It turns out Jenni Carlson is a K.U. alum. She's the columnist who was the subject of the post-game rant from Oklahoma State University's football coach Mike Gundy. I'm sure most of you have seen the tirade on youtube by now. If you haven't click here.

I'm also a KU grad, who's a few years behind Carlson. And I know what it's like to be a young woman who writes about sports. It's not an easy job and you become a big target. I've found out the hard way that sports columnists become punching bags for angry fans.

For instance, a reader attacked my looks just because I didn't agree with who the coach was starting. When I mentioned my team should change up the starting point guards, I got an email saying I looked like "chewed up crab meat." And by the way, that was one of many times a reader commented on whether I was "hot."

In Carlson's column, she questioned a player's toughness by telling a story about his mom feeding him chicken. When you bring someone's mom into the story, it's definitely the lowest of blows for a young man. So I guess, if she can dish it, she should be able to take it.

I've read the column and I've seen the video. I don't necessarily agree with the way Carlson approached the story, but the bottom line is... it doesn't matter what I think.

Carlson is a columnist, not a reporter. She should be able to state her opinions without being lambasted in public for them.

However, I do have a slight problem with the way the column was presented. It doesn't seem appropriate to place it front and center on the sports page as if it were the lead story on gameday.

But I think Carlson is catching way too much flack for the story. As a leader of his team and university, a certain level of professionalism is expected from Gundy. He was way out of line, and even more so, for not apologizing for the way he approached the situation. But hey, at least he didn't say she looked like "chewed up crab meat." That would be absolutely unforgivable.

1 Comments

jenifer said:

You are hot, Brookie!!

October 3, 2007 4:58 AM

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