Instead of posting the complete transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, here’s my dad’s column instead. It covers all the key issues from the presser, plus it adds a few new levels of insight into the Niners’ head coach. To read my dad’s column, click here.
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When your dad starts a column with a proclamation of how much he likes the subject of his observations, I’m frequently reminded of Brutus explaining Caesar’s assassination.
“This is no putdown of Harbaugh. I am extremely fond of 11-year-olds.” …dad
I would have rather had the transcript of Harbaugh then your dad’s . Nobody care what your father thinks of Harbaugh. From what i have seen of your dad, he seems to dislike a lot of people. On Chronicle Live he seems to dislike a lot of people, very seldom says anything good about anybody. You can take me off if you don;t like what i say. but this is what i see of your dad. I think him and Ratto went to the college.
That’s a pretty poor column. Not sure what Harbaugh has done to deserve the rudeness.
Didn’t he just give us a 14-4 season that wildly exceeded any fans expectations?
Isn’t that worth a little bit of respect?
Yes he deserves respect. Some media guys just don’t get it.
You can admire him all you want-send him flowers. Dont you get its not the job of the press to ask only what he wants to be asked? Writers dont work for Jim Harbaugh. If anything,too much of the bay area media is so non confrontational..you wonder who pays who when the president of the beat writers says Beane trading away of young all stars “Creates opportunitys for prospects”. LOL.. is THAT the kind of writing you want to read?
Stan your dad is always out for a story he creates rather than what happens on the field. I listen to all the press conferences and your father asks the stupidest questions, then has the nerve to call Harbaugh 11 years old. Get a clue. And quit riding your dads coat strings.
Sorry grant, but your dad got it wrong, Maiocco wrote a much better piece on this, and was able to step away from it and not take it personally (as it appears lowell does). He “gets it” which is why he moved on to CSN and is not still stuck at the PD, as much as I like the PD…
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Jim-Harbaughs-unguarded-moment?blockID=638352&feedID=5936
For what it’s worth, I was sitting five feet from Harbaugh and I didn’t notice a tear.
If Jim Harbaugh is the emotional equivalent of an 11 year old, Llowell Cohn must be a 6 year old.
So are you saying that Matt is lying. I will trust him any day over the rest of you reporters. Maybe you are jealous because you don’t get to go to all, the road games like the two Matt’s
I find that offensive and uninteresting.
Hey Grant, your dad seems to be really, truly, deeply mean-spirited. I hope this is a result of him growing up in Brooklyn, but I have a feeling it’s much more due to other factors. I hope that you have it in you not to become like him. Whereas he clearly has earned your respect as a father, he has been a ghastly presence this year writing about the 49ers. All that pseudo-positivity he exhibited from weeks 13-19 just evaporated today, and the real Lowell Cohn has reemerged. I really hope that you do not become your father. Stay positive, upbeat… keep up the columns like Boobie Dixon & Ted Ginn’s the Man. Whatever you do, do NOT be like Lowell, do NOT presume to be more than you are. Lowell is a good writer. He has shown himself to be just as nasty a person as he is a good writer. Again, Grant, rise above. Please!
I heard the press conference. I heard your Dad stir the pot over Harbaugh’s response to Branch. I felt the barb in your Dad’s “demand” retort. It appears more and more to me that your Dad has a hidden agenda with regard to Jim Harbaugh. Here’s what I think it is. Your Dad longs to have a relationship with Harbaugh of a kind like he had with Bill Walsh and the fact that he cannot pisses him off, angers him, and frustrates him to the extent that it effects what he writes. Calling Harbaugh an 11 year old child is not my idea of credible writing… Ergo, your Dad’s analysis of Harbaugh is flawed by his personal emotions wrought by his failure to become simpatico with him.
As an aside, isn’t it pretty clear by now that any question the media asks that smells like the answer could be construed as public criticism of anyone under him is going to be met with disdain and a curt response. It seems like any reporter asking these sort of questions already knows what kind of response he is going to get from Harbaugh and therefore is only asking in order to elicit the response he already expects so that he can write about Harbaugh’s curtness.
You are right on, It’s obvious JH will not kiss his ass so this is what you get
I saw the press conference, and I keep coming to a different conclusion about JH than LC.
JH actually does smile a lot in the conferences. He gives fun answers and he has fun with the media.
JH does not bash anybody nor does he go crazy like MS. I don’t know what the press expects, but I can’t see JH acting like an 11 year old.
If he is, then that just proves football and its players are just kids playing a kids game, and that JH is the damn best 11 year old in the world turning this around.
That was one of the most enjoyable football seasons I’ve enjoyed as a fan of the Forty Niners in a long time. Sometimes it’s not always about the outcome , but the journey that makes it entertaining. Thank You Coach Harbaugh and Thank You Forty Niners for a Great Season! Lowell,you need to learn how to appreciate a good thing when you see it! Go Niners!
Amen to that!
True to Joe Montana’s words, that LC is a “master of low blow”, who kicks people when they’re down. Censor this.
The real Cohn comes out again! I was almost to the point of gaining a little respect for him! It was a great season and a bunch of garbage reports from a reporter that thinks he is more intelligent then the dumb jocks he has to deal with is not going to ruin it for me.
GO NINERS! 6-0 in the Superbowl is our Goal!
