I first heard about this ever-so-awkward interview between FOX reporter Danyelle Sargent and 49ers head coach Mike Singletary on Monday. Unfortunately by the time I had a chance to take a peek, it had already been pulled down from YouTube. The video was posted a second time and then taken down because of copyright violation. Alas, we have found yet another version (crossing fingers it doesn’t get taken down) … here’s the infamous Danyelle Sargent/Mike Singletary video in which Sargent asks what advice the deceased since 2007 Bill Walsh gave him before the game (transcribed below in case the video doesn’t work):
Here’s how the video went in case it’s gone when you go to check it out, coupled with Sargent’s explanation for the screw up:
Sargent: “I heard that your mentor Bill Walsh was one of the first phone calls that you made when you found out that you had the job. What does it mean to you to be the head coach of the 49ers?”
[Singletary gives an awkward stare followed by silence]
[Producers tell Sargent she screwed up in her earpiece]
Sargent to Singletary: “I’m sorry, oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
[Sargent asks her producers what was wrong with the interview]
“What did I … what was wrong?”
It’s that last part of the video — where she asks her producers what was wrong — that makes me believe she was totally clueless (regardless of what her excuse is). I’ve screwed up plenty of times on-air and I know the difference between a lack of knowledge and a misspeak. This is a lack of knowledge, not a misspeak. Besides, couple this with Sargent’s infamous F-Bomb on ESPNews that got her fired there, and it’s pretty clear she’s not the savviest person when that microphone is live.
