Why do we put so much stock in players' comments and quotes

[vilehoopster]

One of the things that drives me crazy about this site is that posters will talk about this player's or that player's quotes, and then this quote gets said poster absolutely fired up and fills the poster with confidence.

Don't these posters understand that the players are (for the most overwhelming part) coached on what to say to the media. It's like that scene from Bull Durham when Crash (Costner) is coaching Luc?? (the pitching phenom) on how to just answer media questions with the most empty clichés.

So when somebody posts a quote or video with an interview and says, "He gets it. He's a real Boiler." I just look and shake my head. That player being quoted is saying exacting what he has been taught to say.

People who get excited about a quote and then use it to justify that a player "gets it," don't these posters know we could look back and find almost the exact same quote (if not the exact word-for-word quote) from Ronnie Johnson or some other player now seen as a selfish player.

What motivated me to post this now is someone just posted how some Purdue player said he doesn't worry or think about being on the bubble or NCAA seeding, he's there to win the Big Ten tourney. And of course the team is there to win the tourney, but really.... really, of course the team is, at least, AT LEAST, equally aware of the bubble and seeding.

The quotes are great guys, but keep in mind that the players are just saying the team, coaches, and school lines, and let's use a little common sense about the reality of the sports world before we get excited about some quote.

 

[mathboy]

I tend to agree with you about these quotes and the level of importance we should sttribute to them. I do think they provide insight into the lockerroom thinking, and what the coaches are saying. That much we can safely assume. Is the quote a true reflection of what the kid is thinking? Probabaly not. Is it a reflection of what the team is talking about, probably yes.

 

[proudopete]

You should probably watch the video with Ray saying this before making your judgement. His response was not canned and absolutely showed his emotional attachment to staying focused on not looking ahead.

I'm not sure what makes you think a coach could prepare every player to respond to random questions from the press. But if that's what thr coaches are spending their time with, we are in trouble.

I find it hilarious when someone wants to point out what happens in a movie to explain how real life works. That's a keeper.

 

[dumpsterFyre]

Because this is a message board.

 

[vilehoopster]

Proudpete

Two points:

I'm not saying Painter coaches the players on quotes, but you're being naïve if you don't think the Purdue Athletic Department doesn't have someone who meets (probably continually) with all of our major sports athletes and works with them on how to handle the media, what to say and more important, what not to say. The players are taught how not to get in trouble with twitter or other media. Now I know that athletes still do dumb things with the media, but universities try everything they reasonably can to avoid that.

Also, are you making the point that because something is in a movie, it has no basis in reality, that movies never show reality? The idea that a fictional movie could portray a reality concerning the media, or any reality, this make you laugh? Really ... really ... are you putting forth that intellectual argument that fictional movies have no basis whatsoever in reality?
In fact, I would argue that the appeal of Bull Durham is that it so accurately portrayed the realities of minor league and baseball in general, and that is why many people think of Bull Durham as one of the best sports movies ever.

 

[proudopete]

I laughed at your claim that a fictional movie is true while our junior in college and leader of the team has no original thoughts of his own.

I think mathboy said it right. The coaches teach these things in the locker room and the fact that Ray brought it up in an interview does indeed show that he gets it.

 

[purduepete87]

The pitcher's name was Nuke, not Luc. His name was Nuke La Loosh. Pretty sure you combined his two names. Anyway, regardless of how much a 20-year old has been coached, he still has to execute. Just like on the court. Ray executed that answer perfectly. You never know what guys may say in the heat of the moment. After losing to UNC Friday, Pitino berated a student reporter and ended his presser after 2 minutes. And he is a 60-year old man who should know better. So yes, I give Ray credit for executing a solid answer.
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[lbodel]

One thing that is pretty clear with this team is that they've soaked up the coaching they've received. They listen to Painter and the coaches and learn.

I agree you can only put so much stock into what players say - I feel like every single football team refers to bowl games as "business trips" - yet half the teams do not show up, use it as a vacation/party and don't seem to care. But it sounds great if they say that, right?

Overall, what happens on the court obviously means a lot more.