Per the NYT blog Media Decoder:
When Bob Costas arrived at the studios of the new NBC newsmagazine program " Rock Center" Monday night, he was prepared to interview Joseph Amendola, the lawyer for Jerry Sandusky, the man at the center of the pedophilia accusations that have rocked Penn State University.
"About 10 or 15 minutes prior to the start of the interview," Mr. Costas said, "Amendola says to us, on his own: 'What if I could get Sandusky on the phone?' "
The interview that resulted with Mr. Sandusky was the first time the former Penn State assistant football coach has spoken publicly since being charged with 40 counts related to child abuse.
Mr. Costas, who has been widely praised for his questioning and his demeanor in the interview, said in a telephone conversation Tuesday, "Some of the preparation I had done for the Amendola interview informed the questions I asked Sandusky, but I had not specifically prepared to interview Sandusky." Even with 15 hours to prep, we would have been impressed with Costas' performance last night. But 15 minutes? That's a pro, right there. As for Sandusky? He did himself no favors.
