There are many ways to get an interview with the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, Aaron Rodgers.
Usually members of the media have to send in requests through the player’s agent, team clubhouse, public relations firm, etc. or wait in the press room after games or even a quick sound bite from the field if you’ve got a cameraman and a giant microphone and Rodgers was actually a player from that specific game with firsthand insight.
CBS college football reporter Dennis Dodd, however, did not do any of those things. Dennis Dodd didn’t get an interview with Rodgers, and Dennis Dodd became irrationally and sad/funny upset about it. Sad for him, funny for us, because Rodgers fired some shots back and things caught fire.
First off, he already starts off on a sour note.
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
We get it, you didn’t get an interview and you were right next to him. Also, for the sake of future arguments, let’s not try to explain why CBS’ “senior college football columnist” has any more right to be on the court for the men’s basketball Elite 8 than Rodgers does.
Or, look at it this way, King & Dodd refuse to be interviewed by Aaron Rodgers. pic.twitter.com/5BvdjujLhQ
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Which prompted my favorite response:
@dennisdoddcbs no need to be butt hurt. You're worse than a jealous girl who gets turned down for prom. @AaronRodgers12 said no, grow up.
— Robbie (@AmericaLovesRob) March 29, 2015
Then things got really fun.
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
Ouch. Aaron Rodgers just used social media that he frequents less than a Brett Favre Sqor video to shame Dodd. But he had a good reason that all fans, especially the Ashley Judds and Magic Johnsons of the world can get behind.
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
Saturday it was a no. Dodd somehow took this as an affront to all things media holy.
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
Ummm, no.
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
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
Just stop it, you’re embarrassing your colleagues. Also, Rodgers stepped in on why he was there in the first place (besides the fact that who cares, it’s Aaron Rodgers).
2 semesters at Butte
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 29, 2015
3 semesters at Cal
10 years a Wisconsin resident.
I'll pull for any team I want.
But I don't wear red.
And like that, Rodgers was done, but Dodd was far from it.
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
And yet said nothing when Mark Emmert, who probably made a few hundred grand from this game alone, get’s to stand right next to the players! Isn’t that like an impermissible benefit in the eyes of Mark Emmert?
Mark Emmert awards Wisconsin West Region trophy pic.twitter.com/LmYb4cKQsv
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Then he retweeted a message from the Pope. Yes, that Pope. Something tells me it’s too late to take the absolute moral high ground when you just went on social media trying to publicly shame a football player at a basketball game between two teams Pope Francis has never heard of or cared for.
Now on to the rest of Twitter. First off, some key awareness by Rich Eisen.
If Michigan St advances & Magic Johnson blows off reporters while going on the court to celebrate, he better be credentialed #LessonLearned
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) March 29, 2015
Then the best of the rest.
And finally, I have to admit, Dodd is not the worst columnist out there. He is, however, quite hypocritical. Case in point, this unironic tweet.
Love how Twitter boils down reasoned rational thought into bullet points.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 29, 2015
Just days after he filed this story – which contains both rational thought and bullet points.
And what does any of this have do with the Wisconsin Badgers advancing to the 2015 Final Four? Both Dodd and Rodgers will both be on hand, to do this all over again, much like the two teams actually involved in playing the game.