I am not a sports fanatic, but I do have a problem with wrongful termination, or the appearance of some type of impropriety. I also have an issue when someone just releasing a lot of hot air, which may be happening in this situation. It seems like Detroit News sports columnist Rob Parker was forced to resign. Prior to being forced out, he was demoted to general assignment sports reporter, the Newspaper Guild disclosed. The fallout stems from a news conference question to the coach of the Detroit Lions NFL team that drew criticism from management, readers and other sports journalists.
At a postgame news conference on Dec. 21, Parker asked Lions coach Rod Marinelli whether he wished his daughter had married “a better defensive coordinator.” Fox television showed the question, prompting analyst Terry Bradshaw to say: “You know, Rob, you’re an idiot. You’re just a flat idiot.” Others chimed in.
Parker defended himself in a column that Monday, saying, “What might have seemed like a personal attack wasn’t. . . . I respect what Marinelli is trying to accomplish as Lions coach, and he respects what I do as a sports columnist — ask questions, tough ones, to get at the root of his team’s woes.”
But Marinelli said the next day, “Anytime you attack my daughter, I’ve got a problem with that . . .” and, asked whether the question crossed the line, replied, “big time.” The Lions fired Marinelli on Dec. 28, a day after the team became the first in NFL history to finish with a record of 0-16. Source: Journal-Isms
I think the question was unprofessional, inappropriate and insulting. Apparently, it isn’t the first time Parker has been in hot water. Less than two months prior to that, according to Journal-Isms, he apologized for implicating Michigan State University backup quarterback Kirk Cousins in an off-campus assault. Parker made the statement in October on WDIV-TV’s “Clubhouse Confidential.” Mleczkc said Parker was suspended without pay for “several days” and then demoted to sports general assignment reporter for “several weeks.” The Guild filed a grievance on Parker’s behalf on Nov. 24, saying Parker made the comments as a freelancer, not as a News employee.
Back in 1991, Parker was brought up on charges by the Newspaper Guild for crossing picket lines during a bitter strike at the New York Daily News. The charges were later dropped and Parker moved on to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Parker started at Newsday in 1995, one month after he had been suspended for a day for making a joke on a radio program he co-hosted on WDFN-AM, a Detroit all-sports station. He jokingly said in a discussion of cats, “everyone needs a little pussy.”
According to Wikipedia, “The African-American Parker is not shy to discuss the racial aspects of current sports events, such as the NBA off-court dress policy, or the lack of African-Americans in NFL coaching positions. He penned a much-debated column where he called Hank Aaron a ‘coward’ for declining to attend when Barry Bonds would break the career Major League home run record.” Last year, Parker declared on ESPN’s “First Take” that he had low expectations for college players Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love in the NBA, because they are white.
Maybe the penalty for his question was disproportionate, but it was clearly unprofessional. The guy has a track record of exercising poor judgment. Personally, he got what was due to him. Good riddance.
Filed under: Coach Rod Marinelli, Detroit Lions, Inappropriate Question, Rob Parker, Sports Columnist, Wrongful Termination
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