Williams was really classy in his post-game interview. What he said about his players and how he felt about them seemed totally sincere. Then how he politely hinted to Bernstein that he didn't want to answer the UNC question now and that he was dealing with his team and that it was not her fault personally for having to ask was very deft.
Unfortunately, she just didn't get it. She continued to badger him by asking again, "If the North Carolina job is offered to you, will you take it?" Wasn't it great to see him lose it and stick it to her with the retort, "I don't give a sh*t about North Carolina, or anybody else, right now!"
I do think that he is going to UNC, though.

Not very professional.

Yeah, on the part of Bonnie Bernstein!

Journalism.
 

Why is that so much apart of journalism to ask a question you know the answer to? So if someone comes out publicly and makes their attitude known, you still ask the question no matter what?

Peace

I went to bed right after the final horn sounded, so I didn't partake in the post-game nonsense. But are you saying that Williams actually made that comment? Or are you wishing that's what he would have said?

But are you saying that Williams actually made that comment? [/B][/QUOTE]That's a fact,Jack!

WOW! :eek:

I thought Williams handled the question extremely well. He told her politely that he was concerned with his team at the moment and would not answer that question. She decided to push the issue and he responded in a totally appropriate way imho. He tried to answer the question in a professional manner but she didn't get the picture so he put it in no uncertain terms. I thought the interview was another case of reporters asking a good question at a totally inappropriate time. Let the guy deal with his emotions and his team's emotions and answer those questions at a later date.

I'm willing to defend Bonnie Bernstein on this one. There's a chance that she was forced to ask those questions by CBS brass. She probably didn't have a choice. Well, I suppose she could have taken a stand, but then she may have been risking her job. Who knows. Regardless, Williams KNEW that question would be asked, and reacted in a totally unprofessional manner himself. Go back to crying, Roy, because the Orange are the champs!

This was my initial reaction when I was watching the interview. I thought that Williams actually gave her two chances to exit that question gracefully, but either her or "the guy in her ear" as Williams called it, would not back off.

With all of the emotion he was feeling at that point, I can't really blame him for what he said, but on the other hand, he had to know that question was coming.

I had no problem with what Williams did. All week he's been doing his best to keep the focus on Kansas. The situation was the quiet-tone interview with the losing coach outside of the locker room. This was the time for Bernstein to lob softballs at him so he could be classy, and say the things about great kids like Collison and Heinrich who deserved to have those things said. In 15 minutes he'd be in the media room and they could've hit him with those questions then.

Did Bernstein really think he was going to say something like "since the season has been over for six minutes I can now announce that I'm going to UNC"? She asked, and he tactfully deflected it and tried to communicate that the question was inappropriate. She pressed it, so he fired back with something sure to communicate how he felt about that question being asked. By using that word, his feelings were unequivocal and if I played for the man, I'd appreciate it.

When you coach, you feel like your team is your family. Williams did what any protective parent would do in a similar situation. I admire him even more after that interview.

Nothing wrong with Williams waving her off and walking away, but I can see why he might lose his cool so soon after a crushing loss.

She was definitely forced to press him on the U.N.C. thing. There is a Producer or Executive Producer in the mobile production studio who often calls the shots...ALL the shots. Defy him/her, and Bonnie looks for another job. Or gets used to covering horse racing and dog shows.

Same thing with Jim Gray during the Pete Rose thing a couple years ago.

Well put Pennsylvania Coach!

I agree Canuckrefguy ! (I'm padding my stats to get to double figure posts)

There are times to ask the "tough questions," but it doesn't seem appropriate after an emotional championship game loss to keep badgering after a sensitive question is turned aside once.

I agree that Bonnie was pressured to ask that question by the producer sitting in the truck and that she'd catch hell (and maybe lose her job) if she didn't push it. "Bonnie, ask him again...don't let him slide... we can bring Jim Gray in your place next year you know."

Williams was just showing loyalty and affection to his players and didn't mean to slight anyone by his remark. I do think he'll take the UNC job. With the departure of Heinrich and Collison, Kansas is a few years away from another final 4 appearance don't you think?

Z

it's almost like bonnie asking "now that your wife died, are you going to get married next week?"

If it was Fox, they'd ask that too! Anything for controversy, because controversy=ratings.

Not so much - I have no problem with his answer - his previous responses should have been fair warning for the CBS producers.

Williams can't really walk away - CBS pretty much gets to interview whomever they want whenever they want.

That's complete bull$hit.

He answered the question very professionally, stating that he understood she had to ask it again and that her producer was probably telling her to ask it but respectfully declined.

Then, she asked him the same question again! How stupid can you be? He didn't answer it the first time she asked it, why in the hell would she think he's going to answer it the second time?

She's no Jim Gray, but it was certainly stupid on her part to ask the same questiopn a second time. She got what she deserved.

A reply to your bull$hit comment:

Bonnie Bernstein, on the Dan Patrick Radio Show today, said she had asked Roy Williams before they went live if she could ask him about UNC, and he said he was fine with it. Then when they went live, he went Andy Rooney on her. That doesn't actually sound like her fault to me...

Williams lost alot of respect from me in this tournament, with that out of line comment, as well as telling a national audience that the "referees are making up the rules as they go."

Maybe Roy Williams should go coach a women's team. At least his pissy crying spells would be accepted then. Stupid, pathetic, and embarrassing, but accepted.

Well.....
 

I think there is a middle ground. No one is stupid for having a different point of view. But I think there is a middle ground. I just do not understand this Journalism thing about asking any question at any time. The man just lost the biggest game of his career/life and she is asking questions that could affect everyone in his lockerroom. If he says "I am interested in the North Carolina job," he might be jeapordizing the futures of many players and coaches, which I feel he has a bigger issue with. I think his reaction was very appropriate. I also feel that he could have not cursed, but I understand. Just like Chris Rock said one time, "I might not have killed her, but I understand!"

But I also understand the position Berstein was in too. I just think that logic needs to go. If you already know the answer, why keep asking the same question. She asked once, he answered the same question all week long and took his stance, that was not the right time. Maybe a day later would have been better, but she was there for the game, not to drill the man about his future. Let the moment marinate a little.

Peace

Well, that tells us all we need to know about you, doesn't it? So women's coaches are pissy, cryers, pathetic, stupid and embarassing, are they? Sad day. :(

She asked, he answered, she asked the same damn question again, like she thought she was going to get a different answer. Stupid in my book.

What's your problem, Tony? Of course they are. But so are the men's coaches :D (I'm an EOO -- Equal Opportunity Offender)

Chuck

Sorry Chuck but I have a low tolerance for bull$hit.

I'm sure I've alienated another member of this forum. Oh well, that's a long list anyway. :)