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Leagues and Governing Bodies

NFL's Goodell Widely Panned For Performance At Press Conference Over Recent Scandals

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "did little to assure the masses Friday of his leadership" amid the league's domestic violence crisis "when he broke his 10-day public silence and held an uninspired news conference that left too many key questions unanswered," according to Jarrett Bell of USATODAY.com (9/20). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote Goodell "did little at his news conference on Friday to help his battered image or soothe the doubters who believe he bungled and/or covered up the Ray Rice investigation and suspension" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/21). NBC's Peter Alexander said Goodell "offered plenty of promises, but really very few details." Alexander: "This was heavily scripted damage control, but it didn't satisfy many of his critics" ("Today," NBC, 9/20). YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Adelson wrote Goodell on Friday "appeared more and more like a lawyer and less and less like a leader," as he "failed to answer pointed questions in a transparent way" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/19). In Chicago, David Haugh wrote it "might have been naive to expect Goodell to lay out too many details or get overly specific about his past mistakes," but everybody who "either attended or watched Goodell’s news conference hoping to see leadership, well, they’re still looking" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/20). In L.A., Bill Plaschke wrote when Goodell "stepped to the podium, he was fighting a reputation of arrogance." When he "stepped down, he had confirmed that reputation while adding cluelessness and helplessness" (L.A. TIMES, 9/20). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur wrote it was the "performance of a man who believes the brand he represents can override anything, simply because it always has" (TORONTO STAR, 9/20).

PLENTY OF EVASIVE ANSWERS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay wrote after nearly an hour of "dutiful speechifying and deflection, it was uncertain what the commissioner was after, or accomplished." It "felt that way in the ballroom of the midtown Manhattan Hilton, and judging from the blowback on social media, it felt that way on television" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/20). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote, "Any chance of earning PR points were extinguished by his corporate facade, evasiveness on tough questions, and a lack of specifics on a conduct policy makeover" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/20). In Boston, Christopher Gasper wrote Goodell "said a lot and didn’t say anything at the same time." He "offered the press conference equivalent of empty calories and a steady diet of non-answers and excuses" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/20). USA Today's Nancy Armour said, "There was really nothing of substance. He had been incommunicado for 10 days and I think most people were expecting him to come out with something very substantive" ("Today," NBC, 9/20). NFL Network's Judy Battista: "It left a whole lot of people very unsatisfied that he couldn't provide any details and any firm answers" ("NFL GameDay Morning," NFL Network, 9/21). ESPN.com's Jim Trotter wrote as news conferences "go, this one was a disaster." Trotter: "We didn't need to hear what Goodell plans to do. We needed to hear what he has done. His words mean nothing at this point, because his credibility is at an all-time low" (ESPN.com, 9/19). In L.A., Farmer & Fenno wrote Goodell "seemed chastened and, at the same time, defiant." He "didn't look calm or comfortable or, really, like a man in his element" (L.A. TIMES, 9/20).

MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Fox' Troy Aikman said Friday was a "great opportunity for the commissioner to come out and be forthright and let everyone know what, in fact, he did know and why the investigation stopped when it did." But instead of "getting answers, I think everybody walked away from watching that press conference without any answers whatsoever" ("Fox NFL Kickoff," FS1, 9/21). Fox' Michael Strahan said, "There was nothing that was said that made you say, ‘I have a clearer picture of what happened'" ("Fox NFL Sunday," Fox, 9/21). CBS' Jim Rome said, "If that's what you were going to come out of hiding for after a week-and-a-half, you should have just stayed in your office" ("Rome," CBS Sports Network, 9/19). USA TODAY's Chris Strauss wrote after a "vague detailing of a number of steps the league plans to take ... Goodell seemed to absolutely expect that people would just take his word when he opened up the floor to questions" (USATODAY.com, 9/19). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote we "didn't get many answers" from Goodell on Friday. Canepa: "It's what I expected. This is the NFL. And it's tough for these people to admit they're not above the law or public scrutiny" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/20).