I can’t believe they would print this drivel and call themselves a hometown paper. How come every other journalist that covers Harbaugh and the Niners can come up with something objective and of value for “fans” and supporters of this team to follow, but the great Lowell Cohn has to result to what equates to emotional pot-shots because Harbaugh did not bow down and kiss his feet enough throughout the season?
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” – T. Roosevelt.
Seems pretty unlikely that any part of that quote about Heroism could ever, EVER be used to describe Lowell Cohn.
Gee that sounds like every republican draft dodger running for president-deferments galore.
Didn’t read…never will
Same here. Whats the point of wasting my time on his articles when 90% are a low blow to Harbaugh.
Lowell’s arrogance is astounding. I concur with MoragaJohn’s assertion that he feels slighted by Harbaugh and secretly hungers to be his buddy. Get over yourself Lowell, you don’t possess half the charm, charisma, character or genius of Harbaugh. Go back to writing pieces about the waves of nostalgia you feel when visiting Palo Alto.
That was a fun article. A bit rough but not out of line. It had Lowell’s patented acerbic wit that I’ve grown used to over 25 years of reading his columns.
People offended by the article need to quit worshiping sports figures. Harbaugh isn’t the messiah, he’s just a coach. A really good coach but he has an antagonistic relationship with the local media. He is going to get barbs thrown his way because of that unless he learns from his brother and adds a bit of diplomacy to his list of skills.
I absolutely agree. I’m surprised at the nasty reaction this article has gotten from many posters. Harbaugh is a jerk to the media, and has been all year. Branch asked him a perfectly reasonable question, and Harbaugh basically flipped him the bird. Like a jerk.
I liked the column. It’s interesting how eager people (posters here) are to attack the sports press. Weird.
According to Lowell, all the followup questions (demands that Harbaugh what he did after the game) were from Lowell, not from Branch. As of last night, I hadn’t found anything from Branch about Harbaugh’s emotional age. :)
Thanks Clemons and Angus; I agree.
I love JH as a Coach, but we readers are clamoring for more, more, & more stuff and the media would love to oblige us cuz its how they make their living and it pumps money into the pot that JH’s many dollars come from too.
Jim is slightly disingenuous with his attitude towards the media, but they’ve lived with it fairly well. Lowell’s article wasn’t that far off; and I’m a guy who has called out LC from time to time.
Yesterday we had long threads on here talking about upgrading our production at WR. So EB asking about the position group is wrong how? Haven’t we had complaints on here about the Pressers and nobody asking any ‘real’ questions? Sure, JH wasn’t going to throw anybody under the bus, but the entire sports world has discussed WR production on the 49ers.
Jim is human and competitive and probably hasn’t choked down the loss yet, so he’s not going to be all sweetness and light and I forgive him that, but criticism is legit. Parcells was a sourpuss too and gave out little as he could. Parcells got called out too, and didn’t care either, but he manipulated the media to his coaching advantage. Bill Walsh did too. LC had a relationship because BW decided it was in his own interest to do so; imo.
Jim could learn to use the media if he wants to, but I’m not holding my breath that he will.
Sorry, too long……..
Lowell wrote his story about Harbaugh not being willing to discuss what he did at home after the game. How is the answer to that question of any help from a football point of view. Sure, it has some appeal but not when it’s the challenge that Lowell made it into.
@msclemons… I don’t think the opinions expressed by the readers are any more indicative of “sports figure” worship than yours is of “sportswriter” worship… People here disagree with Mr. Cohn all the time and from what I’ve seen, he has no problem with it. Heck, most of the time he welcomes it… Seems silly to generalize to that degree…
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@Angus… While the question may have been “reasonable,” was it really “relevant.” I actually thought it was rather silly and contrary to Mr. Cohn’s assertion, I don’t think that answering it would have offered us any great insight into Harbaugh, “The Man.”
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@Cohen the Elder… Seriously Lowell, do we really care whether Harbaugh had dinner with his wife, watched game film, packed for Hawaii or shook his fists at the TV while railing over the Academy Award nominations? I personally could give two rips… I mean really, do we know how Bill, George or Mooch spent their evenings after a playoff loss? Why should we care?
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Lowell, you and Eric are two of my favorite writers and it wouldn’t be a 49ers season without you… but in the end, all I saw and heard was a couple of writers poking the bear in anticipation of a response they knew da#n well they were going to get…
who gives a crap about Harbaugh’s relationship with the media. We just had the best season in years . Have fun with niner football. We will be having good football for years with Harbaugh. That is going to be fun.
Grant, you and your father are classless. I’d rather stick an ice pick in both of my eyes than read another one of your horrendous columns. Who gives a flying f*ck about the media and how a coach treats them. They should be treated like the sh*t stirring scum they are.
The title of this should be, “Here’s An Article My Crackpot Father Wrote Because I’m Too Lazy To Write One Myself”.
You must be really hurting for ideas if you have to keep bringing your father on. How many times have you had these “Here’s What My Daddy Thinks” articles now this season?
For someone who dislikes this blog you sure seem to spend a lot of time reading it.
Here’s a clue – Grant gets credit for page hits regardless of whether some internet troll dislikes the posts. You just helped Grant out with your whiny diatribe. Good show!
