Chirpstory - ClarenceGaines2's Stories

The Herd interview: http://es.pn/HMh2te

Interview by Scott Van Pelt - http://es.pn/Hyd1VK

This story is built around three people;

George Dohrmann - Author of "Play Their Hearts Out"

Dinos Trigonis aka @trigonis30 - http://bit.ly/INEaak - Editor & Chief & Publisher of Full Court Press as well as basketball promoter of numerous AAU basketball events/tournaments.

Lori Stevens Zimmerman @DVbballMom - Basketball Mom of a 6'10" 9th grade hooper at Bishop Gorman High School - Stephen Zimmerman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NAWObrHprc

No truer statement has ever been written about the subject

His comments on BIAS, particularly the opinion that "the best writers embrace their biases" was thought provoking.

"I think the best writers embrace their biases, understand them & are willing to work around them - have them shattered to a million pieces."

"But bias isn't just something we can throw out the window - it is itself inherent - and therefore often unbeknownst to us."

"See, people see bias as a weakness - but it can be a strength. It can be a part of your character, it's humanizing, it's natural."

"Bias - what you've seen and experienced - separates you from the next guy. Those that move me, from those that don't...."

"Bias is a part of covering sports. It's a job where we're routinely asked to tell people what was right and wrong about a performance."

"So I take issue with the idea that 'better writers do a better job hiding their bias.' No, I reject that out of hand."

"This is territory Brian McCormick knows well. For instance, here is talking about long-term solutions for Team USA."

"While Jerry Colangelo focuses all his efforts on Coach K, the senior national team and the Beijing Olympics, what about the next generation? How will they develop? Who will develop these players? Why wait until three weeks before the Olympics to reach out and develop a national team philosophy? Why not develop players from fourteen years old within a system and a philosophy? It cannot be a lack of money and certainly not a lack of interest in the sport. So, why can't it be done? Hire Rick Majerus to coach the u-23's; Kevin Sutton to coach the u-20's; Bob Hurley, Sr. to coach the u-18's; Dave Benezra to coach the u-17's, etc."

"Put development in the hands of coaches who can develop players; coaches who are passionate about developing players. Not guys who are passionate about profit or a shoe brand. Change the culture, not just the names on the back of the Team USA jerseys.

Free advice for Sonny Vaccaro:

My hope, however, is that if Vaccaro gets his way and gets this done, he actually researches the coaches involved and insures no more guys like Joe Keller are involved in the youth development system. These guys are pariahs; in such a system, only coaches who can teach, instruct and motivate should be involved. And, if you need a couple names, I can help with those too."

I find it interesting that McCormick mentioned Joe Keller in 2006. Keller's approach to basketball development was featured in @georgedohrmann 2011 book. "Play Their Hearts Out." Here's a link to my review of the book: http://bit.ly/gETodd

Whitlock highlights Bo's post with a tweet & conversation starts to heat up on the issue.

On 9/28 I read this series of tweets from @michaeltillery on the Real Talk podcast that Whitlock conducted with Bomani: http://bit.ly/eVvXwp

So @whitlockjason called me out specifically in his podcast w/ @bomani_jones 2day. Why because I haven't sold my soul like other blogs have?

@whitlockjason Held off my readers a lot regarding your bs. I wouldn't expect an opportunist like you to give me props. Thanks 4 the shout.

@whitlockjason my site is built on integrity. You are so much of a coward that you did our interview via email. You knew what it was.

@whitlockjason Never forget meeting u at '08 Finals in Boston. Your handshake was that of wet tissue. You never once stepped in locker room.

@whitlockjason I won't go Les Bowen on you. Your commentary is par 4 the course. Expected. Typical. Nonsensical. Yellowsome [sic] comedic.

@whitlockjason your words affirm I'm on right path. Full of class. Nothing of pandering kiss ass. U? Common of little lass. Gossip & a half

Well, Michael Tillery's tweets caught my attention & I immediately listened to the podcast. I was offended & disgusted how Jason Whitlock used Michael Tillery as an example of what not to do to succeed as a Black Sports Blogger. Three separate times in the interview Whitlock came back to disparage and demean the talents of Tillery & indirectly, the other writers who were and are a part of The Starting Five: http://t.co/zSRr7TMf
Listen to the podcast for yourself - If you want to know who Whitlock really is - Go to 12:00, 20:00,& 56:50 http://bit.ly/eVvXwp

What did Whitlock say about Michael Tillery. Go listen for yourself, but here's the gist from the 12 & 20 minute marks - Tillery's intentions are good. He works hard and has put a lot of energy into developing a site, but he's clueless and exhibits a comically, stereotypically black perspective.

Whitlock respond to Tillery's tweets that I showcased above with two of his own.

