Yesterday on 670 the Score, radio host Lawrence Holmes had a little venting to do after a very quick and rough interview with Bears DL Tommie Harris. Harris was dodging most questions giving short answers and then cut the interview off cause he was starting a charity function and was being mobbed by people wanting autographs. After the call ended Holmes unleashed some personal venting on Harris's change in attitude lately and accused him of turning his back on the people of the radio station and becoming a bad person.
Whatever Harris's motives were don't really matter for my point. I was more impressed that Holmes finally came out and said something negative about a Bears player that he used to have a good relationship with, something Holmes appears to be more comfortable with all the time as he moves into his own identity and not the Bears beat reporter.
While I was encouraged to hear Holmes give us some real feelings and emotion on the radio, it also made me think about how he has changed. As the Bears beat reporter he needed open access to the locker room and the cooperation of the players in order to get any information. Rare was the time when I ever heard Holmes say anything bad about any Bears player even when the radio hosts he was talking to were openly bashing obvious flaws with the team. But now the tables have turned as he has his own shows and isn't in that locker room anymore. All of a sudden he can pass judgement on Tommie Harris for getting paid and turning into a bad person.
Either way both men have changed from what I remember. While I am not saying whatever Harris is going through is any accuse for his drop in play and general sour attitude lately, certainly a once overly nice and positive speaking Holmes is probably the worse change out of the two.
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3 comments:
One of the best pieces of advice that I've received since I started working as a sports journalist is that you're never really friends with the people you cover (which is also one reason why I avoid writing about people from my personal life).
Anyways, that idea I believe can be lost as you cover a beat or a certain team too much. The athletes and coaches get to know you a little more as a person. You get to know them a little more as people. BUT, whether you're in radio, TV or print, you have a responsibility to report right and wrong. Meaning some day you may have to report on something about someone you may like, but that they may not want to hear on the radio or see in the paper. Stuff like this occurs at an alarming rate. As a beat reporter, you have to pick your battles in order to keep the lines of communication open. As a show host you're paid for opinion and you better give it. Besides, there's someone else in the locker room paving new avenues.
I didn't hear this particular interview or the Holmes rant. But it kind of sounds like Harris railroaded his way out of an interview and answering legitimate questions. Then rushed off. I think listeners often think this a squabble between host and guest.
But its not.
It's a battle for power. If Harris gets away with avoiding questions and pulling the old rope a dope. That sends a message to the locker room and any other athlete listening. You can walk over Holmes.
Holmes has to call out Harris at that point. Harris forced his hand. He had to make it clear that you can't get away with that.
I sympathize with Holmes. Even at a small newspaper that happens. People try to turn you into a lame duck reporter. It hasn't been that long ago that I had to call out an entire coaching staff and team for feeding me misinformation.
While I got my share of angry phone calls and emails, something more important happened. Every time I dealt with those people (actually pretty much everyone from that town and even some of the neighboring teams and towns) they didn't try to pull anything even on the tough questions. They may not like me or respect me, but they respect my position and they know I'll do my job.
I agree with your points and as I stated I was even a little impresses at first that Holmes did that but your beginning proved my point too. He was trying to pass himself off as not only having a good relationship with Harris but being friendly. One of the other hosts brought up a point that Hampton has called out Harris's play in the past and maybe he was avoiding them because Hampton is Holmes's cohost.
I probably let my large dislike of Holmes overshadow my larger point. It is more about being a hypocrit.
Holmes is still pretty young (i hate saying that because it's not like I am old). I think he does try to be overly friendly to players. Hampton is just bad from the little I've heard of him. But that's neither here nor there.
There is a reason Terry Boeres (sp? don't feel like looking it up) is the way he is. He's been in the game a long time. He holds no illusions of bonds with his guests. He also doesn't assume he's right or perfect.
Finally, everyone is a hypocrite if they talk or write long enough. It's a dirty human flaw.
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