Radio Row at the Super Bowl isn’t always as fun as it seems, and according to Chris Russo, it isn’t always an easy endeavor. Mad Dog was a guest on The Ringer’s The Press Box podcast this week.
Host Bryan Curtis said he had heard from plenty of sports radio hosts in the past that said they did not see the upside of athlete interviews. Rarely do jocks ever say anything that makes the show better.
“A lot of truth to that,” Russo responded.
Chris Russo did say there were certain types of players he looks forward to talking to. He wants newsmakers and guys willing to be candid.
“They’re much better when they’re retired than when they’re playing. It depends. The quarterbacks are usually pretty good and they’re significant, so you like them.”
Radio Row presents an interesting challenge. Russo says you go because it is the only place you will be offered certain guests. The problem is that many of them are there, not because they want to do interviews, but because they want the paycheck from whatever brand they are promoting. He says he doesn’t like to figure out how he is going to get seven or eight minutes out of someone that doesn’t want to be there.
“Most of these young athletes don’t know anything about Sirius or me,” Russo said. “You know, an old guy? Who the hell am I? You know, those are tough interviews.”
Chris Russo says that a good broadcaster learns how to get gems out of guys that may not be interested in giving them up. That is why you have to give some of these interviews a chance.
