04/24/24
May 30, 2003
"Who is the most boring superstar,": John Donovan asks. I ask, who cares? Does being a creative speaker make you more admirable among fans? Do Sportsfilterians lean towards the more colorful speakers?
posted by jasonspaceman to culture at 01:48 PM - 13 comments
I don't know. I really like and respect the athletes that stay cool at all times, especially when they're kicking your ass. Like Emmit Smith scoring a TD and handing the ball to the official. Act like you've been there before. Some flair is good, but when you're cool it makes you look that much more like an assassin. Benie Williams = cool. Joe Sakic = cool.
posted by vito90 at 02:43 PM on May 30, 2003
Hear, hear, vito90. Randy Johnson = cool. Barry Sanders = supercool. Ugueth Urbina = not so cool.
posted by eldoop at 02:52 PM on May 30, 2003
Vito, I agree with you but celebratory stuff wasn't necessarily what I was talking about. I much prefer the Emmitt Smith way over say, the Dirty Bird or the Ickey Shuffle. It's just those few players that show absolutely no emotion at all regardless, like they really have no interest in what they're doing. It's different from stoic intensity in a way that I can't really explain. If you hit a big basket or something, it's okay to, you know, smile or something. The lack of any kind of expression on some athletes makes them seem flippant to the results of the contest. I know that's not the truth, and all of the athletes listed in the link are quite competitive (and successful) but if all athletes were like that, it'd make the games/matches/whatever a dreadful bore to watch. I hate extremely flashy players more than the average person. I don't want everyone to be a Deion Sanders or anything, but crack a smile periodically, that's all I'm asking. On preview: who on earth is Ugueth Urbina?
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:56 PM on May 30, 2003
I've always hated Tim Duncan, even though I love his style of play. And the only reason i can come up with is that he has the charisma of a bar of soap. For my money, Kevin Garnett is is the ideal colorful athlete. Engaging, funny, and a little bit over the top, but not obnoxious...
posted by cobra! at 03:05 PM on May 30, 2003
I'd like to see more personality out of some athletes, not jsut on the field/floor/ice but in interviews. It seems like every interview is the same question, the same cliche answer (which half the time does not even address the question), etc etc. My friend Erik is HORRIBLE at this too... I want to smack him and tell him to smile, be a bit more charismatic, the way he always was with the girls around town here :) It's either boring cliche answers or unintelligible mumbling by the less intelligent crowd. I think I'd be a great superstar, just cause I'd have a bit of fun with it, and ham it up in front of the camera :) I don't like the guy, but on his happier days, Shaq is kind of good at this. Eddie George, now that's a smart and engaging football player. And friggin strong as a bull (he used to go to my gym)... one of my all time favorites.
posted by Bernreuther at 03:13 PM on May 30, 2003
Sakic is so boring I guess the reporter forgot to mention his Cup win in 2001. I mean he gives the CV for all the other players and ignores 50% of Sakic's Cup victories? Plus he sneaks in a slam about soccer. Is that needed? Ugueth Urbina is a pitcher who's been around (Mtl, Bos, and now Texas). I don't know the reference in terms of dullness though. The entry level WHO question can be answered by visiting a search engine, the deeper explantion of what eldoop's reference was would require someone with more knowledge than I. The topic for the article was pretty blah. John Donovan, most boring sports writer?
posted by gspm at 03:14 PM on May 30, 2003
I was just reminded of a great anecdote from Ball Four. Some owner had bitched out his team for not being entertaining enough. After the lecture, he said, "Now go out there and compete for the entertainment dollar!" The players run out and take the field. A few innings later, I believe it was Joe Pepitone scores a run. He turns towards the dugout and heads there at a full-on sprint, then slides the last ten feet right into the dugout and disappears from view. The manager comes over and asks him what the hell he's doing and Pepitone (if it was him) says "Skip, I'm just competing for that entertainment dollar."
posted by vito90 at 03:26 PM on May 30, 2003
Good one, Vito.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:07 PM on May 30, 2003
Fred Funk has never really lived up to his name.
posted by catfish at 06:41 PM on May 30, 2003
*Guffaw* New keyboard please. Ta for that vito. Personally I like Steve Claridge and, fer fuck's sake, Stan Colleymore. Roll of dishonour: Gary bleeding Lineker Bob Wilson (Jesus, where's me pillow?) Stephen Hendry Matthew Pinsent (give him an oar, for god's sake) Gareth Southgate (please, someone pass the speed) And to answer your questions. Yes.
posted by squealy at 06:44 PM on May 30, 2003
Ya know, squealy, I don't know who a single one of those guys are. Point proven.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:04 PM on May 31, 2003
Fair enough. I don't have a clue who you Yanks are talking about either..
posted by salmacis at 06:28 PM on May 31, 2003
Weird. My girlfriend went on a rant last night comparing Tim Duncan to Tiger Woods, how they have no personalities. It's not necessarily leaning towards more colorful speakers, it's having at least a little bit of a personality, showing a bit of emotion. I have very few friends that I consider "boring". I oftentimes choose my favorite players based on who I think I'd get along with in real life (among other factors, and steve nash won't return my calls, that bastard). I'm not saying everyone should parade around like some Dennis Rodman-esque peacock freak show, but just a little bit of flair is nice.