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See the full story · 1 sourcesWhy Michael Strahan defended criticism over controversial Chris Johnson ALS interview originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Former Giants star Michael Strahan has been a hit in the media industry, from his work as an NFL analyst to his daytime talk show roles, but he's come under fire for a high-profile interview he conducted in June.
Strahan helped former Titans running back Chris Johnson break the news of an ALS diagnosis, which the 2,000-yard rusher received last year but didn't disclose until his pre-taped talk with Strahan in June.
It's what Strahan didn't ask that is earning him some criticism — and has the former single-season sack leader defending himself.
Here's a look at the interview and how Strahan is responding.
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Michael Strahan defends criticism over Chris Johnson ALS interview
After the interview with Johnson aired, many wondered why Strahan didn't ask about, or at least mention, the possibility of a connection between ALS and head injuries suffered while playing football.
ALS is statistically extremely rare, but the ALS Association says NFL players are four times more likely to be diagnosed with the fatal disease than the average person, citing a study conducted by Harvard and Boston University researchers.
Asked by Dan Patrick about that criticism, Strahan pushed back .
"I actually thought about tha t , because I saw what every[one said], ‘Well you should have asked this, you should have asked that.’ Well, you should have got the interview. How about that?" Strahan said. "That’s one thing."
After coming out hot, Strahan added a more measured explanation.
"Two, that was Chris’s moment for Chris to share the story which Chris wanted to share. And when I got the call that Chris wanted to share that he has, you know, ALS, that was the story," Strahan said "It wasn’t for me to try to grandstand."
Strahan explained that he was there to help Johnson communicate a message, not to give a hard-hitting interview.
"I’m not trying to get a bigger name for myself by putting somebody else in an uncomfortable position," Strahan said. "I was there as a service to Chris, for what Chris wanted people to understand and know about his life and where he was now."
Strahan conducted the interview as part of his role on "Good Morning America," where he's worked for more than a decade.
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What did Michael Strahan say about Chris Johnson?
It's what Strahan didn't say, rather than that he said, that earned him some criticism.
Strahan conducted what certainly appeared to be a good-natured, professional interview with Johnson under difficult circumstances, but he approached it without asking the question many viewers wanted to know: whether Johnson believes football played a role in his diagnosis, and whether that changes the way the former Titans running back views his decision to pursue football.
Strahan explained his side of the story, and he appears to be comfortable with the way he approached the interview.
Michael Strahan Chris Johnson interview
Here's the full interview between Strahan and Johnson, with Johnson forced to use a device to speak due to the toll ALS has taken on his body:
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