New York Yankees Told Players Not to Be Like Cam Newton
The 2016 MLB season has started with players reporting for spring training. The New York Yankees made headlines with their "Mount Krause" hill at their training facility. However, the Yankees are also expecting their players to handle the media in a very respectful manner.
Yankees' Executive Director of Communications Jason Zillo showed the team Cam Newton and Russel Wilson's post-Super Bowl interview. "That's something everybody should see," Zillo said.
"It's made more impactful when you parlay it with what the quarterback did 12 months prior in the exact same position after throwing an interception at the goal line," he added.
Newton vs. Wilson
The Carolina Panthers' amazing season ended with a 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl 50. Panther quarterback Cam Newton did not take the defeat very well and it showed during his postgame interview.
He gave quick and short answers before walking out after being asked how difficult the loss was for his team. It was seen as a disrespectful way of taking a loss, especially after he was considered as the next face of the NFL and a good example for kids.
That interview was nothing compared to how Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson handled a heartbreaking 28-24 defeat at Super Bowl 49. He praised Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for their win. Wilson also agreed with the team's final play that could have won them the game.
The New York Media
"This is a different market. You're going to deal with a lot more media people than you do in other places, so we think it's important that we prepare them as much as possible," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
It is true that New York is a much more different market than Carolina and Denver. It's the most famous city in the world, where an athlete's every move is watched by the media. The Yankees are making sure that their players behave in a way that it will not cause any distractions. Players like Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia will attract media attention for different reasons.
Role-playing exercises are also included during camp, wherein athletes will act as reporters interviewing players. A video of Lawrence Taylor choking a reporter in 1995 will also be shown as well as 60 other infamous interviews.
"(The Taylor clip) is from 20 or 30 years ago, but those guys have never seen it. That's a timeless piece, to see a guy lose his temper and act completely inappropriate," Zillo said.
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