Tadhg Byrne: Take Two with Jameson O'Connor

[teknonym 61]

TAKE TWO

Getting an interview with Tadhg Byrne can be difficult. That’s what Jameson O’Connor found, anyway. It wasn’t surprising, not many people were fond of the media, much less the sports media. It was all lies and narratives, very little actual reporting.

 

When he landed the second interview, he was elated.

 

‘Welcome back, Tadhg. Are we on a first name basis yet?’

 

The young goaltender sniggered.

 

‘Sure, as long as I can call you Jimmy.’

 

The reporter narrowed his eyes with a soft nod. He didn’t know what game Tadhg Byrne was playing, but Jameson wanted to win it.

 

‘Sure, you can call me Jimmy, but let me ask some questions first. How are you feeling about America so far? I’m sure it’s far different from Eire.’

 

‘Indeed it is, Jimmy. American ice is smaller than in Europe, so all of the skaters are much closer to me and can take shots closer to me. It makes the game more fun for me, but it also increases the difficulty. I went from playing on normal in the EIHL to playing on hard in the VHLM. I can only assume it’s going to be expert in the VHL.’

 

Jameson took notes as Tadhg spoke and looked up from his notepad to glance at the young man. The younger looked cool as a cucumber under the spotlight.

 

‘I was referring to the culture shock, but I think that that answer is good as well. How is the culture in San Diego? You seem to have settled in if your performance is saying anything.’

 

There was a moment where Tadhg faltered, a pause that sat in the air uncomfortably. Clearly Tadhg was not ready to answer anything not explicitly hockey related. He was choosing his words carefully.

 

‘American culture is a big difference. Ireland is very straightforward, but the States are more roundabout in the way they work. It’s been… Challenging, we’ll call it. I refuse to let the strangeness of it all affect my play, that would make me a bad athlete, and I’m anything but that.’

 

Jameson O’Connor came closer to cracking the egg that is Tadhg Byrne’s brain that day, picking at it slowly and carefully so as not to break it open and ruin his chances at getting further interviews. Ireland was taking notice of their young star, and Jameson was intent on being the man to deliver the goods.