Chiefs Whitlock- It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs

C-Mac · 03-08-2009, 08:16 AM

It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs

Wednesday afternoon, on my drive on I-70 to watch the Tigers and the Sooners tangle, I passed the time listening to sports-talk radio.

I find one of our local stations unlisten-Neal-able, so you can assume which station and which show entertained me along the highway. And you can guess which host nearly made me drive off the highway.

The New Don Fortune expressed his disinterest in needing access and information from our New Carl Peterson, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. The New Don and his trusty sidekick, Mad Jack Harry, spent several minutes telling their listeners that we should trust Pioli implicitly and not waste emotion or energy worrying whether Pioli reveals himself, his plans or his players to the media.

Having worked in sports-talk radio, I’m aware the discipline requires a dramatic and healthy loosening of journalistic standards. But basic common sense and backbone are allowed and occasionally encouraged when hosting a radio show.

Supporting the new regime does not equate to rejecting the primary (and redeeming) role of the media.

It’s our job to acquire information and pass it along to you. Based on what we’ve seen from the Bill Belichick era in New England and our first two months with Pioli, gathering pertinent and enlightening information about the Chiefs is going to be rather difficult.

The Patriots, under Belichick and Pioli, reached the conclusion that too much media access disrupts locker-room chemistry and undermines the voice of the head coach. In New England, Belichick has turned the Boston media into an easy-to-play foil for his players.

He’s brainwashed his players into believing the media are evil, incompetent and stirrers of chaos. Obviously, we are not perfect. A collection of human beings cannot be flawless. There are instances when individual moments of incompetence make the media appear wicked or solely interested in controversy.

But overall, we attempt to be a watchdog of those with power. When we fail to play that role, generally speaking, terrible things happen. The Iraq War is a worst-case scenario. We trusted our president implicitly, led the cheers when we declared war on Iraq and declined to demand answers to difficult questions. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, and with our economy in collapse, we now blame poor, minority homeowners for the fall of our society.

I apologize. I digress.

Let me give you a worst-case scenario in the sports world.

If, in an attempt to duplicate New England’s three-Super Bowls dynasty, we neglect our journalistic, democracy-ensuring duty to challenge Pioli, there’s a far better chance that he replicates Carl Peterson’s Kansas City era than Belichick’s New England one.

Unchallenged leaders are dictators and quickly turn unethical.

For years, Kevin Kietzman and Jack Harry whined on radio that Peterson, in attempts to have them fired, harassed their former television bosses. Kietzman and Harry complained about Peterson’s heavy-handed tactics with players, their agents and their families.

Peterson acquired his nickname, King Carl, the old-fashioned way. We rolled over and gave him a kingdom. When he ushered in an era of winning after years of mediocrity, he treated the media as though his decisions and actions were above question. He became complacent and stale.

Scott Pioli is a human being. He’s capable of making the same mistakes as you, I or King Carl.

Sometimes people misidentify why they’re successful. Belichick and Pioli think the New England locker room is special partly because Belichick and the players have made the local media irrelevant. Belichick and Pioli believe in CIA-like secrets.

I’m sure there’s some value in all of it. But football isn’t all that hard to figure out. Find yourself a tough, talented quarterback who is willing to stand in the pocket and deliver the football under pressure, pray that he doesn’t get injured, and you’ll win a lot of games.

The Sixburgh Steelers won four titles with Terry Bradshaw and two with Ben Roethlisberger. They’ve had three different young coaches lead them to those six titles. John Elway took the Broncos to five Super Bowls and won two. Kurt Warner has played in three Super Bowls. Brett Favre played in two. Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb win a lot of football games. Did I mention Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady?

In his first big decision as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli traded the 34th pick in the draft for Matt Cassel, a backup in college and in the pros. Because New England slapped Cassel with the franchise tag, Clark Hunt is going to pay Cassel a lot of money in 2009 or give him a big-ticket, long-term contract.

Everyone pretty much agrees the move makes sense for the Chiefs. Pioli still needs to publicly explain it, and it’s our job to seek a detailed explanation. We shouldn’t accept a brief statement on a press release.

It is fun and fashionable to beat up on the media. In our arrogance, we have refused to adequately police, examine and reshape ourselves. We’re paying a heavy price for our failure. We’re losing credibility.

