Dennis Dodd Should Regret Embarrassing Criticism of Aaron Rodgers
The Packers quarterback responded to ludicrous criticism after denying the media an interview Saturday evening.
If you watched Saturday's NCAA basketball tournament game matching Wisconsin and Arizona, you couldn't miss a certain Green Bay Packers quarterback in attendance at the game.
Aaron Rodgers, an unabashed Badgers fan, and his celebrity girlfriend—actress Oliva Munn—were shown on the TNT broadcast several times, same as Thursday's Sweet 16 contest pitting Wisconsin against North Carolina and same as the Badgers' Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances last year.
After the game, it can be inferred that CBSSports.com writer Dennis Dodd had a request for an interview declined by Rodgers based upon his posts to Twitter:
Aaron Rodgers in one of the biggest moments in the state's history -- ignoring how media has shaped his image -- "I'm not doing interviews"
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
State history, huh? It was a nice moment, sure, but Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker aren't going to be listed next to Jean Nicolet or Joseph McCarthy or the founding of the Republican Party in Wisconsin history books.
No one can blame Dodd for asking for an interview. But this wasn't an NFL game. Rodgers didn't just throw six touchdowns in one half of play and then jilt the media.
Rodgers attended the game as a fan. He wasn't obligated to appear at the game, and he also wasn't obligated to grant the media an interview.
Dodd didn't handle rejection well. In what reeks of spite, Dodd went on a rant in the aftermath of the game bordered on ludicrous:
@de_wilson15 Oh, I don't know. What's a non-credential person doing on the court unless he wants to be seen?
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Dear Wisco fan: If it was about the Badgers, then why was A Rodgers on court? Credentialed media only.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Here's the equivalent of what A Rodgers did today. I crash his wedding to Olivia because I'm a big "fan."
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Media had to stay outside three point line (really) while Badgers cut nets. A Rodgers allowed unrestrained access to court. Fair?
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Still wondering what difference is between two uncredentialed fans on court. One dates an actress and is good at sports. Other isn't.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
I can guarantee you this will be taken up by NCAA and USBWAA. A Rodgers shouldn't be in a position for us to be blown off.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Where do we draw the line? USC can't have celebs on sideline anymore after sanctions. But feel-good A Rodgers can be on court with Badgers?
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Dodd couldn't come off any more pompous and self-important than he did in a span of a few hours on Saturday evening.
Had Dodd acknowledged in one sentence that he attempted to interview Rodgers, it would have shown his employers and tens of thousands of Twitter followers, he made an earnest effort. He tried.
Instead, he displayed what appeared to be a personal vengeance against Rodgers. In in perfect toddler imitation, Dodd whined.
Rodgers took to social media to respond to the blowback and rather shrewdly refused to give Dodd the satisfaction of personal mention:
To the biggest twitter crybaby of the night, I had a pass to be on the court. Send your complaints to the A.D. #quitcrying #youreajoke
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 29, 2015
Also with interview requests, sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes it's no. I'm not there for u, I'm there to support my friends n UW.
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 29, 2015
Good on you, Mr. Rodgers. And shame on you, Mr. Dodd.
We eagerly await the lack of support guaranteed to be coming from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Comments (22)
Packer_Pete
March 29, 2015 at 01:07 pm
honestly before reading this article I had no idea who Mr. Dodd was. And what exactly is his problem?
jeremyjjbrown
March 29, 2015 at 02:49 pm
Yeah, was he there to cover basketball? Or to stalk Aaron and Olivia?
Big Moe
March 29, 2015 at 06:10 pm
Yep I was going to say the exact same thing.
tm_inter
March 29, 2015 at 01:16 pm
Dodd is a crybaby indeed! AR really socked it to him!
DoURant
March 29, 2015 at 01:22 pm
They always say to re-read what you are going to post on social media before you hit "send", Mr Dodd missed that crucial rule um....about 8 times. Aaron owed him nothing, the guy was covering a B Ball game, shouldn't he have been looking for an interview w/ the coach or a player from the team that just won and is going to the Final 4? No, he wanted a notch in his belt that he "interviewed" #12. If Aaron would have gave him an interview, we all know this would not be an issue w/ him today...or did he want to interview him and his 1st question was going to be "Aaron, why are you and Olivia on the court when only credentialed media members are allowed to be?" Yeah, that's what it was going to be for sure, I just know it.
FThurstonXXII
March 29, 2015 at 01:53 pm
I am not one for "rants" on social media, but I could not resist this morning when I woke and saw all of Dodd's tweets. It is such a shame that a reporter would choose to criticize an athlete, especially one as respected and giving as Aaron, because he could not get the interview. Aaron did EXACTLY what he was supposed to do. It was never about him, it was/is about the players in the tournament. And if Aaron would not have been there then that would have been the story. Guess, Mr. Dodd got his wish. People know your name now. Congrats Skip Bayless, I mean Dennis.
