The New York Yankees are using the difference between how Russell Wilson and Cam Newton handled postgame press conferences after Super Bowl losses in their media training.
According to ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, the Yankees want their players to be graceful in a loss like Wilson instead of emotional like Newton.
“During the Yankees’ media training, the Super Bowl is being used to portray the right and wrong way to act. Part of a video shown to pitchers and catchers compares how Cam Newton handled his Super Bowl loss to the way Russell Wilson dealt with his defeat the previous year.”
Being a professional athlete comes with media responsibilities, and handling those duties cordially is highly encouraged so teams can avoid negative public perceptions.
Plus, the Major League Baseball season lasts 162 games and including spring training spans eight months. Forget “unprofessional” attitudes, reacting like Newton to every loss would be emotionally exhausting.
Wilson gave a thoughtful interview, successfully hiding his disappointment — which Newton wore on his sleeve, something that apparently is the biggest problem in the world.
Granted, a shortcoming in May for an MLB team certainly isn’t as devastating in the moment as a Super Bowl loss. Throughout the regular season, baseball players should be taking the Wilson route for their own sanity.
Most, if not all, will continue that once the postseason arrives. If anyone repeats Newton’s press conference, though, people will once again pretend like they’re mad at a sports entertainer for taking the loss seriously and letting it linger when cameras are present.
Is that the smart choice? Nope. Is it the commendable option? Negative. Is that a good reflection on the team? No sir.
But you know what? It wouldn’t be the end of the world.