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OTC: Jack Harry Fingered For Lack Of Professionalism

“Even though I don’t listen to any of this (media banter), I was let know that was said. No, that’s not how I behave. I have five children that I have to be a role model for and it’s not something I would do. … But again, it’s not something I do, want to do or be thought of as doing.”
Todd Haley, when asked if he gave a Chiefs fan the finger as he walked off the field at Arrowhead Sunday following the Browns game, as reported by KSHB’s Jack Harry, KCchiefs.com
GH: Jack Harry reported on his Tuesday night sportscast on KSHB TV 41 that Haley had flipped the bird to a Chiefs fan. Read on for an excerpt from Harry’s report.

“We've all watched Todd Haley go ballistic on the sidelines when his players screw up, but now the Chiefs head coach is gaining a reputation as a hot-head with the fans. After the Chiefs/Browns game, I received two different e-mails stating that Haley gave the finger to a 50-year-old fan. Yep, the magic single-finger salute! I sought out this fan and he fired back with a lengthy and detailed three-page letter describing what happened.”
Jack Harry, KSHB TV 41 sports anchor, nbcactionnews.com
GH: When I watched Harry’s Tuesday sportscast, I was sure Harry must have more than a fan’s email as proof of Haley’s bird. He had even less than that. Read on.

“I’m going to give you my opinion. I don’t think (Haley) did it. What kind of moron would risk their job over something like this? The other thing that bothered me was that the guy who contacted Jack used a fake name.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: The guy used a fake name in his email to Harry? And Harry went on a respected local newscast to report this speculative finger? This is one of the reasons the public’s respect for the main-steam media continues to erode. To compare Harry’s inexcusable lack of journalistic integrity to TMZ or National Enquire is a slight to those sensationalistic news outlets.

“Let’s call him ‘Fred’ He’s not some drunken idiot out there screaming at the coach.”
Jack Harry, describing the anonymous emailer who Harry based his report upon, nbcactionnews.com
GH: The screamer in this scenario who appears to have lost control of his facilities is Harry.

“Haley paused, looking up at him and then gave Fred the finger!”
Jack Harry, describing a blow-by-blow account that according to the Chiefs’ head coach never happened, nbcactionnews.com
GH: If you watched Harry’s newscast or listened to his recount on 810 Wednesday, you may have come away thinking Harry himself witnessed this act.

“I high-five people and there were people there who were pretty positive.”
Todd Haley, when asked if he did anything that might have been mistaken for giving someone the bird, KCchiefs.com

“(The emailer) may have embellished the story. People like to say bad things about famous people.”
Danny Clinkscale, 810 AM
GH: It is too bad Mad Jack didn’t consider this possibility before he publicly trashed Haley on television and radio. Where was Harry news director at KSHB in this? Read on.

“I took it to my news director and I said; ‘What do you think?’ And I’m not begging out of this, because I said; ‘I think we need to do something on this.’ We did and I’m proud of it that we did.”
Jack Harry, 810 AM
GH: What bothers me most about Harry’s actions is his refusal to apologize for his obvious error in judgment. He is as wrong on this as he can be wrong. The only person in the media I have heard come to his defense is Jason Whitlock – and Whitlock simply is hoping to run Haley and Pioli out of town – even if it means teaming up with Jack Harry. Read on.

“Excuse the narcissistic arrogance that’s about to be spewed but it’s like it’s 1994 and I’m always forced to be the bad guy. Everybody wants to play nice and play kissy face and patty cake. This thing here is so clear cut. Not that Todd Haley did it, we don’t know. But the possibility that Todd Haley did this is definitely on the table!”
Jason Whitlock, 610 AM
GH: The possibility that Haley is the Antichrist due to an emailer’s accusation is also on the table. But I’m not going on the ten o’clock news and report it. Whitlock knows better. He is a trained journalist. He and I are well aware The Kansas City Star would never allow a reporter to run a story like this with an anonymous fake-name emailer as the source.

“Haley comes across as a tough guy… and then when he’s challenged he shoots the guy the bird and ducks into the tunnel with two security guards by his side. You know what? Todd Haley is a wuss! That’s Jack’s Smack!”
Jack Harry, nbcactionnews.com
GH: To top off his embarrassing report, Harry resorts to name calling and calls Haley a “wuss.” Let’s recap; 1) Harry relies on an emailer using a fake name to report on his TV sportscast that the Chiefs’ head coach flipped off a hometown fan. 2) Harry ends his report by calling Haley a wuss. 3) Harry not only doesn’t apologize to Haley for the unsubstantiated report and name calling, he states on radio the following day that he is proud of his report. I don’t think it is a stretch to think Jack Harry may have just smacked himself into the unemployment line.

“He did that?”
Todd Haley, responding to Nick Wright informing him that Jack Harry had called him a “wuss,” KCchiefs.com
GH: When was the last time a respected member of the media (and despite what you may think of Harry, he is/was respected by many) called a coach, manager or athlete a wuss or something similarly disparaging? Harry owes Haley a number of apologies and he is late in delivering all of them.

“It’s ‘he said/she said.’”
Jack Harry, as to the validity of the finger story, 810 AM
GH: So why report a he said/she said story as factual? A caller to 810 asked Harry this exact question Wednesday afternoon. Read on.

“Then why did you report it?”
Caller Rob, who chastised Harry for reporting this inflammatory story with such flimsy reporting, 810 AM

“Wait! Wait! Wait a minute! Wait a minute!”
Jack Harry, cutting off Caller Rob with volume but little substance, 810 AM
GH: I found it interesting how infuriated Harry became with Caller Rob when pushed to explain his reasoning for airing this story. Jack had no problem trashing Haley’s reputation with a story he could not substantiate and calling him a wuss, but he became very agitated when a caller questioned his professionalism. It appears Jack can smack but is hardly built for taking even a love tap without crumbling. Read on.

“We had the emails! I had two emails come to me on Monday night! And I checked into it.”
Jack Harry, 810 AM
GH: Doesn’t Jack realize how ridiculous he sounds? Where was Haley’s side of the story in his report? What reporter doesn’t include a comment or cite their attempt to get a response from the accused in a story like this? I don’t know how Harry survives this fiasco. It is that embarrassing.

“That’s my job and that’s what I do. Hey! Come on, nothing! I’m going to go after it every time, okay! That’s who I am!”
Jack Harry, 810 AM
GH: Kietzman politely thanked Caller Rob for the call at this point and got him off the air. Harry was obviously upset. It sounded to me like Kietzman quietly sided with Rob’s take on Harry’s unprofessionalism and was attempting to help Harry save face. It didn’t work.

“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck!”
Jack Harry, continuing to defend himself following Caller Rob’s call, 810 AM
GH: Harry may be reduced to driving a turnip truck (what the hell is a turnip truck anyway?).

“We’re all in agreement that we’ve analyzed this from every angle and none of us are sure of anything.”
Kevin Kietzman, getting agreement from both Clink and Harry, 810 AM
GH: How many reporters take a story where they agree they are “not sure of anything” and report it as fact? I now know of at least one, and calling Harry a reporter is a mistake I will not make again.

Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24