“…what are you going to do next?”(announcer). “I’m going to Disney World!” (Sherman).
Now how many people would actually expect to hear something like that in today’s world from Richard Sherman moments after the Seahawks beat the 49′ers in storybook fashion? We talked a bit in class the other day about why he is getting such bad press. Shortly after the big game Forbs published an article that as of today has 44,496,464 views(!) Here are just a few snippets:
“His degree from Stanford was in communications … which might explain why, while he seemed to be hollering like a crazy person, he didn’t curse and looked into the camera the whole time.”
“If you stick a microphone in a football player’s face seconds after he made a huge play to send his team to the Super Bowl, you shouldn’t be surprised if he’s a little amped up.”
“Ninety-nine percent of on-field interviews are boring and useless. The TV networks do them anyway for the 1 percent of the time they get a moment like Richard Sherman.”
”As a reporter and writer, that raw emotion — whatever form it takes — is exactly what I hope for. That’s why media people fight for access to locker rooms. After players and coaches cool off, most of them turn into Crash Davis, reading from the book of cliches.”
“But we — the media, and fans in general — don’t know what we want. We rip athletes for giving us boring quotes. But if they say what they actually feel, we rip them for spouting off or showing a lack of class.”
“It’s like we want them to be thinking, Well, that was a fine contest, and jolly good that we won. Which NO athlete is EVER thinking.”
So why all the fuss? To use the local vernacular; haters gonna’ hate. That’s all there is to it. Be sure to watch the game Sunday– and when the Seahawks triumph over the Broncos listen for Richard Sherman to give Mickey’s magic-kingdom some love~