Let's Play Some Press Conference Jeoparty
March 28, 2017 at 3:41 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
By the way, what those people really mean is they want a Bob Knight guy, but that’s another discussion.
Watching the press conference, and even beforehand, it occurred how cliche they are. So I looked up the transcripts of the same press conferences of Miller’s two predecessors, Kelvin Sampson and Tom Crean, and wondered if people can tell who said what.
And to be fair, that’s true whether the press conference is at Indiana, VCU, St. Mary’s of the Blind or Leningrad Polytechnic.
So, let’s play “Press Conference Jeopardy.”
The category is Introductory Quotes, and the first answer is:
1. “And that is the bottom line. And that is the premise that we are going to work under here. That is the premise that we are going to undertake the challenge. Because the incredible tradition that is at this university and in the state of Indiana, I know what the state of Indiana holds. I know what the values are because in coming in to recruit, in coming in to compete and in being part of the Midwest fabric for all these years, I know the fabric of this state. I don't know it like I am going to know it tomorrow.”
Who is: A. Sampson, B. Crean, or C. Miller?
*****
2. “I just met with the team. I wanted you to know how therapeutic that was. I need to coach a team, and this team needs a coach. I told them that we really needed each other, especially right now. I came to Indiana for one reason. I think we can win championships at Indiana.”
Who is: A. Miller, B. Sampson, or C. Crean?
*****
3. "I've had a chance to meet with my team today and without getting into details of everything we talked about, I told them the same thing I told my (former) team last night. Which was as painful as anything I think I have ever done in my adult life. I won't say I said goodbye, but to tell them how I felt about them. I had their heart, and they had mine. And that is exactly what I am looking for at this university.”
Who is: A. Miller, B. Crean or C. Sampson?
*****
4. “The current, which is our current team, who sits before you. They're our players. I didn't recruit them, and as I told them, they are my players. We invest in everything, and they all matter right now.”
Who is: A. Sampson, B. Miller, or C. Crean?
*****
And to complete the category”
“But the word ‘dream’ was used as well, today, and I think a lot of it can be misguided. We're going to do everything in our power as we deal with them to help them reach their dreams, which they're all going to be different, but at the same time, if we work like that to help them reach their dreams, then in return we're going to have an opportunity to reach our dreams because we're going to get maximum commitment back, which is what everybody expects here.”
Who is: A. Crean, B. Sampson, or C. Miller?
*****
The point of this is all introductory press conferences are pointless. Every one of the last three coaches recognizes the tradition at I.U., they tell us they’re aware of the expectations of the fan base, and how hard they’ll work to meet those expectations.
The show is all well and good, I suppose. It’s as harmless as it is pointless. Miller knows that if they don’t win now, and every day from this point forward, he’ll be out on his butt before he can say “Scott May.”
By the way, the correct questions are all “B” in case you really wondered.
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By the way, what those people really mean is they want a Bob Knight guy, but that’s another discussion.
Watching the press conference, and even beforehand, it occurred how cliche they are. So I looked up the transcripts of the same press conferences of Miller’s two predecessors, Kelvin Sampson and Tom Crean, and wondered if people can tell who said what.
And to be fair, that’s true whether the press conference is at Indiana, VCU, St. Mary’s of the Blind or Leningrad Polytechnic.
So, let’s play “Press Conference Jeopardy.”
The category is Introductory Quotes, and the first answer is:
1. “And that is the bottom line. And that is the premise that we are going to work under here. That is the premise that we are going to undertake the challenge. Because the incredible tradition that is at this university and in the state of Indiana, I know what the state of Indiana holds. I know what the values are because in coming in to recruit, in coming in to compete and in being part of the Midwest fabric for all these years, I know the fabric of this state. I don't know it like I am going to know it tomorrow.”
Who is: A. Sampson, B. Crean, or C. Miller?
*****
2. “I just met with the team. I wanted you to know how therapeutic that was. I need to coach a team, and this team needs a coach. I told them that we really needed each other, especially right now. I came to Indiana for one reason. I think we can win championships at Indiana.”
Who is: A. Miller, B. Sampson, or C. Crean?
*****
3. "I've had a chance to meet with my team today and without getting into details of everything we talked about, I told them the same thing I told my (former) team last night. Which was as painful as anything I think I have ever done in my adult life. I won't say I said goodbye, but to tell them how I felt about them. I had their heart, and they had mine. And that is exactly what I am looking for at this university.”
Who is: A. Miller, B. Crean or C. Sampson?
*****
4. “The current, which is our current team, who sits before you. They're our players. I didn't recruit them, and as I told them, they are my players. We invest in everything, and they all matter right now.”
Who is: A. Sampson, B. Miller, or C. Crean?
*****
And to complete the category”
“But the word ‘dream’ was used as well, today, and I think a lot of it can be misguided. We're going to do everything in our power as we deal with them to help them reach their dreams, which they're all going to be different, but at the same time, if we work like that to help them reach their dreams, then in return we're going to have an opportunity to reach our dreams because we're going to get maximum commitment back, which is what everybody expects here.”
Who is: A. Crean, B. Sampson, or C. Miller?
*****
The point of this is all introductory press conferences are pointless. Every one of the last three coaches recognizes the tradition at I.U., they tell us they’re aware of the expectations of the fan base, and how hard they’ll work to meet those expectations.
The show is all well and good, I suppose. It’s as harmless as it is pointless. Miller knows that if they don’t win now, and every day from this point forward, he’ll be out on his butt before he can say “Scott May.”
By the way, the correct questions are all “B” in case you really wondered.
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