This week I received an email from the father of Nebraska basketball player Cookie Miller. Miller’s dad, who signed the correspondence “Big Cookie”, is demanding an apology from ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb for a comment he made about Miller during ESPN2’s recent Kansas-Nebraska basketball telecast.
After a scrum for a loose ball, Gottlieb said of Miller, “He’s acting like a punk.”
Big Cookie’s email and video of the incident after the jump.
From Big Cookie:
Hi Sir,
In my opinion, Mr. Gottlieb has the right to be constructive when it
comes to sports broadcasting basketball games. I have no problem with
that at all. But, what I have a problem with, is that Mr. Gottlieb
would choose to get personal and say something that would try and
taint a kid’s character by what he says.You got to understand that we live in a small metropolitan city. It’s
not often Charleston, WV, gets a chance to know and see somebody
playing on ESPN, ESPN2, nor any one of the big TV stations coming from
here.So for my son’s mom, myself, his 4 sisters, nephews, nieces, family
and friends, this event was like a national holiday for us. Mr.
Gottlieb said, and I quote, “acting like a punk”, unquote. Try
explaining that to small kids that were watching the game at home.Mr. Gottlieb said, and I quote, “He, my son, could instigate
something”, unquote. Well, if you go on “Cookie Miller Punk” on the
Internet, you will see and read that Mr. Gottlieb really is the one
that instigated something. Now, the Miller family is used to going in
hostile gyms with my son’s basketball teams and listening, watching
fans be fans. That’s part of the game and exceptable (sic). What Mr.
Gottlieb said is unexceptable (sic). My concern is what guidelines are
sports broadcasters under. Who governs the do’s and dont’s for them.So in closing, hope this e-mail helps not only my son, but the whole
basketball nation. Would like to discuss more if possible by you
e-mailing me about what you found out when you talk to ESPN people.
Thanks and have a good day.Big Cookie
The CHARLESTON (WV) GAZETTE reports Gottlieb has since told an Omaha radio station that Miller was “absolutely was acting like a punk. Go back and watch the tape if you guys want, but he was acting like a punk.”
Gottlieb also told the station that he won’t apologize.
I understand the point Gottlieb was making about Miller on the broadcast, but punk was probably not the right word to attach to Miller, since many associate it with criminality. I’m guessing that’s the way the Miller family took it, and is the source of the anger from “Big Cookie”.
Here’s the dictionary definition of “punk”:
When I contacted Gottlieb about the incident, he responded with this:
“I understand how someone could take it because I used the word ‘punk.’ To be clear, I did not call Miller a ‘punk’, I said he was ‘acting like a punk’, which in truth assumes that he is not a punk, but that he has temporarily lowered his level of sportsmanship. My job is based in using my own personal knowledge, experience and opinion to analyze each situation. This was my analysis.”
Yeah, I know, we’re getting bogged down by semantics now. Safe to say there was a misunderstanding here, and Gottlieb has gone as far as he’s going to go - and isn’t going to apologize to the Millers. (Much to the delight of Jayhawk fans, no doubt.)
So though “Big Cookie” isn’t going to get an apology, he most likely succeeded in preventing Gottlieb from ever inserting the word into a broadcast again.
And this incident certainly won’t stop me from enjoying Gottlieb’s provocative on-air style. He’s one of the better-informed and articulate announcers on ESPN.
7:43 pm on February 5th, 2009
Gotta agree with Gottlieb - that was pretty punkish.
7:44 pm on February 5th, 2009
That's the way the Cookie crumbles.
7:45 pm on February 5th, 2009
"T" is for Cookie, that's good enough for me.
7:48 pm on February 5th, 2009
What's so punkish about this? The kid was just going after the ball.
7:49 pm on February 5th, 2009
Meanwhile, Ashton Kutcher's hiding behind the bench.
7:52 pm on February 5th, 2009
It's nice to see a sportscaster not afraid to tell it like it is, be something different than a bland stat machine.
7:56 pm on February 5th, 2009
Doug Gottlieb is in no position to question someone's character. Just check his credit rating.
7:57 pm on February 5th, 2009
Cookie would fit in well with the violently criminal Husker football team.
8:03 pm on February 5th, 2009
No apology? Gottlieb will never keep his endorsements this way.
8:17 pm on February 5th, 2009
It is good to see a dad stand up for his son when he's slandered.
8:22 pm on February 5th, 2009
Who names their kid "Cookie"?
9:06 pm on February 5th, 2009
Man, 2009 must be the year of social injustice at SbB. "since many associate it with criminality." Really? I'm sure "many" just equate is as a PG way of calling someone a dick or a jerkoff.
9:53 pm on February 5th, 2009
Cookie is a jive ass punk.
10:01 pm on February 5th, 2009
Miller's next attempt to act like a punk is to steal his roommates credit card. Oh, wait that's already been done. "In 1995-'96, Gottlieb's freshman year at Notre Dame, he stole credit cards from a roommate and ran up $900 worth of charges. He was convicted of fraud. He transferred to Oklahoma State."
10:03 pm on February 5th, 2009
Lil Biotch is more like it!
12:04 am on February 6th, 2009
It is good to see a dad stand up for his son when he's slandered.
It's a shame to see a dad stand up for his son when he's being a punk.
