City of Basketball Love

Sean Kramer (@Skramerwrites)
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Phil Martelli gave me what I deserved, and it was an absolute honor.

I barely got five words out on my post-game question to him when he interjected to quip on my lounging position.

With hordes of empty seats in the spacious interview room, and it being late with Saint Joseph’s and Cincinnati being the last game of the day, I sprawled my legs out on top of the chair in front of me and spread my arms out across the chairs next to me.

It’s basically habitual for me, so I hardly noticed I was even doing it when Martelli made his first quip.

“You alright?”

With his deep east coast accent, I actually thought for a split second he was saying “You were right,” which made me incredibly confused.

Then he went on, and I quickly realized I was being grilled.

“You need like a cushion or anything? I've never been in a press conference where the guy has his feet up on the chair in front of him.”

By then, reporters around me were cracking up. But I’ve talked to Martelli before, from covering the Hawks against Gonzaga the year prior and talking to him the previous day.

“I’m just naturally comfortable,” I very weakly responded.

“This is like the West Coast,” he continued, his grin getting wider and wider. “We're liking it. I'm cool.”

By this point, I knew he was just razzing me. So I played along.

“Welcome to the Pacific Northwest,” I said. I’m an obnoxiously proud Seattle-ite, so I love it when people enjoy our underrated corner of the country.

“Thank you, thank you. Appreciate that,” he said before pausing a little bit.

I was a split-second away from getting my question started before he added another question that nearly made me totally lose my composure, because everyone else around me was.

“Do they sell marijuana in this town?”

Don’t ask me how I came up with my response, I can assure you I am not this naturally funny. Maybe--much like he does with his players--Martelli just inspires the best out of me: “Yes, actually. You might want to keep your team in the hotel.”

When he started cracking up, I knew he was just having a good time. But I threw my feet down on the floor, leaned forward and asked about how DeAndre’ Bembry balled out in the second half despite scoring only three points.

Covering the NCAA Tournament is cool enough, but being grilled by one of the most respected sports figures in Philadelphia? That’s an absolute honor.

Next time, I’ll have my hands on my lap and my posture upright.

Thanks for the tip, coach.  

~~~

(Ed. Note: Of course, there's video of the exchange. Check it out here)