I really wonder what is wrong when people consider it a bad thing for a son to be proud of his father. Then again, I guess a lot of these internet trolls don’t know who their fathers are.
Grant when are you going to grow a pair and stop hiding behind “your dad’s” opinions and analysis?
He’s happy. It’s astounding that he’s actually happy that Harbaugh lost and got cut down to size in his mind. The glee just pours out of this piece. It’s not about the Niners for Lowell. It’s about Lowell.
And Grant, I enjoy your mix of straight reportage with bits of other stuff thrown in, but maybe you could have a word with your dad. Write about football. No one wants to read amateurish psychoanalysis and petty personal stuff.
Beat writers need a reason to down a coach and team , it’s their job
LC seemed to take a lot of that personally when JH just answered as he has all year. The wide receiver question is a perfect example. If he says they need an upgrade that’s a slight to the ones they have and he will not talk negatively about his players to the media.
Keep doing what you’re doing, coach.
Does anyone else find this column quite ironic? Lowell writes as though Harbaugh is immature and he is the one that comes off acting like a child. Haraugh coached a team with a decade of failure to the most wins they have had in 15 years and deserves a little respect. I could care less what he did at home last night and as far as him “blowing his own horn” its ridiculous. Harbaugh said they have a well coached team and I take that as a compliment to the many assistants he has and how he felt they did throughout the season. I don’t want a coach that gives a great press conference or sucks up to the reporters…….I want a winner and I think we have one
My thoughts, exactly, on the blowing his own horn comment. I think it was also praise for his excellent staff. Not once did JH brag about himself all year, so I don’t believe he’s gonna start after a tough loss.
I didnt even have to read the article. The comments pretty much says it all.
Thanks for the comments guys, five minutes of my life I dont have to spend reading drivel
Grant, I have a few questions that I would like you to relay to your father. I hope he feels comfortable enough to answer them in a public column for all his readers to read, not just us bloggers here: “Lowell, Did your daddy not hug you enough when you were a child? How did that make you feel? Do you need to upgrade your son?” I hope my acerbic humor, or attempt of it, is fair game just as Lowell’c is for the Press Democrat.
I get it. LC wants JH to improve his media skills. To be more open. To be less acerbic. Do we readers get the same chance to ask LC to be more humane, less acerbic, and improve his reporting skills and writing style? None of us are perfect and need to be wise and above all humane in our daily actions. Confronting and compromising people in a public forum especially after a depressing event is about as low as a human being can go. It’s not acceptable in California nor anywhere else. It doesn’t make for good karma. LC lacks compassion and that’s his prerogative. His lack of empathy however shows lack of people skills.
How about you post the complete transcript of the interview, I’d rather have fact than someone’s opinion.
That was a stupid column. I don’t know who’s 11 years old, Harbaugh or Lowell, but in reading the exchange, I saw 11-year-old Lowell Cohn jumping up and down screaming “You WILL answer my question, you WILL you WILL you WILL.”
Cohn has forgotten he’s not entitled to get his question answered. No one is. If he wants to get his question answered, perhaps he should offer Harbaugh a Ben. N0thing says request like a $100 bill.
Sadly, somethings I think Lowell wants to be Glenn Dickey. That’s no great aspiration, Lowell.
@bbthekitty
‘the one and only statement you have made that I have agreed with this year is your last sentence/paragraph…’killed my love for the Chronicle 30 years ago.
Shame, I usually enjoy Daddy Cohn’s columns, but that one wow… get over yourselves. I hope JH treats you the same way next year, and gives you even less than he did now. Time to put on the Bill Belichick hat and show you no practices what so ever, not even warmups, and give you press conferences where he makes a statement, takes 2 questions and leaves.
The guts you have to push him around like that like he owes you something. Childish to say the least.
Go niners. See you next year.
so what is the deal….i click on the “click” and it links to grant’s ‘dashon vs goldson’ article.
Fixed it.
the 11 year old comment is the same as when I call u and lowell the “beavis and butthead” of reporting. I wonder why my post gets deleted while “butthead” gets his own thread?
I saw the replay of the press conference. I cannot believe that is what Lowell came away with. The topic was not worthy of a Lowell Cohn column.
@Dennis
Didn’t you think JH was having fun with it? LC as well? Then this article gets written. I don’t see the connection at all.
@DS94everXev
I thought Harbaugh was having fun with it. I did not think Lowell was having fun with it, I thought he was pretty serious. He wants to find out what makes Harbaugh tick. I think Harbaugh knows this and isn’t going to help him find out.
Lowell was very unfair to the 49ers, Harbaugh and Baalke during the preseason with his ‘opinion’ pieces. My guess is Harbaugh remembers and won’t give Lowell anything. At this point he doesn’t trust or fear Lowell, nor should he.
@dennis
LC did as many here did.
He loved the JH hire, then when JH said he wanted AS here, all the love stopped. Immediately after the hire everybody on this blog wrote “In JH I trust.” Or something along those lines.
Then after JH said he wanted AS back here, there were a lot fewer people writing that. They tried to support JH, but attack AS by making things up regarding how JH felt about AS. Wanting to take something away from the interview with JH that showed he really didn’t like AS, but was forced into taking him due to the lockout. Basically something that wasn’t in the interview, and report that as fact. I imagine that JH, like myself, did not appreciate that.
