Are sporting personalities becoming more "media-shy" these days?

[bonarae]

In tennis, whenever a player refuses to be made available to media, he or she is fined and in some cases, even has greater consequences.

See an example from a Generation Z player.

https://www.cbssports.com/tennis/news/naomi-osaka-fined-15000-for-not-speaking-to-the-media-at-french-open-warned-of-default-from-tournament/

Is this already seen as a trend in American sports, too? For how long has it persisted?

[JayJ79]

I'm assuming that before participating in these events, the athletes sign a contract, and that part of the contract covers mandatory press conference obligations.
If you're not willing to fulfill those obligations, you should address the issue BEFORE signing the contract (perhaps try to negotiate an exemption or something).

[JSUSoutherner]

I don't think it's any more common now that it's ever been. Last big instance I can think of was Marshawn Lynch during the Super Bowl and that was, what? 7 years ago now?

Dennis Rodman kicked a cameraman in the jewels and Jim McMahon mooned a news helicopter so media disdain obviously isn't a new trait. I would say the perception that's it's occurring more often now is moreso a combination of the fact that we now have more media coverage of everything than at any point in history by an exponential amount and recency bias.

[POD Knows]

The subject of this thread withdrew from the tourney citing mental illness.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9637725/Naomi-Osaka-WITHDRAWS-French-Open-media-boycott-world-No-2-opens-depression.html

Also, she references the 2018 US Open as the Genesis of this, anybody remember what happened then.

[JSUSoutherner]

The subject of this thread withdrew from the tourney citing mental illness.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9637725/Naomi-Osaka-WITHDRAWS-French-Open-media-boycott-world-No-2-opens-depression.html

Also, she references the 2018 US Open as the Genesis of this, anybody remember what happened then.

She beat Serena Williams to win the 2018 Open. Basically catapulted her into the spotlight in women's tennis and into the media spotlight. Apparently the media gives her severe anxiety. Can't say I can fault her for that.

[POD Knows]

She beat Serena Williams to win the 2018 Open. Basically catapulted her into the spotlight in women's tennis and into the media spotlight. Apparently the media gives her severe anxiety. Can't say I can fault her for that.
No she didn’t beat Serena. Serena was a victim of yada yada yada and the match was stolen from her because of yada yada yada. Did all of the BS that Williams did in the match and the subsequent media meltdown over yada yada yada trigger this in Osaka. It was probably there before and that had to compound it given the fact that she referenced it specifically.

[JayJ79]

No she didn’t beat Serena. Serena was a victim of yada yada yada and the match was stolen from her because of yada yada yada. Did all of the BS that Williams did in the match and the subsequent media meltdown over yada yada yada trigger this in Osaka. It was probably there before and that had to compound it given the fact that she referenced it specifically.
I don't think that anyone knowledgeable in the situation is saying that the 2018 Open is the sole cause of her anxiety/depression/mental illness. But there is a good chance that 2018 may have been the first time that she received major media attention, and that attention is what triggered her anxiety/etc. to a more severe level than she may have previously experienced.

That being said, media press conferences are part of the "job" for tennis players participating in Grand Slam events these days. If someone can't deal with that aspect of it, then perhaps playing in Grand Slam events isn't something they should be doing (unless they can make some sort of arrangement with the organizers ahead of time to be exempt from that requirement). I mean if someone said that playing in front of crowds gave them anxiety, does that mean that they shouldn't allow spectators for that player's matches in the Grand Slam event? No.

[POD Knows]

I don't think that anyone knowledgeable in the situation is saying that the 2018 Open is the sole cause of her anxiety/depression/mental illness. But there is a good chance that 2018 may have been the first time that she received major media attention, and that attention is what triggered her anxiety/etc. to a more severe level than she may have previously experienced.

That being said, media press conferences are part of the "job" for tennis players participating in Grand Slam events these days. If someone can't deal with that aspect of it, then perhaps playing in Grand Slam events isn't something they should be doing (unless they can make some sort of arrangement with the organizers ahead of time to be exempt from that requirement). I mean if someone said that playing in front of crowds gave them anxiety, does that mean that they shouldn't allow spectators for that player's matches in the Grand Slam event? No.
Yea, I am not saying she should be a pass on this, I just thought it was interesting that she specifically cited that US Open.

[JayJ79]

Yea, I am not saying she should be a pass on this, I just thought it was interesting that she specifically cited that US Open.
I don't really follow tennis that closely, but that may have been her first success at a Grand Slam event. If I remember the article correctly, it said she had been suffering SINCE that event, not that that was the only event that triggered the same effects. I that was the first high profile event where she drew media/public attention, that would make sense that she mentioned it in that regard.

[POD Knows]

I don't really follow tennis that closely, but that may have been her first success at a Grand Slam event. If I remember the article correctly, it said she had been suffering SINCE that event, not that that was the only event that triggered the same effects. I that was the first high profile event where she drew media/public attention, that would make sense that she mentioned it in that regard.Yea, maybe, I watched the match and the awards presentation, you could tell she was struggling with it primarily because of what an asshat Williams was and the awards presentation was off the charts bad.

[OhioHen]

Another player done in by the media availability requirements.

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/31547121/petra-kvitova-withdraws-french-open-injured-ankle-fall-media-availability