Wishing "good luck" to end an interview: polite or a little unethical? Awkward?

After Lincecum's no-hitter Saturday I congratulated him and said I was happy for him. You can be objective and impartial and still step out your role for one moment after an achievement like that.

I think it's OK to say "Good luck." By no means am I saying, "Go get a win." It's more like, hey, stay healthy and compete.

All that is especially true when you've had to bang on a guy in print for years because he's been so bad.

My two cents.

 

"Coach" is not a royalty title. It's a common job description.

These guys are already mostly afflicted with symptoms of runaway delusions of grandeur. We don't need to encourage it.

I never ever refer to any "Coach" by name, and I routinely, ruthlessly, cut it out of any copy I handle.

The coach never refers to me as "Staff Writer Starman," why do I need to make a royal production for him?


As far as saying "good luck" to close an interview, no big deal.


Saying "I hope you win" would be different.

 

So are Doctor, Professor, Rabbi, Judge and Governor.

 

Made my day spikechiquet! Had to bust out laughing, particularly because I'm in Texas and executions happen more often than rain here.

 

I always call coaches "coach." It is their title, no different than Captain Picard, President Reagan, Grand Inquisitor Torquemada ("NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!") and Mayor Quimby.

As for wishing my interview subject "good luck" at the conclusion of an interview, I've always found that it's a harmless practice. I'm not endorsing their cause, but just being polite. I always do that and I also thank them for their time. But also, it's not something you'd say to a death row inmate.

It's like an old country saying: You attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

 

I am with Bamadog. I'd rather say coach than Tom, Nick or Harry.

 

I always addressed Lou Albano as "Captain." Was that wrong?

 

I've often thought "I hope you win" in the context of "if you don't win, you're out of the tournament, and if you're out of the tournament, the bosses have no reason to pay me to work tomorrow, and if I don't get paid enough my wife will beat me."

 

Can we agree on an official SportsJournalists.com closing? I vote for:

"I hope you beat them bastards, sir or ma'am."

 

Go with the classics. "Roll tide."

 

A lot of times when talking to coaches I'll thank them for their time and wish them good luck this week.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with being polite and human with the people we cover. I tell kids the same thing.

We're not saying, 'I really hope you pull this one out Coach!'

 

Roll Tide.