Chris Mack apologizes for terse halftime interview

Chris Mack raised a few eyebrows nationally Monday night with a halftime interview in which he gave short answers to two of ESPN reporter Allison Williams’ three questions.

Here’s the final exchange that drew so much attention:

Almost immediately, multiple ESPN personalities came out and criticized Mack for his Gregg Popovich-esque interview.

“We all make mistakes. I could’ve handled it better,” Mack told the Courier Journal “I did the best I could and apologized to her on air right after the game, but I don’t think ESPN showed that interview.

“I think all this senseless commentary is sort of for the birds. I won’t lose sleep over people not liking me. It’s on to the next crisis in the world. I did the best I could and I apologized.

“I’m human and I make mistakes, but I take ownership of it. They want to pile on, I’m good. Like I said, I won’t lose sleep over people who don’t like me.”

Williams, for her part, didn’t seem bothered at all by the exchange.

Mack had reportedly been in a bad mood all day because of travel issues, his mood was further exacerbated by his team’s poor play at the end of the first half, and then he was asked an opening question about officiating that he couldn’t possibly give an honest answer to.

Let’s place the blame where it really belongs here: The halftime interview itself. Nothing substantive ever comes out of it, the coach never wants to do it, and the only time we wind up talking about it is when there’s a “controversy” like this one.

I don’t think an apology was really necessary here — and Williams would seem to agree — but it’s still the smart play by Mack.