Does he still matter?
That question infiltrated my thoughts and then meandered in my brain while hearing Jason Whitlock’s call on Wednesday to 610 Sports’ Danny Parkins. Because there was some truth sprinkled into his words, I wanted to listen to what he had to say. Because there was some advice, well-intended or not, I found myself nodding in agreement at times. Because he admitted he had not listened to much more than about the last 90 minutes of programming before calling, I realized I was ready to dismiss the same pointed words I found myself agreeing with a few minutes before.
And, after the call was over, I didn’t think about him much, if at all.
Having mulled over that realization, I’m left wondering if I’m the only one. Am I alone in feeling like the Whitlock appearance meant next to nothing other than some quick, cheap entertainment? Does Kansas City still hang on his every word like it did a decade ago? I ask because we tend to do that here.
When someone we at one time accepted as a local goes national, we wait fervently for them to “remember where they came from,” and to bring some of that national experience back in some form in order to share it with us. Their words and actions become lifelines for our city’s hopes of being nationally relevant; or, at least not forgotten and dismissed as a fly-over. As it happens with Hollywood actors, local high school athletes, and the Kansas City Royals and free agents, it happened with Whitlock, of course, and through him, we’ve shown we’re willing to take what we can get.
Gas and torch in hand, he blazed the trail behind him. He was ready to go, ready to prove he didn’t need Kansas City (or his then-bosses, anyways) anymore. How’s that going for him? I can only speak for myself, but I don’t search out his national columns like I did his Kansas City Star work. And, once I quit following his Twitter feed, I’ve largely forgotten where and how to find him unless I see it through a retweet like the incredibly ridiculous Jeremy Lin fiasco. Even then, I never feel I’m missing something if I fail to read his work.
I’ve heard it all from him before.
So, during his unannounced phone call to Parkins, I wondered if Whitlock has become even a caricature of the character? Has he transformed again, this time from local-guy-gone-national to national-guy-trying-to-sound-relevant-but-isn’t-as-much-now? By the end of the call, the old “jumping the shark” phrase came to mind, especially since he had called the same station before and delivered much of the same message to Nick Wright, if not in more spectacular fashion the first time around.
It’s just… I don’t know if Whitlock is the one jumping here, or is it us as consumers? We’ve seen/heard this all before, but here I am discussing him again. Is it time for me to stop thinking of him as having relevance?
I don’t know.
I’d love to hear your comments. What does Whitlock mean to you these days? Do his takes still matter?
CK – I didn’t get to hear the bit with Whitlock, but do agree with you 100%. I’d go a step further to say that he he had jumped the shark (which by the way, I’ll admit, I had to brush up on that idiom on Wikipedia) prior to leaving KC. I mean, when he left, it felt like he was getting called up from AAA a few seasons too late. Sure I still read his stuff, but not like Mellinger’s stuff. And I certainly don’t view his work to be near the level of Posnanski, whose work I still try to read when I can. Maybe the guy just spent too much time grinding axes that were already sharp. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Anyway, good read man.
For truly insightful comments, I’d look to @TheFakeNed.
Oh and one more thing, am I the only one that wants to do this to Whitlock every time I see his face?
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I think what I noted was… tired schtick…
In reality I think he is a thin skinned, insecure, sad man who had more than his 5 min of fame and is starting to look for a landing place… I just hope its not on my house
I don’t think he’s relevant at all. He became popular because of his criticism of the Chiefs and Carl Peterson when nobody in the local media had ever been that critical of the local pro sports teams. It was new and fresh at the time, but once it grew stale and his act grew tired, he jumped ship. I’ve read a column of his from time to time, but find myself reading a paragraph or two before clicking away.
I always found Nick Wright very annoying, so was glad to hear he was going to Houston. I never listened to Nick’s show. But I heard yesterday was the first day of someone new so I tuned in. Was surprised when Whitlock got on and was in complete agreement with everything he was saying. The way Parkins reacted and what he said told me that I don’t have to waste my time tuning in to listen to him.
What Whitlock said was correct, but I don’t think his words carry any weight with anyone anymore. He’s basically just a guy with an opinion, like any of us.
I believe He is relevant not only in KC but nationally and his takes are very unique and controversial what I personally enjoy.
I didn’t think he was all that interesting when he was in Kansas City. His act seemed too conived. Like an internet troll he said stuff just to see what kind of reaction he could get.
I hardly noticed he left KC, and refuse to folow him on twitter because that means I’m doing my part to keep him less relevant.
I listen to 610 and 810, read the Star every day, this blog on a regular basis, almost every post on Posnanski’s blog…and reading this post made me think about Whitlock for the first time in a loooooooong time. Thus, in my opinion, he is not relevant anymore.
I also agree with Lee: Whitlock’s columns read more like an internet troll than a well-thought-out opinion.