EOIN MCDEVITT AND the rest of the Second Captains crew - Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Ciaran Murphy and Simon Hick – are busier than they’ve ever been.
There’s the podcast, the newspaper columns, a website, the radio show that ran throughout the GAA championships and now a new series of the TV show, Second Captains live.
It’s a formidable media empire the five are building themselves but they’re not complaining.
“We’re busy, very busy and I know it’s a cliché but it’s good to be so busy,” McDevitt told TheScore.ie during the week.
“With the new season, we’re very much going to build on the first two series. It’ll be a broadly similar format with some big-name guests and a panel of sportspeople on to discuss any topical issues.
“We’ve also rummaged around a bit in the RTÉ archives over the past two seasons and we’ll be exploring that a bit more this time around too.”
While McDevitt is understandably coy about who the big names for the new series are, he is willing to chat about how they ensure that viewers get the most out of the show.
“I think people expect a really high-calibre of guest at this stage. But it’s not just about getting big names, it’s just as important to get people who buy into the set-up and who are willing to engage in the process.”
McDevitt admits that it can feel like you’re always on the go with so many facets of Second Captains but the 34-year old says it’s impossible to pick a favourite format.
“They’re absolutely different challenges. I’ve always felt quite comfortable in radio because that’s what I’ve grown up with but TV, especially with the live crowds, presents a totally different challenge.
“On TV, you also have to be a little less patient with guests than you can be on radio or on the podcast, they have to answer a little quicker.
“I think, as someone who loves listening to what people have to say, the podcast affords that bit more scope to explore people’s answers but it’s hard to pick what part of the job is the most enjoyable when you like it all.”
McDevitt does not agree that media training has resulted in players with nothing to say but accepts that the one-on-one interviews TV, radio and podcasts can offer provide an environment that is more conducive to them saying interesting things.
“I think players do have interesting things to say but where I think there is an issue is that a lot of conversations that Irish sportspeople have is at sponsored events or press conferences and that’s not an intimate setting.
“We recorded an interview with Jackie Tyrell today, and he was explaining how the criticism of the players got to the Kilkenny team and we were able to go into that in some detail but that’s probably because the championship is over and we were in that one-on-one kind of setting.”
McDevitt says that there is a particular style of broadcasting and interviewing that he admires and Michael Parkinson and Bill O’Herlihy are two good examples of it.
“There’s a few people I enjoy watching. I got to interview Michael Parkinson and that was amazing. Before I knew I was going to be a broadcaster or interviewer, I just knew he was a guy who mastered it and he was a guy who, to this day, just has grasp of how to deal with people.
“I’ve always felt he was looking for something a little more from guests than the answers they gave everyone else.
“Bill O’Herlihy is another one. He’s probably the broadcaster I’ve seen the most on TV in the sense of him being around since Italia 90. He’s very similar to Parkinson in the way he doesn’t insert himself into the conversation.
“I don’t think that’s the only way to be an interviewer though. It’s more a style of how you deal with people on and off air rather than one presenter’s individual way of doing things.”
It should come as no surprise that Parkinson is one of McDevitt’s favourite interviewees but who would would his dream Second Captains guest be?
“I’ve always thought Maradona would be a great one but you’d need a translator and your wits about you for that one.
“I’m not too interested in interviewing a big name for the sake of it. David Beckham is a big name but would David Beckham be an interesting guest? He seems like a nice person and a good talker but would he knock your socks off? I’m not sure.
“As an interviewer you like to be as surprised as your audience with a guest and I think Maradona would bring that but I’m not sure how good his English is so I don’t think it’ll happen.”
As for the old gig, McDevitt insists he has no regrets but admits he doesn’t listen to Off the Ball much any more.
“I’ve no regrets at all. We love what we’re doing, the podcast has been superb and we’re having a good time doing the radio, TV, everything.
“I don’t get to listen too often but I think it’s something you have to be in the habit of listening to and when I left, you know yourself how it is, I wasn’t really too keen on listening in.
“But I know the lads are good at what they do and I know they’re doing well.”
And, as the media empire builds, what’s next for Second Captains?