LC did this as well. JH knows it, and one thing we do know about JH is the guy can hold a grudge like nobody else.
agree, there was an agenda
Hey Dennis, can you provide a link? I’d like to see the press conference.
Thanks.
It is at the very end. http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Harbaugh-compares-no-fumble-call-to-tuck?blockID=636832&feedID=2539
I guess you linked to this Grant because you want your Dad to finally retire?!?!? Come on it is two days from our heartbreaking loss. We need some game break down with some salve of what to do next year, not an attack on a Coach that in one season has won the fans!!!
Sad article from an out-of-touch writer. With all the Harbaugh’s done for this team this season, the best he could do was insist that he tell him what he did last night? Really? He just lost the biggest game of his life after being completely focused and emotionally committed to this team all season. Yes, Jim Harbaugh wears his emotions on his sleave – that’s part of what makes him a good coach and a great “leader of men.” Lowell needs to show some consideration or maybe just retire.
Pathetic.
That’s what I said when I read the headline here, and I retain that opinion after reading his article. Low-el has always been a P A T H E T I C writer. He is definately not a person I would buy a beer for in a bar to talk to.
But I am glad we have writers like him, cause they serve the important function of helping put into perspective journalism. Every time I read something that is actually good somewhere else, I enjoy it that much more because I know somewhere in the Bay Area is Low-el writing something bad.
Good journalism is a treat, and LC makes that clear every time he delivers his columns.
David H
I think you may need to distance yourself Grant from your Dad if you want to get into the locker room and practices. This is football, not politics. We need some pick me up. Insight from the players so we can share in their heart break and let them know we support them. All their hardwork I enjoyed every minute of it. Makes me want to pay for Sunday Ticket all over again.
Whats the deal with Pops! Grant come on buddy do your own thing. If I wanted to read your Dad’s column I would have, you don’t need to link his crap here. You have a good enough blog without adding his columns.
Agree!!
In that CBS interview of all the Harbaughs-Jim really came across as the odd one-the super motivated win at all costs one. Its ok for a football coach if you dont mind that type,if you do?-f off. For fans-as long as he wins,he’s got backers. Free drinks for Jim. And dont hug the porcupine.
Watch the Great Santini..same difference.
Some fans like Cohn articles and some don’t. The point is all Jim Harbaugh has to do is show up to answer the media the way he feels. If Harbaugh feels like not giving up to much info then thats his deal. If the media don’t like it well piss off. Harbaugh does not owe the media anything and never will.
Your Dad is a hater, he hates the 49ers, hates Alex Smith and hates Harbaugh. He should be working for Fox News where he can spin his hatred and bitterness into anything he wishes. He sees what he wants, always negative, he sucks. He ate crow after the game against the Saints, but still called it “one game wonder”…. he forgot the game against the Eagles in Philly and forgot the game again the Lions in Detroit because it would have messed with his hate driven theory. The fumble is called the other way and we win the game, he still would have something to complain about. He is loser.
The East Coast media is enjoying his Dad’s article.
Grant, when is dady retiring? So I can open champagne and celebrate?
David H
Boy oh Boy,two crappy columns in a row, Lowell are your initials stand for now( lousy columns) maybe you are not thinking logical, since you lost your reader’s. The Super Bowl worthy column and now JH is acting like a 11 year old. Really LC I would expect better from you, this column is just a space waster. Lowell it looks like you lost your fastball and now you are just throwing the knuckle ball, I hope you don’t become a knuckle head. LC, your the one acting childish because you can’t get the answer’s you want. Who cares, without JH the Niner’s would have another dismal year. We want the old LC back.
Nahhh, he overstayed his welcome. I want Low-ell Cohn gone.
An article on bayareasportsguy blog quotes the Giants as knowing Williams had a history of concussions..that he could be rattled with a hard hit. And after his first return,they saw he looked dazed. Williams has had four diagnosed concussions. Sounds to me like bad coaching to put him out there. If the Giants knew it,the 49ers should have known it.
Grant
I wish you and your father would write more about football — the game, and less about pop psychoanalysis and human relationships.
I don’t mean to be patronizing at all, but when you write about stuff around football, I would cite the following article by Hua Hsu as an example of good writing
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7493216/hua-hsu-giants-49ers-nfc-championship-game
thanks for that link, great read.
Great! For someone who started this long trip with the 49ers in 1946 the best two stories about this week were this one, and one in the New York Times about the Kezar Stadium 49ers.
That’s how Mike Sando described the same moment.
Quite diferently, I mostly in line with what other posted here.
I guess communication depends as much in who listens as who says something.
•Harbaugh joked his way out of answering a question about how he spent Sunday evening following the game. He called it a California thing when people want to know how he feels, what he was doing at a certain time, etc. He cited his status as a Midwesterner in declining to provide specifics. He did confirm where he planned to watch the Super Bowl: “On TV.”
I know lowell is your pops grant, but enough of his stupid egocentric column posts in this blog please before you lose a reader. Truly cannot stand his articles and opinions on comcast, id rather read the overated niner fan column over and over.
“Looking into yourself is the essence of California and that means being touchy-feely and not manly like him”…..