It’s in your best interest to demand better from us. Don’t be fooled into believing we should go away or act as a propaganda machine for some newly-elected, popular-in-comparison-to-Peterson (or Bush) leader.

Chief Pote · 03-08-2009, 08:24 AM

I'd rather that the Chiefs effectively and quitely create a football powerhouse like no other, without the interference of the media. The media is generally a collection of idiots attempting to make a name for themselves at the expense of others. ****em.

**The Bad Guy** · 03-08-2009, 08:44 AM

What does Pioli need to publically explain? He obviously loves Cassel - he gushed over him during the introductory press conference. He also said that the HC would be the voice of the franchise.

This article reeks of a pissed-off journalist who has been completely shut out.

FringeNC · 03-08-2009, 08:56 AM

What a joke of a column. Journalists as a "watchdog of those with power"? You've got to be kidding me. The NY and KC media were so tough on Herm Edwards, right? And the media's love affair with Obama is completely over the top.

The media loved Herm Edwards because he stroked their ego. Pioli doesn't give a ****, and only wants to win.

**HemiEd** · 03-08-2009, 08:58 AM

This is getting funnier, with each article.

WilliamTheIrish · 03-08-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

... In our arrogance, we have refused to adequately police, examine and reshape ourselves. We’re paying a heavy price for our failure. We’re losing credibility.

A very true statement. Not only has credibility been lost, but readership. The Star is yesterdays news in a society that has access to news at their fingertips from 1000 sources.

It's like watching a dinosaur in a tar pit. Clawing and scraping, yet sinking deeper and eventually being snuffed out.

wild1 · 03-08-2009, 09:01 AM

haha. so the media is not solely interested in controversy, mortgages aren't t blame for the economy - iraq is - and the chief criticism of Pioli here is that Whitlock admits he agress with the move, but that he should step out and explain it.

zzzzz

stevieray · 03-08-2009, 09:07 AM

newsflash..you aren't entitled to squat.

overcoveragemassmedia is part of the problem. not the solution

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:13 AM

It's funny...in 1989 fans jumped up and down that the media shouldn't question Carl Petereson. After all he is the guy that got rid of Jack Stedman.

In 1989 Carl was seen as the future of football in Kansas City. Former coach, scout and front office guy that did win two championships. Carl hired a big name coach for the team. At that time people never wanted to hear the media question Carl or his moves.

Move forward 20 years. A new GM is in place. Kicked the old guy out...brought rings on his fingers and a new coach. Are you too blind to see it is the same old song. What is the quote about those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it?

KK kissing Pioli's ass is a joke. Even the angry old man Jack is starting to lash out.

**jAZ** · 03-08-2009, 09:15 AM

None of those people are acting as journalists, they are entertainers. Just for the record.

**jAZ** · 03-08-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

It's funny...in 1989 fans jumped up and down that the media shouldn't question Carl Petereson. After all he is the guy that got rid of Jack Stedman.

In 1989 Carl was seen as the future of football in Kansas City. Former coach, scout and front office guy that did win two championships. Carl hired a big name coach for the team. At that time people never wanted to hear the media question Carl or his moves.

Move forward 20 years. A new GM is in place. Kicked the old guy out...brought rings on his fingers and a new coach. Are you too blind to see it is the same old song. What is the quote about those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it?

KK kissing Pioli's ass is a joke. Even the angry old man Jack is starting to lash out.

In 1989 (like today) it's f'ing stupid to criticze an incomplete picture. No one is saying, it can't happen 2, 5, or 10 years from now though.

58-4ever · 03-08-2009, 09:23 AM

I stopped reading half-way through. He wrote this column just to meet his weekly quota...

**MahiMike** · 03-08-2009, 09:28 AM

I think it's time to question Whitlock.

Deberg_1990 · 03-08-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

The Iraq War is a worst-case scenario. We trusted our president implicitly, led the cheers when we declared war on Iraq and declined to demand answers to difficult questions. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, and with our economy in collapse, we now blame poor, minority homeowners for the fall of our society.

Wow, JWhite manages to work race into a column. Imagine that? Hes so wrong on so many levels here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

But football isn’t all that hard to figure out. Find yourself a tough, talented quarterback who is willing to stand in the pocket and deliver the football under pressure, pray that he doesn’t get injured, and you’ll win a lot of games.

