Media on lookout for disruptive coaching

by Robert Box, staff writer

 

We’re all familiar with watching ESPN and catching a football coach or a baseball manager going off in the post-game interview. 

The initial opinion of the general public is usually one of the manager or coach losing control and not being able to exhibit the discipline that they so often preach to their players.  Speaking as an observer of many sports shows and a frequent viewer of sports websites, I have seen many coaching tirades.  I’ve even seen a few from my high school coach first-hand, but those weren’t near as funny as the others.  I can remember my first response to these coaches screaming at reporters on TV.  Usually, I’m thinking that they’re hilarious.  For example, when Jim Mora Sr. went off about whether the Colts could make the playoffs, I thought it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. 

I can see how other people can criticize these men for losing control and acting in a manner that seems unprofessional.  I never really thought about the other side of the story until I saw Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel offer to fight a radio talk show host at a post-game news conference. 

Howard Eskin, host of a sports talk show on 610 WIP in Phildelphia, was the one challenged to a fight.  Apparently Eskin began the conference by asking a series of legit questions, but then followed them up with what could be viewed as smart-mouth, provoking questions.  Eskin’s question made a stab at Manuel’s intensity.  Manuel, in turn, said that his intensity was fine, and if Eskin didn’t believe him, he would be waiting in his office.  After the conference, Eskin went to Manuel’s office, and Manuel challenged him to a fight and had to be restrained by hitting coach Milt Thompson. 

What amazed me about this story is how the media immediately took Eskin’s side when it was obvious that he had instigated the incident.  The Associated Press ran the story as follows:

“Manager Charlie Manuel's frustration was evident after the game. The normally mild-mannered manager challenged a radio talk-show host to a fight. Manuel had to be restrained by hitting coach Milt Thompson at one point.”

Coming from a reader’s perspective and not a writer, the article almost sounds as if Manuel just lost his mind and challenged a random person to a fight to take out his frustrations of early-season losses.  There have already been rumors that Manuel could be fired for this incident. 

The reason that I was finally able to see this side of the story, instead of just seeing the 30-second clip of the coach yelling, is because I am planning on becoming a coach myself.  The interesting thing is that at the moment I am a member of the media in my own way; so whose side should I be on?

I can understand the media wanting, and even needing, a story.  But I feel that reporters and radio-show personalities are beginning to cross the line.  Take the incident with Don Imus, for example.  I feel that more and more people who report sports are attempting to instigate stories by provoking players and coaches, rather than just going out and finding stories on their own. 

More often than not, we forget that players and coaches, despite their high payrolls and celebrity-like status, are human beings too.  Too much of the time we forget that showing some professionalism and common courtesy not only apply to the people in front of the camera and in the story, but also to those reporting on those people.