SIPPIO RULEZ!!1: Gretz Strikes Back

[Direckshun]

http://www.bobgretz.com/chiefs-footb....html#more-985


In Defense of Bobby Sippio
August 13, 2008 - Bob Gretz |

From River Falls, Wisconsin

When starting this site, I was determined not to waste too much of my time and more importantly your attention writing about the media. There’s nothing more boring to me than the media covering the media. As for correcting mistakes and countering poorly formed media opinions, I could throw up a site that does nothing but that and have plenty of material every day, 24/7, 365.

Especially when it comes to the Kansas City’s fish wrap’s coverage of the Chiefs, and in particular Bobby Sippio. I must comment on a couple of recent written incidents involving Sippio.

The Chiefs wide receiver is struggling to make the 2008 Chiefs roster. There’s no surprise there, because Sippio will always struggle to make it in the NFL. He’s got attributes every coach wants, like guts and heart and he catches everything thrown in his direction. But Sippio lacks the kind of speed coaches want from their wideouts. That means he’ll always be in a fight to keep his job.

Nobody knows this better than Sippio himself.

So when he goes out and catches the winning touchdown pass in the Chiefs pre-season victory over the Chicago Bears, Sippio knows it guarantees him nothing but the briefest moment in the spotlight. By the next practice, he has to get back to working his butt off to make the team. Sippio understands the facts of pro football life; he’s been living with them for the last six years.

Then comes the Kansas City Star. Writing in a blog item several days after the game, one of the star’s beat reporters penned under the title “The Myth of Bobby Sippio”:

“One of the many negative aspects of last summer’s visit to Chiefs camp of NFL Films and the Hard Knocks crew was that the show glorified a wide receiver of rather average talents by the name of Bobby Sippio.

I still receive regular e-mails from fans wondering why the Chiefs don’t play Sippio more and why I don’t write about him more. I get more questions about Sippio than about any other Chiefs player, a fact that is simply amazing considering that Dwayne Bowe, Larry Johnson, Brodie Croyle and dozens of other more interesting subjects play for this team.”

The writer goes on to eviscerate Sippio and his contributions to the team, predicting at one point that he’s got little chance for a spot on the final 53-man roster.

How miserable must a person be to stomp on a player who goes out to practice every day and does nothing but bust his butt to make the team? Fans got to know Sippio from the Hard Knocks series last year. It was exposure that Sippio didn’t ask for. Why hold that against him?

Somehow Sippio eventually reached the Chiefs active roster last year, where he performed primarily on special teams. He did not hold that position because he was on Hard Knocks or because NFL Films or HBO demanded his presence. He did not survive all season because he had a cadre of fans. He hung in there because he did the thing Herm Edwards always says is the most important task for any player on his roster: he did his job.

That’s what he’s doing here in camp again, this time without cameras and without reality TV shows watching. Why would a person with any sense of decency find fault in that?

Then there’s the habitually uniformed columnist, the most over-worked guy on the fish wrap staff who somehow finds a way to churn out maybe two columns every 10 days or so. Earlier this week, in writing for the first time about a game he did not attend and some five days after the game actually happened, he penned:

“The Chiefs would prefer Sippio, the former Arena League star, not make the team. It’s not personal. He’s just not a Bill Kuharich draft pick.”

What makes this so wrong and so hilarious is the fact that Kuharich is one of Sippio’s boosters. Although he’s not a draft choice, he is a Kuharich guy. It was Bill Kuharich’s brother Larry, who coaches in the Arena League, who tipped the Chiefs VP of player personnel to Sippio. Rest assured that Kuharich is one of Sippio’s greatest supporters.

The columnist would know this if he spent any time around the team, or had any contacts for information, or had any real understanding of what goes on with anyone but his chosen foil, King Carl.

I don’t know if Bobby Sippio is going to make the final roster. The odds are long and nobody knows that better than the man himself. Why anyone would slam him for making the effort defies belief. Bobby Sippio should be cheered for his efforts.

[siberian khatru]

There's a lot of whiny bitching in that column, but THIS --

What makes this so wrong and so hilarious is the fact that Kuharich is one of Sippio’s boosters. Although he’s not a draft choice, he is a Kuharich guy. It was Bill Kuharich’s brother Larry, who coaches in the Arena League, who tipped the Chiefs VP of player personnel to Sippio. Rest assured that Kuharich is one of Sippio’s greatest supporters.

-- is ownage.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Gretz

Then there’s the habitually uniformed columnist, the most over-worked guy on the fish wrap staff who somehow finds a way to churn out maybe two columns every 10 days or so.

So, what kind of uniform does Whitlock habitually wear?

[FAX]

Originally Posted by arc

So, what kind of uniform does Whitlock habitually wear?

A saucy little number, no doubt, Mr. arc. BBQ saucy.

FAX

[dorseybowe]

He's a sure catch. He won't drop the football. Isn't that worth anything?

[The Bad Guy]

The fact that fans, and now even writers, cling to this guy is pathetic.

The meer fact that Bobby Sippio is even in discussion to make your team says how bad your receivers are.

[Kylo Ren]

Cris Carter wasn't very fast either. All he did was catch touchdowns.

[Buehler445]

I'm usually not a Gretz guy, but he's got a point. Why would teicher write just to bash on a low end guy? Because he wants fewer emails?

Posted via Mobile Device

[mcan]

Speed kills...



But not nearly as much as:
5: Agility
4: Intelligence
3: Hands
2: Stamina
1: HEART

[FAX]

I think it's worth something, Mr. dorseybowe. A very sure-handed, possession-type, #3 receiver is a nice thing to have on third down or near the endzone. SIPPIO!!! has a chance if Gretz is right and he's coming to work everyday with winning a spot on his mind. I imagine that Herm likes that kind of thing.

FAX

[FAX]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The fact that fans, and now even writers, cling to this guy is pathetic.

The meer fact that Bobby Sippio is even in discussion to make your team says how bad your receivers are.

True enough, Mr. The Bad Guy. The SIPPIO!!! situation has gotten blown way out of proportion on both sides. He's probably not as good as some would like to believe nor as awful as others claim.

I like him because he's an underdog and, if there's anything a Chiefs fan understands, it's the underdog.

FAX

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Gunther_Fan

Cris Carter wasn't very fast either. All he did was catch touchdowns.

Just stop already.

Cris Carter was one of the best receivers in the NFL over a long period of time.

Comparing Sippio, a guy who can't see the field despite horrible WRs outside of Bowe, to Carter is a joke.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by FAX

True enough, Mr. The Bad Guy. The SIPPIO!!! situation has gotten blown way out of proportion on both sides. He's probably not as good as some would like to believe nor as awful as others claim.

I like him because he's an underdog and, if there's anything a Chiefs fan understands, it's the underdog.

FAX

I understand your point.

But some people on here get carried away with their Sippio love.

[petegz28]

Gretz just served some hot, steamy pwnsauce to old fat ass.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

The fact that fans, and now even writers, cling to this guy is pathetic.

The meer fact that Bobby Sippio is even in discussion to make your team says how bad your receivers are.

After the crap that we have been passing off as WR's for years I think anyone has a right to get a little excited about anyone who rarely drops the ball. I know, I know, most teams are stacked 4 WR's deep on their roster with studs and future studs...