Don't Want To Deal With Press? Play on a Sandlot!

Marshawn Lynch's non-comments at the Superbowl and Kevin Durant's interaction with the press at the NBA All Star Game demonstrate a lack of understanding of the critical role that journalists play in the health of professional sports. If an athlete does not want to graciously interact with the public and press and resents the necessity of doing so, I suggest to them an alternative. Go play your sport in a sandlot or a local gym. No one can criticize an athlete in that forum or will be interested in covering it. No one will ask for an autograph. No one will care about public conduct. However, you will not be paid incredible amounts of money to play, there will be no endorsement market, and you will play in front of no crowds.