Tough Questions

Paco has chimed in with a good comment about asking tough questions, and I’d like to get into this a little bit.

It is a great point; please also consider the venue and conditions for each interview. Sundays are the worst to ask follow-ups and probe for in-depth examinations of issues because it's a teleconference with an open phone line, and it is sometimes difficult to try to talk over one another, and then you have background noise. At times in the past, you could hear a baby crying in the background. Yesterday, someone had speaker phone on and there was an echo.

Tuesdays are okay, but it's a press conference and sometimes Ralph doesn't open up much with all the television cameras there and some reporters who show once a week. Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best because it's more like an intimate conversation that the local 4-5 beat writers have with Ralph in his office. That's when we can get into some real issues, there can be some back and forth, a rapport, even humor at times and more candid responses.

In my view, it's not just about asking tough questions. It is about getting insightful answers on key points. In order to do that, I always try to cultivate relationships so when you ask the tough questions, you get the best answers, which is what matters most.

I managed to ask only two questions on yesterday's teleconference, but I felt they were important ones: Would Steffy had remained in the game had he not gotten hurt? And if Steffy is healthy, is he the starter next Saturday?

I got interesting answers. I have three questions I want to ask Ralph. I may do it Tuesday, but I will probably get better answers Wednesday. If anyone has any other questions I should ask Ralph, please let me know and I will try sometime this week. Thanks.