Given the work that I do as a communications advisor to many professional athletes and coaches, you might think I would never use former Detroit Tiger ace Jack Morris as an “example” of how an athlete should interact with the media.
The veteran right-hander won more than 250 games in his outstanding career, and continued to pitch complete games into the 1990’s when that had become a lost art. Perhaps more noteworthy, he was utterly superb in the post-season, helping lead the Tigers in 1984, the Twins in 1991 and the Blue Jays (to a lesser degree) in 1992 to World Series triumphs.
Does Morris deserve to be in the Hall-of-Fame?
Without question. It will soon be the case that the former 300-win criterion will be obsolete, as no one of the new generation will be able to achieve those heights. And at present, such criteria can certainly be massaged when voters see fit. Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford did not win close to 300 games, but were considered dominant pitchers in their eras and earned entry into the Hall.
Morris was a dominant— and feared— pitcher, particularly good at crunch time.
But Morris was, with the press, caustic and acerbic, by most accounts. And it is the press who cast the key ballots for entry into the Baseball Hall-of-Fame.
Would a writer not vote for Morris because the writer resented Morris’ attitude as a player?
Who knows?
Ted Williams had a miserable relationship with many reporters, but had no problem earning entry into the so-called hallowed halls.
In more recent years, pitchers Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton rarely, if ever, spoke with the media as their careers progressed.
They made it to the Hall.
But sometimes reporters do have long memories.
All this leads to a simple point. Gibson and Carlton, and of course Williams, were surefire Hall-of-Fame players regardless of how some reporters might have felt about them personally.
What happens if you are seen as a borderline Hall-of-Fame candidate?
Like Jack Morris.
Had Morris perhaps been a little more patient, a little more accessible, a little more Gary Carter-like (Carter was also seen as a borderline Hall-of-Fame candidate by many, but was very accessible to the media throughout his career) in his demeanor through those great years he had, he may be celebrating a phone call from the Hall-of-Fame selection committee this January.
The call might have come years ago, for that matter. Morris has been eligible for a long time.
From what one hears, it doesn’t sound as though Jack Morris worries about all this, or regrets his actions. He was no doubt his own man, and likely would not have had it any other way.
But as much as one can admire his stubborn individuality on some level, it’s a shame the relationship between he and the media was never repaired.
He deserves to be in the Hall.
If nothing else, perhaps some young athlete will read this and realize that he can still be an individual, but show respect for the media. They have a job to do. Ignoring them, or picking a fight with them, rarely helps, during — or after— your career.
Take the time to learn to interact thoughtfully with the media. Do it because it’s the right thing to do, because all your professional relationships should be based on mutual respect and understanding for the job others have to do.
But if you don’t do it for that reason, at least do it out of self-interest.
It may just help you down the road.