What an idiotic comment. I think Lowell needs to be writing editorials about gardening, not spoorts, and certainly NOT the 49ers.
i don’t know…..if that bradshaw fumble was really a fumble and it was ruled in the same genre as the tuck rule….IMO it would be every bit as big as the tuck rule….it would have probably been another score for the niners without even having to pick up a first down….
there was a lot of spinning going on in the article……
at first i couldn’t read the article so i went to csnbay and looked at the conference call and it did end kind of wierd with a sharply raised voice by LC….probably sparking the words “demand” coming from JH….not really enough to spawn the article that was written….so clearly there is significant undercurrents from LC perspective….
i guess i am saying i am interested in the niner journey… but this particular aspect of distracting pithiness between a head coach and reporter is not interesting to me….kind of reminds me of the lonesome dove reporter in the ‘natural’…who had an agenda against who was it hobbs played by redmond?
Grant, no offense to you but I don’t understand why your father has to continueally act like Skip Bayless. He tries to create controversy for the sake of getting a rise out of people. He doesn’t have to be a “homer” and wirte nothing but “sweetness and light”, but to have the slant of his columns to be constantly and prevasively negative is a bit tiresome.
Who is Lowell Cohn? A New York Giants writer? Never heard of him on radio? He certainly think of himself like Larry King of Sports News, but instead of people are searching for his article, his young son had to put a link for him…
I dont know whats the matter with you guys. Jim doesnt have to like Lowell? and Lowell as a columnist,not reporter,doesn’t have to like him. I think its more fun that Lowell does dislike Harbaugh and calls him down. Your going to get more info then the Propaganda minister would ever let out. Lowell isnt saying he can’t coach..not even said a thing mean about his personal life,family..dog.
I mean-listen to the press conferences…what started as “Only Lowell” asking certain questions..well,the others are burned out on Jims tight lips,and those who want to learn more rather then take the “Larry Kreuger/Tim Kawamaki” attitude of Jim doesnt play that game,so give him what he wants,are asserting their rights as journalists.
If Radnich has got one thing right-Its if he takes the money,don’t complain.
One last-” Is that a California thing?”..that’s weird for somebody who grew up here and has worked for San Diego(hey man,lets go to the beach),Oakland (power to the people!),Palo Alto(light those candles), and ultimate “ooohm” Zen city San Francisco.
If the Niners ever start losing under JH, expect LC and his ilk to go straight for the jugular. Sad.
That’s true-it’s called “Making your bed”…
No it’s called being vindictive. LC didn’t get what he wanted, so if he get’s the chance, stick it to him! Yeah… that’ll make him tell you more…get a clue.
Smart people know that’s not how it works with JH. If he really wanted to ‘do his job’ he would find a way to get the info he’s looking for. Don’t get hissy cuz JH is a couple of steps ahead, like he should be. He is essentially the ‘father’ of the team, he should ‘protect’ certain info from being mis-construed by the likes of LC.
And Harbaugh isnt vindictive?-lol..ask Pete and the infamous USC Stanford game. Wasnt Josh Morgan hurt this year because Harbaugh wanted to run up the score?..He sticks it to you every chance he gets.
No Stan
JM was hurt because JH put CK into the game, and wanted to see what he could do throwing the ball.
Imagine the Niner season if you will on what happens if it is TG who gets hurt instead.
Does KW still fumble the ball against the Giants? Do the Niners even make it there to begin with without TG returnung punts/kicks like he has?
Somebody had to play the game as WR, and JM was the guy.
Discussion over.
wow-Its CK fault that Morgan was hurt? Not the coach who called for another -and pointless(so to speak) TD?..when an easy FG was there?
Why does it have to be someone’s fault? Why couldn’t it just happen? I agree with DS. It very easy to 2nd guess.
It makes the point-Harbaugh wants writers to be conformists-but he himself wants to be the renegade,who says the hell with sportsmanship. He wants it both ways..like an 11 year old.
With nearly 1/2 a quarter left, CK wasn’t going to kneel down.
You seem to think that the JM TD injury pass was done with less than 2 minutes left. It wasn’t. This was not the USC vs. Stanford game. Besides, CK had to show his stuff. Who do you suggest be out there?
KICK THE FEILD GOAL!..we win by 38,nobodys hurt.
But we needed to just ruuuub it in…
Harbaugh doesn’t like doing the Pressers. That’s just the way it is. He doesn’t like the mundane questioning and is a private guy with his views and football. No point in trying to shame him into something.
If you win..you dont have to be likeable. Who liked Tony Montana?
I agree with may of the posts here. I rarely post to any blog but LC’s columns fire me up…in a bad way.
Did anyone read Lowell’s column about Baalke? The first couple of sentences were about how he’d done such a good a job of building the team. Then the majority of the article was along the lines of, ‘Baalke never smiles at me when I see him, he give me the fish-face scowl all the time.’ Well no wonder! Keep it professional.
Now if Lowell wants to give his opinions about the strategy, coaching, and players on the team he should make his case. That would be the expected stuff from a sports writer covering the team. Seems to me he just wants to make it personal. We all know Harbaugh does not tend to answer personal questions, will never criticize a player in public and will brush off questions that he does not want to answer. The press can try and ask what they like, but in Jim’s own building, he’s going to follow his own rules.
