Larry Ryan: Should the media really be trading in words not given freely?

How is it we rarely hear the presenter tell us that we’ll give the pitchside interviews a miss, because nothing of interest was said? How many outlets can blank a presser?

BACK IN THE DAY: Clinton Morrison scores for Crystal Palace in their 2-1 League Cup semi-final first leg win over Liverpool in 2001. However, remarks he made in the aftermath of the match have been remembered for far longer than his goal. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Allsport

It's remarkable, the durability of certain throwaway words. The rich full life they can live.

After Crystal Palace’s League Cup semi-final first leg win over Liverpool in 2001, former Ireland striker Clinton Morrison, who’d scored and wasn’t known for self-effacement, got drawn into some chat about the opportunities Liverpool had spurned.