Ndamukong Suh, a Nebraska football standout turned defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, poses for a picture in a headlock with Bobbie Hill, of Comstock, during an autograph stop at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha on July 22, 2010.
Mike Valenti and Terry Foster are radio announcers for 97.5 the ticket in Detroit, flagship for Lions football. The announcers weekly interview with Lions DT Ndamukong Suh went south when the interviewers got stuck on trying to expose Suh's personal issues.
The questioning seemed like a trick play to get Suh to reveal all, but Suh out-maneuvered the interviewers by staying calm, collected and courteous while the interviewer(s) unraveled in frustration and ended in what sounded like a hissy fit. They simply didn't get what they wanted out of Suh and stubbornly missed out on letting Suh give fans what he was willing to.
Long after Suh decided to amicably end the interview the interviewer(s) continued to try justifying their position on how they conducted themselves, claiming they did not try to overly pry when it was obvious that's exactly what the interviewer(s) did and exactly why Suh ended it. Whatever happened to professionalism in broadcasting? Was Sarah Palin right about media only being interested in the "gotcha" moment?
Mike Valenti believes he was asking the tough questions because that's what the fans want to know. Well Mike, it was plain to everyone but you that you asked either the wrong question, as Suh tried to tell you, or posed it the wrong way. It's not always what you say but how you say it.
It took a more level headed Terry Foster to calm Valenti down and ask him to "let people critique what just happened." On that note the call-in number was given and the station went to break.
And that my friends is a perfect example of the new age broadcasting style. No tact, no integrity and very little respect for guests on their shows. Anyone and any subject is fair game to blast away at until the interviewee either says something that shocks and bumps ratings or takes the high road and does as Ndamukong Suh does and gentlemanly walks away.
Suh is not as off his rocker as the media is making him out to be. He might have difficulty saying what he truly feels and saying what folks wanna hear, but after interviews like this one I understand why. When does "No Mean No" in broadcasting? I hate to say it but here it is bluntly and uncensored; Suh just escaped a radio rape with his balls unmolested. Suh gets my vote for Real Man of the week.
Now if only my Raiders can do on the field what Mike and Terry couldn't off the field; rattle Suh and get him to make mistakes come this Sunday.
