Day 34 - Interview with "The Hoodie"

One of the main things that politicians, celebrities and sports coaches are doing these days is being careful with what they say in interviews.  Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer is exactly like this as are political figures like Hillary Clinton.  They are strategic with their comments.  With all the social media that is available, these special brand of folks do not want things out there that are negative or missteps that could come back to haunt them.  Unless of course you're the Kardashians in which case all press is good press.  With everyone except the Kardashians and Donald Trump, the information you are looking for is sometimes in the questions and the members of the press are just looking for confirmation or a sound byte!

The most negative of all interviewees is Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots.  His goal is to be surly and miserable and to not give his opponents any information, or the public for that matter.  Bill, as he likes to be called by his veteran players, is also known as "The Hoodie."  Gone are the days of when Tom Landry and coaches of his era wore suits on the sidelines.  It's now dressed down or NFL logo sportswear. Belichick is often portrayed as the Emperor in Star Wars in parodies of his demeanor. Bill wears a hoodie, almost always.

Bill Belichick and his shining demeanor at a press conference:

My brother Phil used to be a newspaper guy.  For today's posting let's assume that Phil is a news guy ("NG") once again and I am "The Hoodie."  An interview with Phil (NG) and me (Hoodie) regarding today's run it would go something like this:

NG: "Hoodie, thanks for joining us today to discuss your 16 mile run this morning from the Mustill Store in Akron to and over Sand Run Trail and back."

Hoodie: "Ya, sure."

NG: "You got out before seven o'clock this morning and there was nobody in the parking lot or to be seen anywhere.  We're you nervous as to whether you were going to make the distance today or not?"

Hoodie: "No."

NG: "Early on you seemed to be moving rather well past the construction that is taking place on the trail and is preventing the Akron Marathon from using the trail on the course this year.  Did the site of these infrastructure improvements affect your Zen like state at all?"

Hoodie: "It is what it is."

NG: "What do you think of the folks who run the Akron Marathon and how they are dealing with the course changes for 2015?"

Hoodie: "They are pretty smart people.  They're professional and they know exactly what they are doing. They can be on my team anytime."

NG: "At or just a little beyond two miles in the Big Bend area you made your first restroom stop and there was no toilet paper on any of the four rolls.  Did this upset you?"

Hoodie: "It wasn't a factor in today's run."

NG: "But after seeing this, what would you say to a park ranger if you saw him or her this morning?"

Hoodie: "Do your job."

NG: "You ran into and saw a bunch of people you know this morning on Sand Run Trail who were either running or walking,  Some of the names that come to mind are Sheila Avsec and her Towpath Turtles group, Terry Fox, George Beckham, Judi Shapiro, Bob Danylchak and his running partner Amy, Diane Perriello, Jim and Maura Bozzelli, and some guy who you have known for years but neither of you know each other's name."

Hoodie: "Is there a question in there somewhere?"

NG: "What do you think of their efforts this morning?"

Hoodie: "You'll have to ask them.  Look, each of these folks are very special and talented runners and walkers. To the best of my knowledge, they give 100%.  Each are legends on the Sand Run Trail. It's always great to see each of these athletes. I have to worry about getting ready for the Columbus Marathon."

NG: "It seems like you stopped to talk with a couple of them including Judi Shapiro.  Isn't Judi the one when the doctor told you in 1995 with your torn Achilles that you'd never run again, said that you should not let the doctor's reality be your reality?"

Hoodie: "Yes, that's my recollection.  She's an avid walker and very smart lady."

NG: "You have a seventeen mile training run next week in Vermilion, Ohio. You seemed to walk quite a bit in the last two miles. Why?"

Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."

NG: "But aren't you going to celebrate today?"

Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."

NG: "It's different along the lake.  The terrain while it has some roll to it is relatively flat in the Vermilion area.  You'll be trading visions of the Cuyahoga Valley and trail for mostly farm country with some lake views as well. How will the change affect you?"

Hoodie: "Doesn't matter.  It's on the schedule and you run where the schedule takes you. It's on to Vermilion.

NG: "Are you're legs sore right now?"

Hoodie: "It's on to Vermilion."

NG: "Well, thanks for your time. And good luck next week."

Hoodie: "Ya, sure. Is that it? Bye."

WOW! This is so not me.  I'm this guy below at the Santa Hustle, eating M&Ms at the aid station, only I'm 18 pounds lighter now than in this picture. However there is one thing Hoodie is right about.  It's on to Vermilion.