Oklahoma State coach Gundy blasts Oklahoman columnist

I'll use Penn State and a hypothetical.

Kid plays for Paterno. Paterno knows people. He has connections that you and I don't have. So let's say Kid will graduate in May with a degree in economics. Firm A is hiring. High-profile people know other high-profile people, who know people. "Put in a word for Kid. Joe says he's a good kid." So some middle manager somewhere gets wind of this. "Oh shit, Paterno recommended this kid." Maybe the paper-pusher doesn't feel pressured, maybe he does. Either way, that influences the hiring process, probably favorably. Not many people are walking around with Paterno's word vouching for them.

This happens all the time, in all lines of work. That kid may have a 4.0 and glowing recommendations from everyone who's ever dealt with him, but the fact that a Division I college football coach is willing to name-drop for him could be what tips the scales in his favor.

He received access to that recommendation because he could make a few blocks, carry the ball down field, hit an open receiver. It's not something you or I get.

And there is no jealousy. It's a stated fact. Unlike your "Jenni Carlson is unethical" rant. You have yet to say what she did that was unethical. Make up quotes? Make up facts? That's called fabrication, and it's grounds for firing.

 

You have to understand, HeinekenMan thinks questioning the character of any adult is "unethical."

Irresponsible is a plausible term to use in this case.

 

Fair enough. Your words are more accurate. The motive probably speaks to whether it was unethical, which would probably require that it be a blatant attack on character. I don't know that Carlson meant to attack the athlete's character. More likely, it was inadvertent or, as you say, irresponsible journalism. Regardless of opinion on the subject, I think it's good to be reminded that, hey, these are people, not robots.

I think it's a healthy discussion. I don't pretend that I'm infallible. I make at least a half-dozen mistakes every day. Whenever possible, though, I try to keep them off the front of the sports section.

 

I have withdrawn my use of the word unethical, but I'm still calling it character assassination.

Could you at least admit that whether Jack Welch hires some college running back has absolutely nothing to do with this topic?

 

It does, indirectly. Welch hires a kid who received professional inducements to attend a college -- room, board, books, food, tuition. Those inducements also include the understanding that you'll have high-profile people opening doors for you, as long as you're not a malcontent like Randy Moss was at that age. This negates your argument that college football players are not public figures and do not deserve scrutiny.

 

And how does that relate to whether it's okay to assassinate the character of that individual? Is there some unwritten rule that people are only allowed so much happiness in life?

 

HM, I posted something many pages back stating pretty much what you said (page three, I just looked it up).

Most of us were seeing our first byline or photo when we were 21 for some horseshit high school football game or third-rate sport at our student paper. And you know what? It made our dicks and nipples hard at the time. Does anyone remember how fucking green we were (shit, still might be) back then? Would we want our own business printed in 500,000 copy form? Would we want it written about that we asked a stupid question to a D-I coach? That our ledes were awful? That we fucked up facts on a game story?

Now some of us want to defend a writer who called a kid a mama's boy who is 21? For fuck's sake people. Was there nothing else to write about? Was there no other way to describe this player's demotion?

Glass houses. Glass fucking houses.

Treat these kids like public figures. Treat them like pros.

Shit.

If they are not breaking the law, leave them alone off the field.

 

I would like to know how this is "character assassination"

The columnist basically called the kid a flake and a momma's boy... So fucking what?

I doubt this quarterback is losing as much sleep over this as his coach is... In fact, I'll bet his coach had ignored the column publicly and just went on with life...

 

If their off-field behavior is causing on-field issues, why wouldn't we write about it?

Bullshit argument.

The column was bullshit too. Poorly sourced, but the player's fair game, but if you're going to write a column in that vein about anyone -- pro or college -- you damn well should source it well.

 

OK, I know a D-I point guard that is gay. I think this hurts their leadership qualities. You are saying I should write it?