Monday,
April 6, 2015
OKC's Russell Westbrook is known for his strong personality on and off the court. This year especially he has been really short with the media and on multiple occasions ignored certain people who have tried to interview him. His episodes with the media began“after he was ejected against the Suns a few weeks back. As he was prodded about the circumstances surrounding his two technicals, Westbrook continually said ‘It was a good win for us’"[ITS1] (Draper, 2015, para. 8). Then in practice a few days later, he was incredibly short with his answers. And after that, following the Thunder's loss to Houston on Thursday night, he gave a 16-word interview session, none of which came with a friendly tone. Westbrook has always been surly with the media, but The OKC Thunder beat writer Anthony Slater probably the reporter that interacts with Westbrook the most and thinks he has taken it to a new level this past season. When is enough for Westbrook? Or just is he just a victim?
Here is a link to one of his post-game interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=17&v=6_E13tZNKyc
In 2013 there was also another interview where Westbrook showed his frustration with the game and the media. He was asked a question and responded with "Yall n***** trippin" and dismissed himself from the interview. The link for that interview is below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kS_qLzPWVg
Recently Russell had an exchange with press after the Thunder’s 130-91 loss to the Spurs was perplexing. Again, the media attacked asking what went wrong and whose to blame for the loss.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/russell-westbrook-thunder-media-interview
This isn’t to say Westbrook is wrong to not be cooperative because it’s his choice to react how he wants to the media. He can answer or not answer. But other people can’t criticize the reporter for doing his or her job with that question; it was more than fair.
Is this Westbrooks fault? Or does the media do a good job in pushing his buttons and intentionally tries to make him act out? If you were conducting the interview how would you have reacted to what Russell said? What is your take on Westbrook vs. the Media?
By: Jasmine Matthews
http://deadspin.com/whats-going-on-with-russell-westbrook-1680157466
References
Draper, K. (2015, January 17). What’s going on with Russell
Westbrook and the media? Deadspin.
Retrieved from http://deadspin.com/whats-going-on-with-russell-westbrook-1680157466
Singleton, T. (2015, January 16). Russell Westbrook
“Execution” interview. Youtube.com
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=17&v=6_E13tZNKyc
Being an athlete I can say in college I was not the type who wanted to talk on camera. I wanted to win and go celebrate a win. I can remember a coach talking to one of our players because he didn’t like the questions he had to answer and his body language showed how he felt. I will never forget the coach told him that if he really wanted to go to the next level this is something you want to be good at. He said a TV interview is a job interview in the future with no fans watching. Once I heard that I realized what he meant so I don’t agree with the way Westbrook is when he’s interviewed but some people can deal with the cameras other choose not to. I would say he has to be professional because these moments on camera do not last long so suck it and talk and be respectful.
ReplyDeleteVincent Marshall