Jenni Carlson, Sports columnist

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You can't be serious: Kelvin Sampson

By Jenni Carlson
Published: March 1, 2008

You Can't Be Serious: Kelvin Sampson

Once upon a time, I thought Kelvin Sampson had been foiled by his ego.

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Surely, the former Oklahoma basketball coach turned cheater turned Indiana coach turned cheater had broken the rules repeatedly because he thought they didn't apply to him. Surely, this was a case of entitlement.

Then, Sampson went and started text messaging his former players.

The day after accepting Indiana's contract buyout amid swirling NCAA problems, Sampson sent a barrage of text messages to the Hoosiers after their victory at Northwestern. The players said they were happy to hear from their coach, but really, this was a dumb move by Sampson.

Listen, I know he's close to these guys. Sampson has always been a softie for his players. But using the very instrument that got him into trouble to contact them? Continuing to use the cell phone to contact players?

Does Sampson want to make the punch lines easy?

There was nothing illegal about his contact with the players, but there was definitely something stupid about it.

Perhaps Sampson's ego had nothing to do with his problems. Maybe it had more to do with his smarts.


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Call Jenni Carlson for hot sports opinions at 867530DUMBSPORTS! Or, blog for “Ryan, Oklahoma City” for his great sports knowledge. He is the one at your office that stands next to the water cooler and tries to say un-huh and yep when the men are discussing sports but eats lunch with the women every Thursday at Zio’s.
Chad, Frisco - Mar 10, 2008 12:48 PM
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Dear irate OSU fans: Your ongoing vendetta against Jenni Carlson says more about you than it does about her. That is all.
Randall, Tulsa - Mar 4, 2008 7:31 PM
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AHHHHHHHHHHH, my eyes!!! I accidentally read part of a jenni article. You are horrible. Do you pick up your paycheck with a gun and a mask?
cache, heber springs - Mar 2, 2008 12:31 PM
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Looks to me that a lot of osu fans are still reading Jenna's storys. Then dumb enough to claim it was an accident that they read it. duh
Billy, Morris - Mar 2, 2008 8:50 AM
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Why does this woman keep her job? This is truly a dumb story consistant with her prior column offerings. Truly an embarrassment to the newspaper and she is certainly not worthy of the national attention and support she received from fellow journalist over the OSU incident.
gary, southlake - Mar 2, 2008 2:22 AM
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How does this journalist wanna-be keep her job?
Mike, Topeka - Mar 1, 2008 10:53 PM
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I think the theme of the article is OK. I don't think she puts it into words very well.
Dean, Kankakee - Mar 1, 2008 9:27 PM
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Note to Jenni. Have you thought about writing for another department at the Oklahoman? This sports journalism thing doesn't seem to be going so well. I understand that "classifieds" is hiring and I have a friend who has a friend who has a friend that knows someone in the department. Let me know if I can help.
francisco, socal - Mar 1, 2008 6:51 PM
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I'm glad I'm not the only one that laughs when I read a Jenni Carlson article and it's not because it is funny. Sampson seems to be an ego maniac and perhaps an idiot but not because he sent a text to people he cared about. BTW I am a Sooner fan.
J.J., Austin - Mar 1, 2008 12:55 PM
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You are so right Jenni, it wasn't against the rules, but it was stupid. What is amazing to me are the fools that still feel you were wrong with the OSU article. Since it has all been proved true, and Coach Gundy looks like a mad man all over you tube, espn and everywhere else that is looking for humor.
randy, piedmont - Mar 1, 2008 11:48 AM
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Actually if you read the article it says he text messaged the players.

To the Editor: Could you put a big red banner at the top of every Jenni Carlson article so the innocent bystander won't get sucked in.
sid, Perryton - Mar 1, 2008 9:06 AM
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Actually, he was banned from contacting the players by the contract buyout with Indiana so he violated that contract. It seems that he can't play by any rules when it deals with a phone. The irony is that he could have used text messages instead of phone calls and been fine with the rules.
Tom, Bossier City - Mar 1, 2008 8:51 AM
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This is an example of an ignorant sports writer trying to create a story. I stopped reading her crap after her OSU fiasco... but erred due to convenience. I won't make the same mistake again... worthless.
Mark, Overland Park - Mar 1, 2008 8:10 AM
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how else would you suggest he contact them? perhaps he should have bought a box of greeting cards and mailed them. this is the one of the dumbest stories Ive read in quite some time.
Jon, carrollton - Mar 1, 2008 7:23 AM
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Well I never liked Kelvin, but yeah......i agree dumb story...really dumb
Jim, Stillwater - Mar 1, 2008 6:40 AM
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What a lame story, nothing to write about today? I get it so he used a cell phone to break NCAA rules, so now he can't use a cell phone anymore? What is wrong with you?
Jim, Stillwater - Mar 1, 2008 6:39 AM
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????????? ? ? ? ?
Jim, Stillwater - Mar 1, 2008 6:36 AM
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