It was the lead item on SportsCenter last night, Michael Strahan’s little media outburst. It was an entertaining, passionate, spirited … something or other. From what I can gather, Michael Strahan is angry about something that Michael Strahan said.
Strahan went on some radio show, and said some things about Plaxico Burress and how he quit on a play against the Titans. He had some nice things to say about Plax, too, I suppose … I don’t know. Here’s the quote:
“It’s a shame,” Strahan said on the radio Monday. “You can’t give up. You can’t quit, because you’re not quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on everybody. I don’t quite understand what his lack of motivation is in those types of situations. But I’m going to try to see what it is, and if I can talk to him about it. He’s too good for that.”
And that same quote was ready to Plaxico Burress by ESPN reporter Kelly Naqi. Burress hadn’t heard it before, and he was legitimately surprised by it. But he didn’t make a big deal about anything, he said he’d talk to Strahan privately, whatever. And then at the end of Giants media time today, Strahan went nuts on Naqi.
“Come here, I want to see your face when you ask me this question, the way you are going to ask it. I know you are going to ask it in a way there is more division and more of a negative way than it was, so come here, I want to see your face, please. You’re a responsible journalist, look me in the eye and ask this question the way you want to ask it. Look a man in the eye before you try to kill him or make up something. Look me in the eye.”
Well, yeah, but … you said it, jackass. Kelly Naqi quoted you. She didn’t make up any quotes, she didn’t take anything out of context … she just quoted what you said. Again, you said it.
The problem was that the way she asked it was too negative? What do you want her to do, put on a cheerleader outfit, and read Burress the quote like she was reading him Green Eggs and Ham? You want her to slip Burress a half a dozen Prozac before she reads the quote? It’s a quote, as in, that’s exactly what you said, dickweed.
So Strahan embarrassed this reporter, called her out in front of everyone … because he called Plaxico Burress a quitter and then didn’t want to take responsibility for it. For someone who made it a point yesterday to tell the world that he’s “a man” about forty-five times, that’s a pretty bitch thing to do.
You can see video of Plax hearing the comments for the first time, Strahan’s ridiculous outburst, and listen to a Dan Patrick interview with Kelly Naqi here.
Mark
I completely agree with you, MJD.
What bothers me is that not only is Strahan unwilling to defend something that HE said, he also seems genuinely surprised and angry that a reporter is trying to create a story over a team issue. Strahan, what the fuck do you think it is that the media, and the New York sports media in particular, does exactly?
Yes, they’re going to come into your locker room, they’re going to question you about things you said, and they’re going to be tough on you. You play a game, and the sports reporters play a game too: it’s called, “Break the big story or create one trying.” They play this game every day, every week, every year. That’s their job, they’re going to do it, and Strahan should know that.
It would have been great if Naqi had shot back at him, “I’m reading a quote that you fucking said, and I’m doing the job that I always do, so either answer the question or walk away you fucking prick.” It’s not like Strahan would have hit her or anything, at least not in a roomful of reporters. Why not say that?
Strahan can get over it. Or retire, I don’t care.
November 30, 2006 at 10:35 am
DB
Cosign Mark’s post. Well said. You too, MJD.
This guy is an absolute stooge. I live near New York, so I hear about all this crap 24/7/365. Strahan might be the most overrated defensive player in the NFL. He gets by on deodorant endorsements, a gap-toothed grin that appeals to people like my mother, and a single-season sack record that Brett Favre all but gift-wrapped for him.
No acocuntability, no respect, and no leadership in that locker room right now, from the coaches to the players. I am absolutely loving every minute of this.
November 30, 2006 at 11:28 am
Planet Killer
Strahan’s one of those guys who’s trying to have it both ways with the media. He wants a media job when he’s done, so he’s always on tv somewhere trying to be opinionated, but then he goes back in the locker room and wants to be anti-media. Ripping a reporter for questioning him and Plax about Strahan’s own comments is ridiculous. He’s a tool.
November 30, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Roger
Look, Strahan’s a tool but this is so overdone. Just cuz the reporter was a chick we are so concerned about Strahan giving her the business. Who gives a shit? She was rolling around the locker room asking player after player after player only about the Strahan comments, obviously looking to do a rip piece about the “division” in the locker room. Good for her. That is what the media loves and that is what sells. Equally so, if Strahan wants to bust her non-balls about it that is his right too. I am just soooo tired of the media overblowing and overhyping things that they often create. Its like fanning the flames for 15 minutes till you have it roaring and then screaming “Fire”.
