Sports Talk-Coaches should set example for players

By John Garces/sports editor

Oklahoma State’s head football coach Mike Gundy does not like the newspaper media.

He made this point perfectly and loudly clear after his team enjoyed a comeback win over Texas Tech Sept. 22.

The object of his ire was a columnist for The Oklahoman who had dared write something he didn’t agree with.

The subject of his disdain for the column was over the way he perceived the writer portrayed one of his players, Bobby Reid.

Calling the article “75 percent fiction,” Gundy went on a 3-minute long tirade against the media, saying the newspaper is “garbage” and the editor who ran the story is “garbage.”

Although done in an immensely entertaining way (check out the video on YouTube), Gundy is far from the first coach or athlete to publicly crusade against the media.

As media coverage of sports has increased over the years, particularly since the advent of ESPN 25 years ago, those who make a living in sports and those who make a living covering sports have often clashed.

It seems the most disdain shown is toward those in the print media, who are often accused of “hiding behind their pen” if athletes don’t agree with something written about them.

Another favorite athlete or coach put-down of the media is “you don’t understand. You’ve never played the game.”

Oh really? Who’s supposed to cover the games, the buddies they played with who will spin a story a certain way so that it benefits them?

For the record, I’ve never “played the game,” but I have seen enough games that I feel more than qualified to talk about them for a living.

Unfortunately, the current sports climate, where there is significantly more bad press than good, has probably aggravated the problem.

Gundy seems to want the media to lay off of college athletes, calling them “kids.”

“ Come after me! I’m 40! I’m a man!” Gundy yells toward the end of his rant.

Perhaps, Coach, you should start acting like one, and let your “kids” know this is college, and they need to start defending themselves.

“ It makes me want to puke,” he finishes his rant.

You’re right about one thing, Coach Gundy. Using your post-game press conference to pick a fight with the media should make your players want to puke after you took away from an emotional victory.

The media and coaches/athletes may never get along.

Berating the media in a public forum crossed a line that should never be crossed again.