This is definitely off-topic, but still interesting for those fans who cheer for the Buckeyes and/or Bengals. Carson Palmer, the Bengals quarterback who was drafted out of USC, was not at all hesitant to let his true feelings show when an LA-based sports radio station (KLAC) asked about his loyalties in college football. The interview took place Thursday, July 17th, when Carson was in Los Angeles for Matt Leinart’s charity bowling event. Listen to his comments below.
Those people! Those people! A hope a Buckeye fan hits him in the head with a horseshoe. If he wants to talk about arrogant fans, he should look to his own house. USC may have some of the most annoying fans in sports. The sense of entitlement and inability to accept that they didn’t “three-peat” or even “two-peat” is disgusting.
Update (7/21): So I didn’t really put a lot of time into this story, because I primarily write on the Cavaliers, but I certainly can’t say I expected the uproar that came of it (due in large part to Fanhouse bringing my audio to the people). The fallout from this little Cavaliers blog is all over the media today. I turned on the station I heard Carson on (KLAC) only to hear Jim Rome talking about it (which I’ve linked below). Then throughout the day I’ve been receiving more people trying to spam the comments thread with dong pill advertisements then ever before. Right now, Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times is on the air in Los Angeles with Don MacLean (former UCLA Bruin) railing on the Big Ten about how inferior their conference is to the Pac-10. They’re just filling in for the guys who started this whole mess and then took vacation (Petros & Money). Below I’ll post the littany of links to people killing Carson Palmer in the media and/or turning this story into a pissing match of Pac-10 versus Big Ten football.
I’d be the first to kill Carson in a less sarcastic manner then I did above (and yes, my “you people” rant was sarcasm), except as a Cavs fan, I was disgusted at the same treatment the media gave Lebron James when he wore the Yankee hat to an Indian game. I have to say, regardless of my appreciation of Ohio State or my relative distaste for USC football and how it’s covered here in Los Angeles, the way some fans tend to believe that professional athletes aren’t entitled to hold on to their favorite teams, or maintain a rooting interest is a little ridiculous.
Being paid to compete in sports doesn’t eliminate the sense of loyalties that you built up while still an amateur, or even as a child. I would hope more athletes held on to loyalties and some element of what made sports enjoyable for them, not just become mercenaries who give politically correct answers to everyone and anyone. Stuff like what Carson said is half the reason I love sports radio to begin with.
Update (7/23): Yep, Carson ended up backing off his statement considerably. From the Sporting News:
“I’m a Trojan all the way, and I was talking to a Trojan audience in California. I guess I got a little fired up, as all good fans will do. But I really do respect the Buckeyes, and I know their fans are passionate, too.
“I hope they all understand I’m just looking forward to a big game for my school against a very tough opponent, and that it’s all in the good fun of a rivalry. You don’t have a real rivalry unless both sides are great teams.”
Way to bow to the media pressure Carson. Regardless of what he said, no statement is going to calm down the hate that diehard Buckeye fans will be spewing at Palmer for the rest of his career.
Check back as I follow up with the media fallout some relatively harmless audio that I thought would be good bulletin board material created. The 4 part series from the KLAC afternoon show is pretty long so I broke them up for easier listening:
Carson Palmer Discussion On The Jim Rome Show
Bill Plaschke of the LA Times and Don MacLean of UCLA Fame on Carson - Part 1
Bill Plaschke of the LA Times and Don MacLean of UCLA Fame on Carson - Part 2
Bill Plaschke of the LA Times and Don MacLean of UCLA Fame on Carson - Part 3
Bill Plaschke of the LA Times and Don MacLean of UCLA Fame on Carson - Part 4
Cold Pizza/First Take/Whatever It\’s Called on Carson
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