Kiszla duking it out with Jake's Brother

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4415059

Don't write off Jake, says his bro
By Mark Kiszla
Denver Post Staff Columnist

A big brother defends his younger sibling, no matter what. Who cares if both fellows are grown men, long past the age of fisticuffs on the playground? Even if little bro is an NFL quarterback paid millions of dollars, the big guy has his back.

Forever.

After a passionate defense of Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, an angry e-mail sent to me arrived at a loud conclusion, punctuated with these fighting words: "Disgusted that I dignified your existence."

No surprise there. In addition to a great seat at all the big games, one of the many perks of being a sports columnist is the opportunity to be called an idiot by total strangers on a regular basis.

But the signature to this particular angry e-mail raised an eyebrow.

Tapping on a computer keyboard in Idaho, Eric Plummer was looking to settle a score with a smart-aleck newspaper hack.

Eric Plummer is the oldest brother of Denver's quarterback, who wears No. 16 on the football field, but walks around town with a bull's-eye on his back.

"I am Jake's brother," Eric Plummer said Thursday, shocked to hear my voice on the telephone. "And I did write you."

Guess blood is thicker than Broncomania.

"When a QB plays good and his team loses, it's always 'You're judged by wins and losses.' Seems hypocritical that when a QB doesn't play well, but does enough to get a win, he still gets lambasted. Maybe this is only true in Denver," Eric Plummer had written last week, with words so intense his e-mail hummed like electricity running through high-voltage wires.

But know what's crazy?

It's what Eric Plummer does for a job.

Oh, you're gonna love this.

The big brother of Denver's often-lambasted quarterback is a sportswriter.

He works for the Bonner County Daily Bee, which is at least 2,000 miles from The New York Times.

Maybe his paycheck cannot compare to salaries in the Big Apple, but for anybody who loves fresh air, Eric Plummer lives a lot closer to heaven in Sandpoint, Idaho.

"I do the whole kit and caboodle," said Plummer, who reports stories, snaps photographs and designs the sports pages. He does everything except toss the newspaper on doorsteps.

But of all vocations, why, oh why, did the quarterback's brother have to become an ink-stained wretch?

In the eyes of Jake the Snake, sportswriters rank somewhere on the evolutionary scale between a slimy amoeba and a slobbering linebacker. Jake Plummer would like them all exiled to Jupiter.

"Writing is something I love to do. I've been a roofer. I've been a coach. I don't think my brother cares what I do, one way or another," said Eric Plummer, at 34 three years older than his famous baby brother.

Jake Plummer often gives props to his two elder siblings, Eric and Brett, for being the most influential people in his athletic career.

Survive the humiliation and bloody noses guaranteed during childhood pick-up games in the driveway, and a little brother earns the eternal devotion of those same raw-boned kids who taught him sports at the school of hard knocks.

"Instead of ripping Jake, have you ever asked why he's asked to play like Trent Green (of Kansas City)?" Eric suggested when he fired the e-mail between his brother's inept performance against the Chiefs and superb showing versus New England.

"Jake is one of the best athletes playing quarterback today, and perhaps reining him in and making him afraid to make a mistake is robbing him of the very things that made him a good QB to begin with. (Brett) Favre has thrown a ton of picks his whole career. Why hasn't (Jake) bootlegged once this year?"

To which I say: Right on, dude.

But you think Mike Shanahan's ears are burning?

Um, the coach would like to see you in his office, Eric.

And better bring your earplugs. Shanny does not always take kindly to wretches who dare to question his football IQ.

I know. I've been there, and have the scars to prove it.

When covering a prep soccer match, Eric Plummer writes it straight, in a no-nonsense, inverted pyramid style. "My mantra is to shed a positive light on local sports," he said.

In his role as big brother, however, Eric Plummer talks smack, boldly taking on all challengers, and goes so far as to diss my photograph in the The Denver Post.

"You're not even an ex-jock," Eric Plummer protested in his correspondence, "and judging from your mug shot, kind of a dorky little guy."

