Interview coach

To the editor:

Will somebody PLEASE get an interview tutor for the sports teams?

Is Henry Higgins available? KU needs the Kansas version of “My Fair Lady.” “Umm,” “I mean” and “ya know” only indicate that the speaker cannot think fast enough to put thoughts together.

These are intelligent young people, but that’s not how they sound.

This is not a black/white thing! These are young adults, attending a major university who should be able to speak properly and with authority. Where/how they grew up should not be an excuse. The interview with Collins, Taylor and Aldrich was painful to watch. Fellas, speak up, look the questioner in the eye, avoid clichés, enunciate and organize your thoughts before you speak. “But, they’re just kids,” some say. Nervous? Probably. After many Q&A sessions they should be able to handle butterflies much better.

What image of the KU athlete do we want shown on ESPN? Very few will be handed that NBA or NFL paycheck. They should possess the ability to navigate through a job interview like a pro.

Some positives: Stuckey, Reesing and Meier have done well on camera. Matt Kleinmann did a great job on Coach Self’s show during his senior year. Go back to Jacques Vaughn to see some good responses.

I’ve been on camera, done interviews and video. Many people helped me get better. Most of them don’t realize it. Someone needs to help these young men get better, not for us, but for themselves.