Editor’s note: Most interviews between reporter and athlete go smoothly. But sometimes neither has his or her “A” game, and that can lead to slightly awkward/fully entertaining exchanges like this one between Hawks goaltender Corey Crawford and RedEye contributor Brian Hedger. You’ll get ’em next time, fellas.
Hedger: So, you have the annual “circus trip” coming up. What do you need to remember to take with you, pack etc.?
Crawford: I guess iPad. I don’t know.
Hedger: Well, what do you do on road trips anyway, with all that time away from home? Do you just hang out in your hotel between games?
Crawford: Nah, you know, we’ll go out to dinner or whatever. If it’s somewhere nice, then we’ll check it out [the city]. But if it’s somewhere not as nice, I don’t know, I guess we just … hang out.
[Both laugh.]Hedger: OK, so when you’re on the road for two weeks, what do you miss the most about home? Do you miss anything that stays here?
Crawford: No, I think, uh, ah … I’m having a tough time today. I’m just, I don’t know, I guess, uh …
Hedger: You don’t miss your own bed?
Crawford: Well, yeah, maybe that sometimes.
Hedger: Hotel beds get a little annoying, do they?
Crawford: Well, it depends which hotels. And I’m not going to name names.
Hedger: OK, then …
Crawford: This is going to be a hell of an article.
Hedger: You got any dogs, pets that you’d miss?
Crawford: Nope.
Hedger: Nothing? Do you have anything?
Crawford: I’ve got this mustache now.
Hedger: Yeah, but you take that with you. I’m starting to think your place has a couch, a fridge and a PlayStation and that’s about it.
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Crawford: Oh, no PlayStation.
Hedger: No? Not a gamer either huh? Not a “Mario Kart” guy?
Crawford: No.
Hedger: You ever play “Mario Kart” with these guys on the road?
Crawford: Yeah, I’ve played. I suck at it. I’ll play twice and then just be like, “OK, I’m tired of finishing last.”
Hedger: All right, then, well … basically, I got nothing out of this interview, Core. So congratulations on that.
Crawford: [Laughs.] Is it the interviewee or the interviewer?
Hedger: It could be a little of both. I’ll take my share of the blame, but I’m also putting some blame on your shoulders, man. I’ve been trying to put the ball on a tee for you. You keep swinging and missing …
Crawford: [Laughs.] Tough article to be in, to be honest. You’ve got to find something else, man.