After Saturday’s thrilling 49-45 victory over Texas Tech, coach Mike Gundy didn’t want to talk about his team’s much-needed victory.
Instead, Gundy wanted to discuss a column printed in The Oklahoman.
Jenni Carlson’s column questioned junior quarterback Bobby Reid’s attitude and suggested that was the reason he lost his starting position.
Carlson also questioned Reid’s toughness and desire and cited rumors that Reid threatened to transfer earlier in his career. She also got personal, observing Reid’s mother feeding him after the Troy loss, using that as an example to support her opinion.
She didn’t stop there, quoting Reid on how he gets nervous before games and coming to the conclusion that it hinders his performance.
In my best Herman Edwards-voice, “Hello?!?”
Who doesn’t get nervous before a big game? Isn’t that human nature?
In short, Carlson attacked Reid’s character. Making matters worse, she presented no facts — only rumors and conjecture.
So after the game, instead of giving a glowing endorsement of his team’s performance, Gundy fought back.
He strolled into the media room with a copy of Carlson’s column in hand and let everyone know what he thought about it.
“Three-fourths of this (article) is inaccurate,” Gundy said. “It’s fiction…and this article embarrasses me to be involved with athletics…tremendously.
“That article had to have been written by a person that doesn’t have a child and has never had a child that’s had their heart broken and come home upset!”
Carlson was in the room, and although Gundy never mentioned her by name, it was obvious to whom he was talking.
Many, including myself, had questioned Gundy’s fire during the Troy loss. Well, Gundy was the towering inferno Saturday. He looked like he was about to suit up for Bedlam.
But here’s where things get tricky. Gundy stooped to Carlson’s level.
“If you have a child someday, you’ll understand how it feels,” Gundy said. “But you obviously don’t have a child. I do. If your child goes down the street and somebody makes fun of him because he dropped a pass in a pickup game, or says he’s fat, and he comes home crying to his mom, you’d understand. But you haven’t had that.”
That’s taking it a bit far, Coach.
I can’t blame Gundy for teeing off on Carlson, though. What she wrote was borderline libel. And you have to defend your players when they’ve been attacked.
Gundy’s rant is a first-ballot YouTube hall-of-famer, but it’s sad the focus wasn’t centered on the outstanding victory against Tech.
The players deserved to be in the spotlight — not a columnist.
So congratulations to the players; you guys deserve it.
As for Gundy, welcome to the YouTube Hall of Fame. Your seat is next to Les “Let ’Er Rip!” Miles.
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“Borderline libel”?
In my best Herman Edwards-voice, “Hello?!?”
Are you sure you are in the right field? Because you obviously have no clue what libel is.
You’re right that the coach went overboard and he should have simply focused on his players, but you are way off base on the original column and columnist. Let me guess, your momma feeds you too.
It’s clear you have no concept whatsoever what libel actually is. You should be embarassed for throwing around terms you know nothing about. Gundy embarassed himself and the university, and there was no justification whatsoever for his unprofessional action on a night that should have been a celebration of a great effort from the kids.
So what justified Bobby Reid having his character questioned like that? Has he done something to warrant that? On-field performance is not a legit reason either. Gundy didn’t embarass anyone, except Carleton. Carleton got what she deserved. She embarassed a person who has no real forum to defend himself against her claims, and Gundy took care of defending him. If anything, Gundy did the honorable thing.
I hope you enjoy your career as a McDonald’s manager. You’re clearly not fit to be a journalist, if you’re taking the coach’s side here. Memorize the phrase “Would you like fries with that.” It’s going to come in handy.
Yeah, sorry kid, but that’s bad. Throwing around terms like “libel” isn’t something a journalist should ever do lightly.
Carlson and other members of the media repeatedly questioned the coaching staff about Reid’s benching, and got stonewalled. Hence the speculative nature of her column. It’s legitimate criticism for a star quarterback in the Big 12.
li·bel /ˈlaɪbəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[lahy-buhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -beled, -bel·ing or (especially British) -belled, -bel·ling.
–noun 1. Law. a. defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
b. the act or crime of publishing it.
c. a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.
2. anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.
–verb (used with object) 3. to publish a libel against.
4. to misrepresent damagingly.
5. to institute suit against by a libel, as in an admiralty court.
Is the original column available online? I have looked everywhere but cannot find it. I would like to read it and assemble my own opinion. I hope that students are still encouraged to read it for themselves.
yes it is,
http://www.newsok.com/article/3131543
Oh, for the love.
Carson Cunningham, just like many journalism students enrolled in the Paul Miller School of Jouranlism and Broadcasting, took Mass Communications Law with Dr. Joey Senat.
A little background on Dr. Joey Senat. He is the president of the Oklahoma Chapter of Freedom of Information.
So, Carson definitely knows what “libel” is. No need to go to http://www.dictionary.com and look it up for him.
I’m sure he, like many of the students from Dr. Joey Senat’s class, can tell you libel is a false and defamatory statement meant to damage one’s reputation in a community.
