Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is used to media scrutiny, but the Twitter outburst that he received from NCAA basketball reporter Dennis Dodd went a bit too far for his liking.
Aaron Rodgers has been a very noticeable member of the Wisconsin Badgers’ crowd throughout the last couple games of their NCAA Tournament journey. He has been sitting with all of the other Wisconsin fans and actually has an on-court pass from the school, which set off reporter Dennis Dodd following their big win over the Arizona Wildcats.
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
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
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
Still wondering what difference is between two uncredentialed fans on court. One dates an actress and is good at sports. Other isn't.
— 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
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
It didn’t take Rodgers too long to see the tweets that Dodd was firing his way, and he took to his own social media account to respond to the accusations that were being told about him.
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
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
Needless to say, Dodd is likely regretting the rampage that he went on following the game. It is understandable that a reporter would be upset about someone getting more access than him, but to take to social media like he did was extremely unprofessional. Rodgers is a superstar, and schools and other sports always make things happen for that type of a presence to support their team.
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Rodgers being a huge figure in the state of Wisconsin also had a lot of play in his ability to get this kind of pass. Dodd should have thought about the comments and why it could be different for Rodgers before assuming that he was just a fan.
Looking at the entire situation in an unbiased light, Rodgers’ comments in return were fair and understandable. Not doing interviews isn’t a crime when he is simply out watching his team play a basketball game. After being so upset about not being allowed inside the three-point line to cover a basketball game, it makes one wonder what type of response the media would get from Dodd if he were in the same situation that Rodgers was.
Every single time a celebrity steps out in public doesn’t mean that he is available for interviews. The comments that were made by Dodd showed a lack of maturity and understanding of how the media actually works.
This is exactly the type of situation that gives the media a bad name and makes them look like people who are just out trying to get a story rather than reporting the news. Dodd isn’t even a college basketball reporter for the majority of the time, and is actually a college football writer for CBS.
Dodd made a fool of himself and got called out by one of the best current athletes in any sport.
H/T Complex.com
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