Interviewing is probably seen by many as something that would be easy to pull off. Really what could be so hard about it, you research a topic, you sit down across from someone and you ask questions. As far as those steps go it really is a pretty easy process. Getting people to open up, knowing how to engage them, read them and know how to earn their trust quickly are skills that I am not sure can be taught.
Many consider Barbara Walters is one of the best interviewer because she makes so many peole cry and has a tendency to land the big interviews. I find her interviews patronizing and I wouldn't want to sit down and talk to her. Oprah is another good interviewer that comes to mind and I think she is better and her ability to show compassion is impressive but I find her to be more like a prying aunt that wants to ask questions and pretend she isn't judging you. I just don't trust her.
If you want to watch an impressive interview you should check out David Feherty. A golfer that became a broadcaster and now has his own show on the Golf Network. Most of his interviews are of golfers but there are some fantastic interviews with other people in sports including Bill Russell and Bob Knight.
He has a storied past of his own and maybe that is why he can get people to talk about some of the hardest moments in their lives. It really doesn't matter why they open up it is that they do. With a knack for knowing just the question to ask and when to stop asking them and just let the story be told shows a lack of ego and respect for the person across the table. He crafts such a story that a lot of times an hour doesn't seem like long enough. Most times I have known nothing about the people he is interviewing and I am always fascinated with the people he has talked to.
On the interview where I did know something about the person I was impressed about how much he got Bob Knight to talk about. As the coach of the Indiana University basketball team I saw many news clips of him and heard many stories about. Especially leading up to the separation of him and that job. The throwing of chairs and assaulting players are only two of the things that make Bob Knight a controversial person. From Feherty's interview I did not come to like Bob Knight but I did come away with an appreciation for him as a coach, a leader and a competitor. All in an hour interview cut short with commercials. I would love to see the stories that hit the editing room floor in the producing of Feherty's show. I look forward to every episode. Up next week Keegan Bradley. I can't tell you one thing about him tonight. Though the same could have been said this morning about David Duval. Tune in Monday night after the finale of Big Break on the Gold network.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
a night at dodger stadium
We drove down the LA streets through echo park and into Chavez ravine on a Saturday. Aside from the naked bike ride in echo park it seemed a pretty normal drive to a ball park. Traffic, tons of fans and the anticipation of seeing a new park hanging in the air. I couldn't wait to sit in the seats and put my earphones on so I could listen to Vin call the first three innings. In our quest to see all the ball parks Dodger Stadium was the most anticipated of the west coast.
I forgot a key fact about Dodger stadium and was shocked to realize it when we walked in. Dodger stadium is filled with Dodger fans! They are an intimidating group of fans. They have pride in their team, are very vocal about that support and walk through every stadium they enter like they are the only people there. As a Giants fan I have been pushed aside by many a Dodger fan. So walking into a stadium filled with them was like a small kid walking into a haunted house, it took a lot not to let fear take over and turn around and head straight for the car.
The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn in 1958 and started out playing at the LA Coliseum. Built in 1962 Dodger Stadium is the third oldest ballpark in all of Major League Baseball. Because of that it is a park where a lot of baseball history has happened and some of the great names have played or managed. Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson, Tony Lasorda and many others.
My favorite part of the history at Dodger Stadium though is Vin Scully. An iconic announcer that has called Dodger games since the 1950's and still calls the games by himself. He doesn't need a color commentator he has enough stories at hand to call the plays and tell you things about players that even their mother probably didn't know. If you get a chance to watch a Dodgers game he is calling I highly recommend it. He does the first three innings of the radio broadcast which you can listen to in the park and then he does the television broadcast.
Dodger Stadium was like no other ball park I have been too. Before the game started there were movie previews played on the big screens. Instead of being team colors the seats are all different colors. In the 1970's the seats were changed and were loud yellow, orange, blue and red. During a somewhat recent renovation they replaced the seats and brought back the original pale color palette.
I enjoyed being at Dodger Stadium because it was the park my husband grew up watching baseball. According to him Dodger dogs aren't what they used to be but the chocolate malts with the tiny wooden spoon didn't disappoint. I don't know where they get their peanuts but they were some of the best I have had at a ballpark.