The Sixburgh Steelers won four titles with Terry Bradshaw and two with Ben Roethlisberger. They’ve had three different young coaches lead them to those six titles. John Elway took the Broncos to five Super Bowls and won two. Kurt Warner has played in three Super Bowls. Brett Favre played in two. Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb win a lot of football games. Did I mention Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady?

100% right. I could not agree more. Stick to football JWhit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

It is fun and fashionable to beat up on the media. In our arrogance, we have refused to adequately police, examine and reshape ourselves. We’re paying a heavy price for our failure. We’re losing credibility.

It’s in your best interest to demand better from us. Don’t be fooled into believing we should go away or act as a propaganda machine for some newly-elected, popular-in-comparison-to-Peterson (or Bush) leader.

Reeks of a guy trying to remain relevant and hold onto a job. Desperation move.

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jAZ

In 1989 (like today) it's f'ing stupid to criticze an incomplete picture. No one is saying, it can't happen 2, 5, or 10 years from now though.

There is a difference between question and criticize. I don't think most people want to criticize Pioli at this point, but they may to to question the way he goes about doing things. We question the way Sprint is run...we question elected officials all the time, so why can't fans, ticket holders, media question the way the Chiefs are being run?

To be honest they blew that whole Cassel phone call, and got busted doing it. If Carl had done the same thing people would demand he be fired.

03-08-2009, 08:16 AM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $-1096301	Whitlock- It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs Wednesday afternoon, on my drive on I-70 to watch the Tigers and the Sooners tangle, I passed the time listening to sports-talk radio. I find one of our local stations unlisten-Neal-able, so you can assume which station and which show entertained me along the highway. And you can guess which host nearly made me drive off the highway. The New Don Fortune expressed his disinterest in needing access and information from our New Carl Peterson, Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. The New Don and his trusty sidekick, Mad Jack Harry, spent several minutes telling their listeners that we should trust Pioli implicitly and not waste emotion or energy worrying whether Pioli reveals himself, his plans or his players to the media. Having worked in sports-talk radio, I’m aware the discipline requires a dramatic and healthy loosening of journalistic standards. But basic common sense and backbone are allowed and occasionally encouraged when hosting a radio show. Supporting the new regime does not equate to rejecting the primary (and redeeming) role of the media. It’s our job to acquire information and pass it along to you. Based on what we’ve seen from the Bill Belichick era in New England and our first two months with Pioli, gathering pertinent and enlightening information about the Chiefs is going to be rather difficult. The Patriots, under Belichick and Pioli, reached the conclusion that too much media access disrupts locker-room chemistry and undermines the voice of the head coach. In New England, Belichick has turned the Boston media into an easy-to-play foil for his players. He’s brainwashed his players into believing the media are evil, incompetent and stirrers of chaos. Obviously, we are not perfect. A collection of human beings cannot be flawless. There are instances when individual moments of incompetence make the media appear wicked or solely interested in controversy. But overall, we attempt to be a watchdog of those with power. When we fail to play that role, generally speaking, terrible things happen. The Iraq War is a worst-case scenario. We trusted our president implicitly, led the cheers when we declared war on Iraq and declined to demand answers to difficult questions. Hundreds of billions of dollars later, and with our economy in collapse, we now blame poor, minority homeowners for the fall of our society. I apologize. I digress. Let me give you a worst-case scenario in the sports world. If, in an attempt to duplicate New England’s three-Super Bowls dynasty, we neglect our journalistic, democracy-ensuring duty to challenge Pioli, there’s a far better chance that he replicates Carl Peterson’s Kansas City era than Belichick’s New England one. Unchallenged leaders are dictators and quickly turn unethical. For years, Kevin Kietzman and Jack Harry whined on radio that Peterson, in attempts to have them fired, harassed their former television bosses. Kietzman and Harry complained about Peterson’s heavy-handed tactics with players, their agents and their families. Peterson acquired his nickname, King Carl, the old-fashioned way. We rolled over and gave him a kingdom. When he ushered in an era of winning after years of mediocrity, he treated the media as though his decisions and actions were above question. He became complacent and stale. Scott Pioli is a human being. He’s capable of making the same mistakes as you, I or King Carl. Sometimes people misidentify why they’re successful. Belichick and Pioli think the New England locker room is special partly because Belichick and the players have made the local media irrelevant. Belichick and Pioli believe in CIA-like secrets. I’m sure there’s some value in all of it. But football isn’t all that hard to figure out. Find yourself a tough, talented quarterback who is willing to stand in the pocket and deliver the football under pressure, pray that he doesn’t get injured, and you’ll win a lot of games. The Sixburgh Steelers won four titles with Terry Bradshaw and two with Ben Roethlisberger. They’ve had three different young coaches lead them to those six titles. John Elway took the Broncos to five Super Bowls and won two. Kurt Warner has played in three Super Bowls. Brett Favre played in two. Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb win a lot of football games. Did I mention Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady? In his first big decision as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli traded the 34th pick in the draft for Matt Cassel, a backup in college and in the pros. Because New England slapped Cassel with the franchise tag, Clark Hunt is going to pay Cassel a lot of money in 2009 or give him a big-ticket, long-term contract. Everyone pretty much agrees the move makes sense for the Chiefs. Pioli still needs to publicly explain it, and it’s our job to seek a detailed explanation. We shouldn’t accept a brief statement on a press release. It is fun and fashionable to beat up on the media. In our arrogance, we have refused to adequately police, examine and reshape ourselves. We’re paying a heavy price for our failure. We’re losing credibility. It’s in your best interest to demand better from us. Don’t be fooled into believing we should go away or act as a propaganda machine for some newly-elected, popular-in-comparison-to-Peterson (or Bush) leader.
Posts: 5,661