Someone tell @michaeltilery I called him "clueless" and misguided. But I praised his work ethic and commitment.

We cripple our own w/brown-nosing & ass-kissing. @michaeltillery could've built something formidable. We've allowed him to remain delusional.

Fair? I'll let you judge, but what Whitlock left out was the slanderous comment he made about Tillery at the 56:50 mark: "I could have given Mike Tillery some advice, but he's too stupid to take it." Those are fighting words & show how duplicitous, mean-spirited, arrogant and ignorant Whitlock is. Michael deserves an apology from Whitlock,but I'm betting Mr. Pomposity is not man enough to give him one.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions on who is Jason Whitlock? In the podcast, Whitlock calls himself an "arrogant MF" and states that he was and is "as cold as anyone in the business."

D.K. Wilson aka @dkwilsonisland offers up 3 extended tweets on Who is Jason Whitlock?
1- http://tl.gd/dbr9r8
2- http://tl.gd/dbr9cn
3- http://bit.ly/nfHenc

D.K.'s tweets will be at the end of this long intro.

One of the most sobering comments on Whitlock's was made by @TheLadyGM "Listened to @bomani_jones interview w @whitlockjason ,I feel sick. Pomposity has never had a grander stage. Jason is sad sack."

I'm done. I hope you enjoy the Chirpstory. Who is Jason Whitlock. Please feel free to comment after you're done reading the story.

D.K.'s tweets:
1. Now, @WhitlockJason is the writer who would tell us we weren't tied to our computers though TSF won the award for the best Black sports website just months after we began the site. He's the writer telling you you didn't do what another blogger did to cultivate relationships with the mainstream when that was exactly what you did 24/7. He's the writer who says we're lazy when I wrote over 6500 posts in five years. @WhitlockJason is THAT dude.

2. @WhitlockJason is the dude who sold Marcus Garvey down the river, the NYPD officer infiltrating Malcom, the dude ensuring MLK was moved to a higher floor at the the Lorraine Hotel, the Chi-town cop giving the layout of Fred Hampton's apt.

3. I realize you gave Michael a back-handed comment in your extended introduction w/ Bomani. However, after that moment, you did everything possible to imply he - and by extension I - in fact, did not work as hard as Jason McIntyre or will Leitch or AJ Daulerio, when in fact, we recognized that the playing field was not at all level, so we worked harder than any of them did.

You said: "If somebody Black wants to put in the work they can build the same thing Jason McIntyre did." 18:56 of your podcast. We, Mike and I worked tirelessly to build TSF. I bought 3 tv's had all the DirecTV sports packages and would wake up - if I slept at all - every morning at 5 am to begin my writing day. It always ended after midnight.

You said: "At some point the playing field was somewhat level and we didn't take advantage of it." 29:48. Liar. We were quoted everywhere, including Deadspin, TBL, Free Darko, AOL Fanhouse, etc. We won the 2007 Black Weblogs Award for best Black sports website or blog after being up for just a few months. We began the site with a conscience and consciously. You never saw pictures of half-naked women on TSF like the sites you feel are so successful. You never saw penis pictures on TSF like you did on the sites where you allege work harder than us.

Ask any of them if they wrote 6573 posts to their websites in five years, with over 5000 of them being 1000 words or more. I did.

Now. I still have our email exchange from Thanksgiving weekend 2007 with you talking about how talented I am as a writer. Where the fuck were you? Just because you don't like my perspectives - which you directly called, "ignorant" - doesn't speak to my talents as a writer.

The essence of what you are is this: you are nothing more than a crass careerist who, at every turn, has attempted to pick people you feel are "easy" targets in order to boost your own worth. You've used this ploy repeatedly to say you're the guy ESPN hates. Bullshit Jason, you fucking worked there. And you picked the easy fight when you went after Scoop and used that to further your career. You did it with the KC Star. You've done the same thing at every turn. You are no better than a common whore.

BTW, take that picture of Ralph Wiley down. You ain't no Wiley, You're one of the people glad as shit to see him pass so you could swing the game over to Uncle Toms and wind-up black face monkeys banging keyboards with Uncle Ruckus thought balloons pointing at their heads thinking how much "us niggers" are ruining it for you.

I comprehend English quite well. And I am an especially astute listener when snakes are hissing at my heels. Go hiss elsewhere.

Got to love Asanti Samuels' video of Asanti calling @LesBowen & @Jeff_McLane to the Podium http://bit.ly/q0nA7b

Showing that he respects his elders, Philadelphia sportswriter Michael Tillery tweeted:
"I speak my piece from the precipice of Mt. Olympus here. Jeff and Les can have at it...but I will say...Get it Les."

Also linking a recent blog post of Dan Football psychology blog article on "Football Psychology - Playing in the Present: http://tinyurl.com/6y24239