Rob Parker of the Detroit News has found himself in a real pickle. Widely and intensely criticized after crossing the line during a post-game press conference, Parker claims that his offensive question to Lions coach Rod Marinelli represented an “attempt at humor.”
So where’s the punch line?
Parker sounded angry, not jovial, while hurling questions at Marinelli regarding the general notion that the head coach hasn’t fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry because Barry is Marinelli’s son-in-law.
Obviously, the same sense of nepotism that got Barry hired has kept him in place. But Parker seemed to get increasingly upset over the fact that Marinelli wouldn’t publicly acknowledge it.
At least Parker has apologized, not for crossing the line via a question that unnecessarily drew Marinelli’s daughter and her choice of spouse into the equation but because Parker’s attempt at humor failed.
On one hand, we respect Parker for acknowledging the blunder. On the other hand, we’d respect him a lot more if he hadn’t tried to hide behind the vague notion that he was making like Ralph Malph and if he had embraced the truth — that he finally succumbed to the frustration that arises from the fact that Marinelli won’t admit what everyone else knows about Barry’s high degree of job security in a business that typically offers far lesser assurances of continued employment in the face of pathetic performance.
UPDATE: Marinelli apparently has accepted Parker’s apology, as evidenced by Taco Bill’s exclusive photo of their follow-up meeting.
PARKER BACKS OFF FROM MARINELLI QUESTION
Posted by Mike Florio on December 22, 2008, 9:09 AM EST
18 Responses to “PARKER BACKS OFF FROM MARINELLI QUESTION”
You should have listened to Mike and Mike this morning. Is it any wonder I don’t like ESPN? After listening to that show, I don’t plan on tuning back in.
He is yet another slimebag sportswriter trying to crawl out of the cesspool of Detroit sportswriting.
What a pile of human filth.
If the guys sucks, and he obviously does, and he has job security because he is family, which he obviously does, why is it wrong to mention it? Screw the Lions. They have fans who pay money to watch them play and are emotionally involved, or at least used to be. The media is supposed to ask why. It’s a lot worse for all of us when the media doesn’t ask why.
I thought it was funny? Hell, it’s exactly the style of humour that you guys use, why get worked up about a print media guy doing the same?
Too late, Parker. You’re just another d-bag reporter.
We better back off of Parker…or else his next article will claim that people are racist against him.
That article was a crap-job apology if you ask me!
I think rob’s wife wishes she was married to a better person.
I’m confused, who is the one that doesn’t know how to spell “congratulations” on the cake? Is it Hot Rod, Taco Bob, or the Bakery Lady working at Publix?
@ gohorse : Why? Because the comment brought the dude’s daughter into it. There are lines you don’t cross. Well, you can cross them if you want to. Just don’t be surprised if people think you are an a-hole.
@ filbertkiwi71
Is it me or is that show the cheesiest show ever. ESPN radio as a whole sucks but they are almost more cheesy than the Herd and his Zima.
serious douche…
Are we not allowed to comment on the pic of the day anymore?
It could be that he’s the son-in-law that’s keeping his job, or it could be that Marinelli doesn’t believe that it’s entirely Barry’s fault that the defense sucks.
During the 2006 season, everyone wanted Dungy to fire Ron Meeks because the defense was giving up 173 rushing yards per game, not to mention 375 in one game to the Jags. Sure, the Lions’ pass defense is a lot worse than the Colts’ in 2006, but they’re giving up fewer rush yards per game, have more total sacks, the same number of forced fumbles, given up only a few more first downs, but with better 3rd and 4th down percentages, with 1 game left to play.
Why not go one step further with the son-in-law stuff and claim that Bill Parcells is going to tell the Dolphins to lose the game against the Jets so that Parcells’ son-in-law Scott Pioli’s Patriots can get into the playoffs? I mean the Dolphins have had a remarkable season, and could tie the biggest single season turnaround if they win, but it makes more sense that the Dolpins would tank it so Parcells’ son-in-law could make the playoffs. Right…………………………..
I don’t think the reason Barry still has his job is because of nepotism. It’s because Barry’s defensive philosophy is exactly the same as Marinelli’s, and he’s running the defense exactly how Marinelli wants it run. The problem is a lack of talent. The D looked pretty good the first half of last year when Shaun Rogers was playing like a beast.
the lions opponents in early 07 sucked, also.
it is a fair question. it is also fair to suggest the only reason parker has that job is because of affirmative action.
IrishPat……I didn’t even notice the the typo. The pic is from his myspace site
http://www.myspace.com/parkerandtheman
Marinelli does nothing but dodge heat by blaming himself for everything before anyone else can question him on his failures. Rob Parker is a Charles Barkley type that says outrageous things to invoke change.
All these “analysts” have such “in the box thinking”, they all have the same opinion. Rob Parker is a breath of fresh air, I love listening to him, he may not be right all the time, but he has the balls to be wrong.
Mike (the Mike who posted in this thread, not Florio), I don’t think Parker’s married. I seem to remember a recent appearance on “First Take” in which he put forth a sob story about being “alone on Saturday nights” in a thinly-veiled bid to bring in the attention from the ladies. It might have worked: even more recently than his S.O.S. for lovin’, I caught a “I’m getting some, so it doesn’t matter” twinkle in his eye when Bayless was ragging him on his choice of attire.