Chiefs Whitlock- It’s OK to question Pioli and the Chiefs - Page 10

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.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Dude..question is... How many rings/watches ect. have you won? Please tell us all. Then you and I can get together and compare bling. Until then

!!!!

Yes, you've exposed me. I'm ruined. I haven't climbed the heights of USFL glory and have never managed to hoodwink an organization for 20 years on a busted 5 year plan. I never hired Herm Edwards to be a head coach, never found such gems as Junior Siavii, Ryan Sims, or Elvis Grbac. I've never been Bob Gretz' dominatrix nor have I shared my feelings with Jason Whitlock.

But it's my inability to be successful as a USFL General Manager that I will die regretting.

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Are you implying you play sports professionally, or are you in fact CP trolling CP?

No...I have never played sports professionally...last time I checked Pioli and Peterson didn't either, but being a part of a championship team is more than playing...see Scott Pioli.

One again...what bling have you ever won?

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

No...I have never played sports professionally...last time I checked Pioli and Peterson didn't either, but being a part of a championship team is more than playing...see Scott Pioli.

One again...what bling have you ever won?

So you're actually Carl Peterson?

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Yes, you've exposed me. I'm ruined. I haven't climbed the heights of USFL glory and have never managed to hoodwink an organization for 20 years on a busted 5 year plan. I never hired Herm Edwards to be a head coach, never found such gems as Junior Siavii, Ryan Sims, or Elvis Grbac. I've never been Bob Gretz' dominatrix nor have I shared my feelings with Jason Whitlock.

But it's my inability to be successful as a USFL General Manager that I will die regretting.

ZING!

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

So you're actually Carl Peterson?

No I'm not, but I could be Scott Pioli.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

No I'm not, but I could be Scott Pioli.

I don't think Scott Pioli's ever heard of the USFL.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

No I'm not, but I could be Scott Pioli.

So when should I book Twitlock to come grill you for an hour or two regarding your every move?

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I don't think Scott Pioli's ever heard of the USFL.

Ska-duum-BA!

Hammock Parties · 03-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Scott Pioli is a genius, I tell you. He registered on Chiefsplanet three full years before he would be an employee of the Chiefs. Genius!

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I don't think Scott Pioli's ever heard of the USFL.

Come on and bring it...what have you ever won? This was about being able to question what an organization does.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

So when should I book Twitlock to come grill you for an hour or two regarding your every move?

Once he's done meeting with Brian Waters?

Mojo Jojo · 03-08-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claythan

Scott Pioli is a genius, I tell you. He registered on Chiefsplanet three full years before he would be an employee of the Chiefs. Genius!

Claython...I know your boss...I exposed him sleeping through a Chiefs press conference...BTW I do have it on tape. Wow everyone was laughing, but he is the guy that would hire you...nuff said.

You have no idea what it would take to be employed by a NFL team.

Hammock Parties · 03-08-2009, 09:41 PM

Which is amusing considering I've done work for the Chiefs in the past.

CaliforniaChief · 03-08-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Claython...I know your boss...I exposed him sleeping through a Chiefs press conference...BTW I do have it on tape. Wow everyone was laughing, but he is the guy that would hire you...nuff said.

You have no idea what it would take to be employed by a NFL team.

You keep tapes of Nick Athan in your personal library? http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/images/smilies/headshake.gif

Sweet Daddy Hate · 03-08-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Once he's done meeting with Brian Waters?

We'll be here ALL WEEK ladies and gentlemen!

03-08-2009, 08:16 AM
C-Mac Lurker Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wally World Casino cash: $-1146301	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, 09:35 PM	#144
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $740478	Scott Pioli is a genius, I tell you. He registered on Chiefsplanet three full years before he would be an employee of the Chiefs. Genius! __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,593

03-08-2009, 09:41 PM	#148
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $740478	Which is amusing considering I've done work for the Chiefs in the past. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,593