We were there early to see part of the old timers game that was played with past Dodgers and Yankees prior to the current Dodgers and Braves taking the field.
Puig is one of the most talked about bats in baseball right now and we saw some of his at bats. Unfortunately, we were not in the building for a home run.
We had an early morning the next day so we headed out at the 5th inning. As we were walking out people were walking in. Prompting my husband to say "Only at Dodger stadium can you leave at the 5th inning while other people are just arriving." Unless it is a playoff game that stadium is probably never full through the entire game.
The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn in 1958 and started out playing at the LA Coliseum. Built in 1962 Dodger Stadium is the third oldest ballpark in all of Major League Baseball. Because of that it is a park where a lot of baseball history has happened and some of the great names have played or managed. Sandy Koufax, Kirk Gibson, Tony Lasorda and many others.
My favorite part of the history at Dodger Stadium though is Vin Scully. An iconic announcer that has called Dodger games since the 1950's and still calls the games by himself. He doesn't need a color commentator he has enough stories at hand to call the plays and tell you things about players that even their mother probably didn't know. If you get a chance to watch a Dodgers game he is calling I highly recommend it. He does the first three innings of the radio broadcast which you can listen to in the park and then he does the television broadcast.
Dodger Stadium was like no other ball park I have been too. Before the game started there were movie previews played on the big screens. Instead of being team colors the seats are all different colors. In the 1970's the seats were changed and were loud yellow, orange, blue and red. During a somewhat recent renovation they replaced the seats and brought back the original pale color palette.
I enjoyed being at Dodger Stadium because it was the park my husband grew up watching baseball. According to him Dodger dogs aren't what they used to be but the chocolate malts with the tiny wooden spoon didn't disappoint. I don't know where they get their peanuts but they were some of the best I have had at a ballpark.
We were there early to see part of the old timers game that was played with past Dodgers and Yankees prior to the current Dodgers and Braves taking the field.
Puig is one of the most talked about bats in baseball right now and we saw some of his at bats. Unfortunately, we were not in the building for a home run.
We had an early morning the next day so we headed out at the 5th inning. As we were walking out people were walking in. Prompting my husband to say "Only at Dodger stadium can you leave at the 5th inning while other people are just arriving." Unless it is a playoff game that stadium is probably never full through the entire game.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
My New Project
I am starting this blog becasue I have stories I want to tell that don't make as much sense on my other blog wit wisdom and food. Maybe I will keep expanding and have a wit wisdom and empire some day. (insert evil laugh) Food always goes with sports so there will be a little crossover. Mostly though they will be different and this will mainly be my venue for the many sporting events we attend, my thoughts on sports, fantasy football and my love for my teams.
A few things to know about me the sports lover. I love my teams and stay loyal to them. Football is my favorite. I believe if you are going to support your team you do it in team colors not pink or some other variations. I don't think rhinestones, glitter or any form of bedazzling should be on sports merchandise. Unless you just beat my favorite team I get teary-eyed every time someone wins a championship, exceptions to the rule are New England Patriots, Miami Heat, and Michigan. I am a sucker for a great story and love the history of the game. I find coaches that can motivate a group of guys to win fascinating. I want to visit all the baseball parks and Copperstown. A good vacation involves a sporting event or the outdoors.
A few things to know about me the sports lover. I love my teams and stay loyal to them. Football is my favorite. I believe if you are going to support your team you do it in team colors not pink or some other variations. I don't think rhinestones, glitter or any form of bedazzling should be on sports merchandise. Unless you just beat my favorite team I get teary-eyed every time someone wins a championship, exceptions to the rule are New England Patriots, Miami Heat, and Michigan. I am a sucker for a great story and love the history of the game. I find coaches that can motivate a group of guys to win fascinating. I want to visit all the baseball parks and Copperstown. A good vacation involves a sporting event or the outdoors.
Hope you enjoy the new blog.
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| from left to right: watching Pacers playoff game on the day of the Indy 500, fantasy football trophy, Lucas Oil Stadium tour, and Rory McIlroy bobblehead from Giants game |
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