Symmo the Not-so-bad
To be honest, I am utterly perplexed by the furore over Andrew Symond's interview with Roy and HG. As I've said before on this blog, some concession must be made for radio interviews as compared to television interviews. Invariably, the former tend to produce more loquaciousness on the part of the interviewee. Second, this was on the Roy and HG show! What did people expect if not something a little out there? A radio interview, and one with Roy and HG is precisely the place I'd expect a sportsman to say something that would raise a few eyebrows. Sure, there is a history with Symonds. But if CA are so worried about him, then they should just put a complete media gag on him. This sight of a grown man being let out to play but then castigated again and again is unedifying.
posted by Samir Chopra at 7:45 AM
4 Comments:
Samir,
The furore was not so much about the radio interview as much as what was said during the interview.
That it was the "Roy and HG show" is neither here nor there - statements were made in the public domain , there are bound to be repercussions.
And if the radio demands certain concessions, so does the printed word. Then why are there so many flame wars?
Cheers,
Homer: good to see you again!
I think for me the important thing is that radio tends to be unscripted compared to the written word. And a comedy show is even more unpredictable (especially piss-takers like Roy and HG). Listen to the interview, Roy and HG call McCullum a "half-assed New Zealand clown" - the whole Kiwi piss-take is hilarious throughout. Symonds just played along (if anything, he was a bit too sincere in refusing to take the bait at times). Sure, its the public domain - all our conversations in public are. But a cricketer can't be allowed some leeway for something he said on a comedy show? Context should count for something after all.
The printed word doesn't require so many concessions because you have ample opportunity to revise, redraft and so on.
Cheers,
Samir
Samir,
Sure Symonds can be allowed the latitude.. But do note that Symonds did not go "Dave Gilbert is a son of a b****" for getting McCullum onboard.. Nor did he have choice things to say about Cricket NSW.
His choice of words were directed towards McCullum the person, not McCullum the Kiwi cricketer or McCullum the NSW import.
Unscripted or not, for someone who has been coached in handling the media and someone whose public persona has been under the scanner for some time now,Symonds expects to get away with a lot.
For a grown man to go out to play but not know when to stop calls into question the whole grown up thing!
Cheers,
http://monkeyatthecricket.blogspot.com/2009/01/who-will-be-australian-cricket-hall-of.html
Who do you think will be inducted this year?
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