Rod Marinelli Won't Accept Rob Parker's Apology for Question About His Daughter
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12/22/2008 3:52 PM ET By Michael David Smith
Detroit News columnist Rob Parker apologized to Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli for making a joke about Marinelli's daughter and her husband, who just happens to be the Lions' defensive coordinator. But Marinelli says he doesn't accept the apology, which appeared in today's paper.
"I didn't read it, but I was told a little bit about it. I don't accept anything," Marinelli told MLive.com. "... Because his intent was to stir me up which is never going to happen. I can shoulder anything you bring. Easy. I can shoulder anything you bring.''
Parker's comment to Marinelli -- "do you wish your daughter had married a better defensive coordinator?'' -- crossed the line, and I can't say I blame Marinelli for saying he won't accept the apology. This has been a miserable season for Marinelli, but he comes out of this run-in looking a lot better than Parker does.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Parker's comment is so clearly a joke that it is hard to respond. One thing his comment certainly isn't is "going after" the coach's daughter. It is going after the coach's daughter's husband, but since he is in fact the defensive coordinator of the worst defense in the NFL, he's fair game. It is also going after Marinelli, for hiring his son-in-law as a coach, which is the point of the joke, but Marinelli is the head coach and is also fair game.
It's ridiculous to hire your son in law, but it would be more ridiculous if no one mentioned it when you have the worst defense in the NFL. If Marinelli won't fire his son in law, which Parker has established in earlier press conferences, the fate of the Lions' defense hinges on his daughter's choice in a husband. It's like walking around the universe with tight pants on: it's not right!
talk about idiots, you Charles, are an idiot. This guy crossed over, every one with a brain knows it... he knows it for crying out loud, but somehow you don't get it. You are an idiot.
This room after the game is about football, that's it, the rest isn't even news.
I hope he gets his ass reamed and then moves onto to knitting contests in Siberia, the same place you should be. Idiot
your the idiot paul./you should be bitching about your suppose to be a coach,hes a joke and so was parkers comment ,get a life paul worry about your sorry lions.
The fact that Parker intended the question as a joke is made evident by Parker saying, "on a lighter note..." Come on people this is ridiculous. It is also ridiculous that Marinelli will never give an honest answer about anything. I don't see that as class. That is a man hiding behind his "authority" as a head coach and not holding anyone accountable. Maybe if he would be a leader and call some of his players or coaches out, maybe they would get a sense of urgency and produce a win. But when he treats them with kid gloves, what does he expect. I am sure Marinelli is a nice guy, but this league and every other sports league is graded on wins. 0-15 is a F. Why did they fire Mike Martz last year but not Barry? Marinelli didn't have any qualms about calling out Martz who was actually a pretty decent coach.
Also, I am not at all shocked to hear the Fox commentators get behind the coach. With the exception of Curt Menafee, all of the others were players or coaches. The criticism is warranted due to the amount of money the players and coaches make, the level of the league and those who think that just because they play football for a living are exempt from it, need to come back down to earth.
This reporter is a total douche bag. He crossed the line joke or not. The coach should have gotten up after that question and put his foot square in the reporter's ass.
Square? Should've put it SIDEWAYS up the guy's a----. Now if only the QB in my home area had that attitude toward the m--f--er who took people to boo when he was DRAFTED.
It was a hilarious question. Everyone who is criticizing Parker for it who isn't in the media trying to say the "right thing" is a joke unto themselves.
im sure if you were the coach of the Lions, thats exactly what you want right. people to "joke" about you and put you on the spot (5-10 minutes after just losing your 15th straight). cmon man!
Its ok though, i already sent Rob Parker an email to remind him of his douchey ways.
It's beyond me why fans are so angry with Parker. The organization is running on nepotism, and that hasn't been criticized on any major sports network. When your defensive coordinator is clearly not fit for the job, but he keeps his job because he's part of the coach's family.... that can't be tolerated. Detroit taxpayers are funding Ford Field and they expect better than this kind of irresponsible behavior from management.
The coaches daughter should be off limits, but not the son-in-law. And 2 dubbz chill out dude, it didnt take losing 15 games for people to joke about the lions.
It's unfortunate the intro, "On a lighter note..." is so hard to hear, or, make out clearly, because it really is a fairly decent attempt at humor.
Parker's problem isn't one of the clarity of the comment ~ from start to finish ~ so much as it is... TIMING.
As we've all heard many times, "In comedy, just as in life, TIMING is EVERYTHING."
By the time Parker got around to his clever little query, he'd completely spent any and all the goodwill Rod Marinelli was able to afford him. He'd beaten a dead horse, aka, talked much longer about the defensive coordinator than anyone needed, much less wanted, to hear.
Marinelli's fuse had grown dangerously short by that point, and, as I see it, with good reason.
Timing, Mr. Parker, is everything.
Put it on a Post-It! No, wait a sec! Put it on a passel of Post-Its.
Then, wallpaper your crib accordingly.
I love the Lions, they make my Bengals look good lol
your bengals suck
GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go back and watch the tape from the beginning.
If Rob Parker had unloaded his quip at :22 in the proceedings, everything would have worked out fine.
Just as Marinelli finishes saying, "... and I know what we can produce," Parker shoulda jumped in with, "But, Coach, c'mon. Isn't it fair to say that sometimes you wish your daughter had married a better defensive coordinator?"
Parker would have MADE HIS POINT...
Garnered a few GIGGLES...
And folks woulda had BETTER THINGS to do with their time today than, well, you know... THIS.
Yeah Titans said Go Steelers too lol
there are no jokes when you are 8-75 over the past several years- its like notre dame
I dont know where you guys grew up and played or watched football, but I was taught that you play the game to Win. not lose. The only people that should have been giggling at Ford Field were the Saints. So Why the hell is this douche trying to insert jokes.... oh wait you're a bengals fan. so maybe losing is just as normal as taking out the trash every week. wow. sucks to be you nerd.
sportswriters have a job, and that i understand.
the fact that Parker says it was a joke, when he was clearly grilling Coach, that guy was being a douche bag. this guy must wake up in the morning, punch his dog in the stomach then yell at little kids when the go to school. what a douche
Parker was right to call out this imposter of a head coach. If Marinelli was in NY he would be tourced by the media on a daily basis untill he quit. Someone tell marinelli to be a man!!!!!!! and stand up to parker in parking lot instead of whinning about it to get sympathy
The Lions need to be completely disbanded. We don't need a football team. As far as I see it, Detroit never needed a football team. Have the Lions EVER gone to the Super Bowl? Not in my lifetime. I remember one time they made to the NFC Championship, only to get crushed and out of the playoffs. Enough with firings and general musings about the team. Just disband the entire organization. I'm sure that would boost MI's ecomony real quick.