I am not sure if this is the first year they have done this, but a lot of the players have interview videos. I have been watching them. I think an interview shows a lot of character in a player. After watching some of these, I am really impressed with Johnny Flynn and Steph Curry so far. I am only down to Flynn right now from the top, but I already don't like Jrue Hoiday based on his interview and would not want him on our team. Just thought I would pass this along. The interviews are really interesting.
Interviews can be mildly informative regarding a player's personality, but not everybody is polished at public speaking or being put in front of a camera and told to talk ... I wouldn't put so much stock in a bad interview that I'd refuse to draft a guy. Can he play hoops, and what did his former coaches have to say about his work ethic, his locker room presence, etc. would be far more valuable in my mind.
I based my opinion on Jrue by how he dressed and acted as opposed to other players. He has the crooked hat, headphones in his ear, wearing a hoodie with a thug type attitude and didn't show any respect. While other players like Steph were saying 'yes sir' and things like that when answering questions and had at least the decency to not wear a hat while he was being interviewed. I was taught that if you are being interviewed, or talking to an elder, or someone superior to you... that you take your hat off and show some respect.
As shitty as it really is, there is a lot to be said about profiling and stereotypes. Jrue might be the nicest kid on the planet, but he comes across like a thug. And someone like Curry came across like a truly nice kid, but for all we know he could be the next Dexter Morgan. As for the whole respect thing in interviews..... My son who is 8 recently sat down and spoke to some coaches for a Select team in little league here in Texas. My son is a good player, but not the best by any means, and probably not quite good enough to make a Select team. Ti my shock the coach called me on our way home to say he was selected to the team. Then went on to say that he was picked because he was the nicest kid they had spoken to all day. Now he has talent as well, or wouldn't have even been interviewed, but it means a lot to a lot of people. The coach said he asked to be seated, took his baseball cap off as soon as he entered the room, and only addressed them as Sir. When the coach said his name was Mark, and to please call him that my son still said Mr. Mark sir. Thanked them both for their time and wished the team good luck. One of my son's teammates was in the running also, and was a better player but didn't make it. His father asked why and he was told that his son showed no respect for the team, or the two coaches interviewing him and they had no place for someone like that.
I'm a good father until he does something stupid....and he will. Then it will be "his parents did a poor job of raising him" comments. In fact I just recieved a phone call today from school saying my son had hit another kid and would be suspended the first three days of 3rd grade. I asked my son what happened and he said some boy from middle school pushed his little brother (6) and told him he was going to beat him up if he didn't give him his year book that he just bought. My older son asked him to stop and helped his brother up. Then the kid pushed him and he fell down. My son said "let's go" to his brother and the kid pushed him again. My son got up and said not to do it again or he would hit him. (they are taught to hit back, but never hit first) the boy pushed again and my son spun, grabbed his arm and knocked the shit out of him. All the teacher saw was my son going Chuck Norris on this stupid kid trying to act tough in front of his little school gang...not my words. I called back and explained to the principal what happened and she said she would look into it. I mean this kid wasn't even supposed to be on campus. She called about an hour ago and said there would be no suspension, but he must apologize to the boy. I asked for what? She said because he hit him, and the parents demanded it. I told her he would not apologize for defending himself and his little brother ever. I then spoke to the father and told him what happened and his son, to his credit, admitted what he did. The best part of all this is that the boys father wanted to know how my son (8) did this to his 12 year old? I explained that all of my children take muay thai and krav maga each twice a week. He is enrolling his son in the muay thai class this week Oh, there will be no suspensions by the way.