12:25 am on February 6th, 2009
As a Nebraska fan, I have no problem at all with Gottlieb's statement. I don't understand what the big deal is. DG said, "acting like a punk" describing Miller's actions during a 10 second span. I think he was acting like a punk too. Sadler and the old man cookie need to grow a pair and forget about it.
12:34 am on February 6th, 2009
Also, do you really want to go there Hook EM? I'd be careful throwing rocks in a glass house dude.
4:05 am on February 6th, 2009
Instead of worrying about an apology from Gottlieb, Pappa Cookie should be worried about how he raised his son to be a third-rate Allen Iverson wanna-be thug. Don't blame the messenger, pops.Good for Gottlieb for stepping out of the bland, Stepford-Announcer ESPN mold.
9:32 am on February 6th, 2009
I wonder if Cookie's dad realizes you don't have to type "quote" and "unquote"
9:40 am on February 6th, 2009
the dude was and is a punk u go doug
10:16 am on February 6th, 2009
Punk is a punk does. That goes for you too "Big Cookie"!
10:30 am on February 6th, 2009
As a few have mentioned, Doug did get into legal trouble at ND and was convicted of a felony. I would also point out that Doug has no issue admitting this and I've heard him bring it up on the air on several occasions. The man doesn't spare himself and freely admits to having acted like a "punk" or worse when he was at ND. I don't know why we should expect him to paper over another's actions when he's honest enough to call out his own past on a national forum.
10:42 am on February 6th, 2009
It is good to see a dad stand up for his son when he's slandered.
Maybe when you are 12 years old. For an adult, it's kind of embarrassing. Kinda of like Brenda Warner calling radio shows to defend Kurt Warner from criticism.
10:59 am on February 6th, 2009
Mr. Gottlieb said, and I quote, “acting like a punk”, unquote. Try explaining that to small kids that were watching the game at home.
I'd imagine it's tough to explain to the kids why your son is wrestling for the ball and pushing someone on the ground well after the play was whistled dead too.
11:01 am on February 6th, 2009
I never would have heard about this and subsequently not been of the opinion that Cookie is/acted like a punk if Big Cookie never said a word. Way to step up for the injustice and show the world that your son was acting like a punk, Big Cookie.
12:00 pm on February 6th, 2009
Big Cookie should actually thank Mr. Gottlieb for giving his son some national attention. This will surely help his NBA draft stock.
12:46 pm on February 6th, 2009
You have a conflict of image here…on one side, all the 'ballers' wanting to cultivate the 'thug' image, and their parents wanting to preserve their family name/image. Has anyone asked 'lil' Cookie what he thinks of the comment?
1:09 pm on February 6th, 2009
Perhaps lil punkie is deaf because the whistle blew long before he got shaken off the ball. He is a punk and he lost the game. Good luck when you enter Allen Field house. I predict further failure. What couldn't get an offer from WVU?
1:54 pm on February 6th, 2009
Looked like a loose ball with 2 guys going after it. Punkish????? Nope
1:55 pm on February 6th, 2009
Hook Em Horndog
7:57 pm on February 5th, 2009
Cookie would fit in well with the violently criminal Husker football team.
Ced Benson is a model citizen……..
4:05 pm on February 6th, 2009
I have to agree with Gottlieb on this one. Granted Big Cookie may have been offended but his son did do a punk'ish move. He should have called his son after the game a reprimanded him instead of trying to find justification for what his son did. Little Cookie may be a good kid but his reaction after he was pulled away by a teammate, after the whistle had already been blown, was very punk'ish!
6:42 pm on February 6th, 2009
Miller acted like a total punk.
I think it's obvious who he learned it from. Big cookie. WTF kind of name is that for a supposed grown man?
Gottlieb got it right.
7:24 pm on February 6th, 2009
Could Doug Gottlieb at least contact Big Cookie and teach him the proper use of "exceptable" and "acceptable"?
7:48 pm on February 6th, 2009
I’m no fan of Gottleib, the most annoying NCCAB announcer at ESPN after Vitale, but he got it right here. That dude was acting like a punk. He just wanted the ball to stir up the crowd and took it way too far.
8:23 pm on February 6th, 2009
What's amazing is that 10% of the people taking your poll could watch this and be stupid enough to think he had something to apologize for. If anything, punk wasn't strong enough.
9:59 am on February 7th, 2009
Big Cookie should actually thank Mr. Gottlieb for giving his son some national attention. This will surely help his NBA draft stock.b-ball observer
12:46 pm on February 6th, 2009 There will be no Cookie dough made in the NBA
3:57 pm on February 8th, 2009
i guess cookie is not really that bad, it could have been worse they could have named him fig newton
8:24 pm on February 8th, 2009
I can't believe all you people are going out of your way to make fun of Cookie Miller. It is a nickname people. Also, it was a loose ball in an important game. I don't see how you can hate on a person for being aggressive and trying to help his team win a game.
7:36 pm on February 9th, 2009
if he was so worried that little kids and family would be watching, maybe he should have told his son to represent himself better on national television.
2:47 pm on February 10th, 2009
I wish it was hockey and the refs would have let Mario Little get a hold of that 5′4″ little punk. we would see if he really wanted that ball.