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What gives you the right...?
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- What gives you the right...?
dlinebass5
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 19, 2007
June 12, 2009 12:19 am
Score: 153

Dodd, as much as I've always dismissed your writing as ignorant, justifiably ignoring your words as I peruse the recent stories, I cannot help but express my disgust with you. Is it your tremendous standing as a sportswriter that gives you just cause to classlessly insult gifted and dedicated musicians across the world? Is it the stupidity behind your accepting stereotypes as truth that convinces you it's righteous to attack a portion of the world's population that has no connection to this story? I'd like to apologize to all reading this, because I'm incapable of dealing with this in such a way as it deserves. I'm not sure there is a proper way to address the incredible lack of intelligence so unabashedly shown by this crass individual. I allow comments to pass over my back, understanding that they're fueled by the ignorant stereotypes so many passively suscribe to. Unfortunately, this is not a passive accpetance of a stereotype, it is instead the aggressive, self-righteous use of such a misconception to blatantly attack those musically inclined. It seems that, with no significant insight on a story beyond the video that is readily available to any wishing to view it, and the brief thoughts of the player involved (who has no concept of others' fault, as he also lacks the point of view. No disrespect meant, I speak of him only as he pertains to the subject's perspective on this story), the writer in question feels himself knowledgable enough to speak of the situation with utterance of an accusation that Marshall's band lies at fault for the incident at the heart of the story. Furthermore, the writer seemingly places blame on musicians themselves, regardless of whether they have any tie to the story or not. Baseless attacks aside, the simple barbaric nature of these attacks speaks volumes of the writer's maturity and respectability. It is repulsive to see someone act in such a way, especially when the action is directed towards a large group of people who are, to say the least, undeserving.
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- What gives you the right...?
Dennis Dodd
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 8, 2008
June 12, 2009 2:18 pm
Score: 57

dlinebass5:

Brass sections blow.

dd
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- What gives you the right...?
Bakedog
Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Oct 21, 2008
June 12, 2009 4:30 pm
Score: 54

There you go, Dennis!!  That was humorous!  I loved it AND it was directed at one person in a mature fashion with great effect.  Good job, bud!  You'll get this whole 'how to be funny and insult people' thing down.  I have faith.
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- What gives you the right...?
socalheel
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 13, 2009
June 13, 2009 3:40 am
Score: 60

agree w/ dlinebass.

99% of the time i overlook dd's retarded words but for some reason not this time.  i am a big fan of college sports, especially college football and the marching bands contribute more to the college football experience than sports writers; especially moreso than the sports writers who throw insults in order to be comical.

if given a choice of which to eliminate the marching band or sports writers, i would absolutely choose to get rid of the second guessing, stating opinions that cannot be proved or disproved, and insulting comments made by sports writers.

i have made sportsline my number 1 website for sporting news but no longer.  as long as dd continues to put his dumbfounded opinions on this website, i will not be stopping by.
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- What gives you the right...?
coggins2
Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 4, 2009
June 13, 2009 4:57 am
Score: 58

Dennis Dodds articles suck. You tries to always get around the main pointe.
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- What gives you the right...?
gunrock
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 22, 2008
June 13, 2009 1:55 pm
Score: 131

In general, band geeks are self-important and frequently out of tune.

And the football players aren't (yes, I get the crappy pun, but the self-important part)?  I really can't believe your attitude towards bands.  First of all, would that idiot reporter walk through the football team's drills?  Hell no.  He'd stay out of their way, just like he should have stayed out of the band's way.  They have the field, random idiots who want to walk through should yield.  And of course band members are the only students who behave obnoxiously.  I guess Dodd never got invited to the football team parties, or he might have a better handle on their behavior and be able to usefully reference it against the band's.  Secondly, organizations leave their junk around all the time.  I'm sure football has left blocking sleds in inconvenient places over the years.  Was the band negligent?  Yes, but only if it was their job to move the carts.  It may have fallen to the field staff, who knows?  I guess in Dodd's world only bands don't take care of their equipment, or at least only bands need to.

This idiotic heavy-handed unfair (like the fat jokes; Just watch a band and tell me they are any fatter than the population at large) insults to the bands has to stop.  If the football players are "elite athletes" then go ahead and call the band members "dedicated musicians" while you are on your gratuitous complimentary adjective fad.  Why don't we just insult everything not athletic, because after all what are universities for besides sports.  Those worthless dweebs in the physics department?  They'd better not cross the basketball team.  I bet the dean of engineering runs slow.  Don't let the molecular biology department spend money that could be better spent on a nicer press box for Dodd.  How dare people get upset when players do little things like sell textbooks they got for free at a profit?  God forbid that anything interferes with football.

