No one is quite sure when it began but Media Day has become as much a Super Bowl tradition as the awarding of the Lombardi Trophy, providing a wacky and light-hearted kickoff to the US’ biggest sporting event.
Like gladiators being thrown to the lions, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers were thrust into one of the sporting world’s most bizarre scenes on Tuesday as of members of the mainstream sports media mingled uneasily with reporters dressed as super heroes and glamorous television presenters teetering on stiletto high heels.
On Media Day, no outfit is too outrageous or question too far out of bounds.
Photo: REUTERS
Not even an ice storm could prevent a convoy of 12 buses packed with media from getting to Cowboys Stadium and asking the probing questions everyone wants to know.
A man dressed in black tights, a cape and mask asked the Packers’ A.J. Hawk if he would consider becoming a member of his league of super heroes.
A woman wanted to know if the Green Bay linebacker prefers Katy Perry or Lady Gaga while someone else was curious about what players do when nature calls during the game.
Photo: REUTERS
But the most common questions on this Media Day was a hairy one: who has the nicer locks, the Packers’ Clay Matthews or Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu.
“Troy may have won defensive player of the year but there is no doubt I won best hair in the game,” said Matthews, wiping his hand over his golden mane. “I think it’s a unanimous decision. It’s great that we have some hair endorsements and can have some fun with it.”
Ines Sainz, the television reporter who prompted the NFL to introduce new code of conduct rules, attracted nearly as much attention as the Packers and Steelers.
Earlier in the season, Sainz triggered an NFL investigation when it was reported the former model had catcalls and rude comments directed at her from some members of the New York Jets while waiting to conduct an interview in the team locker room.
While Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, said the incident had left her feeling “uncomfortable,” she appeared at ease Tuesday in a sequined micro mini-dress and high heels.
“I dress for my show because in Mexico I have a really important show and all my outfits match with my partners,” beamed Sainz into a wall of TV cameras. “It is part of my job.”
“That’s the great thing about Media Day. You can do the serious work and you can share the time with the media and have some fun,” she said.
There was no shortage of competition for the spotlight with television networks sending in some of their most glamorous presenters to provide reports for everything from Entertainment Tonight to Access Hollywood.
Comedians from late night talk shows poked fun at good-natured players while 11-year-old Jordan Sternblitz, kid reporter for the Dallas Morning News, grilled Packers as they passed by.
But not all the questions on Media Day are soft ones.
Asked about reports that he was spotted at Dallas strip club on Monday night, Steelers Hines Ward had a short answer.
“None of your business,” growled the Pittsburgh wide receiver.
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS: LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season. The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm
Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month. Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in
New Zealand yesterday reached 231-9 at stumps on a first day of the first Test against the West Indies shortened by rain after Justin Greaves triggered a middle-order collapse with the wicket of Kane Williamson. New Zealand tumbled from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly wicket after Williamson was dismissed for 52, his 38th Test half-century. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith arrested the slide with a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Smith eventually fell for 23 and Bracewell for 47. After Matt Henry went for 8, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on 4 when bad light stopped play after 70
RSS