I’m sure what Carson means by “borderline libel” is that Jenni Carlson’s column in some people’s opinions I’m sure could have damaged Bobby Reid’s reputation. I’m sure recruiters read Carlson’s column. It was published on game day.
Let’s talk about a few examples in Carlson’s column:
“Word is that Reid has considered transferring a couple different times, the first as early as 2005.”
I’m sorry. “Word is…” isn’t a very official source.
“…apparently, Reid considered leaving OSU just because he had to compete for the spot.”
According to…?
“How you handle the nerves is important, though, and Reid hasn’t always managed them well. He has gotten off to some extremely slow starts, putting the Cowboys in some holes. Some, they dug out of, with Reid often wielding the biggest shovel, and some, they couldn’t.”
Please give us examples.
“Reid’s injury against Florida Atlantic — whatever it was — appeared minor but just might have been the thing that pushed Cowboy coaches over the edge.”
But was it? Do you have proof?
And then finally…
“insiders say that the coaches decided to bench Reid early in the week. The bottom line: The switch is less about Robinson’s play and more about Reid’s attitude.”
And as a recruiter reads this and thinks “Hmm…sports columnist says Bobby Reid has a bad attitude…hmmm…”
So I support Carson Cunningham saying “borderline libel.”
As far as what I have to say to the rest of you commenters — in the words of Mike Gundy — GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!
Hey, JC—
Well written, well researched, WELL SAID!!!
Do your initials stand for Jenni Carlson?????
I was at OSU from 73 to 78, Ms. Carlson’s column is another example, to me anyway, of how OSU and TU suck hind tit, it has been that way fora long time…. I agree with JC wheres her proof to back up her article.
That having been said don’t attack a college student that has more on his plate then Satruday…they are students first…or should be. I respect Mike gundy i enjoyed wathing him when he played and I think he has made a good coach for OSU.
As for the chicken? if Mr reids mom is as gooda cook as my mom was….I will take a breast and two drumstiks Mrs. Reid.
Well said JC and Carson Cunningham.
I think this article/column would have been acceptable had it not be presented as fact. It was on the first page without a picture of Carlson accompanying it. This indicates that the Newspaper stands behind the statements made within, and that the contents are not just the opinion of the writer.
Carlson keeps wanting to refer to it as a column, because she knows that it should have been a column from the start and as a column she did nothing wrong. Had they buried it a few pages deep and put her picture at the top, then no real issues (legal or otherwise) would exist.
The issue isn’t whether or not the article was based upon innuendo, hearsay and speculation - which it was - all of which appear to be hallmarks of “journalistic integrity” nowadays. The issue is, why was it based on same? The “reporter” works for a paper [The Oklahoman] that is owned by a family [the Gaylord family] that couldn’t care less about even the appearance of objectivity - let alone objectivity itself. In this regard - (1) the Gaylord family owns The Oklahoman, (2) the football stadium at the University of Oklahoma is named “The Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium,” and (3) the journalism school at the University of Oklahoma is called “The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Commnication.” For a “major” newspaper to so closely associate itself with The University of Oklahoma flies in the face of what should be a journalistic standard - objectivity. Lacking same, said newspaper should, at least, strive for the appearance of objectivity. Sadly, the Gaylord family and The Oklahoman fail at both.
Take for granted the objectivity of a “reporter” for The Oklahoman, concerning anything pertaining to Oklahoma State University? Not on your life. Why should I? They don’t give a damn about even the appearance of objectivity. And, for that reason, they’ve forfeited any expectations, on my part, of any true, journalistic integrity, on their part.
And then there is Katrina, and Dubai, and global warming, 47 million without health insurance, secularization, mediocrity, taxation without (forthright) representation, and on and on. The issue is not worth the pennies it has cost all of us to purchase the wattage to have this appear on our monitors.
I didn’t think about the fact that I have the same initials at Jenni Carlson.
For the record, no, I’m not her.
I am very impressed with coach Gundy and his bravery. He deserves to make national news for standing up to the media for one of his players. That Oklahoman article is a classic example of “borderline libel” which is unfortunately widespread in many news sources today. We’ve all seen articles like this attacking people in politics, religion, business, sports, everywhere it seems. (GAR-W gave some fine instances of this) The earlier comments from GS, HC and BW are a fine example of this whole sentiment: personal attacks, with no respect for facts or logic. Thank you coach Gundy, and everyone else who has the courage and fortitude to stand up!
JC:
Yes, you are correct. Thanks to Joey, I can cite Supreme Court decisions on the First Amendment in my sleep — and I’m 25 now.
Yes, Jed. We should aspire to be so brave as Coach Gundy. It must have been terrifying for him when he was yelling at Jenni Carlson. I shutter if I even think about yelling at Jenni Carlson.
Let’s chill out with the bravery talk. The man yelled alot. He’s a far step away from a hero. He did the right thing as a Coach, not so much as a person.
Now if he could only win some Big 12 road games, that would be heroic.