I've of course disagreed with Dodd on sports issues, but this is the first time I've been actually upset by an article.  I'm neither in a band nor on a football team, but this article was obnoxious, rude, and myopic.  I feel bad for the kid, but it was an accident.  There's no reason to dump on thousands of innocent and dedicated kids whose contributions to thier schools are no less than the football team's.  Just a repulsive article. 
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- What gives you the right...?
bawker
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 13, 2009
June 13, 2009 4:09 pm
Score: -12

 . . .apparently, so do your journalism skills.

Eat a bag of dicks.
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- What gives you the right...?
TheOlBallCoach
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 25, 2006
June 13, 2009 5:05 pm
Score: 117

This is by far the worst thing about this site. These guys are like college professors in that they have tenure so they can say whatever they want and have no account ability about it. The fact that Dodd mocked a very emotional response from an upset reader is shameful. This site should be ashamed that its columnists dont have the ability to defend what they write in a professional way. How about you actually defend what you wrote? Or do you choose not to because you know the truth...you write garbage.
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- What gives you the right...?
CainanUK
Reputation:52
Level:Pro
Since:Jun 13, 2009
June 13, 2009 8:44 pm
Score: 4

Well said B!
This guy is a douchebag!
I'd like to see his self important arse come to a DCI show and try to break ranks. He would really see how self important we really CAN be!
-C
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- What gives you the right...?
chaking26
Reputation:82
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 16, 2007
June 14, 2009 4:38 am
Score: 97

"The band might be a good place to start because, well, they're the band. In general, band geeks are self-important and frequently out of tune"...

Try inserting reporters (or more specifically yourself, dennis dodd) in that sentence instead of "band" and I think you get a much more legitimate sentence. I mean really, you start attacking all bands because a cart was left behind the endzone... lol, you're quite literally delusional.
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- What gives you the right...?
BlueThunderGuy
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2006
June 14, 2009 9:08 pm
Score: -139

Right on, CainainUK.

Quick band story: A reporter was running across the Rose Bowl turf a few years ago after a game trying to get back up to the press box. There was virtually no one in the stadium at that point except the reporter and the USC band. He tried to politely cut through their ranks to make it the shortest distance between two points. Instead, he was physically blocked by the band like this was some sort of big boy game of Red Rover. No matter what level I marched at, High School, College, or Nationally it was always instilled in the Band- to NOT let anyone cut through your ranks. Weither it be in the stands, on the parade route, or heaven forbid on the field. It's a show of disrespect and ignorance by people (such as Dodd) when you try to cut THROUGH the band instead of going around the band or waiting for them to pass. The Marching Bands are part of the overall show- To try and cut through them while they're performing or exiting the field is pure stupidity. Its like walking through the offensive line to talk to the QB, while the game is still going.
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- What gives you the right...?
maomatt
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 3, 2007
June 15, 2009 3:39 am
Score: 48

What do you expect from Dodd?  He is a choad who thinks he IS the story rather than the reporter of the news.
Remeber his response to Ok Sts coach Gundy's rant?  So indignant and assaulting.  And later we find out that he had a relationship with the reporter that Gundy was unloading on.
Classless and unprofessional.  But thats what we expect from bottom feeders like Dodd
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- What gives you the right...?
jallen556
Reputation:40
Level:Rookie
Since:Jun 16, 2009
June 16, 2009 5:17 pm
Score: 127

Dear Mr. Dodd,
It truly saddens me to see that some people just don't grow up. I am 18 sir, and I feel I am writing this to a small child. The ignorance you have shown in this artcile has left me in shock at the fact that THIS NONSENSE that you write, following stereotypes of people you know nothing about, is actually happening in this day in age.

Sir, you write that it is the "band dorks" that have the issues. However, did you know that my band has had feces thrown at them by football players while we were rehearsing? Did you know that we were then required by the state to go out that Friday and cheer for those same guys that so wrongfully disrepected us? Tell me Mr. Dodd, is it really the "band dorks" that have issues?

I realize you believe you are superior to these band members that you so rudely mentioned in your article, but sir let me tell you this, you are not. I as a musician hear a piece of music and I feel that the composer has written this piece to express the emotions that words cannot explain. Are you truly superior to me because you are incapable of feeling these feelings that the composer is trying to portray through his fine piece of work? I am sure you are as ignorant in your view of music as you are in your view of life, just hearing a bunch of noise. Why just because I actually can relate to the music does that give you the right to insult me along with million s of others (some of which are your loyal readers!)? We are different. You are not wrong and we are not wrong. However, somewhere along your lifetime, you were convinced that it is okay to treat us like garbage. You have grown to believe it is okay for you to write your opinion in THE rudest way I have ever seen. Sir I am not about to ask you to write anything less than your opinion. But please do not harrass me along with every other musician in this world just because you don't agree with our choices.

