The interviewer teed up the sports player for a humourous answer.
Suddenly I’m intrigued. Suddenly this interview shows promise. It’s not going to be the same old run of the mill interview where everyone says nothing of interest.
Oh wait nevermind. The player has rejected the invitation of banter and opted for a less risky but much more boring answer.
The headlines must’ve flashed before his eyes. Shock! Scandal! As the press reinterpret what he said for click bait.
As a spectator I’d love to see a bit of humour injected into sports interviews but I can see why it’s absent.
Humour is risky at the best of times. Even telling a joke to your family and friends contains some risk. There’s a chance they won’t laugh.
But when you’re dealing with the press and your every word is being recorded then the risk has increased exponentially. I have to remind myself that these are sports players not comedians.
Thomas Duggan 