Here is my rant this morning:
Dear Dennis Dodd (CBS) and anyone else who finds it necessary to start trash talking Aaron Rodgers for being on the court or cheering on Wisconsin or even wearing a black shirt (yes, wearing a black shirt). C'mon! Are we seriously making a fuss about this? Can't we ever just enjoy anything anymore? Do we always have to start some bullshit? This is about a group of kids playing in a tournament and making it to the Final Four. This is about making memories that will last a lifetime. And what are you doing? Crying about not getting an interview? Do you not get it? This should not be about Aaron wearing black or denying interviews. It should be about a sports figure (A great one at that) proudly supporting college athletics. It should be about how unselfish and humble he is by continuing to make it about the college student athletes and not about himself. But no. Instead, you fabricate some crazy crap stories to enhance your own agenda. It’s disgusting and sad. Stop ruining sports! YOU ARE A JOKE!
As always, well done Brian :)
hybridauth_Facebook_100002574551585
March 29, 2015 at 01:59 pm
Rodgers was there to support his friends not take away from their moment. If he said yes to the interview than he would have made it about him and it wasnt.
Dodd just made himself look childish, go cry us a river you whiny hack.
barutanseijin
March 29, 2015 at 02:26 pm
Whatever his motivations for bringing it up, Dodd has a point. Ordinary fans probably would have been arrested had they gone out on the court like Rodgers.
HankScorpio
March 29, 2015 at 02:44 pm
So what? It's Wisconsin's moment to celebrate. The team and staff didn't seem to mind Rodgers being there. In fact, they probably embraced it. Well, maybe aside from Kaminsky and Dukan, who grew up in Illinois and are probably Bears fans. For the state kids (most of them), it probably added to the moment to have the NFL MVP there to celebrate what they've done. So what harm is done and why should you, me, Dennis Dodd or anyone else care?
BTW---I seriously doubt anyone else would be arrested for wandering out on the court. Maybe escorted off the court. Or prevented from getting on the court in the first place. But arrested is just a little too drama llama for my tastes. Let's not get carried away.
Alex Tallitsch
March 29, 2015 at 04:25 pm
He had a pass, AND was invited by Barry Alvarez. Hardly ordinary.
HankScorpio
March 29, 2015 at 02:32 pm
I get the tie-in to the Packers but really, who gives a fig what crawled up Dennis Dodd's butt on this one? There is nothing wrong with Rodgers providing his support to the state college team...unless he would have made it about him by taking the interview.
The bigger point is that it was a great game and a great win for Bucky. The Badgers were unconscious from 3 in the 2nd half after a poor shooting 1st half. Most of that was Sam Dekker, who has ice in his veins. I keep hearing that Dekker looks great in summer skills camps. In this tourney, he's certainly validating those comments. If he duplicates his regionals performance in the Final 4, I like the Badgers chances of cutting down nets next Monday.
GBFaninCA
March 29, 2015 at 03:43 pm
http://www.cbssports.com/writers/dennis-dodd
Feel free to drop him a line (right side of page) and tell him how you feel...be somewhat polite as you will be representing our fan base.
zvorak03
March 29, 2015 at 04:38 pm
And what's the difference with magic Johnson and Michigan St.?
4thand1
March 29, 2015 at 04:59 pm
Exactly.
ray nichkee
March 29, 2015 at 10:07 pm
Magic played for michigan st and played in the championship losing to larry bird and indianna st
HankScorpio
March 30, 2015 at 04:44 am
Wrong winner. Michigan St won.
ray nichkee
March 30, 2015 at 07:23 am
I stand corrected. He is a decorated alum cheering for his alma mater.
MarkinMadison
March 30, 2015 at 11:11 am
Maybe he gave a little pep talk to the team before the game. Maybe he and Sam Dekker are buddies. He didn't play for the Badgers? So if it had been Russell Wilson it would have made a difference? Whatever. He doesn't play basketball? Who cares. Its none of our business. Alvarez gave him the pass. The team wanted him there. He did nothing to suck up the media time - Dodd wasted his own time by being upset. Good on Brian for calling Dodd out.
RCPackerFan
March 30, 2015 at 11:59 am
Or how about Tony Romo cheering on Kentucky?
Paulg
March 30, 2015 at 02:23 pm
Dodd is ignorant if he thought that "ordinary" fans who happen to donate thousands or millions to a school dont get passes. I thought i saw Andy North next to AR, maybe nobody in the national media recognizes him any more? did he get on the court too, just nobody notices a retired pro jock?
Also funny, AR says "call the AD". Barry answers the phone today: "Did Aaron have a pass? did he say he did? Then yes, Aaron Rodgers had a pass."
ray nichkee
March 30, 2015 at 05:11 pm
I still cant confirm rodgers was there but i know i saw olivia munn at least twice.
ray nichkee
March 30, 2015 at 08:22 pm
I want to request an interview with him at his next job while he is pushing a broom.