Well-played, Rod Marinelli

Remember yesterday when we lampooned a bit of the Rob Parker article? Yeah, well apparently that whole thing has turned into a huge media "controversy."

Rob Parker, a columnist for the Detroit News who made some national headlines for asking Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli whether he wished his daughter had married "a better defensive coordinator," explained his position Monday in his newspaper column.

[This is what goes for national headlines nowadays?]

Parker has repeatedly questioned Marinelli about his defensive coordinator, Joe Barry, who also is Marinelli's son-in-law. On Sunday, after the Lions lost 42-7 to New Orleans, Parker asked: "On a light note, do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"

[That's offensive? Really? But I am just a sardonic nobody with internet access, what do I know? Let's see what professional journalist-types think:]

FOX television showed the question, prompting analyst Terry Bradshaw to say: "You're a disgrace to your profession, my friend. You're a total idiot."

[And if you were curious, yes, Bradshaw will do the entire pre-game show next weekend from atop his cross.]

Marinelli ignored the question during his news conference after Sunday's game. Monday, he blasted Parker. "Anytime you attack my daughter, I've got a problem with that ..." Marinelli said. "It was premeditated. I think there's something wrong with that." Did it cross the line? "Big-time," Marinelli said.

[I am REALLY hard-pressed to see how that is an "attack" on anyone. Lighten up, people.

That being said, I am pretty sure that Marinelli has actually crafted an ingenius plan of self-preservation.

Think about it. The Lions are one game away from becoming the worst team in the HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. That seems like reasonable grounds for termination, right? So if you are Marinelli, why not distract everyone from your team's utterly woeful season with a completely fabricated controversy with the evil media?!? Not bad, eh?]