your part tonight. In fact, the whole defense did. Talk about how the offense let you down."
The defensive player looked like he was about to attack the guy but relatively calmly responded, "We're not going to point fingers. We win as a team and lose as a team."
I can't remember the score, but the offense had not let the defense down.
Same reporter during a regular weekly press conference (maybe not even the same season) asks the coach which player he would least like to lose for the season. While the coach is making it clear he is not going to speculate on which injuries he doesn't want, the reporter just keeps going. "Come on, coach, who couldn't you afford to lose? Which one? The tight end? The running back? QB? Who getting injured scares you?"
Both were examples of questions that actually had potential for quality quotes if phrased the right way, I though, but this reporter didn't understand how to phrase them.

 

That is gold.

 

I still love Furman Bisher's query to Cal Ripken Jr. on his farewell tour presser at Turner Field.
"Cal, how is your dad?"

Old Man Ripken had headed to the Great On-Deck Circle In the Sky a couple years prior.

 

I once heard Furman Bisher say he "Hadn't been to Denny Stadium in years" on the radio once. Not sure if that was him being old and senile or his hatred of the Bear.

 

Covering a major-conference football program that would go winless on the season. After a loss late in year, during player availability, a local TV reporter asks a player:

"What would you say if I told you you sucked?"

Amazingly, the player answered it straight up, although I can't remember the exact answer now. The local paper ran the exchange in a notebook, and I believe the TV guy was gone soon afterward.

Whether it's this case or the current issue in Detroit, this thread makes very clear that some in our business lack the degree of tact necessary for the job. Nothing wrong with a tough question. But don't assume everyone is a cocky smartass just because you are.