DaytonDailyNews.com

Earlier this week, I flew into Baton Rouge, La., to attend LSU's BCS championship game media day. There was a lesson that came out of it for me, other than learning it's a pain when the door to your luggage on the plane won't open and you have to go back to the airport the next day to pick it up.

Les Miles was funny. The LSU coach, in his opening comments, joked about Michigan hiring a football coach and how upset some of the reporters must have been that he didn't take the job and leave town. Later, when asked about the differences in speed between LSU and Ohio State, he suggested the teams instead run a race because one of his players, 5-foot-5 Trindon Holliday, runs the 100 meters in 10.08 seconds.

The point is this: You don't have to be a public sour puss to succeed as a coach in big-time sports. We've all seen clips of news conferences or other interviews when coaches take offense to questions or try to embarrass the reporters asking them. That's not always necessary (although sometimes warranted).

Instead, Miles and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel have been pleasant this season. Tressel has unloaded a few zingers during his weekly press meetings to make the room break up. Miles has a reputation for doing the same.

Don't get me wrong, these aren't exactly comedy hours. But major sports events seem much less bottom line and gloom-and-doom when the coaches involved can bring a joke and a smile. Both of these coaches can do that, which should make for an interesting week when we actually get to New Orleans.

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or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com

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