Dealing with the Media

Email me at: billmountjoy@yahoo.com and I'll forward it (copy of dealing with the PRESS) with my "reply" to your email.

PS: DON'T leave an email on the site for me - I'll reply to YOUR email.

Best Wishes!

COACHES,

Dealing with the media, be it television, newspaper, is an art form to say the least. On the HS level, it generally isn't too bad, but it can be! First off, everyone has to understand the media's job is to sell what ever media they represent, first and foremost! They most often do this by dealing in SENSATIONALISM, PURE AND SIMPLE. Be prepared to have your least innocuous statement turned, burned, and flat out lied about! They will blow the slightest thing completely out of preportion!!! They will put words in your mouth, or at least try to, to give a statement a completly different meaning than what you intended.

Other than an understanding with the media that you be permitted to be right there with the player being interviewed to correct any slip ups on his part that would be injurious to your team, I WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANY PLAYER, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL OF COMPETITION, TO BE INTERVIEWED.
Let the colleges and pros deal with that. In 1994 when we made our successful run to the AFL Super Bowl Championship, on the professional minor league level, I could not believe the stuff that was being printed and spoken by the various media outlets.

At any rate, say as little as possible when interviewed. DO NOT GET DRAWN INTO ANY CONVERSATION ON TOPICS THAT CAN BE MISCONTRUED BY WHAT YOU SAY. BE WITH ANY PLAYER ABOUT TO BE INTERVIEWED!!! After a few years experience in dealing with the media, I'm sure you will see more clearly my point of view.

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

difficult to work with...boring...Funny, in this basketball season, I hear the same things said about the Supr's head coach. It seems to have worked for him.