Hey, he got that right.

Sometimes, the truth hurts.

Maybe Jake Plummer's big bro has a future in the sportswriting business, after all.

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Not cool, Kiszla.

[sirhcyennek81]

I wonder if we can start a movement to have Kiszla removed and replace him with Eric Plummer.

:Broncos:

[Raidersbane]

Sign me up......Kiszla must go.

[defenseman]

Never been a fan of Kizla. Maybe the post will fire kizla and bring jakes brother down to CO...dman

[Mile High Shack]

this is the first Kizla colum I have read in over 2 years
I feel dirty, but yet somewhat satisfied, guess kinda like having sex in a mud bath or something

Kizla is a moron

[epicSocialism4tw]

Not cool, Kiszla.

Yeah, that was a nice professional move.

[Taco John]

What the heck was the point of that? To laugh at the kid for being some hick in Idaho, as where Kiszla has NY Times aspirations? Screw you Kiszla. I wouldn't have minded if it was informative, and there was some worthwhile debate... you know? Content? But there was barely enough of that included in the piece to even have a football discussion around it.

This is the kind of self-important crap I stopped reading Kiszla for in the first place.

[Bronx33]

Who is Kiszla?

[Rascal]

We need to write a letter to the editor of the DP saying they need to fire Kizla and hire Eric.

[Rock Chalk]

Eric's fault. He shoulda known Kiszla was a slimy piece of Taco.

[fido]

why is kiszla even in denver? way not cool

[Hercules Rockefeller]

He works for the Bonner County Daily Bee, which is at least 2,000 miles from The New York Times.


and you're about 1800 miles away you dip-****. But that's irrelevant since so few people in Idaho or Colorado care about the New York Times, especially their sports pages.

[watermock]

Fire Kiszla and hire the Shwab.

[Taco John]

We need to write a letter to the editor of the DP saying they need to fire Kizla and hire Eric.


The editor had to approve the piece...

[Master___Pain]

I'd like to find Eric Plummer's email and give him a pat on the back. Kizla is a worthless POS. I ran into him at the AFA/Navy game a few years back in the men's room. He was walking in as I was walking out. I stopped him and said "You Mark Kizla right?" The dumbass, thinking I was a fan responded proudly "Yes, I sure am!" I then told him the letter's in Penthouse Forum were better pieces of journalism than his garbage. He had no smarmy reply. It made me smile.

[Rascal]

The editor had to approve the piece...

Yeah I just realized that.

[Taco John]

Yeah I just realized that.

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea anyways... Isn't that how Mariotti got run out of town?

[Master___Pain]

Eric Plummer's email

TJ edit: not sure this is a hot idea.

[Taco John]

Sorry Pain, but just out of policy, I try to keep people's emails out of these pages. One of the top reasons is the spam bots that float around the internet looking for them... But the other has to do with privacy. Go ahead and post a link to his column or something... But let's not broadcast his email addy here.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I'd like to find Eric Plummer's email and give him a pat on the back. Kizla is a worthless POS. I ran into him at the AFA/Navy game a few years back in the men's room. He was walking in as I was walking out. I stopped him and said "You Mark Kizla right?" The dumbass, thinking I was a fan responded proudly "Yes, I sure am!" I then told him the letter's in Penthouse Forum were better pieces of journalism than his garbage. He had no smarmy reply. It made me smile.

If that's true, that's some bold stuff. Pain bringin' the pain. Ouch.

[12th man]

Kiszla is an asswhipe.

[bronco militia]

"....Why hasn't (Jake) bootlegged once this year?"

huh?

[Rock Chalk]

Sorry Pain, but just out of policy, I try to keep people's emails out of these pages. One of the top reasons is the spam bots that float around the internet looking for them... But the other has to do with privacy. Go ahead and post a link to his column or something... But let's not broadcast his email addy here.

Actually, email addresses posted at the end of columns are public domain and spam bots will get them harder at the column page. Its not an issue of privacy, though if you have a personal issue with it thats entirely different.

