THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: A little insight goes a long way

What do athletes owe us?

Besides real effort and entertainment, I mean.

Are we entitled to know what they were thinking on critical plays, or exactly what it means to have won/lost a particular game?

What about their private lives?

Can we (media, public) stick our noses into what a player has for breakfast, and what he does to play with his kids?

How about conversations?

Should athletes carry the burden of being pleasant and interesting, or can they say what's really on their minds?

Or say nothing at all?

Do they have that right?

I've been generally lucky in my career, covering mostly athletes, coaches and administrators who understand the role of the media and are willing to answer appropriate questions.

Some people are more comfortable in an interview setting than others, and sure, you respect that.

There have been more athletes than I can count who were fascinating and fun in conversation.

This won't surprise you, but young people competing for the Air Force Academy and the other service academies are terrific — especially if you enjoy being called "Sir!"

THIS IS a warm topic right now, since Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick did his best impression of Bill Belichick after the Cougs got walloped 34-7 by Kansas State last Saturday.

Pinnick was no doubt taken behind the woodshed by the Wazzu staff after he was flat-out rude to media and onlookers following that game.

Here's how it went, courtesy of reporter Greg Woods:

On some of the team’s biggest problems on offense, Pinnick said only, “We just lost. Next question.”

On what was holding back WSU’s passing offense, which produced only 65 yards, Pinnick said, “Good team. We lost.”

On whether he felt like offensive coordinator Matt Miller’s play calls were putting the team in the best positions to succeed, Pinnick said, “It’s not for me to say. We just gotta get better.”

Pinnick turned things around on Monday.

He said flat-out that he needed to project a better image, since the Wazzu quarterback will always be under the spotlight.

The apology was appreciated.

“As you lose two games in a row, emotions can be high,” Pinnick said. “And as a quarterback of this team and university, it is my job to give this team and institution some pride and belief. My frustrations from the past two weeks crept up on me, got the best of me. 

"It's a growing process for me as well, and I'm looking to get better.”

Pinnick will have to improve on a 9-for-20 passing effort.

WSU is last in the nation in total offense (408 yards) and scoring (8.5 points average) after losses to Washington and K-State.

LET'S HOPE that the Cougs heat up on the field — the schedule gets easier — and Pinnick continues to do a good job handling media duties.

I've had people write me (or walk up at games) to say they think the media is too intrusive, and we shouldn't be bothering athletes, coaches, etc.

The heat is really turned up if you write or broadcast something critical.

For what it's worth, here's the code I've used since the start of my career — right at the start of the Eisenhower administration.

Or was it Truman.

(Sorry, couldn't help myself. Onward ... )

With high school athletes, I've generally talked to the coach — and asked if it's OK to pose a few questions to the tight end who caught the winning TD pass.

College players are on scholarship AND most are pocketing handsome checks, courtesy of NIL contracts. A Gonzaga forward should be willing to give us five minutes.

That's now handled by Mark Few and the school, who pick just two athletes to interview in a group setting, and I don't like that arrangement at all.

Before Covid and that stretch when we couldn't talk to anybody, the Zags locker room used to be open to the media after games — and the public got MUCH more interesting feedback from various players.

Few took advantage of the Covid period, and has kept the locker room closed ever since.

Bah!

As for pro athletes, they're millionaires who make their cash from the public paying a fortune to the league and to individual clubs.

You don't want to be rude and questions should be fair, but beyond that, the Seahawks, Mariners and everyone else is fair game.

To answer our very first question, athletes don't OWE us anything.

But conversations that let the public get closer to the game?

They help everyone.  

EMAIL: [email protected]

Longtime journalist Steve Cameron writes "The Cheap Seats" for The Press three times each week.