McGinn Q&A with TT

[cheesner]

Truly one of the worst interviews I have ever read a transcript of. Pointed questions that were (as others pointed out) more accusations than probing for information. Some of the dumbest questions since the first gulf war.

Reporters asking questions of military spokesperson.

Reporter: Will there be an amphibious assault when the offensive begins?
Spokesperson: We will not be giving any information out that is of tactical importance to the enemy.

Next reporter: When will the ground offensive begin?
Spokesperson: (see 1st response)

Next reporter: Will the offensive be preceded by additional tomahawk missile assaults?
Spokesperson: (see 1st response)

Next reporter: How large of a force will you be using for the ground offensive?
Spokesperson: (see 1st response)


and on and on.

The funniest part was the reporters (mostly seeming in their 20s) looking disgusted and surprised that they weren't getting answers.

[pbmax]

The firings are fair game since he and M3 hired these guys and then stuck with them for three seasons, but McGinn hasn't proven the unprecedented yet. Seven coaches gone on a staff of 15 or 16 might be the same percentage as previous changes on one side of the ball by other coaches/GMs. It might be remarkable in terms of Green Bay recently, but only in the Wolf/Favre era.

There are legitimate questions about his performance, given the record and playoff appearances. Most of his questions hit this topic fine.

I am glad he leaves the fluff out.

Here is the reason I am sending him an email:

Q. ... From a personnel standpoint, you essentially stood pat... ?

Q. ... "How are we going to be better?" How are the Packers going to be better in 2009...?

Q. ... Do you have enough to get back in the thick of things once again for the NFC championship... ?

All fine questions, but then this contradiction:

Q. The Packers have been the youngest team three years in a row. How can you truly build a team when the roster has been something of a revolving door?

Does. Not. Compute.

[Bretsky]

McGinn does a fine job; who cam blame him for those types of questions when he never gets an answer to anything

TT's every response is yada yada we're fine there...yada yada...I like our team....yada yada yada

I agree with Waldo in that he should mix some of the easy questions in with the hard ones; that would make him look better overall IMO.

[Fritz]

I know you'd like more lively answers, Bretsky, but I think TT does a good job as GM and if he's not as revealing as folks would like, I'm okay with that.

Though it would have been funny if TT had said "Yeah, I got several million stashed in the bank, so fuck it - if they fire me, no big deal."

And it would've been hilarious if he'd said "Why should I pay some pansy-ass punter - and a dome punter, no less - through the nose? Screw that guy, and his agent."

That stuff would crack me up.

[Partial]

McGinn does a fine job; who cam blame him for those types of questions when he never gets an answer to anything

TT's every response is yada yada we're fine there...yada yada...I like our team....yada yada yada

I agree with Waldo in that he should mix some of the easy questions in with the hard ones; that would make him look better overall IMO.

My thoughts exactly. Bedard was on 'the Big Show' today, and was talking about how reporters all dislike working with TT (but like him as a person) because he doesn't give them any content, and is so stubborn to his beliefs. Bedard hypothesized TT is the only GM who would not jump on a single starting FA after a 6-10 season. Especially given the generous cap space.

[Fritz]

McGinn does a fine job; who cam blame him for those types of questions when he never gets an answer to anything

TT's every response is yada yada we're fine there...yada yada...I like our team....yada yada yada

I agree with Waldo in that he should mix some of the easy questions in with the hard ones; that would make him look better overall IMO.

My thoughts exactly. Bedard was on 'the Big Show' today, and was talking about how reporters all dislike working with TT (but like him as a person) because he doesn't give them any content, and is so stubborn to his beliefs. Bedard hypothesized TT is the only GM who would not jump on a single starting FA after a 6-10 season. Especially given the generous cap space.

Yes, he makes their jobs more difficult. But he's not an asshat, assclown, asswipe, or anything ass-ish, ass-esque, or ass-like.

[sharpe1027]

My thoughts exactly. Bedard was on 'the Big Show' today, and was talking about how reporters all dislike working with TT (but like him as a person) because he doesn't give them any content, and is so stubborn to his beliefs. Bedard hypothesized TT is the only GM who would not jump on a single starting FA after a 6-10 season. Especially given the generous cap space.

Perception is often not reality.

Besides, does he really give so much less than other GMs? Really? I have listened to his interviews and he gives thoughtful responses with some interesting insight on many points. What GM are we comparing against? Billicheat is notorious for giving reporters crap information, but reporters like him because he is always in the middle of some controversy. Making reporters happy is not always a good thing...

[Bretsky]

My thoughts exactly. Bedard was on 'the Big Show' today, and was talking about how reporters all dislike working with TT (but like him as a person) because he doesn't give them any content, and is so stubborn to his beliefs. Bedard hypothesized TT is the only GM who would not jump on a single starting FA after a 6-10 season. Especially given the generous cap space.

Perception is often not reality.

Besides, does he really give so much less than other GMs? Really? I have listened to his interviews and he gives thoughtful responses with some interesting insight on many points. What GM are we comparing against? Billicheat is notorious for giving reporters crap information, but reporters like him because he is always in the middle of some controversy. Making reporters happy is not always a good thing...

What we have to compare him up against that I can remember was Ron Wolf and Tom Braatz. Both gave enough information to write a story. Not our TT

[Bretsky]

I know you'd like more lively answers, Bretsky, but I think TT does a good job as GM and if he's not as revealing as folks would like, I'm okay with that.

Though it would have been funny if TT had said "Yeah, I got several million stashed in the bank, so fuck it - if they fire me, no big deal."