[Master___Pain]

Actually, email addresses posted at the end of columns are public domain and spam bots will get them harder at the column page. Its not an issue of privacy, though if you have a personal issue with it thats entirely different.

yeah. it's not a privacy issue Taco. It took me all of 5 seconds to go to the paper's site and get his email address. I sent him a very complimentary email for calling out Kizla. Again, if it's a personal reason, then it's your board and I can respect that decision.

[Master___Pain]

If that's true, that's some bold stuff. Pain bringin' the pain. Ouch.

The truth and nothing but the truth.

[watermock]

Posting an E-Mail is completely hack for a journalist.

Bang will tear anyone apart, but has never posted a personal e-mail of mine to him. That includes Meck, Taco and basically everyone I have emailed or even PMed.

We have been hard as anyone on the planet on Jake, but if someone here got an email, they wouldn't post it unless it was positive. Complete crap. I will stand up for my family too.

I would just love to post something in the post that Kiszla is a bastard child left on the doorstep of the Salvation Army.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Its not an issue of privacy, though if you have a personal issue with it thats entirely different.


Business issue maybe, but I dont think that Taco would be petty enough about support for Plummer to have a personal issue.

[Rascal]

I just don't think TJ wants email addresses posted even if it is public domain. If people want to email Eric they can go to the newspaper and find it pretty easily there.

[Rock Chalk]

Business issue maybe, but I dont think that Taco would be petty enough about support for Plummer to have a personal issue.

Personal term of service issue I meant angry. I wasnt talking about his pettiness which is well documented :P

Since Taco isnt running a business here (yet anyway), its not a "business" issue.

[Taco John]

yeah. it's not a privacy issue Taco. It took me all of 5 seconds to go to the paper's site and get his email address. I sent him a very complimentary email for calling out Kizla. Again, if it's a personal reason, then it's your board and I can respect that decision.


I'm just not comfortable seeing email addresses posted within these pages. As an administrator, it raises my hackles. I'd just as soon that you post a link to one of his columns and let people get it there. Sorry.

[Rock Chalk]

For complaints, you can email Taco at: stupidrules@orangemane.com

Heh

[HEAV]

Media CEO's know that writers like Kizla are great for business. They are controversial and start fires that keep people, or at least ones that love to argue, reading and responding to his garbage.

Hell even Taco uses the same mentality with the mane. Letting flamers like Mock, BoB and other teams fan's start arguments and flame in threads draws interest. Look at some of the biggest threads on here are Jake supporters vs. the haters. It’s good for drawing s crowd.

It's only a few that get tired of it and move on, but as long as people love to read/see this type journalism it will stay.

Myself I don’t even read the Post or any Denver rags. Since Schefter left (for better job) it’s nothing but crap articles by reject hacks. Denver media was great with Woody and Adam back in the day.

[TXBRONC]

We need to write a letter to the editor of the DP saying they need to fire Kizla and hire Eric.

Don't get wrong I'm not going to defend Kizla, but isn't this exactly what the DP want from him? It gets more people reading the DP if he's saying things that will tick them off.

[freak6]

He shouldn't have done that. But he's deliberately looking for attention and to turn everyone's hate towards him. That article reads like a huge "tattle-tale".

And he knows it. It's intentionally done so to draw ire and attention during a <b>bye</b> week.

[Hogan11]

Posting an E-Mail is completely hack for a journalist.

I thought Kiszla always defined the word hack myself.

[Rock Chalk]

How about them ASTROS!!

[orinjkrush]

journalists and academics suffer from the same malady: they think because they can write about a subject, they know about it. Massive error of hubris.
they generally are geeky little pervs too.

[RaiderH8r]

I'm just not comfortable seeing email addresses posted within these pages. As an administrator, it raises my hackles. I'd just as soon that you post a link to one of his columns and let people get it there. Sorry.
Makes perfect sense. Let people do a little legwork of their own but I know I wouldn't want to be the guy that had someone's email addy posted on their board to reap the whirlwind in the event that someone should fire off some outrageous crap/threat/vulgarity. And if wholesale addy posting was allowed, I guarantee that it would, at some point, happen. It's worry that you don't need.