You make it sound like I, along with every other band member in this country, don't know our place in life. Mr. Dodd, let me tell you, I know I am not in a rock band. I know that I cannot score any girl I want just by pointing at them. I know that I can't afford to eat any place I want because of my ticket sales. This does not bother me. I know that I get to be with hundreds of friends at a time every day I rehearse. I know I get to have a blast every weekend with my best friends messing around playing stand tunes. I know I am in the marching band. I know that that means I have to deal with people like you who don't understand me. But I don't care. I know my place in life, and I am proud of it.

Mr. Dodd, I am not asking you to stop writing your opinion. It is your job, and judging by the fact that you write for a website as prestigious as CBS Sports, tells me that you are pretty good at it. But what I am pursuing as my career is music. And the fact that you felt the need to insult what I am passionate about, really bothers me. In my life, I have always been a sports guy, playing football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, karate, and most recently, wrestling, in the great state of Texas. However when I got to high school, I discovered my true love for music. I don't see why just because you don't have that same love, that it means you can make fun of me.

I am asking you to please post a formal apology. I understand you are probably laughing out loud right now at me, and I don't care. That is fine. But I think you should know, I am also leading a boycott against you and CBS Sports until I receive an apology. You can laugh at me all you want, but I can assure you that I will not give up until you apologize. I would be willing to bet that you are just mocking me right now, thinking, "what could a few band geeks do?" You can think this all you want sir, and I will pursue my cause.

Sincerely,
Josh Allen

Long time sports guy
Life time music guy
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- What gives you the right...?
kamilazaba
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 17, 2009
June 17, 2009 2:49 am
Score: 137

What he wrote was sad and dishonorable- attacking a whole group of students for the mistake of (perhaps) one or a few.

Mr. Dodd- maybe your reporter friend shouldn't have walked through hundreds of kids rehearsing. Just as I would show the football team respect by not walking through their practice, I would expect the same for other students and other teams or groups. How do you "politely" cut through someone's ranks? I would have gotten pissed too.

What you wrote shows your ignorance towards an amazing activity... and I'm honestly pretty embarrassed for you. I hope none of my fellow musicians or any of my students ever have the misfortune of meeting someone with such an attitude towards me and this activity, whether it be college marching band, drum corps, or high school band.

I only hope that in the future you will treat others with more respect then you have in the past. Especially when you're insulting thousands of kids, teens, and young adults.
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- What gives you the right...?
sdye16
Reputation:82
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 10, 2006
June 17, 2009 11:12 am
Score: 160

It is very unfortunate what happened to this player. I never wish an injury upon anyone, including Tebow, despite my love for the Vols. But attacking the band for something like this is completely unacceptable. While it may have been negligence on their part, it wasn't like they left the cart ON the field. Secondly, I have seen other players that have run into other carts that were left near the field holding chairs and things like that. Granted, these players did not get injured running into them, but I highly doubt these writers would be making such libelous remarks to the field officials and team managers if someone had gotten injured from those.

Back to the bands. I get really tired hearing how kids, or anyone, that is in a marching band or drum corps are not athletic. While they are not as strong or anything like a football player, they do have athleticism. Their athleticism is comparable to those of track athletes, cross country runners, and swimmers. I would love to see Dodd and Jim Rome go up to someone like Jesse Owens or Michael Phelps and tell them that they are not athletes. Marching in a corps requires more stamina than many traditional sports. Those that get accepted to march in a corps have to be able to move at speeds ranging from 90-210 beats per minute. To give an idea what that means, 60 bpm is one beat a second. So basically triple that. Along with having to move that fast, they have to control their upper bodies to keep from moving the horn up on their face. On top of it, they are exhaling for 11 1/2 minutes straight, with quick breaths in there to continue. That requires more resperatory control than any football position.

I know that this does not mean anything to many people, but the fact is that marching bands are not the same as they were 50 years ago. They are not the same as they were 20-30 years ago. Comments like Dodd's are completely libelous. I understand that this is an opinion page, and having taken some journalism classes, I know that opinions cannot be controlled, but there are ethics, and I believe even laws that prevent someone from taking discriminatory remarks towards a group of people. Obviously Dodd has no ethics, and is completely insecure with what all he has done with his life. I really hope CBS requires Dodd to issue a formal apology.
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- What gives you the right...?
afterburner2020
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 20, 2009
June 20, 2009 8:27 am
Score: 25

you blow, dennis dodd, you blow it hard, and you blow it long
It's people like you mr. dodd that make me sick, thinking you are such hot stuff that they can just go around and degrade other people at will because they think its funny
its not going to be so funny when your kid wants to be in the marching band and sees your article
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- What gives you the right...?
viva_labrian
Reputation:1
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 23, 2009
June 24, 2009 12:06 am
Score: 97

