OK, so being on camera is weird. I don’t know why it’s weird. It’s just weird. We did a little panel show called “The Big Show” when we first started this Web site. And it was odd to be on camera. It just makes you feel goofy somehow, at least for the first few times.
So it was amazing to me how well most of the student-athletes we interviewed on camera did with it. The first time through, yeah, we did get some giggles. But once they got used to it, they were like seasoned pros. I don’t know what kind of public speaking courses they’re teaching in these schools, but they’re working. I know I couldn’t have done it when I was in high school.
The kids were extremely polite, and to a person, gave thoughtful answers. We were never turned down for an interview — no, not even once. Many thanked us afterward for interviewing them. Honestly, I was impressed with every one of them.
For a student-athlete, one of the hardest things to do is talking to a reporter after a loss, but they handled that well, too. One interview I’ll never forget is the one we did with Greenfield’s Jessica Bowman after the Tigers lost a tough volleyball super-sectional match. Her voice was choked with emotion throughout the entire interview, but she answered all our questions, and helped us write a better story. And to do that on camera — wow. What a remarkable, gracious young woman.
You see, people don’t have to come on camera. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press, but it doesn’t give us a license to require anyone to speak to us. We appreciate everyone who did.
