OT: Jason Whitlock writes the dumbest column I've ever read. 

I'm a grad student at KU, and apparently there's all sorts of hell breaking about Mark Mangino. Granted, none of this was a problem when we went 12-1 and won a BCS game, nor was it a problem last year. Of course, it's a problem now that we've lost 5 straight (and are gonna lose to Texas this weekend). It matters naut, I'm not here to discuss our head coach's team. I'm here to discuss Jason Whitlock's column today, with this little gem:

If he spent two years away from football addressing his weight problem, applied for a job at 270 pounds, he would be a can’t-miss BCS candidate. Heck, he would be a terrific choice to coach in the NFL.

I'm speechless.

Dan

about 2 years ago dtpollitt 22 comments 0 recs |

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Also, I forgot this:

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Nov 18, 2009 9:54 AM CST reply actions

Granted

Its a low blow, but there is alot of him.

Being a UNM grad and longtime football and basketball season ticket holder – we are having our own issues with negative media on a head coach [Coach Locksley] that started losing games early (And never stopped).

As I recall, Mangino was being investigated by the school for personnel issues right?

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Nov 18, 2009 10:23 AM CST reply actions

Jason Whitlock

Writes all kinda stuff like this. He’s doing his job and as long as the readers keep reading/talking about it, I’m sure his employee evaluation will look very good. Why is it all of a sudden in this day/age everything you say offends something or someone?

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Nov 18, 2009 11:53 AM CST reply actions

You take that back!

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 18, 2009 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

You infer that I (or others) are offended by his statements.

That’s not my point, nor am I offended as a doctoral student at Kansas. I think his argument:

If he spent two years away from football addressing his weight problem, applied for a job at 270 pounds, he would be a can’t-miss BCS candidate. Heck, he would be a terrific choice to coach in the NFL.

is completely and utterly ridiculous. I see no relationship between weight of coaches and their success. I understand Whitlock writes crap pieces on a regular basis because he brings in page views, topical water cooler discussions, etc., but this article was full of rubbish.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Nov 18, 2009 8:50 PM CST up reply actions

Whitlock might not be the best communicator, but you can make a case.

I just got done reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, which was a fascinating look into the brain and how our built-in attitudes, predjudices, etc. can subtly affect the way we look at people and treat them.

Is Mangino’s weight the sole reason he’s in hot water? Certainly not. But in the deep recesses of some people’s minds, is his weight an issue that causes them to be less willing to give him the benefit of the doubt? It’s plausible.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Nov 18, 2009 12:18 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

And Blink is a damn good book!

But I get Dan’s point, the argument is weak – he could have cited any number of issues that Magino has been connected with – including the NCAA rules violations and most recently his reported issues with his players/personnel.

Of course as has been mentioned these are only cause for concern by the media and the majority of fans when the team is experiencing repeated losses.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Nov 18, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

Completely agree.

Whitlock could have hashed out his argument in a much better fashion, and the root of Kansas’ investigation into Mangino has nothing to do with his weight. But I think we’d agree that the notion that Mangino’s weight doesn’t affect people’s impressions of him (at least in the back of their minds) is wrong.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Nov 18, 2009 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

Yup

The thing is while those impressions exist, and many of us are guilty of such judgements, Whitlock is completely out of line using a written article to incite such unfounded prejudice.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Nov 18, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

Again I say

This is not his 1st controversy piece. His job is too write stories that people will read/talk about. I’m sure he thanks you for the interest!

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Nov 18, 2009 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Blink was garbage.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Nov 18, 2009 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

This would all be hush-hush...

if KU wasn’t losing so much. The real problem is that Mangino created a mirage around one season of winning when they had the easiest Big 12 schedule possible. He didn’t build the system; he just got had pieces fall into place at the right time.

Whitlock has never impressed me…I really despised him when he used to (may still do) guest host PTI.

by Kansas25 on Nov 18, 2009 3:24 PM CST reply actions

+1

I also can’t listen when he guest-hosts The Jim Rome Show.

by DMCub on Nov 18, 2009 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

Word on the street

is that KU is itching to get him outta his contract and a new coach installed before the new Gridiron Club is built atop Memorial Stadium. They want a face of the team ready to introduce the money-making machine that is football luxury boxes. And if Mangino can’t get it done on the field, the more reason to boot him, the better.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Nov 18, 2009 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

I have to say kU's football season is quite amusing to me

I don’t really like the sudden Mangino hate though, it’s just an AD looking for any excuse to fire his coach with cause.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Nov 18, 2009 8:59 PM CST up reply actions

If I am not mistaken

Whitlock could skip a meal once in awhile. Low blow in my opinion.

by Grockcubs on Nov 18, 2009 10:08 PM CST reply actions

Good point...

“If Jason Whitlock took 2 years off, lost 80 pounds, he’d have a legitimate shot at a pulitzer.”

by Kansas25 on Nov 18, 2009 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

He did manage to top that article with this recent one

As Phillips falls from grace, we need to alter rules

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Nov 19, 2009 12:21 AM CST reply actions

So the second you make more than $1 million a year

Go bang every chick you can find, as long as she is disease free.

You stay classy Whitlock.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Nov 19, 2009 12:41 AM CST up reply actions

$2 million dollars -----> You can murder hookers with abandon

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Nov 19, 2009 8:17 AM CST up reply actions

What's even more astounding than the basic premise of that article

Is that he completely ignores the workplace issue between Phillips and Hundley. And how tragic that Kruk lost his wingman. I suspect that this is Mariotti-like crap – write garbage just to get a reaction.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Nov 19, 2009 8:51 AM CST up reply actions