[Jason in LA]

I don't see why the Post runs his articles. I guess he must be getting a lot of hits on their website, so they keep him around. I rarely click on of his articles. For two reasons. I know it's going to be a lot of BS. I swear that guy hates the Broncos. And because I'm thinking if he doesn't get as many hits, maybe they'll fire him. So stop clicking on his articles.

[watermock]

Well I would like to know exactly what Jake has done that is so horrible. The guy has a flying bird, but never has raised a fist or pulled a gun. He hasn't been busted for drunk driving, assault or anything of the sort. The man defied the NFL by wearing a Pat Tillman decal and has a foundation. He might struggle at times, but he's OUR GUY for now, and I'm not abandoning him.

Noone has ever accused him of giving up. Pisses me off...he's not gifted but dammit, the guy isn't a headcase. Imagine T.O. if Dallas brought in some hot shot wide reciever. T.O. would pop a tampon.

[Hulamau]

As a sportswriter himself Eric Plummer must have intended Kizla to write a column about his defense of Jake, and certainly should have know that was likely when he identified himself to Kizla. Apparently Kizla even talked to him for more background so Eric knew this was going to be an article.

[Lidderer]

journalists and academics suffer from the same malady: they think because they can write about a subject, they know about it. Massive error of hubris.
they generally are geeky little pervs too.

Whereas you don't suffer from such delusions, surely. Which is to suggest you must know quite a bit about geeky little pervs.

Tread cautiously, orin.

[-Slap-]

As a sportswriter himself Eric Plummer must have intended Kizla to write a column about his defense of Jake, and certainly should have know that was likely when he identified himself to Kizla. Apparently Kizla even talked to him for more background so Eric knew this was going to be an article.

One would think.

Eric Plummer/Brenda Warner - Separated at birth?

[Hulamau]

The thing I found interesting is what Eric Plummer said about Jake being held back by Shanny and our scheme, as well as what he implied are the unrealistic expectations of Denver sportswriters and fans, which you know reflects what Jake has told him. They are both really close and I think its great Eric has Jakes back as he should, but I also think what he said suggests my feeling that Jake wont at all miss not being in Denver next year or the year after.

[Taco John]

I also think what he said suggests my feeling that Jake wont at all miss not being in Denver next year or the year after.


ohhhh, he will... He will.

[bendog]

I feel cheated. I thought this thread was really gonna be about hitting Kizla. I mean this is really unfair. Those folks out in the Platte Valley are gonna need support. Kizla should be selling tix for 50bucks for the right to go 3 mins with him. We could do some good here, people.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

One would think.

Eric Plummer/Brenda Warner - Separated at birth?

That's really a low blow Slap. :)

[Rohirrim]

Kizla: One of the few people I would punch out on sight.

[Raidersbane]

Boycott the DP. Fire Kiszla and his editor........

[TXBRONC]

ohhhh, he will... He will.


Yep there isn't another system that will fit his as well as this one does.

[Blart]

Yep there isn't another system that will fit his as well as this one does.

I want Jake to stay, but I can see him fitting into the falcon's system for an injured Vick.

[Buffarino]

The worst thing you can do to a turd like Jiszla is ignore him. Don't read his column (and don't click on it because they count that stuff), don't send him emails, don't talk about him. If you subscribe to the Post, cancel it and tell them he is the reason.

He's like my 3 year-old in that he wants attention and he doesn't care if it's positive or negative attention. I actually think he prefers the negative attention.

[Crushaholic]

I want Jake to stay, but I can see him fitting into the falcon's system for an injured Vick.

nice...a Plummer/Lelie reunion...:rofl:

[Sassy]

The worst thing you can do to a turd like Jiszla is ignore him. Don't read his column (and don't click on it because they count that stuff), don't send him emails, don't talk about him. If you subscribe to the Post, cancel it and tell them he is the reason.