“We’re so busy with the TV run, I’m not sure there’ll be anything new. The TV show really keeps you on the tip of your toes so that’ll be the focus for foreseeable future.”
The new series of Second Captains Live starts Wednesday on RTÉ 2 at 9.30pm.
Wow the second Andy Lee article in a few days and six short paragraphs well done lads. At least it wasn’t a copy of a newstalk interview like the previous one. The 42 has spend the last 6 months banging on about MMA and Conor Mcgregor relentlessly. Multiple articles a day. All the while Andy Lee, an actual World Champion, has been pretty much ignored. The coverage before his last fight was utterly pathetic one article the week of the fight. One!
Might top that this time round. Although Conor McGregor might tweet something during the week so that will probably take up sometime.Lee is a class act and a complete gentlemen and gets involved in none of the nonsense seen at the convention centre last week. Maybe ye guys could give someone the whole country can rally around a bit more prominence.
Well said
Boxing as a sport is living off its past glories. It is boring and slow these days, when compared to other forms of combat.
It says it all that the biggest fight in boxing is between a pair of old men. If boxing wanted to help itself, it should have forced may weather and pacman to fight years ago….instead they are doing it now when they are both well past their prime and looking for one last paycheck.
Don’t get me wrong…..Andy lee is a great ambassador and I wish him well, but boxing is the past…mma is the future
You’d swear you had to pay for the 42..
Skippy, well said.
Patrick, your meaningless twaddle could’ve been condensed a tad itself
In fairness Patrick not many media outlets are covering Andy lee and I’m not sure why, possible because he is based in New York the last few years. It’s bad form but there is no need to knock MMA because of it. MMA fans have waited a long time for a genuine contender to back and support and mcgregor, for all the show boating and publicity stunts is a disciplined hard working athlete.
Never has there been so little fuss about an Irish World Champion as Andy Lee
Its a disgrace. Im a big Andy fan n rate him as one of Irelands best ever but its neither Conors nor MMA’s fault the media tend to over look his achievements n how well he’s represented Ireland throughout his career.
Conor is breaking new ground n he is doing an AMAZING job for Ireland in wat is still a new sport.
Andy has done an amazing job so far representing us in a traditional & established sport n the media coverage he doesnt get from the national press is disgusting but that isnt Conor’s nor MMA’s fault.
Theres room for both sports n theres room for two superstars on our island, give Conor his due n leave him outa yer idiotic “Either/Or” equations when talkin about Andy
Absolutely.
I think Conor is fantastic. Just wish Andy Lee got a bit more recognition.
MacGregor has certainly put MMA on the map in Ireland
Technically Andy right now is boxing better than any Irish boxer Ive ever seen n Id go so far as to say that technically he is now shoulder to shoulder with GGG.
Not many will agree because he doesnt get the coverage n respect he deserves but its theres a more battle proven, harder punching boxer with better stamina right now then its maybe Kovalev whos my Lb for Lb number 1 right now or Golovkin who I dont say much good about coz hes in tha same division as Andy & Jay Quigley.
Right now Adny Lee is the fighter we were all expecting to come outa the Kronk Gym. Hes like a coiled spring n is hitting harder than ever like a cobra striking, like the Motor city Cobra himself Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns a genuine all time great.
Im not joking when I say that Andy is Irelands Tommy Hearns, hes the Limerick City Cobra. Nobody in the sport has paid the dues Andy Lee has n the wealth of knowledge he has acquired in the sport from Training with the likes of Tommy Hearns is now all starting to shine.
Andy is the Real McCoy n after he KO’s Quillin on sat night not just the Irish Press will be kissin his ass but the Brits will be too.
Carl Froch ?
Hes a Good’un but Andy isnt more than 3 high level defences away from him.
Roy Jones Jr had a great lead hook but Andy Lee has the most powerful lead hook Ive seen since Mickey Wards.
Its disgusting the lack of acknowledgement he gets n it can be coz of nothing other than politics.
As far as i am aware the42.ie have been known to sponsor an MMA fighter and his corner recently so it would make reasonable sense that they would promote the sport. You also cannot argue with the growth in MMA interest lately