Wow am i really seeing this from you???

you are downright disrespectful and unproffessional. I am truly offended and dissapointed by your article towards band people around the country and your replies to them. keep your mouth shut and grow up.

have you actually thought outside the box once in your life? who knows why the cart was there. possibly the people who run the field may have made a mistake in telling the band to set it there or something. don't be quick to make assumptions.

you obviously know NOTHING about band. The band is a big part of college football. we keep the fans in the game. and even though i am in the band, i still get plenty of dates...with good looking girls too. we have more discipline than most people. we practice hard for hours in the blistering sun, while you sit on your butt thinking about how much you hate everything in life and must criticize it. watch DCI, and you'll see how amazing marching band is. we aren't just dorks. you can also read the replies from other band people to prove why you are completely wrong about bands and why you look like a retard. get out of high school!

led zeppelin does translate well to the trombone. i myself play the trombone and in many bands that i've heard (including mine), zeppelin sounds amazing. through the band we can relive their amazing music at football games. so in a way, led zeppelin does thank us.

in the BCS, the band is big time as well. you are in the land of dorkness.  dont get too full of yourself dodd, your just a writer, noone cares about you. act appropriately and stow your ignorance in a safe place. it's you versus every band in america. how lonely do you feel?

oh and BRASS SECTION RULES!!! EAT A FAT ONE DODD!!!
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- What gives you the right...?
redraidergal10
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 25, 2009
June 25, 2009 9:27 pm
Score: 125

As someone who has been in the marching band and who now cheers in the student section, I am shocked by this article.

As a former member of one of the finest marching bands in the country, I have not had ANY problems with the media being in the way or the band as a whole being disrespectful to a member of the press. We know that they're there and that we as a band have also earned that spot on the field as much as the football players and the media personel have. Yes some of those people have paid thousands to come but so have the band members. Band members spend lots of time and money to do something they like to do.

What makes you think you have the right to talk about dorkiness? Yes band people talk about musical stuff because that's what they know. You know a lot about sports. Have you ever considered that to be dorky? Have you ever been on a date with a chick that was impressed by your knowledge of sports? I've been on dates with guys that love the fact that I'm in the band and love to listen to me talk about it and guess what, THEY AREN'T IN THE BAND. Shocking I know. But you think just because one band person fits a stereotype means that all of us do right?

And not all band members are overweight. Have you seen some of the football players? Not all of that is muscle.

Sorry we can't all be your "Led Zeppelin's" on the football field but to be honest with you, what has a famous performer brought to a halftime show that a marching band hasn't? There are talented directors out there who turn crappy music that people seem to like into intese shows that only certain people can pull off. I'm sorry that the marching band doesn't flash people or hit their crotch on a camera like those so called "performers" do at halftime shows but marching band members do something so athletic that even you yourself cannot do. I would like to see you Dennis Dodd pick up a horn and go march a halftime show with a band. Go practice with my former marching band. If the heat doesn't take you, the technique will.

I know there is this thing guaranteed by the first ammendment called freedom of speech but when you libel a specific group of people across the nation, I hope you realize that you're gonna have to listen to a large portion of our nation libel against you.

So Dennis Dodd, you should think about what you have to say before you say it. Obviously someone with your education would know better. But hey what do I know. I'm just a music educator that's overweight and can't get a boyfriend, right?
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- What gives you the right...?
bandnerd33
Reputation:0
Level:Amateur
Since:Jun 26, 2009
June 26, 2009 12:12 pm
Score: 88

Hey douche bag first of all get your facts straight. French Horns arent a marching instruments, its called mellophone dumb ass.Second what the hell gives you the right to bash talented memberd of the band? Im in one of the best bands in the country and i liked to see your scrawny bald ass go up against my band.
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- What gives you the right...?
kangotang1
Reputation:82
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 27, 2008
June 26, 2009 1:09 pm
Score: 95

I for one an happy that Dodd wrote those disgusting remarks... literally every comment on this page is in support of the band, and many are from people who aren't or weren't in a marching band. While the article is unprofessional, the comments are a tremendous show of support for the college marching band.

Marching bands are one of the few student-centered programs left in college athletics. If I want to be in a professional sports atmosphere (and some days I do) I go to a NFL game. But to me there's just nothing like a college football game; STUDENT athletes working hard on the field, STUDENTS in the stands cheering them on, and STUDENTS in the marching band providing an extremely unique and spirited atmosphere. And the STUDENT journalists covering the game for the school paper are mature enough to keep stereotypical remarks like this to themselves.

My college roommate was a journalism major, and I have tremendous respect for the time and energy that is put in to that profession. But I have absoluety no respect for journalists who tear down hard working college students, be it athletes or musicians.
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