Jason Whitlock: Imus Isn't the Real Bad Guy

KC Star ^ | 4/11/07 | Jason Whitlock

[Publius Valerius]

Here’s Jason Whitlock’s explanation of his firing, which happened after a blog interview:

“I told the blog that part of the reason I was leaving Page 2 was because I was uncomfortable with Page 2’s relationship with Scoop Jackson. Much of his writing is childish, anti-white and a caricature of a negative black stereotype. I didn’t say it in the blog interview, but it’s my belief that it is irresponsible for the World Wide Leader to publish much of what Scoop writes. Over the last year, I’ve shared these opinions with ESPN executives countless times. I said nothing in the blog interview that I hadn’t said privately.

“I told the blog that Lupica and Joe Valerio, the producer of “The Sports Reporters,” had become disenchanted with me because I would not join in the crusade to portray Barry Bonds as the baseball anti-Christ. I’m not a Bonds fan and don’t think all that much of his recent accomplishments. But a life spent competing in sports and writing about sports has made me uninterested in pretending that Bonds is the real villain in the steroids mess. And I have zero tolerance for when people try to censor my ability to state fair opinions.

“You might read this and think that I think I’ve been treated unfairly by ESPN. I don’t.

“This was inevitable. ESPN does not tolerate criticism. Sportswriters far more distinguished than yours truly — Tony Kornheiser, John Feinstein and T.J. Simers — have been banned/suspended for comments perceived to be detrimental to the World Wide Leader.”

[TexanByBirth]

doing so has convinced me that sportswriters are even more leftwing and politically correct than their hard-news counterparts.

Please do not paint sportswriters with such a broad brush, based solely on the egomanics featured on ESPN.

Ask yourself, why you never see a sports reporter on ESPN from Houston, Denver, Memphis or any other city in "flyover" country. Answer: because they want to talk about actual sports, not social justice or injustice in sports. Whitlock was the exception. His midwestern values brought him in direct confrontation with the "we know what's best" attitude of snobs like Boston's Bob Ryan and New York's Mike Lupica.

[Antoninus]

Nailed it. Great article.

[gura]

Kudos to Whitlock, this is exactly what needed to be said. Everyone on this thread should email him ASAP.

[LanPB01]

I’m glad to hear someone else considers Scoop Jackson a blight upon ESPN. Personally, I consider him and his writing a blight upon humanity, but I guess Whitlock couldn’t go that far.

[Rummyfan]

Wow. For the first time ever I agree with Jason Whitlock. He drove me from watching The Sports Reporters when he was on....

[Rummyfan]

I’ve watched the various ESPN shows that features sportswriters debating various topics several times, and doing so has convinced me that sportswriters are even more leftwing and politically correct than their hard-news counterparts.

They are - like Dan LeRetard.....

[CDHart]

"they put up with more harassment by the male black students every day as they walk to classes."

Why?

Carolyn

[Rummyfan]

Feinstein once said the best day of his career was seeing ESPN's Bristol, Conn, headquarters in his rear-view mirrow.

I notice him now occasionally turning up on the network though....

[Rummyfan]

"we know what's best" attitude of snobs like Boston's Bob Ryan and New York's Mike Lupica.

I like Ryan... he had a problem of his own with his comments on Mrs Jason Kidd (which comments I agreed with).

[SmoothTalker]

“I can’t believe Jason Whitlock wrote this.”

I was blown away too. Fatlock has written some awful sports columns over the years. But props to him. He is spot on this time.

[TexanByBirth]

Ryan’s problem is the same as Lupica’s.

They think anything in sports that doesn’t happen in either Boston or New York, doesn’t matter!

In the world of sports writing, they believe they are the elitist who know what is good for all of sports.

In reality, they aren’t jack!

[Shade2]

Meanwhile, there hasn’t been a rap album produced in the last ten years that doesn’t basically call them niggas and hos.

KRS One, Chuck D, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common, Jurassic 5, X-Clan, De La Soul, dead prez, Wyclef Jean, Lupe Fiasco, etc. etc. would disagree.

[Paperdoll]

Laura Ingraham read his full article on the air this morning, and I was very impressed with Whitlocks’s courage, vision and verbal aptitude.

[Kenny Bunk]

Speaking of injustice in sports,

Why is it that no college seems able to teach, or otherwise inculcate, something approaching proper speech for these "student athletes." Just between you and I, I sure would like to ax'em.

Also, I hate to show my age, but in my college athletic days, absurd hair-dos and heavy tattoos would have been frowned upon. Ir was impressed upon us that we "represented the school," wherever we went.

These young women did get themselves badly trashed by Don Imus. However, it is not such a hot idea to have them parading about making public statements.

[aShepard]

................”they put up with more harassment by the male black students every day as they walk to classes.”

Why?

I guess you haven’t been around a group of “cool” black guys, singing out what they want to do to to the black girl passing by!

[TexanByBirth]

absurd hair-dos and heavy tattoos would have been frowned upon

That is just the facts of life now-a-days on college campus. Weird hair, clothing and tattoos are commonplace.

we "represented the school," wherever we went.

That is what has bothered me in this whole Imus farce! As a school, Rutgers should have just issued a statement saying they disagree with Imus' comments and they are proud of the accomplishments of their women's basketball team. Period, end of sentence! Instead, they call a press conference and let their coach ramble on, coming off looking like a fool. Then they let their players speak and say outrageously stupid stuff.

Some public relations person or sports information person at Rutgers should be fired!

[CDHart]

Nope. We live in central Missouri, and it's almost unusual to see a black man at all, much less harassing anyone.

Carolyn

[mountainfolk]

I have never heard of James Whitlock before so know nothing about his background, whether left or right. This column reflects much of my thinking on the whole Imus affair. I have an appreciation for Mr. Whitlock articulating the broader aspects and fallout from the insulting remark Imus made about a girls sports team. Aside from the Black issues, I am disgusted with Republicans like Guillani and McCain saying they will go on the Imus show again. That trash mouth has routinely blasted and belittled President Bush. Any Republican, especially one who is running for a Republican political office, who throws him a lifeline is not affiliated with the right party.

[Aetius]

You make a good point about painting with too broad a brush, though I will point out that Woody Paige works out of Denver, and he is a typical, white guilt-ridden liberal.

On the other hand, there is a guy I’ve seen a few times from Dallas (Cowlishaw???), and he doesn’t seem to be as bad as the others.

I agree about Lupica. He is insufferable. Perhaps the worst is some guy out of L.A. named Plaschke, or something like that.