“Man on the street” reports can often be interesting for local TV networks, providing the perspective of the average citizen. (Comedians such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, Howard Stern and Billy Eichner, among many others, have mined them for laughs too.)
Such interviews can be even more interesting in New York City because of the variety and outspokenness from so much of the populations. Or the reporter may just find a celebrity walking the streets of the city. Such as Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, whose team was in town to play the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
On Monday, FOX 5 in New York was asking passersby about walking under scaffolding on the New York sidewalks. And to some surprise, Thompson had some very definite thoughts on whether or not he feels safe walking under those constructs while going around the city. Here’s a clip:
So @warriors Klay Thompson @KlayThompson just casually getting interviewed on local NY News @fox5ny talking about building scaffolding… pic.twitter.com/Zhiwrw0in0
— Michael P (@MP_Trey) November 21, 2017
Thompson isn’t just one of the best shooters in the NBA and a three-time All-Star. He knows his scaffolding. It’s all about the piping. Is it new? Are there signs of rust or weakening? Just how stable and safe does that scaffold look before walking under it?
Personally, I think those thin pieces of wood often laid over the scaffolding to prevent debris from hitting people is also a concern. Just how strong is that wood? Could it prevent a rock or metal bar from falling through and injuring someone?
But what is one’s concern about piping is another’s fear about wood. Thompson surely has it right about the piping. If that’s not right, nothing’s holding up that wood plank.
Regardless, it’s a public safety issue, which is surely why FOX 5 was on the story. But it’s also heartening to know that a NBA star can also offer some important tips on what to look for when walking the streets. How many of us just blindly walk under scaffolds without checking the piping? As they’d say on The Tony Kornheiser Podcast, this is information for life.
