Deion Sanders explains his stance on perceived negativity from reporters

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has made a lot of positive headlines in his time in college football. He has also made some negative headlines, sometimes based on his response to reporters’ questions that he perceives as negative.

After his decision to no more questions to answer by Sean Keeler of the Denver Postwhich appeared chronologically after Keeler wrote a column questioning Deion’s position refusal to answer questions from anyone in any way connected to CBS (national, local, digital, etc.) Due to perceived insults or whatever by someone under the broader CBS umbrella, Sanders was asked at a press conference on Saturday about his plan to deal with questions he perceives as negative in the future.

A reporter said, “If I ask a negative question, will you not answer it anymore?”

“That is negative now,” Sanders said. “Like, you take an approach that I’m going to be negative. I’m not negative to anybody here. I would challenge you and ask you, ‘Why?’ or ‘Where did this come from?’ So I’m not built that way. I’m not built to hate. I’m not a hateful man, I’m not a — I come with love. I think if anybody has had encounters with me here, I don’t come with the bullshit, I come with the peace and the joy. Now, if you show me where you stand, I might have to change that a little bit. So I’m not going to emulate your ignorance or whatever — I’m not saying you’re ignorant, but a person, I’m not going to emulate that.”

Yet, stopping a press conference to ask the “why” in real time (as Sanders did to Keeler at the same press conference where Sanders refused to answer a question from the local CBS affiliate because of something someone at CBS wrote or said) is just another way to respond negatively to perceived negative questions and/or to those asking them. Why not just answer the question in a positive way and discuss it privately with the person who asked the question?

The problem seems to be that Deion has two boxes into which he places those who ask positive questions and those who ask negative questions — those who are with him, and those who are not. For Deion, a difficult question shows him “where you stand” and makes him inclined to “not compete with your ignorance.”

That’s telling. It confirms that Deion wants his press conferences to be populated by people who have his back. And that he will reward them by answering their questions and not assuming they are ignorant.

Sanders was also asked if he feels “persecuted” at the moment.

“I don’t know if I’m being persecuted,” he said. “This is a way of life for me. You guys act like this is the first time I’ve been shot at. I’ve been lied to, cheated on, talked to, abused. That’s a gospel song, right? This isn’t the first time. But as I get older, instead of shooting back or lashing out or just rejecting you, I want to know why. Let’s help each other. Let’s find out why. Because when you understand the why of people, it helps you so much.”

Regardless of how long he’s been “fired upon” by critics or haters or whoever, this is the first time Deion has the ability to control his interactions with them beyond simply blocking them on Twitter. That’s essentially what he’s doing with his press conferences. He’s hitting the block button. On CBS. On Keeler. On everyone who isn’t with him.

He said he wants to understand the “why.” But what does he do to actually do that? And will he really try to understand the “why” — and what will he do if he doesn’t like what he hears?

Different people have different opinions, about everyone and everything. Some people like a coach, a player, etc. Others don’t. Anyone who gets distracted by criticism gets distracted from the task at hand. And anyone who completely ignores criticism may miss an opportunity to develop and grow. Because sometimes critics aren’t just channeling their “hate”; sometimes they’re making a good point.

Deion should be bigger than this pettiness he displays toward those who dare to ask him real, pointed questions about his program. Instead of cutting off or challenging those who disagree with him, he should be trying to win them over. To see things their way and convince them to change their minds. And not force them to bow down or cry for uncle.

Unless he really isn’t interested in finding out the “why” but in reducing the press to a group of reporters who will respond to everything he says and does with “wow.”