That being said, I hate the Giants, Strahan and can only hope this IS a distraction when they play my Boys this weekend. I just wonder if I don’t hate ESPN a bit more.
November 30, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Henry Holland
See, when we people on the west coast complain about east coast media bias, Sportscenter last night was a perfect example. I tuned in the 8:00 pm (PST) version to get some college hoops highlights and in the hour I had it on in the background while working on my computer, they must have devoted 15 minutes to this story. Hardly anyone outside of the Tri-State area or NFL obsessives cares about this, but, no, it’s in New York so it’s automatically assumed the rest of us give a flying fuck.
It’s like during baseball season when the slightest bit of news about the Yankees is given top billing and played repeatedly.
November 30, 2006 at 3:00 pm
balls deep pete
ith funny when thtrahan geth pithed off
November 30, 2006 at 7:37 pm
brooshkin
Typical fucking Cowboys fan that Roger. How the fuck do you know she went to player after player after player? I seriously doubt that happened. So she quotes Strahan to Burress and gets his comments. It stands to reason she would go back to Strahan for his response … not anyone else.
You’re more of a tool than Gap-Tooth, Roger (if that’s possible). As an Eagles fan I hate the Gints … but I hope they kick the Cowboys collective ass this week you friggin Romosexual.
November 30, 2006 at 9:08 pm
syzygy
Being angry at the media for trying to create a story is like being angry at a bee for stinging you. Bees sting people. Media folks create stories. It’s the nature of the beast. Best thing to do is avoid them (bees and mediafolk), and definitely avoid gift wrapping a story for them (mediafolk but not bees).
December 1, 2006 at 12:15 am
David Stef
I was listening to what Strahan was saying and I couldn’t help but laugh. He really said that the media put a negative spin on what he said. I’m sorry but is there a positive way of saying, you take off plays, and you have a poor work habit?
December 1, 2006 at 12:19 am
Aaron
For the record, the original Strahan quote came from Joe Benigno’s 10-1 show on WFAN. Joe’s show is fantastic.
December 1, 2006 at 12:21 am
basketball
What came first? The ckicken or the egg? What came first: a blowhard athlete getting pissed off or a media person asking a question that some might consider a little dumb?
December 1, 2006 at 2:32 am
jackie
“Strahan’s one of those guys who’s trying to have it both ways…”
For sure. Just ask Dr. Ian Smith.
December 1, 2006 at 5:21 am
Roger
Though it seems a waste to respond to a battery-chucker, oh sorry, eagles fan as the chances that you can read it without assistance are slim, I feel I must. I know she was rolling around the locker room digging for two reasons…1) my college roomate works for a local station and was in said lockeroom as she did just that. 2) She told us she did just that you fucking moron. She said she went in there “to really get some responses to Michael’s comments and everyone I asked was unaware of them”.
By the way…how is Donovan doing? Oh, snap. Sorry about that. Best wishes to him…tell him T.O. says get well soon. Maybe he will do a little “limp around” dance for him on one of his scores this week. Better luck next year!
December 1, 2006 at 1:50 pm
The Assimilated Negro
Nah, I don’t agree with this.
Are you guys in NYC? On the local networks and such the story I’m seeing and hearing is that she was fishing for a negative story that wasn’t there. When Strahan talks about “making it negative” it’s not evasive maneuvering about the comment itself, it’s regarding the angle and spin she’s putting on it. Mike & The Mad Dog discussed this today, the comment was made late at night, and neither MIke, Chris, or Joe who were all present, thought anything of it.
Now a couple days later this woman comes around with this quote, and less so with michael who obviously started grandstanding and didn’t allow her to do much, but certainly with Plaxico she’s definitely prodding him with this quote about his effort in order to get a reaction. Burress, of all people, is the guy who handled it best, as he just continually downplayed it despite being visibly a little taken aback.
As mentioned here Strahan has A LOT of experience with the media, so don’t you think it would take a little something excessive or blatant to prompt this sort of reaction. It’s not like he’s never been part of a three-game losing streak before. From the footage I’ve seen, she totally set herself up for this.
The part that’s bad is that Strahan made a special point to come out and deal with her specifically. He had finished talking, but then came out after hearing about her goign around with the quote. And then was incredibly rude, eating a sandwich while talking and whatnot. But it’s an overreaction to a problem she starts with a poor journalistic approach.
December 1, 2006 at 10:14 pm
Ron
Michael Strahan needs to fix his teeth. Being threatened by him is like being threatened by a black, steroid-riddled David Letterman
December 2, 2006 at 2:13 pm