Oklahoma State coach Gundy blasts Oklahoman columnist

I agree with you. Look at my post earlier, I said that we are reporters, not writers. We have to go to multiple sources for stories. We can't believe just one source. You can get a lot better stories than just hanging around a press conference. Byt the time a press conference comes, the story is already out of what is going on.

 

Not exactly, Ira.... Often times the best stuff reporters get is off the record. And that is the stuff we use to unearth the real story. You rephrase questions with that knowledge that's in your back pocket. Carlson should have challenged Gundy with a question like, "Coach, these are the anecdotes and rumblings I'm hearing from people in your own program. What do you say to this?"

And what if Carlson had only one other quote in her story about the decision to bench Reid - a quote from the quarterback coach that did mention Reid's attitude or work ethic. ...

 

You know, considering how easily Gene Wojo found the QB's mother, I'm wondering why Carlson didn't attempt to do the same thing. I'd imagine the mother's "availability" (God, I hate that word) is more than once a week.

I also continue to be stupefied by the Oklahoman's handling of this. Carlson said she wants to move on, but I just checked the website, and she hasn't written a column since the Tuesday bumbled folo-column. I mean, have her write a column about anything else.

One other thing, while I'm thinking of it. Jemele Hill has been blasted on this board, sometimes justifiably, sometimes not, but she comes on occasionally to defend/explain herself. Does anyone else wonder why Carlson hasn't done the same thing? She's got to know there are 35 pages of posts about her.

 

You are assuming Wojo found the mother "easily". I'm willing to bet the house Carlson's staff has multiple numbers for most if not all the scholarship players. Maybe the mom refused to talk to Carlson? (granted, if that was the case, Carlson should've stated that in her piece).

 

Better yet... she could have gone to the game and spoken to Mom herself, rather than regurgitate what the beat writer (or someone else) told her. Oooh. What a concept.

 

'Hello Mrs Reid, this is (anyone) from ESPN.....'

Separate question: Is this story just absurdly overblown, or is the fervor completely justified?

 

Speaking of Jemele Hill ... now she has weighed in.

And, as someone who has criticized her work before, this is by far the best thing I've ever read from her. It's not the take I would have, but she makes some very good points. I still think we should be better than fans ... but it's a solid take IMHO.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070927&sportCat=ncf

 

True. In the age of cell phones, so many times people get them turned off, change companies, can't pay the bill so you get four or five different numbers for some people. "Back in the day" people would never screw with their phone bill because Ma Bell was the only game in town.

Also, many people, and I am not saying this kids mother is one of them, never give out their home number because of creditors/police trying to track them down. I would guess about 10-20 percent of all kids in public schools right now have the wrong telephone number written in their school file.

 

I think it's pretty obvious that Carlson is a big wimp. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she's taken a few days off. She's probably being fed grapes in Maui right now, or maybe even chicken.

 

Don't know Matt James from Jesse James (probably my East Coast bias), but this guy freakin' nails it. Sweet spot of the bat, and it goes 500 feet. Well done.

http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/james/story/149593.html

 

Jemele's column is insightful. But I'm not sure I get her point. Is she saying it's okay for professionals to act like school children because some drunken fans are doing so?

 

You're right, that was good. Anyone want to send that to Carlson?