Super Bowl XLVI: The Media Day media circus
Covering Super Bowl Media Day is an intense experience! Players and coaches from both Super Bowl teams are there, waiting to be interviewed. The field is full of reporters and other members of the media. There are people watching from the stands. And then there are some really crazy people!
I got the full Media Day experience yesterday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This is where the New England Patriots and New York Giants will meet for Super Bowl XLVI (46) on Sunday. But first they met the media — including this Kid Reporter.
Besides interviewing members of the Patriots and Giants, I talked to other NFL players who were there as part of the media. Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars was working for Chad Ochocinco's Network (OCNN.) Brett Keisel of the Pittsburgh Steelers was working with Head and Shoulders Shampoo for the day. Pierre Garcon of the Indianapolis Colts was working for a local news station.
Along with these players-turned-journalists were many spectacular reporters. Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was in attendance working for NFL Network. Peter King, renowned writer for Sports Illustrated and reporter on NBC Football Night in America, was also at Media Day. They both had tips for up-and-coming reporters.
"If you want to be successful read books. I got to where I am by reading," said Peter King.
"Say what you feel and feel what you say," Sanders added. "Always think about where you are going (with your questions), but always listen. Because it may take you somewhere totally different in your next question."
Lindsay Soto of NFL Network also gave some advise on becoming a reporter.
"Write a lot. Pay attention in English classes," Soto said. "There is a lot more writing in this business than you think going in. Read everything you can."
This was all great, but I experienced the less serious side of Media Day, too! The crazy side of Media Day consists of people in absurd clothing and colorful personalities asking silly questions. Los Angeles radio personality Vic "The Brick" Jacobs was promoting "the Year of the Dragon" with his festive Chinese clothing and a yellow dragon hanging around his neck. "Pickboy" from Nickelodeon was also at Media Day enjoying himself and with talking with the NFL players and other media. There were other "reporters" that asked players to wear funny hats or answer very odd questions.
The Super Bowl Media Day is a whirlwind event. There are so many different conversations, questions, stories, and personalities on hand, it is easy to see how Media Day has become so popular.
Check out my interviews with players and coaches from the Patriots and the Giants on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!
Photos: (top) Kid Reporter Grace Ybarra interviews Vic "The Brick" Jacobs, (bottom) Kid Reporter Grace Ybarra talks with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel. (Photos courtesy Grace Ybarra)
Comments