12-28-2008 DID WHITLOCK CROSS AN ETHICS LINE WITH BALL STATE SITUATION?
Jason Whitlock, the Kansas City Star�s sports columnist since 1994, has been given pretty much a green light for years to write anything he wants and do virtually anything he wants. As an African-American, he took full advantage of his status by penning columns on racial issues that no columnist in the country would dare even think about writing. His controversial views and outlandish actions resulted in him being booted off at least one television station and both radio sports talk stations in KC where he hosted his own shows. He is virtually persona non grata on local sports radio.A few weeks ago he ventured into religion and made fun of Catholics� belief in the Virgin Mary.His column even appeared on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin so that there was no doubt what faith he was insulting. Following a recent Kansas City Chiefs loss versus San Diego Whitlock wrote (12/15) that the Chargers came to town and were out partying before the game. The Chargers coach said the accusation was completely false (LINK). Those controversies were just the latest in a series of questionable actions on Whitlock's part. In 1998 he got involved with New England fans during a Kansas City Chiefs game while he was in the press box.He reportedly responded by flashing a sign to the fans that said their quarterback �Drew Bledsoe is Gay.� After it was reported in other media outlets, the Star said it could not condone his behavior and briefly suspended him. Ironically, Whitlock never mentioned the incident in any column and he and the paper never apologized. Case closed. However, he may have recently crossed another line that would almost pale in comparison to all the other ones.He didn't report on a controversial story, but rather was intimately involved in it. A fellow veteran sportswriter called it simply, �The most unethical thing I have ever heard of�� Regular readers of Whitlock know quite well that he once played (1985-88) at Ball State University and works the Indiana college into his columns on a regular basis (along with former quarterback Jeff George). On Dec. 20 Whitlock wrote a column titled �Newspapers are Key to Democracy� that addressed the importance of newspapers in a democracy. Somehow the column morphed into a discussion of how upset he was that Ball State Coach Brady Hoke had decided to leave the school and take the head coaching post at San Diego State. In the column he chastised the "Ball State administration, Indiana print and broadcast media" for not taking action against the coach leaving. He even took a shot at the Muncie paper "Where BSU is located, has no competition and little incentive to dig for news." He seemed to overlook a story in the Muncie Star Press (12/13) by reporter Doug Zaleski titled "Assistant football coach salaries part of Hoke situation" that discussed salary issues (link). �Since late September, I had worked feverishly trying to get the Ball State administration, Indiana print and broadcast media and the school�s boosters to grasp that Hoke would have no choice but to leave if the school failed to invest in his assistant-coaching staff and coaching facilities,� Whitlock wrote sounding like the school's public relations manager. What he didn�t mention was that the Ball State University newspaper had reported (12/2) that Whitlock had offered the school $50,000 to help keep Hoke. "The university is dragging its feet, and it's disappointing," Whitlock said in the Ball State article. "This should've been addressed and wrapped up a month ago. I cover major universities across the country, and that's how you appropriately deal with a coach that has had this kind of success." �Whitlock first told Ball State President Jo Ann Gora she needed to address Hoke's contract situation in September. A couple days before Ball State's game with Eastern Michigan University on Oct. 25, (Athletic Director Tom) Collins and him had dinner at Gora's house to talk about a potential salary raise for Hoke. �Whitlock said he offered $50,000 during the dinner to help keep Hoke at Ball State,� noted the article. "Everybody said the right things," Whitlock said. "But I left there questioning whether they had the courage and will to do the right things.� Seriously, if anyone else at the Star offered $50,000 to keep a coach in place, they'd be fired on the spot,� said another sportswriter source. �Could (Star political columnist) Steve Kraske offer $50,000 to help the governor win an election?�
12-29-2008
"Perhaps, there is no doubt that Whitlock intended to insult Catholics. Regardless, he did insult ALL CHRISTIANS when he insulted Mary, Joseph, and Jesus!" ---- Sincerely, Protest-ant
"Wow. First of all, I can't imagine there are many at the Star who'd make enough money to offer anybody $50,000 to do anything. That said, wow again...it certainly doesn't seem to have a shred of ethics about it, either for him to offer it or not to mention his vested interest when writing the subsequent column. It'd also be fun to hear what Zieman's reaction is. Wonder how many people the Star axed didn't make $50,000 in a year? I thought your post made some really good points."
"In answer to your question about Kraske, et al: No one other than Whitlock or, perhaps, Posnanski, would have 10K, let alone 50K, to contribute to anything other than putting food on the table."
"As one of those laid off reporters, I can tell you that I was nowhere close to making $50,000 a year and that was with quite a few years of experience."
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