But maybe that’s the problem. If Lowell wants to provoke Jim he can do so knowing that he can write a nasty, personal, insulting story about Jim’s immaturity when he gives non-answers. If Jim was to respond Lowell in an aggressive or angry manner then, bingo, a better story that might get national press. That would get more attention for Lowell and he can write for years about how the nasty man in black made him feel bad.
Lowell, stick to sport or go and write a relationships column for people who care. By any objective standard, Jim is extremely good at his job, the players love him, the fans have had their best season for years. The success of the team means more exposure for everyone (including you). You owe him, not the other way around. Just a shame you used your platform for this sort of stuff.
Sorry Grant, while I enjoy your columns, your dad is the infantile one, always pouting when people don’t see things his way. A man’s thoughts after a hard loss or anything bad is a private thing. Especially in the macho world of football. So what if JH doesn’t want to get touchy feely. If your dad and other sports writers don’t understand that and ask stupid and irrelavent questions, I don’t blame the coaches who snap at the writters like your dad.
He got teary eyed. Sort of underminds his own image.
No wrong again, just because he FEELS something doesn’t mean he HAS to talk about it.
.
Thats where tone comes in…he bludgeons you with NO, in his narcissistic way.
I’ve seen his father talk a couple of times now..I can see where he got that chip on the shoulder atittude. Must be a mid Western thing.
Some of you don’t seem to understand the difference between a sports reporter covering a sports team, and a columnist who writes pretty much what ever tickles his fancy. Lowell Cohn, Herb Cain (may he rest in peace), and Glenn Dickey are columnists. The 49er beat writers are sports reporters.
I don’t always enjoy Lowell’s demeaning take on things, but as a columnist, he’s doing his job. Grant seems to be on a path heading in the same direction.
Kyle Williams was just doing his job too. Some would argue and I would agree that he wasn’t doing it very well. I think the same of Lowell’s most recent attempt at his job. Well written, but from most of the posts on this blog it appears he fumbled it.
I don’t like this type of column that Lowell sometimes writes. Some of the criticisums of Lowell’s writing sound like some people expect him to write like a 49er beat write.
Kyle Williams turned out to be too young for the spot he was in. Because he is very young and has talent, there’s time for him to grow into handling that kind of pressure. The “fire him or worse” crowd would have been a better target for Lowell’s need to write about childish behavior.
Annually, I’ve said this about the 49ers at least 57 times, “Wait until next year!”
Agreed on all accounts. I am not saying fire either Williams or Cohn. I am just saying that doing your job does not mean you don’t have days that are not as good as other days.
Except-Williams has a history of fumbling at the worst times..He,dont forget, bobbled the reverse too. How many times in one game can a player juggle the ball before the special teams coach gets a clue?
AND-Williams as a senior in Arizona-fumbled costing Arizona a bowl berth in his last game. The guy isnt somebody to put a season in his hands..he’ll drop it!
And Lowell has a history of writing dumb columns. what’s your point?
Yet another sour article from Cohn, Sr.. After this final straw, I think I’m done caring about your dad’s views on this ball club and all things 49ers, Grant. I know I’m certainly done reading his articles. If I want a negative opinion piece, I’ll just fall back on good ol’ Ray Ratto. (/puke)
You, however, have done an outstanding job this season, Grant. Please keep up the good work!
Sour grapes?
Hey Grant, I believe your daddy has a serious case of sour grapes againts JH. After reading this article, I wonder who the real 11 year old is.
I read your dad’s rebuttal post on his blog. I didn’t think either he or Harbaugh was rude. I also consider myself to being a very independent thinking fan. I don’t drink the cool aid and think everything the 49ers do is great and every columnist is an idiot to think else wise. I agree that Lowell is entitled to his opinion and I (we) don’t have to like it. Having said all that, my opinion is that his column on Harbaugh being an 11 year old wasn’t worthy of being read. Reading takes time and time is precious. I felt like I was robbed of my time after reading it which is unusual of for me when it comes to his work.
So now LC if we disagree with you, we are pro-authority, sounds like sour grapes to me, hey I still think you have some good columns left, your just in a serious slump.
Yahoo has an article “49ers coach disses California”. It aint just Lowell who caught the attitude…
The article did not suggest that Harbaugh was an 11 year old. That is where I have the problem.
To his credit, Stan expressed concerns about Harbaugh’s character very early on. With his remark about California (and therefore about Californians), Harbaugh seems to some extent to have justified Stan’s concerns. At any rate, posters on Kawakami’s “Talking Points” are viewing it that way: most of them are seriously annoyed at what they perceive as Harbaugh’s “dissing of California.” Now we all know that Lowell can be petulant and does push the envelope a little -or a lot – too far sometimes. However, I rather admire Lowell in this case for coming to his colleague’s and our aid – “our aid” because when Harbaugh talks to the media, he is also talking to us, albeit indirectly. And Coach Harbaugh doesn’t seem to get that. In fairness to him, though, I also have to say that his comment comes across as much more toxic in print than it does on video, where it’s accompanied by laughter and a pleasant facial expression. The video, I think, reveals that this episode, while perhaps symptomatic, is really much ado about next-to-nothing – and can we now please return to a serious discussion about The Handshake?
