When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all sports and other live entertainment events, it left media outlets with the question of what to do with reporters who cover such events.
As the protests over the death of George Floyd intensified over the weekend, WCCO-TV decided to send its veteran sports director Mike Max to the frontlines.
Twitter users took note, initially with skepticism. But Max — who grew up in Gaylord and has worked for WCCO radio and TV since 1998 — soon won Twitter over with his solid reporting, thoughtful questions and his ability to dodge rubber bullets and endure tear gas.
“Since Mike Max isn’t active on Twitter,” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reporter Nick Halter tweeted on Monday, “has anyone informed him that everyone on this website has fallen in love with him over the last 72 hours?”
Here’s a look at how Max captivated an audience during a national emergency. (He wasn’t available for an interview on Monday.)
At first Twitter wondered what was going on, but soon after Max began to win folks over.
How the heck did Mike Max get to be a war correspondent?
— David Brauer (@dbrauer) May 30, 2020
Of all the local news reporters, I did not have Mike Max pegged as one of the people to be right in the middle of these protests.
— EvolvingWild (@EvolvingWild) June 1, 2020
I’ll admit, I was never a fan of Mike Max. I am now…
— Scott Korzenowski (@Skorzo60) June 1, 2020
Previously I may have found a certain reporter whose name rhymes with Ike Axe irritating but now he's won me over and also I'm worrying about him because Frank & Amelia kept wondering where he was and if he's okay.
— Laurel Krahn (@windowseat) May 31, 2020
Max’s thoughtful coverage continued to impress.
https://twitter.com/nora_charles/status/1267290434994241536
Mike Max @WCCO deserves an Emmy for this interview. pic.twitter.com/5nqqdsknDU
— Kim Dutcher (@kddutch) June 1, 2020
So impressed by Mike Max reporting live on @WCCO each night. Not only remaining calm and focused in what's often been chaos, but bringing real humanity and insight as well.@MaxWCCO is making the sports media proud, and doing it a hell of a lot better than most of us ever could.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 1, 2020
Mike Max is giving us the stories we need to hear from the protestors @wcco pic.twitter.com/TmniHNx9Ej
— KL (@lavakels) June 1, 2020
I would have never guessed that Mike Max, the WCCO sports guy, would be the best protest reporter I’ve ever seen in mainstream media.
He’s constantly reinforcing that protestors are being peaceful and reporting on violent actions of police.
— ashley fairbanks (@ziibiing) June 1, 2020
At one point, Max was the No. 1 trend on local Twitter.
If you're wondering why Mike Max is the No. 1 trend on Twitter in Minneapolis, this video is why. You should watch it.https://t.co/tR3J76qvNV
— Zach Halverson (@ZachHalverson) June 1, 2020
So far Mike Max has:
•Had solid interviews w/a street medic, AIM member & tanker truck incident eyewitnesses
•Seen tear gas & raised weapons
•Picked smart & insightful things to film & people to talk to
•Made use of a magic helicopter to be virtually everywhere at once??
— Fran Snarkenton (@KeepMNBlue) June 1, 2020
Mike Max being pelted with rubber bullets as molotov cocktails rain down around him in the midst of a global pandemic and state curfew: winks at someone off camera.
— Andy (@newbiemn) June 1, 2020
Mike Max’s plan to take over the world by becoming immune to tear gas is moving along at a rapid pace.
— Ray (@fatassets) June 1, 2020
In the middle of a tragic situation, Max gave Twitter a chance to pause.
https://twitter.com/Brandon_Warne/status/1267310472308690949
You guys it was nice knowing Mike Max. I will miss him but will be sure to watch him from afar when he becomes CBS' newest war correspondent.
— sarah hinde (@sarahhinde) June 1, 2020
God bless Mike Max.
— Ryan Stanzel Checkmark (@rstanzel) May 31, 2020
Mike Max pic.twitter.com/uuWzzmpbht
— Bring Me The News (@bringmethenews) May 31, 2020
