Where is Ali Bacher when you need him?
The former South African cricket boss would not have let someone like tennis star Naomi Osaka get away with a media snub.
Osaka, the world’s number two women’s player, shocked the sporting world by stating that she won’t fulfil the mandatory media duties at the French Open that started on Sunday.
Bacher was the cricket boss long before the time of communications officers, organised press conferences and social media.
He always made sure South Africa’s top cricket players were available to speak to the media – and he was quick to intervene when this was not the case.
In his playing days, star batsman, Daryll Cullinan, had a strange relationship with the media. Sometimes he was good value to speak to, but more often than not he had some problem with certain members of the media.
It was on a tour in New Zealand in 1995 when he refused to speak to the media because he felt that he had been unfairly attacked in an article by a writer who wasn’t even part of the media contingent anymore.
Word about this got to Bacher and later that evening the media was invited to Bacher’s hotel suite.
When we got there, guess who was sitting in the corner like a naughty schoolboy? Yes, our friend Daryll. Bacher declared that Daryll would answer any questions and of course we let him have it!
Maybe Bacher should explain to Osaka the value and the importance of being accessible to the media when you are a sports star.
Osaka got it totally wrong. She has a responsibility to the public, sponsors, tournament organisers, fans and her sport, to speak to the media. This is the opportunity sports stars get to share their perspective and tell their side of the story.
Osaka cited “mental health issues” as the reason for her media boycott. She feels “they are kicking a person who is down” with the questions at the conferences.
One has sympathy with mental health issues but that is not going to be addressed by a boycott. It seems as if Osaka wants to be an activist for mental health issues and one can’t find fault with that. There are different routes to follow though.
If she thought she would get a lot of support from fellow top players, Osaka missed the ball by a long way.
Top men players, Rafael Nadal and Danill Medvedev, have no problem with their media engagements.
Nadal explained they wouldn’t have enjoyed the recognition they are getting now if it was not for the media. In other words, they would be making far less money. The number one women’s player, Ashleigh Barty, sees the conferences as “part of the job”.
With her decision, and by the way Osaka has always been good with the media, she put herself under even more pressure as this is the big talking point at the tournament.
Remember the reaction of SuperSport presenter, Motshidisi Mohono, when Ashwin Willemse decided to leave the set during a live broadcast?
“Well, that’s unfortunate,” she said – the same sentiments I share about Osaka’s decision.
