Jalen Hurts Weathers The Storm

I was thinking about the element of sport communication when it comes to press conferences for players and coaches. Everything they say is magnified and put under a microscope. It takes a concerted effort to make sure that each answer cannot be misconstrued or create drama or controversy. Some players and coaches are really good at managing the questions from reporters, even in very tense or hostile situations.

On the radio, a show host mentioned a point that I found to be very interesting. He mentioned that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has NEVER added fuel to the fire in such a high-drama football city.  He is ALWAYS cool, calm, and collected. He understands his role in being a leader, weathering the storm, and tuning out the outside noise. In such a volatile environment, it is very impressive for a player to be so well-spoken, calculated, and composed to be able to keep the focus on the main thing: getting better and winning games.

We have discussed sport fan cultures previously in our class. Particularly, we have looked at the Cleveland Browns fanbase. It can be argued that the Browns have the most passionate fanbase in the league. However, I would argue that the Eagles are right up there with the Browns for the most passionate. If Hurts was not able to navigate the storm that comes with media coverage and an overly vocal fanbase in Philadelphia, I am not so sure of the team could sustain the success that they have had over the last five years. Sometimes, it's the little things that go unnoticed that make a huge difference!