Media's perception vs. The Fan's perception of the Chiefs

by kc571 on Oct 19, 2009 12:45 PM CDT Comment 40 comments

For a few weeks now, I've been paying attention to what the game announcers, NFL Network, and ESPN media outlets have been saying about the Chiefs. I have to say that I think the media is more positive about our team, than we are.

Take for example Rich Gannon yesterday. I heard him say that he liked Haley, and thought the Chiefs were doing a good job. Without posting everything that I've heard, I think Gannon's statements are similar across the board (from the media). While I sit home, and get frustrated that they don't move the pocket to avoid the rush, that they don't throw down field more, etc. The media seems to think the Chiefs are one of the best "worst" teams in the league. And they think we are going to build a winner, eventually.

I know we've joked about "In Pioli we Trust"..., but I was hoping for more success this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm wearing my Chief's jersey at work today. But, for example, I wanted the team to WIN yesterday's game. I was a tad disappointed that we couldn't punch in that last TD to seal the game on a high note.

All this being said, I have to keep reminding myself, either there's a love fest with Haley and Pioli, or the media may be right. We'll just have to wait until next year to see the fruit of their labor.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

1 recs | Comment 40 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I think the media are right in this case.

The Chiefs could very easily be 3-3 instead of 1-5. I think they are one of the best worst teams in the NFL and I think they will probably win several games in the second half of the season that features the lighter schedule (I’ve posted this before, but the tough as nails first half of the schedule is really a good thing for the team).

You know what impressed me yesterday? That the Chiefs came out yesterday and won a game after that heartbreaking, soul-crushing overtime loss last week. Haley had them ready to play when so often teams play very poorly in weeks after losses like that.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Tough pill to swallow

when we’re still…getting beat by the Raiders. Yes, yes, I know they beat the Eagles who absolutely obliterated us but still….its the Oakland Raiders. They’re the laughingstock of the NFL and until we start beating them twice a year its hard to consider us on the upswing.

Welcome to Chiefs REBUILD - Version 2.0 /The Clark Hunt Edition
Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 19, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We...

should have won that game if it wasn’t for mental mistake after mental mistake. The Raiders didn’t beat us, we lost. And don’t blame it on the coach because they were fundamental, common sense errors like late hits, catching a ball, to decision making.

by I_Bleed_Red. on Oct 19, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

None of that matters

in a years time when we look about at the season and see the big ‘L’ next to the Oakland game

Welcome to Chiefs REBUILD - Version 2.0 /The Clark Hunt Edition
Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 19, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

about=back

Welcome to Chiefs REBUILD - Version 2.0 /The Clark Hunt Edition
Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 19, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

Even when we were winning championships on a regular basis we were getting beat by the Raiders…and we were beating them too. If you measure success by your record against the Raiders then you must be eternally disappointed.

Chiefs go 9-7. LJ makes 1400 yards. DBowe makes 1200 yards. Defense #18.

by Zodeman on Oct 20, 2009 6:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually I think the game ended in a pretty good way.

Tamba Hali Safety

Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...

Get your Arrowhead Pride Wolf Pack T-shirt now!

by oldchiefsfan on Oct 19, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You need to quit listening to CBS, ESPN and NFL Network Media !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These guys don’t know shit about or care about this team, period!!!! Listen to Mitch Holthus, Bob Gretz or Josh Looney for the true impression and passion of the Chiefs.

by CJ-in-2018 on Oct 19, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mitch Holthus?

That would be one of the worst people to get an unbiased perpspective from

Welcome to Chiefs REBUILD - Version 2.0 /The Clark Hunt Edition
Chiefs will be lucky to go 4-12 in 2010

by KansasCityShuffle on Oct 19, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holthus...

is one of the best analyst I have ever listened to. He likes to think the team has potential, which it does, but he doesn’t blow smoke up our asses.

by I_Bleed_Red. on Oct 19, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

sirius satellite radio really proves your point..

you can listen to various games around the NFL with the choice of which team’s broadcast to listen to. A lot of those broadcasts are terrible. The announcers seem slow/lifeless. We really are blessed to be able to listen to Holthus/Dawson on the radio. Class act broadcast team if you ask me.

by LClarkson on Oct 19, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then go listen to Jason Whitlock's "Unbiased Perspective !

He’s one of the best !

by CJ-in-2018 on Oct 19, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whitlock

Whitlock touched on the same topic after yesterday’s game:http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/1515856.html

by zbschiefs on Oct 19, 2009 1:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Whitlock needs them to fail, otherwise his schtick doesn't play.