I think Harbaugh was right in his comments. I can’t imagine some Chicago writer asking Ditka that question and getting an answer. The question was in fact a touchy feely nauseating California kind of question.
The only thing that I care about is that the players love Harbaugh and want to play for him, even at a discount in price. I could care less how he talks to Lowell Cohn, the press or us.
I agree with “much ado about next-to-nothing.”
LC needs to have the last word. Characterizing JH as an 11-year-old is just juvenile. The whole human interest thing is ridiculous.
The image of JH embracing a crying Vernon speaks louder than any demeaning words.
What a load of baloney from these posters. Positive perspective = good writing. Critical perspective = bad writing. It’s all so predictable.
Great job this year Cohns. You challenged these guys this year like no one else. You gave us all a lot too think about and we never had to put our money where our mouth is like you do everyday.
Asking about an injured “pinkey finger” from a 10 year old injury is a challanging question?? Grant did great this year, but Lowell has written like a pissy little punk looking for a reaction.
I mean he challenged the fans. Fans don’t like it when someone criticizes their team/coach. Instead of disagreeing and laying out a case for it. A lot people get personal, like you just did, or call his argument “boring” which I think is chicken sh#%t. I think most people here are interested in 49er porn — instead of thinking.
And One-way pissing match is not = Critical perspective LOL
Just read your Dad’s response to all the furor caused by his 11 year old article. Not to beat a dead horse, so to speak, but for some reason, your Dad thinks what he writes is the “truth”. Critically speaking, that’s what allot of us find annoying about your Dad’s writing. The only thing “true” about it is that it is “truly” his “opinion” or “perspective”… not “the truth”.
I think it is really interesting and telling to note that in his response, he also lashes back at the criticism for his article by inferring (actually he doesn’t really infer but outright accuses) those critical of his opinion as lacking independence of thought. Sort of like name calling idn’t it???… something I think we all might have done when we were… uh 11 years old?
When I first read the article I did not understand why readers
were so upset. I now know the wrong article was posted.
I know you love your Dad, but the article was mean and
a waste of your Dad’s talent.
grant-I appreciate this blog and the work done here,and further the fact that you are proud of your father.But since you posted this I’ll say briefly that “insight” via psychological analysis is not this readers cup of tea.
Grant I love reading your colums and I definitely love this blog as a source of information since I live in NY and I’m a Niners fan but I really can’t stand your dad’s articles. Who cares how he spent his day after a tough loss?
And I have to shake my head at how many people on various blogs are upset at asking what they call a deeply personal question “What did you do after the loss?”. If that’s a hard hitting violating his privacy question,I would hate to think of the stir something about his sex life would cause!
“What did you do after the loss” seems so natural to ask-so conversational, I wonder what’s in Harbaugh psyche to think its probing.
I could care less what he did after the loss but those questions come and he should know it. A simple I went home and spent time with the family should suffice.
EXACTLY!..but he didnt say that. He took it as a challenge to his existence. And why?
OK a question…do we want an endearing HC that is mediocre or a guy that is intense and at times is curt with the media? So what!
And JH chuckled, amused but not confrontational till certain writer jumped in. JH paused and might be even thinking about how to answer
when “..you’re a Californian!” as in “Gotcha.” Just like in the past, it became ME vs. the interviewee.
Anyway. Time to put this yawner to rest.
I’m not saying he should be fired. Just commenting on his jerkdom. As long as he wins and does the job is all that matters.
I was thinking ,wondering if Walsh would have fallen short like Harbaugh?..would a Walsh lose a close finals with three consecutive three and outs? Would he have stuck with Williams,again after both the reverse bobble and the shin muff to see that same player fumble in overtime?
I’m surprised Harbaugh fell like that,with no fight on the offense.
Stan, in looking at the video of the press conference I thought that Lowell was the jerk. Harbaugh might have answered the question if Lowell did not demand that he answer it. I may be a jerk myself but when people make demands of me that they are not entitled to they get absolutely nothing – even if I might be inclined to give it to them.
Bottom line is that I have no problem with the question or Harbaugh’s response. I have a very big problem with Lowell’s column on the subject. I thought Lowell was an immature jerk. If I was the 49ers I would take away his press pass if I could.
Stan, I’m with you all the way. What disturbs me more than anything Coach Harbaugh said or didn’t say at his press conference, is the majority response here. One point that is repeated is, “I don’t care what Harbaugh says or how he says it as long as he keeps winning.” This take is a variation on the theme of the end justifies the means. (Al Davis’ “Just win, baby!” was another.) And as any schoolboy and schoolgirl knows, and as I suspect Coach Harbaugh also knows, the end does not justify the means. Sure, everybody loves a winner – but should they at any cost? Another recurring theme is posters’ contempt at Lowell’s trying to “read” Harbaugh. To some extent I fault Lowell here for not adequately knowing his audience in this particular case. However, I share his fascination with character and motivation and so it’s difficult for me to criticize him on this point. As for Lowell being a “jerk”: his remarks came after Harbaugh’s ignorant comment about California – a comment made in California as a coach of a California football team to mostly California fans. Tactless, to say the least; also, in my view, lacking class. (After all, as Stan – and even Dennis with his reference to Mike Ditka – has pointed out, Harbaugh could have simply brushed the question aside.) And Lowell called him on it. Good!