And it would've been hilarious if he'd said "Why should I pay some pansy-ass punter - and a dome punter, no less - through the nose? Screw that guy, and his agent."

That stuff would crack me up.

I'm fine with TT dodging content and questions

But if you are fine with that then IMO we should be more flexible with reporters being brash with TT because they are trying to write stories with content that will interest the readers.

That stuff would crack me up too btw.

[sharpe1027]

What we have to compare him up against that I can remember was Ron Wolf and Tom Braatz. Both gave enough information to write a story. Not our TT

I don't know, Wolf may have been a better politician and dodged questions more eloquantly, but I don't remember him giving up much more in the way of hard information/content in the things he said.

I guess to me the difference was that Wolf would joke around when he couldn't answer a question, whereas TT just kinda drones on with a standard response. So, at a high-level, Wolf would come off as a nice guy saying about the same in substance as TT, while TT comes off as an ass.

Like I said, perception is often not reality. IDK, maybe I just didn't pay close enough attention to Wolf.

[pbmax]

Besides, does he really give so much less than other GMs? Really? I have listened to his interviews and he gives thoughtful responses with some interesting insight on many points. What GM are we comparing against? Billicheat is notorious for giving reporters crap information, but reporters like him because he is always in the middle of some controversy. Making reporters happy is not always a good thing...

Belicheck gets relatively good coverage because of 3 Super Bowl wins, not controversy.

There are some GMs who are exceptionally media friendly. AJ Smith in San Diego is on the radio all the time. Same with Bill Polian. Ozzie Newsome is pretty available and quotable, though he is usually pretty diplomatic.

There are GMs (some former) who have a Gary Carter reputation, that they love talking to the media to cover up flaws. Charlie Casserly caught a lot of flak for his availability. Of course, his conscience is probably eased by getting the Mario Williams/Reggie Bush debate correct.

Everyone remembers Wolf being open and honest, but that is in retrospect. He was quotable and combative, but he evaded as well. What made Wolf remarkable was that after the fact (often in this interview) he would admit his thinking, especially on his mistakes.

[sharpe1027]

Belicheck gets relatively good coverage because of 3 Super Bowl wins, not controversy.

There are some GMs who are exceptionally media friendly. AJ Smith in San Diego is on the radio all the time. Same with Bill Polian. Ozzie Newsome is pretty available and quotable, though he is usually pretty diplomatic.

There are GMs (some former) who have a Gary Carter reputation, that they love talking to the media to cover up flaws. Charlie Casserly caught a lot of flak for his availability. Of course, his conscience is probably eased by getting the Mario Williams/Reggie Bush debate correct.

Everyone remembers Wolf being open and honest, but that is in retrospect. He was quotable and combative, but he evaded as well. What made Wolf remarkable was that after the fact (often in this interview) he would admit his thinking, especially on his mistakes.

Pbmax, surely there are different ends of the spectrum here. But my point was more that the reporters are wrong about why they are frustrated with TT.

IMHO, it isn't so much because he truly is more evasive than other GMs. I mean what GM going to talk about an ongoing contract negotation? What GM is going to talk badly about his current players? What GM is going to tip his hat about future draft picks or trades?

IMO, a stupid GM. Yet, those are the things that he is constantly asked and avoids answering, same as most GMs.

I think maybe reporters feel he is being evasive because he doesn't hide it. He comes right out and tells them he is not answering the damn question and why he is not answering it. In contrast, Wolf would talk all around the issue, but still not answer the question. Maybe TT is too honest and direct for the reporters liking....

[Fritz]

What we have to compare him up against that I can remember was Ron Wolf and Tom Braatz. Both gave enough information to write a story. Not our TT

I don't know, Wolf may have been a better politician and dodged questions more eloquantly, but I don't remember him giving up much more in the way of hard information/content in the things he said.

I guess to me the difference was that Wolf would joke around when he couldn't answer a question, whereas TT just kinda drones on with a standard response. So, at a high-level, Wolf would come off as a nice guy saying about the same in substance as TT, while TT comes off as an ass.

Like I said, perception is often not reality. IDK, maybe I just didn't pay close enough attention to Wolf.

Bretsky, I would agree with Sharpe here. I think Wolf was more fun to listen to but I understand that sometimes he'd mislead reporters instead of just giving the boring company line.

And if you would enjoy reporters getting edgier and edgier with TT, then you're probably having lots of fun right now. They seem to be getting after Ted pretty good.

[Patler]

Quite frankly some of the reporters are making asses of themselves with their questions of and comments about Thompson. Thompson is what he is. It is the reporters obligations to learn how to deal with him, to get what they can from him. With their constant sniping and complaining they are making it even less likely that he will give them any information at all.

Even when he does provide information they complain about it. If I were their bosses I would call them in, tell them to grow up and act like professionals. Not that they can't criticize, clearly they can and should in some situations; but do it professionally, not like a 10-year-old.

[Harlan Huckleby]

McGinn asks the tough questions, which is usually a commendable quality in a reporter.

Problem is he doesn't ask the easy ones.

Making him look like an asshole on a mission that hates everything.

Being an asshole is not such a bad strategy for a reporter. If you get your subject upset, they might say things that they wouldn't otherwise say. I'm not saying that TT is likely to start screaming and say that its true, he hates Brett Favre. But inside that robotic exterieor is, well, a robotic interior. But inside the robotic interior is a human too.

Look how trial lawyers behave. McGinn is a good reporter, he knows what he's doing.