Columnist’s transgressions unforgivable, unprofessional

Mike Gundy was wrong.

Apparently, that’s what I’m supposed to believe as a fellow member… Mike Gundy was wrong.

Apparently, that’s what I’m supposed to believe as a fellow member of the media. While his execution may have been in poor form, his message was on point.

Jenni Carlson is guilty of not only berating an amateur athlete but of complete journalistic fraud. Let me explain.

After watching Gundy turn Oklahoma State’s post-game press conference into a Jerry Springer-esque comedy act, I thought to myself, “Here’s another jerk that wants to use the media as a scapegoat for the turmoil within his team.”

I immediately went to the Internet and Googled Ms. Carlson’s column. What I read was appalling.

First, there’s Carlson’s assertion that Bobby Reid, the Oklahoma State quarterback recently demoted to backup, wants to be “coddled, babied” by his coaches because he was fed chicken by his mother following a recent game.

Sure, it’s a little strange that the young man was being hand fed by his mother in full public view, but it’s quite a jump to tie eating chicken to being an inferior collegiate quarterback or a malcontent. It was apparent that every step of Carlson’s decision-making process involved few facts and a lot of postulation.

Carlson wrote, “Word is that Reid has considered transferring a couple of times.”

Even Kurt Vonnegut would shake his head at such a vague statement. Was the word sent down from on high? Or perhaps the insightful cashier at her local McDonald’s shared this knowledge with her.

That kind of accusation can tarnish a player’s reputation and turn a fan base against him. To make such an incriminating statement without a definite source is outright villainy.

Then there’s this little gem.

“If you believe the rumors and the rumblings, Reid has been pushing coaches that way for quite some time,” Carlson wrote, referring to the decision to demote Reid.

If I believe the rumors and rumblings? Since when is journalism ever based on a rumor or a rumble? I haven’t even earned my English writing degree yet, and I’m well aware that if I ever based an article, especially slander such as this, on “rumors and rumblings,” I would either be fired, looking for a new major or both.

I intently searched for a fact or quote to support her assumptions, but the article was almost entirely devoid of substantial evidence. The only person quoted was the maligned Reid. Reid is cited in the article as saying, “The coaches made a decision. I just have to go with it, get better and get back on the field.”

It seems like a very commendable response after losing his starting job. Carlson, however, has a different take.

“There’s something to be said for not being a malcontent,” Carlson wrote, “but you can almost see Reid shrugging his shoulders as he says those words. Does he have the fire in his belly?”

Unless Carlson is telepathic, how can she “almost see Reid shrugging his shoulders?” Maybe one should question what else she sees. Is Reid in his underwear?

The utter ridiculousness of my own hypotheses validates the outlandishness of hers. There are a million different gestures Reid could have provided while he was making this statement, but unless Carlson was there, she has no place presuming any of them.

It is not our role as writers to assume the temper or body language of any source. They quote, we deliver. Simple.