Oklahoma State coach Gundy blasts Oklahoman columnist

[Write-brained]

And again, for the 300th time, fine, the kid is a pussy. Doesn't mean we write about it ... especially when we're "tiling it up on the sly."

If you know for a fact why the biggest recruit in recent memory lost his job at a school you cover, and you don't report it, you aren't doing your job.

I am willing to consider arguments that Carlson could have approached the column a different way, or stayed away from the chicken anecdote. But if it's true that Bobby Reid lost his job because of his lack of intestinal fortitude ... that's fair game for a sports column.

Agreed. You know, you're frequently making good points - except for those few times you disagree with me. 8)

 

[BigSleeper]

I have had nothing to add to this thread except this possible -- but still pretty funny -- DB:

 

[Ira_Schoffel]

From ESPN's ombudsman:
"What facts?" somebody at ESPN should have asked before ridiculing the coach while giving the columnist a pash. In building her case against the benched quarterback, Carlson introduces her evidence of his no-can-do attitude with these phrases: "If you believe the rumors and the rumblings …", "Tile up the back stories told on the sly over the past few years …", "Word is …" and "Insiders say …". In my book, those are not phrases from the realm of fact; they barely count even as speculation by anonymous sources.

Several commentators faulted Carlson for criticizing an amateur athlete so harshly, and ESPN.com columnist Gene Wojciechowski raised questions about the accuracy of her observations. But why did I hear no one at ESPN explicitly note that the column that so enraged Gundy was based on rumors and rumblings and the sayings of "insiders"? Because they want to be allowed to take those same liberties? Because they didn't bother to read the column? Because all that mattered was milking that videotape for a week's worth of commentary? Because the boundaries between fact, opinion and rumor have become so porous that nobody noticed rumor crossing the border with a fake pashport?

Hmmm. What the hell does she know? Must be a fanboy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=schreiber_leanne&id=3050882

 

[lawoman]

The QB didn't get benched b/c he let his momma feed him chicken. He didn't get benched b/c his palms sweat before games. He didn't get benched b/c a columnist "imagined" him shrugging his shoulders while answering questions.

To find out why he got benched, you have to A). locate where his apparent "pussy personality" intersected with his play on the field. You have to make that connection, whether it shows up from weak leadership, wilting at key moments, etc.

That column didn't do that. And b/c it didn't, you don't print it.

If the column did make that connect, then you have to B). report the hell out of it -- back it up.

That column did not do that either. That makes the column double horseship.

If the column had done A and B, then you still have to C). tread carefully b/c this is a college kid who's still developing his character and it's a bit unfair to ashashinate a guy's character when he in the middle of developing it.

C is debatable. But it's hard to debate on the column b/c it never even got that far. If it had, it'd be one helluva debate.

A and B are not debatable.

 

[Bill Horton]

Nice job some of you have done in holding up this style of "journalism". Go ahead and think your readers want that.

OK, in Wednesday's edition I'll direct my columnist to write about how State U is the bestest ever, the only way it ever loses is because the cheatin' refs hate the team and how the fans of that school are smarter and better looking than State Tech's fans.

After all, readers want that sort of fanboy columnizing.

and don't forget: the OSU campus features some nice shruberry.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

Gundy won't talk about the shrubbery because he's afraid that some upcoming opponent might hear.

 

[SixToe]

"DON'T ATTACK THE SHRUBBERY! COME AFTER ME! I'M A TREE! I'M A 40-YEAR OLD TREE!"

 

[Bill Horton]

Who cut these shrubs? This is GARBAGE!!!! GARBAGE!!!!

 

[Inky_Wretch]

What do you think of the landscape architect who allowed those shrubs to be cut?

 

[mannheimadler]

How long until this, like every other famous coach press conference, is turned into one of those ultra annoying Coors Light commercials?

"Coach, what do you think of other light beers"
"It's GARBAGE!"

"What do you think about taking beer from the local college kids?"
"Come after me! I'm a MAN! I'm FORTY!"

 

[Some Guy]

How long until this, like every other famous coach press conference, is turned into one of those ultra annoying Coors Light commercials?

"Coach, what do you think of other light beers"
"It's GARBAGE!"

"What do you think about taking beer from the local college kids?"
"Come after me! I'm a MAN! I'm FORTY!"

Hey, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll fix me up one of those. Oh wait, 10,000 people on You Tube already beat me to it.

 

[Birdscribe]

The path of this thread proves the bigger point that Mike Gundy's performance was cartoonish and he's become a caricature of himself with that buffoonish, immature performance.