If Haley/Pioli build the Chiefs into a Superbowl contender none of Whitlock’s bitching will make any sense. He needs them to be bad because he can only write about negative shit.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I just thought what he wrote this week was relevant to this conversation.

by zbschiefs on Oct 19, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I haven’t read Whitlock much since his stupid tirade where he evaluated Pioli’s GM ability on how much access he gave guys like Jason. Absolutely one of the stupidest comments I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot of Jason’s stupid comments. But I did want to see what he would say after yesterday’s game. I was quite surprised by the subject and I thought he made some good points. They were relevant to this post and you are spot on to bring it up zbchief.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Real improvement is anathema for JW. The last thing he wants to write is a report on how Pioli and Haley succeeded.

by Wheatboy74 on Oct 19, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thx...

I missed that article. But, as you can see, I agree with what he said. Why did we pass to Pope on that play? Or better yet, not pass it. If it was picked, it was 4th down anyway. Very bad decision to eat the ball there.

by kc571 on Oct 19, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you disagree with Haley's pass to Bowe at the end of the game?

Conventional wisdom says to run the ball and make Washington burn their timeouts. That was a gutsy call and it worked. I don’t see anybody second-guessing it today.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great call!!!

I’ve been waiting all year to see the slant to Bowe. That play should be a mainstay of this offense. Bowe is the perfect receiver to pull that off. Cassel should audible to that play every time he sees the LBs coming up to the line. That play should be run 3-4 times a game out of different formations. Keep blitzing us suckas!

by Chiefsfan1970 on Oct 19, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was shocked that they ran a pass play in that situation, but it was a great call.

Of course, if it hadn’t worked it would have stopped the clock without forcing the Redskins to burn a time out. But those are the risks you take when you call any play.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yah screw whitlock...

he’a a jackass…Gannon would know i trust him…theismann votes for us each week so he was bound to be right at least once unless we went 0-16…but i like him for it….

I don’t know what to think…

by krayfish on Oct 19, 2009 1:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There are a lot of positives...

The fact is that this team has a serious lack of talent but, we have run through the gauntlet and are getting into the better part of the schedule. Even with the serious lack of talent, we have managed to play solid, fairly mistake free football. (notice I said fairly) That is one thing I will give Haley credit for, the team is showing some discipline and seems to be improving each week. I still did’nt like the way he coached the Philly game but, overall the team is getting better, especially on defense.

I think I had high expectations on this offense with haley taking over as HC/OC. I still hope to see this offense start playing better on a consistent basis. It hurts me to see how dreadful the offense has been but, the bright spot has been the lack of turnovers and improved play at the QB position. If Bowe can start making ALL the catches he is supposed to make and Bradley will get his head out of his ass, maybe they will start being a little more aggressive and our offense can start winning some football games for us.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Oct 19, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the tv announcers

meet with each team before the game. They are always given / looking for positive spin about each team. They basically aren’t allowed to say bad things about the team. They can disagree with plays/calls/player conduct, but Ian Eagle (commentated yesterday) essentially isn’t allowed to say “Mike Goff has been terrible this year”….. nothing that the announcers say on the TV broadcast is worth anything. The NFL has each network in its back pocket.

by LClarkson on Oct 19, 2009 2:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I distinctly remember Troy Aikman using the "pitiful" to describe the Chiefs last week.

Is Troy exempt from this rule?

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I think we were winning at the time too.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Oct 19, 2009 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL Announcers and Experts are uneducated and Fans are delusional

The announcers are PAID money not to trash the teams they’re announcing. Its bad business. Think about it. Of course they try and keep it as positive as possible. Just because these people feeding us praise and experts that don’t know shit aren’t being overly negative isn’t reason to think your team is good. If you use the media as a bore-meter of any degree for determining how good your team might be than you’re obviously an idiot incapable of figuring out your own opinion.

The fact that we have a sports writer in KC that has been kept on despite the fact that he is apparently so hated in this city is actually a blessing. Would you rather just have writers that write nothing but blind praise about the Chiefs? I love to see people get ruffled by Whitlock’s words. Who cares what he says. Hes just a voice and just because that comes from the media doesn’t give it anymore importance than any other voice on here for me.

I don't want no Yo-Yos

by AK_47 on Oct 19, 2009 2:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't want somebody to write blind praise, but Whitlock writes his nonsense for his own self-promotion.

