Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo blasts ABC for ‘horrific’ Bill Belichick interview
"There's so many things you've got to ask him, and they asked him nothing. Oh my God, that was bad."
Radio hall-of-famer turned ESPN First Take contributor Chris “Mad Dog” Russo called out ABC for its handling of a recent Bill Belichick interview.
Belichick was interviewed by Michael Strahan on Good Morning America and Russo called it “one of the most awkward” interviews he had ever seen.
Belichick recently made headlines for an interview with CBS Mornings, during which his girlfriend Jordon Hudson was seen insisting Belichick skip a question about how they met.
The Good Morning America interview was far less controversial. Russo said he thought the network let Belichick off the hook without having to answer tough questions.
“ABC gave carte blanche to Belichick,” Russo said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “Bill, we want you on, tell us what questions you want asked. That is horrific. 100 percent. ABC was horrific. Essentially, they sold their journalism chops to make sure Belichick as he was in the news was on the air.”
“That was a horrific job by a worthy news organization,” he continued. “And then they put Strahan in a tough spot, again, because he’s not Mike Wallace. He’s an ex-football player. No knock against Strahan, but that’s an impossible situation. One of his old coaching brethren, he’s not going to put him on the spot.”
Strahan mostly stuck to football and Belichick’s new book during the interview.
He briefly touched on some of the off-the-field stuff, mentioning the media jobs Belichick had last season and how Belichick’s relationship with Hudson has been in the news.
He asked Belichick what advice the version of himself that was coaching the Patriots would have the current version that is working at University of North Carolina now.
“For me, it’s all about learning,” Belichick said. “I learn every day and I’ve learned so much being back in the college environment whether that be recruiting, the college game, the rules, the hashmarks, some strategy, and just putting a team together. I’ve learned a lot, I learn every day. I’ve got a great staff.”
Strahan asked two questions about Hudson, including asking Belichick what he thinks of the attention their relationship is getting.
“She’s been through the whole process and she’s been very helpful to me,” Belichick said. “She does the business things that don’t relate to North Carolina that come up in my life, so I can concentrate on football and that’s really what I want to do.”
Strahan also asked Belichick what Hudson meant to him. Belichick said they have a good personal relationship before adding that he wouldn’t talk further about the relationship.
The questions left something to be desired, Russo said.
“If you’re going to have Belichick on the air in that situation, you’ve got to ask him about Malcolm Butler,” Russo said. “You’ve got to ask him about not (acknowledging) Bob Kraft in your book. You’ve got to ask him how it ended with New England. You’ve got to ask him why he didn’t get the Atlanta job two years ago.”
“There’s so many things you’ve got to ask him, and they asked him nothing. Oh my God, that was bad. That was a strange one, the other day.”
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