A young reporter from Sports Illustrated Kids asked Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla a question about having fun. His answer got people talking.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
If you’ve ever spent any time around children, you know they are typically full of questions, which means they make great sports reporters.
(SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE)
DONOVAN O’DOWD: Coach, who is the best listener on the team?
REESE JACKSON: So what do you do for a living?
CALLIE CARUSO: I have a joke for you. Why did the hockey rink get hot after the game?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: I don’t know.
CARUSO: Because all the fans left.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Those were youth reporters Donovan O’Dowd, with the Chicago Blackhawks, Reese Jackson, with the New Orleans Pelicans, and Callie Caruso, with the Columbus Blue Jackets. And coaches usually have relaxed answers.
DETROW: But when Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was recently asked a question from one intrepid reporter, Rusty Smith of Sports Illustrated Kids…
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
RUSTY SMITH: It’s Kids Day here at the Garden. How do you balance pushing players to improve while also keeping the game fun for them?
SUMMERS: Mazzulla’s answer didn’t make light of the question. It was like Smith had hit him right in the Achilles.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
JOE MAZZULLA: Yeah, I struggle with that to be honest with you.
DETROW: Mazzulla said it is hard to define fun for professional athletes. And then he finished with some advice for Smith.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MAZZULLA: But, you know, that phrase can be a cop out sometimes. So as you get older, kid, don’t use it, you know? It’s like, oh, I just want to have fun. It’s like, well, what does that mean, you know? So, you know, you just got to define that. It’s a good question.
SUMMERS: His response got people talking, with one headline reading, Mazzulla gives extremely blunt answer to Kids Day question. But for real fans of the coach, I mean, this was really classic Mazzulla. He’s known for really intense answers and odd quotable quips.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MAZZULLA: I mean, like, you just got to tap into your darkness.
DETROW: So for kids and reporters alike, keep asking questions. Even if you think you know the answers, you probably don’t.
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