Jason Whitlock = Clueless Windbag

OK, I've got to get this off my chest: Jason Whitlock is an assclown.  I wish I didn't have to resort to name-calling, but my vocabulary cannot accurately put into words the way I feel about him.  After reading Whitlock over the years it is quite clear that his number one objective as a journalist to to make a name for himself.  And what better way to do that than to stir up controversy.  He is sports journalism's version of a "shock jock".  Earlier this year, Whitlock ignited what K-State fans refer to as "Hummer-gate" when he wrote that Michael Beasley was cruising around Manhattan in a Hummer, insinuating that Beasley was receiving extra benefits.  Never mind the fact that there was no truth to his statement, it served it's purpose in Whitlock's eyes.  It reflected negatively on K-State while bringing attention to himself.  Then, Jason got his feelings hurt when he was booed by K-State fans as he entered the arena for a game and decided to take a shot at K-State fans.  If this column doesn't wreak of an agenda, then I don't know what does.

So by now you're probably wondering what has sparked this rant of mine, so here it goes.  Following K-State's loss today, Whitlock wrote this article, which claims that K-State's basketball program is doomed because they have Frank Martin as a coach, calling him "the least qualified coach in the Big 12".  He goes on to say that K-State will be left with no talent calling them a team full of "unskilled energy players" and predicts a last place finish in the Big 12 next year.

Now maybe you're saying that as a columnist, Whitlock's job is to share his opinion.  Well, I can't argue with that, but I can expect for him to be steadfast in his opinion.  However, following K-State's win over USC on Thursday, Whitlock wrote this, a column in which he praises Martin and credits his coaching in the win over the Trojans.  On top of that, I can expect Whitlock, as a journalist, to support his opinions with facts.  As highlighted by his "Hummer-gate" story, Whitlock never lets a lack of facts get in the way of a good story.  Calling Martin "the least qualified coach in the Big 12" is yet another example of overlooking facts.  How is Martin any less qualified than Pat Knight or Sean Sutton?  Whitlock's assertion that K-State's talent will be non-existent is also a egregious error.  He does mention Jacob Pullen and Ron Anderson to be contributors next year, yet does not mention Dominique Sutton.  Sutton was a 4-star recruit and may be the best athlete on K-State's team.  Next year, K-State will also add Dennis Clemente, a transfer who was the starting point guard for Miami as a sophomore, Jamar Samuels, a red-shirt who chose K-State over Georgetown, and will be hoping that David Hoskins, a second-team All-Big 12 player last year, will return from a knee injury.  And looking down the road, K-State already has commitments from 2 top-100 recruits for the 2009 in Wally Judge and Rodney McGruder.  So to suggest that the cupboard is bare at K-State is just plain false.

I struggled with whether or not to write about Whitlock because giving him attention is exactly what he seems to want, but when a journalist is being this irresponsible I feel the need to call them out.