Jeez, Bob Raissman, the Michael Kay interview of George Steinbrenner wasn't that bad:
"During his lengthy chat with Michael Kay, Steinbrenner too was a shell of himself. The steely stare has given way to hollow eyes. Arrogance and bluster replaced by the tinny-toned voice of a grandfather suddenly awakened from a nap.
No energy.
No animation.
Steinbrenner was not registering. He seemed incapable of getting in-depth or offering details. This was a session of stock answers and repetition.
...
It did not matter what Steinbrenner was asked. Just hearing him answer the questions and seeing how he looked while answering made this interview eerie and, in a bizarre sense, compelling. This is a man who clearly has lost his fastball.
The interview was revealing, all right.
A revelation in sadness.
...
On Sunday, Steinbrenner's demeanor and performace did not fit that description. There, on the big screen, sitting in a large leather chair fiddling with his glasses, trying to remember moments and answer questions, Steinbrenner just looked small.
And sad. "
Repetitive, nonsensical, insincere, and illogical? Who does George Steinbrenner think he is? Joe Torre?
Seriously, I challenge Bob Raissman to scour a month's worth of Willie Randolph interviews and find a single utterance that makes any sense. Talk about repetitive, Willie Randolph sounds like a man with Tourette's syndrome.
Do me a favor, Bob Raissman: Rent "Rain Man" and closely watch the performance by Dustin Hoffman. Now, next time you hear Randolph give an interview, replace "We played well enough to win" or "We look forward to the upcoming series" with "Wapner on in ten minutes" or "I get my boxer shorts at K-Mart," and you'll see the connection.
What was Raissman expecting from George Steinbrenner during an interview with Michael Kay? Was he expecting Steinbrenner to act like the crazy man? Wild-eyed and belligerent? Play Frankenowner, which is mostly an outdated creation of the NY tabloids?
Then, when Steinbrenner doesn't act like a crazy man, it's "sad"?
Steinbrenner didn't act any more senile than just about every celebrity interview I've ever seen. He didn't act any more senile than Cameron Diaz when she's forced to sit through an interview with Harry Smith. He didn't act any more senile than anything I've ever seen on "The Insider."
I didn't watch the entire Steinbrenner interview on Centerstage, but from what I saw, it just seemed like typical Centerstage garbage. Michael Kay is untalented, boring, and whenever he brings up Don Mattingly, I think he might pull down his pants right there.
If Raissman thinks Kay treats Steinbrenner with kid gloves -- and he does -- then Raissman should watch the Dennis Rodman interview. When it's finished, Raissman might be tempted to nominate Dennis Rodman for Governor.
I challenge any human being on this planet to sit through the Kevin Costner, Red Auerbach, and Chris Evert interviews on Centerstage back to back to back (and a belly to belly to belly). If you can survive this test, you qualify for the Navy SEALs.
Raissman interprets bad TV as biased TV, but that's because he's looking too hard for Al Yankzeera offenses. Centerstage is always bad, but it's equal opportunity vapidity.
Look, it was bad television, no doubt. A bad interviewer and a bad interviewee does not make for compelling viewing. Steinbrenner has been convicted of federal crimes and I'm quite sure that Michael Kay did not deliver a balanced, hard-hitting approach. While being interviewed on the TV station that he owns, George Steinbrenner probably sidestepped questions about Richard Nixon and Howard Spira.
So, while I disagree with Raissman's overall assessment of Steinbrenner's performance, I have a bigger gripe with Raissman:
If Raissman really believes that the Centerstage interview is proof of Steinbrenner's declining mental health and vitality, then Raissman should lay off. Perhaps Raissman should show a little class and respect his elders.
Maybe Steinbrenner has the tinny-toned voice of a grandfather because he happens to be a grandfather with a tinny-toned voice. The guy is 74 years old, for Chrissakes. Lots of 74-year-old men would do a lot worse than fiddle with their glasses.
What was the big revelation that offends Raissman so deeply, anyway? Steinbrenner committed a crime simply by growing old?
Don't take it personally, Bob. If you're lucky, you'll grow old, too. Growing old is not fun for anybody, but it beats the alternative.
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