Most head coaches have perfected the art of dodging reporters' inquiries. One young journalist, however, refused to let Kentucky Coach John Calipari off the hook.
A Sports Illustrated Kids correspondent asked Calipari after Tuesday night's victory over Michigan State how Malik Monk (Bentonville) compares to other Wildcats freshmen. Rather than responding, Calipari asked for his opinion on how the guard stacks up against the likes of John Wall, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, among others.
The young scribe went on to say Monk is better than Wall and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but he admitted Monk had not yet reached the heights of Davis and Cousins.
After playing along, the reporter turned the tables back on Calipari by reiterating his original question.
Realizing the persistent reporter would not relent, the coach answered by praising Monk's athleticism and expressing his efforts to slow the newcomer's mind down so he can see the game better.
Another young'un
Attention golfers: If a 9-year-old named Billy ever asks you for an interview while you're playing an event on the European Tour, be prepared to answer some tough questions.
All the evidence could be found this week when a precocious young reporter sat down with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and grilled him about his relationships with Donald Trump and his ex-fiancee, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, whom he broke up with in 2014.
The latter subject proved the most awkward for McIlroy, who is attempting to defend his title at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Young Billy asked, "I know Andy Murray's a good mate of yours, but who's your favorite girl tennis player?"
After a few moments of squirming in his seat, McIlroy decided upon a very diplomatic response: "Honestly, Billy, I've stopped following women's tennis for the last couple of years."
"Maybe a good call," Billy replied, without skipping a beat.
There was one last zinger Billy had in store for McIlroy -- a wedding present ahead of his upcoming nuptials to Erica Stoll.
"You should probably open it now," said Billy, handing over a white box full of socks.
"What's all this about?" McIlroy made the mistake of asking.
"Just in case you get cold feet again."
Billy has plans to interview Tiger Woods next.
"I'd love to see you interview Tiger," McIlroy said.
"If I meet him, what should I ask him for?" Billy innocently asked before adding. "Career advice or chat-up lines?"
Lefty and Bones
Phil Mickelson and his caddie, Jim "Bones" Mackay, have stuck together for more than 20 years. So it makes sense that they'd accidentally wind up in surgery on the same day.
Both Mickelson and Mackay were in operating rooms Oct. 19, although the double-booking was entirely coincidental, reports Golf Digest. Mickelson was getting a sports hernia fixed, while his caddie was undergoing double knee replacement surgery.
"The next day we were texting back and forth," Mackay said.
Mackay hopes to return to Mickelson's bag at Mickelson's first start of 2017, the CareerBuilder Challenge, in Palm Springs, Calif., beginning Jan. 19.
Sports on 11/19/2016