More athletes should have good public speaking training
Athletes should be the first ones to get public speaking training.
Most times you are not giving speeches. But you are going to giving a ton of interviews. Before, during, and after the game. Also, all of those one-on-one interviews you see on ESPN. You have to sit and answer questions (funny, serious, and not-so-serious)
I thought about this when I was watching the NFL Combine on the NFL Network. When the athletes like Florida’s Tim Tebow and Texas’ Gerald McCoy spoke to a panel of commentators on live television. They also had to interview with selected teams. One of the teams asked McCoy if he wears a G-String or a Jock strap during the game.
His answer was utter shock, in a funny way. Public speaking training, at least the good ones, allow a speaker to be themselves while getting their message across.
Olympic athlete Lauryn Williams talked about the need to get better as a speaker:
Speaking has been the little demon in my closet for my whole
career and despite me pumping myself up because I wanted to do well,
Monday was no different. I was to give a 2-3 minute talk accepting my
award and explaining what inspires me to give. Sounds easy enough
right???? WRONG!!! As if my nerves weren’t bad enough, when two of the
four athletes present got up and gave excellent speeches I began to
obsess because I didn’t know what I could say that was going to be as
appealing to the crowd and I was the only female. I certainly couldn’t
be outdone by 3 guys!! It was between Nnamdi Asomugha and myself as
to who was next and both joked about how quick we would be because we
were making up something right at that moment. Little did I know this
was a setup! My name was called before his so I get up and deliver
something quick and straight to the point. Nnamdi on the other hand
decides give the best speech of all. I had been outdone by all three
guys what a shame! Thank God though Nancy swooped in and saved the
day on behalf of all women as it seems she has been doing her whole
life.
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