Changing Sports Media Landscape

By Anton at July 20th, 2009.

This story is a breath of fresh air for sports fans and a devastating blow to sports reporters. Steve Nash, a two-time NBA MVP and a hugely popular and productive player over the last half-decade, will sign the extension offered by his team, the Phoenix Suns. The news here isn’t that he’s signing the extension – although the Suns organization and fans may disagree. The news is how his signing will be made official: Mr. Nash’s Twitter-feed.

The sports interview is, almost always, a complete train wreck. How often do fans have to listen to responses such as, “well, we just came out and played hard” or, in response to a typically revealing question, “um, not really. It is what it is”? Twitter is now a professional athlete’s mouthpiece to the outside world; do we need anymore sideline reporters?

No need for politically correct non-answers. No need for misleading statements. And, most importantly for sports fans, no more mind-numbingly stupid questions from the usual media suspects who only get the interviews they do because of contractual obligations between the league, its players and the company representing the reporter.

How long will it be before those contractual obligations no longer exist or matter? That will be a wonderful day for fans, indeed.

Although, sometimes sports interviews are fantastic.

Tags: Mike Tyson, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Twitter