As a pro-athlete, how important is simply not saying anything 'stupid'?

[jadillac]

in the media, twitter, interviews, etc?

If you're even a decent player, the media will love you(or at least go easier on you), the fans will love you, etc. You'll be seen as "such a good guy." That right there will guarantee you a good chance at having a nice career in sports after you retire(analyst or team representative, coach, etc), or being able to use your name to land local/national endorsements, etc.

 

[PortCityProphet]

i think there are some things that you don't say, things that should be kept in house but other than that speak your mind.
fukk the media and fukk fans. i hate how athletes pander to them now days. It also depends on how much of a personality you are like Chuck always spoke his mind and said things people considered stupid and he's built a great post playing career out of it.

 

[jadillac]

i think there are some things that you don't say, things that should be kept in house but other than that speak your mind.
fukk the media and fukk fans. i hate how athletes pander to them now days. It also depends on how much of a personality you are like Chuck always spoke his mind and said things people considered stupid and he's built a great post playing career out of it.

well the caveat I meant to add was that superstar players can get away with more.

Look at Kobe. Dude stays dropping cuss words and saying crazy stuff these days in the media, but nobody cares b/c of how great he is. He'll stilll be in shoe commercials, still get love from the media and still be able to do whatever after he retires. Hell, he even got thru Colorado

 

[FTBS]

It's all about the narrative the media wants to portray though. As well as what's going on around you and of course where you are playing. If you are a quiet guy who just does his job and doesn't rock the boat in Utah or Milwaukee win or lose you will be fine. However if you are in NY or LA or any of the glamour teams or proclaimed the next something and you are losing then that will get flipped into lacking passion or not being a good leader. If you win you will be the "strong silent type" or a "leader by example". Conversely you can be a loudmouth a$$hole but if you win you be branded a "leader" or "galvanizing personality". Lose and say anything they don't approve of and you will be branded a "cancer".

 

[vegetarybrownrice]

Derrick Rose barely says anything, yet he can't read

 

[ScottyG]

It can seperate a max contract player from a high paid player. Saying the right things can make you beloved & box office (long as you can play also)

 

[frush11]

It depends on what you want, if you wan to be a big star, celeb, and all that shyt. Then it matters.

But if all you wanna do is just play and fukk off and live your life when you are done. Then it doesn't matter.

Not every person in that world wants to be a celeb, or cares about image

 

[OGmittee]

I dont think ppl automatically think youre a good guy if you dont say anything tho. Ppl will always judge you off your demeanor on and off the field/court if you dont say much. The way the OP came off was like ppl like you as long as you arent stupid outwardly.

 

[BlakeSuperior]

Most people that watch sports secretly hate these players for getting payed so much, so if they don't do EVERYTHING to try and appeal to them, they get one of the negative labels. So yeah, not saying something "stupid" goes a long way. But the problem is what people think is "stupid".

The idea of an athlete stating their opinion is looked down upon cause they're supposed to just shut up and play.