FEEDBACK: Your Thoughts On The Media vs. Kids At The Podium

Tuesday night after the Golden State Warriors beat up on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Steph Curry brought his two-year-old daughter Riley to the podium with him.

The seemingly innocuous act rubbed some members of the media the wrong way, and now they’re calling for the NBA to ban children on the podium during PostGame conferences. Two of the strongest critiques came from ESPN writer Brian Windhorst and Skip Bayless. They claim it’s a distraction; sometimes used as a deflection to answering difficult questions.

While the NBA has said they have no plans of instituting a rule for this, I asked the question on FaceBook and Instagram; Does it bother you if athletes bring their children to the podium?

For me, I understand that some media might feel its a distraction, but I think that they’re forgetting why they’re at the game and talking to the athletes to begin with; to document the game/series. It’s not about the journalist deadline, or the quote, it’s about giving the fan another POV. Nothing that is said in those pressers is ever life changing. It’s rarely more important than the 48 minutes of action that takes place on the court.

Considering the NBA uses family as a key marketing point – great dads and father’s day, the “lean in” campaign, etc. – it would seem off to have a problem with pro athletes showing true displays of fatherhood. Especially when the perception is that a lot of pro athletes aren’t involved.

Check out some of the response:

– “Those media people need love and light in their lives. Let the kids shine”

– m_n_old: Whomever voiced a complaint about these children adding an entertainment value to the postgame pressers takes themselves entirely too seriously. More kids, less 60 year old, bitter sports “journalists”.

– nigerianalchemy: Nah I never seen any player do it during a loss when most difficult questions occur. It’s not during every media session. Smh media needs to lighten up

– datdudeeasy: Chile please!!!! I cover after game presses conferences all the time. You can talk to players, before the game, in the locker room afterwards AND a presser.. How are they stopping you from doing your job? .. These reporters need to get over themselves and just report on the damn story. The kid ain’t bothering y’all

– bellaeyes: I’m going to be the odd man out here. I don’t think they should have their children at the press conferences. While all of the children I’ve seen have been adorable and funny, I don’t believe it’s the place to have children. There are athletes who dress in suits for game day because they view game day as business. These press conferences are the end of their “work day”. I know I as a businesswoman would not bring my child into my place of business outside of “Bring Your Child To Work” Day. Just my humble opinion. 

– nickhamiltonla: Doesn’t bother me at all. @stilettojill

 

– colg8smile: Let’s be honest here, any journalist complaining about children being a distraction is doing so as a deflection of their own incompetence. Your story should be 90% finished by the time you enter that post game conference. You are simply using what you get to fill in the gaps. It’s ironic that the same children they are calling a distraction are the same children they like to write articles about. How many times have you scoffed at an article because it focused on personal drama? It’s OK for them to write about children out of wedlock, owing child support, child abuse, baby mama drama… All topics that have absolutely nothing to do with the game that was just played but far too often are used as the crux of their articles. Here you have a young man who has his child with him (and he isn’t the first to do so, history check on A.I and others) and it’s a problem? Why? Ask yourself why? I bet if the conference was interrupted so he could be served for owing child support, not one complaint would be raised. But alas, here we are.

– Angela: This is super extra cute……..but not the right time or place for young children.

– Corey: Nope we need more dads and if this is an opportunity for you to share with your kids than you should...

–  Maz:  I agree with it that the kids shouldn’t be allowed on the podium

– Kwedi: It doesn’t bother me but I can understand wanting to stop it. We view the NBA as a sport but for these men it’s their job. Most of us can’t take our children to work with us. Especially on a busy work day where the press is in our office.

– Drew: Media cut it out, be an athlete and adjust in the player’s moment

Want to participate in the conversation? Make sure you’re following me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. @StilettoJill