Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.
NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire found this out the hard way when he interviewed Penguins right winger Phil Kessel Wednesday night.
Asking a hockey player about his level of conditioning is not a stupid question in a vacuum. Depending on the circumstances, it can even lead to an enlightening response. However, phrasing is everything. Asking someone, “How’s your breath?” is almost assuredly going to elicit a response regarding the quality of their breath, not the level of their fitness.
Still, in this case a weird question led to an entertaining exchange nonetheless. Kessel’s immediate, matter-of-fact response is priceless. Here is a man who knows he might have bad breath from time to time and is not ashamed to admit it. We could all stand to be a little more like Phil Kessel, really. Good things usually come from taking your work more seriously than yourself.
[Grady S]
About Ben Sieck
Ben is a recent graduate of Butler University where he served as Managing Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Butler Collegian. He currently resides in Indianapolis.