Last month Bottom Line broke the news that talented Kansas City Star sports columnist Kent Babb was leaving the newspaper for greener pastures at the Washington Post.
In the meantime, Babb wrote a column earlier this month criticizing the Kansas City Chiefs for not bringing in more quality players since it had plenty of money under the salary cap to do so.
Sources have told BLC that the team was furious and forced the McClatchy-owned paper to add an “Editor’s Note” at the end of Babb’s column providing information from the Chiefs clarifying issues in Babb’s column.
Insiders said that, to say the least, Babb was not pleased that the Chiefs were able to add a correction to his column. It was almost a personal slap.
As they say, paybacks are hell. It is also said it is never wise to get into a urinating contest with people who buy their ink by the barrel.
Babb will be starting his new position very soon and as a parting gift leveled a swift kick to the groin on Monday after the Chiefs’ trouncing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
The pathetic loss really gave Babb the perfect opportunity to repay Chiefs’ General Manager Scott Pioli, who it is believed was among those who personally demanded the column note.
Put simply, the headline says it all “Chiefs Will Never Win Big With Scott Pioli in Charge.”
“The Chiefs’ problems are with their coaches and players, but the bigger issue is about the man who brought in those coaches and players,” wrote Babb. “Yes, this game and this season are on Pioli, and there’s no denying that anymore. And there’s no more denying another truth, whether you’re ready to read it or not: The Chiefs will never win big while Pioli is this team’s boss.
“His priorities are too misguided, his insecurities and denial too immense to allow Kansas City’s favorite team to win the Super Bowl that he was brought here to claim.”
Maybe Babb even slipped in a shot to Pioli for the “Editor’s Note” his paper added to his column:
“He worries so much about trivial matters that it’s impossible to think that such an emphasis hasn’t been an obstacle to the Chiefs’ success.”
Here’s betting that haymaker landed on the chin of Pioli. Or maybe lower…
CHIEFS SHOULD HAVE RUN AD
First off, the Chiefs never should have been allowed to “make” The Star insert an Editor’s Note into Babb’s story if indeed that was the case. If the Chiefs were so concerned about their image in light of the story, they should have just run a nice big ad to “set the record straight,” so to speak. Is Pioli too thin-skinned? Probably. Did Babb overreact? Probably.
KUDOS TO STAR FOR RUNNING COLUMN
Kudos to the Star for running the column. I’m surprised the Star ran the column, given its cave to the Chiefs after the previous column.
BTW, I am a Chiefs fan and watch every minute of every game, even when they’re getting clobbered. Obviously, I would prefer the team win than lose. However, there is an upside to a loss: Jack Harry! If the team loses, especially if it loses big, Jack Harry is fun to watch as he (rightfully) blasts the team.
Go Chiefs!