03-08-2009, 08:24 AM	#2
Chief Pote Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Undercover..... Casino cash: $6872638	I'd rather that the Chiefs effectively and quitely create a football powerhouse like no other, without the interference of the media. The media is generally a collection of idiots attempting to make a name for themselves at the expense of others. ****em.
Posts: 3,647

03-08-2009, 08:44 AM	#3
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9283645	What does Pioli need to publically explain? He obviously loves Cassel - he gushed over him during the introductory press conference. He also said that the HC would be the voice of the franchise. This article reeks of a pissed-off journalist who has been completely shut out. __________________
Posts: 23,216

03-08-2009, 08:56 AM	#4
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1783986	What a joke of a column. Journalists as a "watchdog of those with power"? You've got to be kidding me. The NY and KC media were so tough on Herm Edwards, right? And the media's love affair with Obama is completely over the top. The media loved Herm Edwards because he stroked their ego. Pioli doesn't give a ****, and only wants to win.
Posts: 10,234

03-08-2009, 08:58 AM	#5
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $-519436	This is getting funnier, with each article.
Posts: 34,889

03-08-2009, 09:01 AM	#7
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	haha. so the media is not solely interested in controversy, mortgages aren't t blame for the economy - iraq is - and the chief criticism of Pioli here is that Whitlock admits he agress with the move, but that he should step out and explain it. zzzzz
Posts: 6,935

03-08-2009, 09:07 AM	#8
stevieray Most things I worry about… Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $-1334727	newsflash..you aren't entitled to squat. overcoveragemassmedia is part of the problem. not the solution
Posts: 74,128

03-08-2009, 09:13 AM	#9
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	It's funny...in 1989 fans jumped up and down that the media shouldn't question Carl Petereson. After all he is the guy that got rid of Jack Stedman. In 1989 Carl was seen as the future of football in Kansas City. Former coach, scout and front office guy that did win two championships. Carl hired a big name coach for the team. At that time people never wanted to hear the media question Carl or his moves. Move forward 20 years. A new GM is in place. Kicked the old guy out...brought rings on his fingers and a new coach. Are you too blind to see it is the same old song. What is the quote about those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it? KK kissing Pioli's ass is a joke. Even the angry old man Jack is starting to lash out.
Posts: 3,341

03-08-2009, 09:15 AM	#10
jAZ Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ Casino cash: $9817493	None of those people are acting as journalists, they are entertainers. Just for the record.
Posts: 24,800

03-08-2009, 09:23 AM	#12
58-4ever The Collective Unconscious Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The OP Casino cash: $9450422	I stopped reading half-way through. He wrote this column just to meet his weekly quota...
Posts: 10,436

03-08-2009, 09:28 AM	#13
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	I think it's time to question Whitlock.
Posts: 17,387