He's like my 3 year-old in that he wants attention and he doesn't care if it's positive or negative attention. I actually think he prefers the negative attention.

Negative stuff always tends to get more of a reaction ;D
(See the Orangemane on Jake's INT's...)

[Buffarino]

Negative stuff always tends to get more of a reaction ;D
(See the Orangemane on Jake's INT's...)

True enough. I had a couple email exchanges with Kiszla a few years ago and determined he LOVES pissing people off. So from then on, he's on permanent ignore with me. It's as if he doesn't exist. If more people did the same, he would eventually go away...

[South Stands]

He's like my 3 year-old in that he wants attention and he doesn't care if it's positive or negative attention. I actually think he prefers the negative attention.

Does he stare at people in restaurants, too? :wave: :deadhorse:

Of course Kissla is a moron. We could all e-mail his editor and tell him that, but they know. They encourage it. Because it gets readers stirred up. Talk radio hacks do the same thing. The most annoying part is that it is all just an extension of where the damn media is overall.

That said, Kissla really crossed a line, IMO, taking E. Plummer's e-mail and using it as the basis for a column. Quite possibly his sleaziest move since his foray into Dante' Bichette's locker - and given his track record, that is saying something...

[orange 4 life]

kiszla is the biggest turd in this town.
ive said it for a LONG time now, and ill say it again.

i cant stand the guy.
he and sandy clough are ignorant, arrogant, and COMPLETELY out of touch with reality when it comes to their football takes.
they should both be booted out of town. this city would be a much more pleasant place to be without those two tools.

jake

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Yep there isn't another system that will fit his as well as this one does.

Oh yes there is.... Houston. Yes.. Jake Plummer the Houston Texan. Try it on.

[rovolution]

Oh yes there is.... Houston. Yes.. Jake Plummer the Houston Texan. Try it on.

not the way carr is performing. 6 to 1 Td-INT ratio for Mr. Carr under Kubiak. only way plummer is a Texan is as a backup.

[Garcia Bronco]

The the old guard Denver sports media in general is low class....Mariotti...Kisla...Woody. This isn't a surprise

[-Slap-]

Even with his flaws, Jake will have no problem starting elsewhere next year. Take a look around the League at some of the slugs lining up under center on any given week. He would be an upgrade for roughly a third of the teams in the League.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The the old guard Denver sports media in general is low class....Mariotti...Kisla...Woody. This isn't a surprise

Mariotti was a Denver beat writer? I had no idea. That guy is probably the most annoying person I have ever seen on television.

[Raidersbane]

The the old guard Denver sports media in general is low class....Mariotti...Kisla...Woody. This isn't a surprise

And this is the main reason why Elway is the first and only Bronco in the HOF. All those guys are good at is pissing people off rather than making convincing arguements......

[Kaylore]

I sent Kizla and his editor a letter of complaint about the unprofessional nature of his collumn. He was clearly using it to get back at someone who bruised his ego.

Plummer will have no trouble finding work elsewhere. It would be nice if we could use him like I did in Madden where I won the Super Bowl with with him and then traded him to the Browns for the number one pick overall. :homer:

[epicSocialism4tw]

And this is the main reason why Elway is the first and only Bronco in the HOF. All those guys are good at is pissing people off rather than making convincing arguements......


You touched on a relevant idea here.

[watermock]

Once you realize Woody just wasn't to do stand up comedy, his act becomes more palatable. Marriotti is just a complete asshole. Yes, he rolled thru town about a decade ago. Woody is just the class clown, he doesn't bother me anymore.

[Barry Ramey]

Kizla is a true idiot and now looks like he wants to attack people's family members. He's a true creep.

[TXBRONC]

Mariotti was a Denver beat writer? I had no idea. That guy is probably the most annoying person I have ever seen on television.

Mariotti is definitely the most annoying guest that Around the Horn has.