PERFORMANCE WOODEN, STIFF: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir wrote on Friday, Goodell's demeanor "was wooden, his new information thin." He "did not seem ready for all the questions even as he felt he had something to say to journalists who were clamoring for him to speak up." Goodell "seemed to feel that flaying himself verbally was a way to avoid questions" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/20). In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro wrote Goodell "didn’t have a good answer for much of anything, looking stiff and uncomfortable, answering these queries not from the heart, but from some pre-approved script of talking points in his mind." Goodell was "shucking and shuffling his way only occasionally to within spitting range of satisfactory response" (N.Y. POST, 9/20). SportsBusiness Journal's Daniel Kaplan said there is "no doubt people saw Goodell as stiff and uncooperative with his answers" ("CBS This Morning," 9/20). In Houston, Randy Harvey wrote for Goodell on Friday, the "only surprise was how little prepared he seemed to answer anything specifically" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/20). CBS' Bart Scott said, “He had nine days to prepare for this. Him being late tells me that he was scrambling in the back and trying to figure out what he was going to say. ... He looked timid. He didn't look like he was prepared” ("The NFL Today," CBS, 9/21).

NEEDED TO SHOW EMOTION
: In California, Jeff Miller wrote Goodell needed to be "human more than anything else," but instead he "was Roger Robot." Miller: "Goodell was defensive and elusive, deflecting direct questions with vague responses. He was entirely too programmed, the NFL begging us to be satisfied with a ride on its mechanical bully" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/20). The AP's Paul Newberry wrote if there was "ever a time for this robot of a man to show him human side, to step up and be a leader, it was now" (AP, 9/19). ESPN's Andrew Brandt said, "We wanted to see some personal vulnerability, more than just kind of a corporate facade and hiding behind the lawyers and hiding behind the Mueller investigation and hiding behind the Ray Rice appeal." Brandt: "We need a more human Roger Goodell. He's very corporate, very guarded" (ESPN, 9/19). FS1's Dave Wannstedt: "I would have like to see him personalize it maybe a little bit more. Take it a little bit more on himself of what he was going to do personally to make something positive happen in these areas” (“Fox NFL Kickoff,” FS1, 9/21).

TOUGH CROWD
: The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's David Haugh wrote Goodell’s credibility “took another hit” at a time when he “badly needed to regain” it (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/21). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote, “We saw just another guy in sports trying to talk his way out of trouble” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/20). In Chicago, Rick Telander wrote Goodell’s speech was “blather.” Telander: “Crap. Total garbage. We’ll do this, we’ll do that. We’re on full red alert about domestic violence” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/21). In DC, Mike Wise wrote Friday’s press conference “was the nadir for Goodell, who promised reform he could neither articulate nor sell for 45 useless minutes” (WASHINGTON POST, 9/21). SPORTSNET's Stephen Brunt: "He sounded like someone trying to baffle an audience with buzzwords and BS who was not early up to the task. ... Goodell seemed way over his head" (SPORTSNET.ca, 9/19). In Denver, Mike Klis wrote the news conference was an attempt by Goodell to “save his job,” and he “failed miserably” (DENVERPOST.com, 9/20). In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote, "He missed a big opportunity Friday to settle down the angry mob wanting him out" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/20). In DC, Des Bieler wrote Goodell’s days as NFL commissioner “are numbered.” The “scoffing reaction to his news conference Friday indicates that a tipping point has been reached, and it is very unlikely that NFL owners who previously have supported Goodell can see him as anything other than a liability now” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/20).

NOT GETTING THE POINT: CBSSPORTS.com’s Gregg Doyel wrote the press conference Friday “was Goodell's chance to show that he now has a firm grasp on the problem, and the solution, but he punted.” Doyel: “What this wasn't? Roger Goodell making like Adam Silver and nailing the moment” (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/19). In L.A., Bill Dwyre wrote Goodell’s speech was a “bland, robotic, clueless performance.” Goodell “doesn’t get it,” and if you “don’t get it, you can’t communicate it” (L.A. TIMES, 9/20). SI.com’s Michael Rosenberg wrote under the header, “Goodell Finally Speaks, But He Shows He Still Doesn’t Get It” (SI.com, 9/19).

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