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

[C-Mac]

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.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Same story as 20 years ago. Maybe somebody should have asked questions then.

What would you have asked, lo those many years ago?

FAX

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

It happens in every market. Do we want to be in the big leagues or do we want to cave to the new guy?

I think you vastly over estimate the media's importance in producing a winning football team.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

I think you vastly over estimate the media's importance in producing a winning football team.

No shit!

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by FAX

What would you have asked, lo those many years ago?

FAX

Judging from his posts here, he would probably have asked Peterson if he could spit instead of swallowing.

[Mojo Jojo]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Your stroking yourself over USFL victories and you talk shit to me? Go back to drinking from Peterson's "bottle".

No I'm not. I am just asking all the experts on this board to bring out their bling.

I hope Scott wins the next 10 "Super Bowls TM" , but too many people here think it just happens.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

No I'm not. I am just asking all the experts on this board to bring out their bling.

I hope Scott wins the next 10 "Super Bowls TM" , but too many people here think it just happens.

So what would you have asked?

And since it doesn't "just happen", how does the media help make it happen?

FAX

[KcMizzou]

I kinda like this guy. He's wacky.

[Mojo Jojo]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

I think you vastly over estimate the media's importance in producing a winning football team.

For years we have heard that Lamar and Carl wouldn't answer questions because they are scared. Now Clark and Scott won't answer questions and we are building a championship team. Give me a honest answer...what has changed?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

If Lamar or Carl didn't answer a question the media went nuts. Now that Clark or Scott won't answer a question it is because they a building a championship team. Give me an honest answer...wh

Give a list of 5-10 questions that you think the team should be forced to answer.

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

For years we have heard that Lamar and Carl wouldn't answer questions because they are scared. Now Clark and Scott won't answer questions and we are building a championship team. Give me a honest answer...what has changed?

The entire front office. GM, HC, QB....

Nobody thinks we're guaranteed a Super Bowl. Just that it's more likely now, than before.

[FAX]

Okay, the irony isn't lost on me.

You have said that the media should have asked questions of Carl 20 years ago. You have said that the media should have the opportunity to ask questions of Pioli. You have said you are or were a member of the media. I have asked you a question. You are not answering the question.

Where's Waldo?

FAX

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by FAX

Okay, the irony isn't lost on me.

You have said that the media should have asked questions of Carl 20 years ago. You have said that the media should have the opportunity to ask questions of Pioli. You have said you are or were a member of the media. I have asked you a question. You are not answering the question.

Where's Waldo?

FAX

And then he said he was NOT a member of the media.

"Lithium at table two, please"...

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

The entire front office. GM, HC, QB....

Nobody thinks we're guaranteed a Super Bowl. Just that it's more likely now, than before.

It can't be this. There must be something more nefarious at work...

[Mojo Jojo]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Give a list of 5-10 questions that you think the team should be forced to answer.

First of all nobody should be "forced" to answer a question, but it should still be asked. You weren't clear do you want 5 or 10 questions?

1. Who is the DC?
2. As of today who is the starting QB? (Last week it was an open job.)
3. 3-4 or 4-3? Follow up why?
4. Who will be calling the play?
5. And for Clark...Who is the Chiefs President?

[Mojo Jojo]

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

And then he said he was NOT a member of the media.

"Lithium at table two, please"...

DCS...

Come on I'm not a member of the media. If you have the balls to prove why you belong on this board then I would love to meet with you. Until then you are just another pretender.