If Madonna were a morbidly obese sports columnist, she would be Jason Whitlock. Everything Whitlock does is first and foremost about promoting Whitlock. He will write or say anything to that end.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you, why the hell should some fat idiot's opinion be worth more than yours or mine

I think we’re approaching the point that the so-called sports experts of yesteryear (announcers, reporters, TV analysts) are going to be dethroned by dedicated, hard-working “amateurs” like the heroes who run this site and others like it for every team in every sport. The Internet has democratized sports journalism and maybe journalism in general, because we all have access to the same information now. About the only thing the old guard of sports experts has that we don’t is direct access to interviews with players/coaches/staff. But even that is beginning to melt away—after all, Arrowhead Pride asked Matt Cassel a question in the press conference last Sunday!

In response to the other part of your post, I would argue that no one wants blind homerism from their local sports beat writer. What we’re looking for is someone who can acknowledge mistakes and admit when he’s wrong. Writing about sports is inherently risky. If you predict a player will blossom, sometimes he will fail. If you predict a team will be terrible, sometimes they surprise everyone and win a bunch of games. You say a coach is crazy, sometimes it turns out that he’s actually just an innovator ahead of his time. I just want a little bit of humility in my sports reporting, but Whitlock has a big ego and it often seems that he has chosen his position on the topic at hand and will not change it no matter how much evidence piles up against him. Currently his opinion is “The Chiefs suck and will not succeed under the Pioli-Haley regime,” so even when the team wins, he has to justify his position by talking only about the negatives. It’s really childish and annoying, but yeah, it doesn’t really bother me because I don’t even read his shit anymore.

by Soria's Unibrow on Oct 19, 2009 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whitlock still believes Jeff George is the greatest NFL quarterback of all time.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And you may be understating him!

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, Jeff George

I remember him being an unstoppable beast in NFL Street on the PS2. I’m pretty sure that’s the highlight of his career.

by Soria's Unibrow on Oct 19, 2009 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That sounds right

Jeff George could have been king of the XFL.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Dr. Z had the best take on most of the TV guys

Too many of the pregame shows are worthless and most of the announcers are poor at best.

Announcing teams tend to pick out players or a story line before the game and are unable to adjust even if those decisions don’t make sense. It can be maddening to watch. I remember a few years back when Moss was in Oakland. KC and the Raiders were on and the commentators had decided that Moss was going to be a deciding factor. They loved his play and kept talking about him even though he had clearly mailed it in, caught maybe two passes and KC won the game pretty easily.

I haven’t watched a Chiefs game without listening to Lenny and Mitch (or Kevin before him) for a long time. Lenny doesn’t sugarcoat it if he sees a problem. They also don’t seem to come in with a prearranged storyline.

My take is that KC is considered a bad team, but is headed in a positive direction by most of the media. They respect Pioli and believe he’ll fix the team They just aren’t going to get there this year.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you. Lenny will always tell it like it is. You can tell when the team is pissing him off.

I am not a big Mitch fan though.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why, Mitch has always seemed very knowledgable and reasonable

For example, Mitch called the punt block exactly right while it was happening. He said when the Skins recovered it and tried to advance it that it was dead where it was touched. I think Mitch does a good job. He’s entertaining and informative. I was very pleased that there was no drop off when Kevin Harlan left for TV.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to say it...

I Love Mitch! I hope he is our “Voice” for… well.. ever.

...no more explicit signature...

by GanjaChief on Oct 19, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there was a huge drop off after Harlan left.

Harlan was an extraordinary announcer to be doing local radio.

Mitch isn’t horrible by any stretch of the imagination. I could do without hearing him call LJ the Centaur.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Oct 19, 2009 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He hasn't done it for a couple of seasons

the most I remember hearing is during the Denver game last year and then he called one play against the Skins “centaur-like”.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx

by Big Chief on Oct 19, 2009 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Mitch and I'm so-so on Lenny.

Mitch does his homework, gets passionate, stays objective, and has a great voice for radio. During the middle of the game Mitch can bust out all kinds of facts about both the Chiefs and the opposing team from off the top of his head. Even if he works for the Chiefs as an announcer it is important to stay objective.

I also like Lenny’s passion and “tell it like it is” demeanor. You always know where a player stands with Lenny. The problem with Lenny is he just doesn’t know nearly as much as Mitch about what is currently going on with the team. Just last week Mitch had to tell him we were wearing our throwback uniforms next week against the Chargers. I’ve heard Mitch (politely) correct Len quite a few times.

by Primussux on Oct 20, 2009 3:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs