TAMPA, Fla. — Monday is “Super Bowl Opening Night,” when reporters ask questions to players and coaches, and fans listen live to the answers.
This year, in a nod to the coronavirus pandemic, sessions will be held virtually.
In simpler times, this event was called Media Day, where players and coaches would be stationed at podiums on Tuesday of Super Bowl week and reporters would crowd around to ask questions. Kind of a locker room atmosphere, but without the aroma.
In 2016, Media Days were moved from Tuesdays to Mondays, and the NFL debuted “Opening Night,” according to Forbes.
For every thoughtful question from a reporter, there were at least as many off-the-wall queries.
The questions that will be tossed at members of the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers probably will not have the zaniness -- or in some cases, stupidity -- that have been part of previous Media Day sessions.
So, here are some memorable questions from the past. You have a weekend to prepare for Monday’s event.
1. ”Doug, it’s obvious you’ve always been a Black quarterback all your life. When did it start to matter?”
It’s a famous – or infamous – question that was posed to Washington quarterback Doug Williams, who was making history in Super Bowl XXII as the first Black quarterback to start the game.
For years, the question has been held up as quintessentially dumb. But according to ESPN, the question was asked in jest. Butch John, a reporter for the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi, apparently was getting tired of the “what’s it like to be a Black quarterback” questions, so he put his own spin on it.
Unfortunately, Williams did not hear the question correctly and said, “What? How long have I been a black quarterback?”
Reporters laughed at the time, ESPN reported. But then the quote was printed, and it has grown in legendary proportions ever since. Williams, who played for the Buccaneers at the beginning of his pro career, would go on to win Super Bowl MVP honors, leading Washington to a 42-10 victory that included a 35-point outburst in the second quarter.
Until his death in 2014, John insisted he had asked a legitimate question. It was the answer that made it infamous.
2. “I want to make sure I have this right. Was it deaf mother, blind father or blind mother, deaf father?”
Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett was asked that question at Super Bowl XV after he talked about growing up in a special needs home.
Plunkett’s father was legally blind, and his mother was totally unable to see. Neither was deaf.
“My father was legally blind from birth, but he could get around. He could see a little bit. He wore very thick glasses,” Plunkett told The New York Times in March 1981, two months after winning MVP honors for leading the Raiders to a 27-10 victory. “My mother had her vision until she was about 20, but then she had an illness, scarlet fever I think it was. After that, she was totally blind. They met at a school for the blind in San Jose where my mother was learning Braille.”
3. “Do you believe in voodoo, and can I have a lock of your hair?
Kurt Warner’s story was classic rags to riches. He had risen from a grocery store clerk to lead the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl during the 1999 season with an offense known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Perhaps asking a question from a magic angle was meant to be funny during Media Day for Super Bowl XXXIV, but seeking a lock of Warner’s hair was, well, weird.
Warner’s answer was succinct: “No.”
4. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how ticklish are you?”
This question was posed to Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta at Super Bowl XLVII. After considering the question, Pitta answered, “I’m probably a five or six. You know, moderately ticklish. Good question.”
Pitta was either being kind or sarcastic.
5. “So why do they call you Boomer?
Nice question if the reporter had been asking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Norman “Boomer” Esiason. However, the question was directed at Super Bowl XXIII’s other quarterback, San Francisco’s Joe Montana. In typical fashion, Montana brushed off the question, solidifying his persona as “Joe Cool.”
6. “What’s your relationship with the football?”
Asked of Tennessee Titans Tennessee defensive tackle Joe Salave’a the week of Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
“I’d say it’s strictly platonic,” Salavae’a said.
7. ”What are you going to wear in the game Sunday?”
This was asked in jest to Dallas Cowboys’ running back Emmitt Smith by MTV’s “Downtown” Julie Brown, who clearly was fooling around during media day. Presumably, Smith would be wearing his game uniform for Super Bowl XXVII. He rushed for 108 yards and 22 carries in the Cowboys’ 52-17 victory against the Buffalo Bills. With those stats, Smith could have worn anything.
8. “Do you believe you can win?”
Buffalo Bills defender Cornelius Bennett was blunt in his response during media day for Super Bowl XXVIII.
“What kind of question is that? What kind of question is that? What kind of question is that? That’s a (expletive) stupid question,” Bennett said. “I’m pissed you asked me that question. I didn’t come anywhere to lose.”
The Bills did lose, 30-13, to the Dallas Cowboys. It was Buffalo’s fourth straight loss in the Super Bowl.
Honorable mention: It seems that Buffalo players got off the best retorts to questions. Getting tired of being asked about losing the big game will do that to you.
Bills running back Thurman Thomas was asked before Super Bowl XXVIII how he got psyched up for big games. Thomas answered that he “reads the newspapers and looks at the stupid questions you all ask.”
Good answer. Monday beckons.