Classless Reporter Seizes on Tisdale's Death to Stomp on Grave

Former Oklahoma Sooners star Wayman Tisdale died last Friday at age 44 following a battle with bone cancer. Chuck Woodling, a reporter with the Lawrence Journal-World, waited exactly one day to stomp on his grave.

Woodling's story has already, predictably and appropriately, solicited an avalanche of derisive commentary. It also provides an ironic example of a mainstream journalist, who is the epitome of "old-school," doing something that the blogosphere has been roundly chastised for time and again (albeit sometimes warranted).

Woodling has used his platform to pen a column that is vindictive and petulant, a cheap piece of writing that is at best disrespectful and at worse completely irresponsible. In a world where digital media has opened up debate about the accountability of bloggers, Woodling, a newspaper journalist, is perhaps the most shining new example of "abuse of power."

I came across his story via Deadspin whose post entitled "Adventures in Ill-Timed Columns" seems far too lenient a headline for an outlet at times known for its acerbity and relentlessness in calling out "media meltdowns." For those who haven't had the chance to read through Woodling's embarrassing "effort," the 40-year Lawrence, Kansas resident comes off like a bitter homer trying to capitalize on a hot story to drive referral traffic by placing Tisdale in his headline.

In "Tisdale on hand for net cutting," the author recounts an incident following Oklahoma's overtime win to clinch the Big 8 regular season title back in 1984. The column opens with the following lead:

"Wayman Tisdale always will be remembered as a bit player in one of the ugliest incidents in the history of Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse.
Tisdale, who died Friday at the age of 44, was among several Oklahoma University basketball players who cut down the nets in the KU arena following a victory over the Jayhawks."

Classy, right? It goes on to educate the masses about the actions of the OU hoops team after beating Woodling's beloved Jayhawks including the audacity of cutting down the nets at Allen Fieldhouse. Forget whether OU players and coaches were out of line 25 years ago. That's right, forget it. Maybe they were the most compelling model of inappropriate collegiate athletic behavior in NCAA history. It doesn't matter. The lack of class here falls entirely on Woodling.

The author undoubtedly succeeds in one respect, reflecting his own character. His story drips with the maturity of a 10-year old fan not a seasoned journalist. Woodling uses his channel to completely reach on a story that otherwise lacks any relevance or timeliness save the death of Tisdale who, among almost all circles, has been lauded for his commitment to others, his courageous battle against cancer and his career as a player and ambassador of the game. In a world chock-full of hyperbole, perhaps the words "hero" and "icon" that have been attached to Tisdale may be a bit too much. Perhaps...yet, nothing excuses Woodling's story.

Maybe the column was simply a publicity ploy to garner more eyeballs and recognition for the Lawrence Journal-World. Maybe it was Woodling's own attempt to make a name for himself. Whatever the case, the great irony is that the media world in which we live today may not be welcome by all, but it undoubtedly offers a benefit in a situation like this.

Chuck Woodling's column may have gone unnoticed on the pages of a regional paper and even its Website a few years ago. Today, he will not get off so easily. Expect the backlash to be quick, intense and voluminous. People do make mistakes. If Woodling (and his employers) were smart, they'd take advantage of the speed of the Internet for one simple and immediate solution towards maybe not erasing a wrong but at least addressing it - a formal apology. I think the family of Wayman Tisdale deserves it.

posted at 1:43 PM