Thanks Max-and people already lose sight,it wasn’t Lowell who began the questioning. He just pressed-mildly -for an answer.
And if it was so meaningless-why has Harbaugh’s response made national headlines? So,it seems to have been in fact, a very pertinent area of questions.
Just read Maiocco’s piece about Harbaugh, the season ending presser, and a moment of humanity…
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Jim-Harbaugh-briefly-reveals-a-different?blockID=638352&feedID=2800
Seems to me two pretty opposing takes, Maiocco and Cohn, who were both there. One chose to let his personal agenda set the tone and the other more adeptly captured the moment and presented it in a much more appreciable way. Well done, Mr. Maiocco.
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/24/harbaugh-makes-fun-of-our-sensitive-california-feelings/
Thanks Larry.
Yes, you can see the difference in Matt’s article and Lowell’s. Matt gives us the story, Lowell thinks his opinion *is* the story.
Wow, I just read Maiocco’s article. What a contrast in styles about the very same story. Matt didn’t make it about him or what Harbaugh needs to do to make the press like him better. I bet Lowell is going to tell me that Maiocco is just a reporter.
Thanks for the link, Larry. I can’t add anything to what you said about the difference in styles either. Well said.
On Lowell’s latest post… It would be astonishing if the media were to take up Harbaugh on the football only questions and truly grilled him on the collapse. Why Alex Smith was missing open recievers..throws to their feet at times. And what I already posted above on the 3 and outs,etc. Jim would not like that.
Oh well. He wins. I guess if he wants to bully and live in his world..his right. Makes me wonder if Rick Barry-his type- would have made a great head coach?
lol,I wonder if the copy cat NFL will now look for “Jim Harbaugh” types?
Sean Penn,Dice Clay, Ted Nugent…candidates?..
Stan, Isn’t Harbaugh already a copy of Belichick? I think you are giving Harbaugh credit that deservedly belongs to Belichick.
Belechick does it pretty conventional compared to Jim.
Hmm..You notice Hue hasnt gotten any interest? He doubled the Raiders output on offense. Or back to a OC?.
Suggest your dad go read what Matt Maiocca wrote about Jim Harbaugh today then ask himself which wrtiter was more responsible and thoughtful and which went for the snarky cheapshot
Yeah-or how Matt was the only person in the room to see tears well up or drip off of Harbaugh. Matt is going for “insider” of choice and must stay on Jims good side.
As Harbaugh makes the 49ers HQ a mini Pentagon..he’s not shedding tears over anything.
But,he sure can coach!
What a stupid and petty article. Only Lowell could write such a peevish heap of garbage.
Iggy, please don’t do anything Lowell does. Read Maiocco’s article on pretty much the same topic. Notice how professional, organized, and insightful it is. It is good. Then look at Lowell’s. It is just really sad. You know, MM used to write on this page. Now, it’s just incestuous linking back and forth, each “column” worse than the last.
Now, I sound like a cranky old man too.
Is it just my old PC,or are the comments on Lowells blog missing?
And..I think Lowells column proved-honesty is the best policy. He wrote what he really thought of Harbaugh knowing it will be years before Jim gets over it. And it made national news like I said before.
Its also a statement how staid most reporters are that Lowell’s pinky and how are you ,questions blaze across the internet. Congrats Lowell!
BS
I havent seen a single columnist or writer say they like Jim Harbaugh..just the usual “we have grudging respect’ for each other-baloney,Harbaugh has no admiration or much respect for any writer. And fans only mention he wins,as what they like about him. Or,the neo conservatives who enjoy he belittles writers.
If anything..you could point out his “custom” Stanford bathroom with heated toilets and marble everywhere as hypocrisy of Harbaughs blur collar mentality..because it sure aint how he lives. Sure,Jim drives a truck..and no doubt the wife drives the top of the line black Benz..and it goes on and on.
But,I would hire him to coach my team.
Well,he’s going to do the ten years here and move on when things get stale act…so writers are stuck. Better stay on his good side and say being laughed at by Jim for your questions is he being playful. Sure it is.
I read and write at a 5th grade level. LOL!!!!!!1
Coward..amazingly coward. I’m sure Grant see’s its one of the usual cowardly types..
signed,
real Stan.
Lowell Cohn is paid to write an opinion column. He doesn’t just cover the Niners and relay information. He wrote his opinion on the last press conference and got a ton of reaction. In other words, he did his job. You don’t have to agree, but he’s entitled to his opinion just like everybody else.
Thats the long and short of it.
Something wrong when people get outright hostile to Lowell over this.
+1
Stan,
People get hostile to Lowell Cohn, Skip Bayless, Glenn Dickey, and “the old” Tim Kawakami because they can see through their “poking the bear” journalistic style in order to get attention. Remember, getting a negative reaction from people is better than getting no reaction. Personally, if I don’t like what someone writes I don’t read their writings anymore. Kind of like if the tree falls in the forest, etc. If coaches weren’t required by the NFL to speak with the media how many would choose to do so? As far as I’m concerned LC is entitled to ask any question he wants whether intelligent or stupid and JH is entitled to answer it an way he wants. If someone asks a question that is acerbic or demeaning then the coach is entitled to respond accordingly. Jim Harbaugh does not owe Lowell Cohn or anyone else anything that they demand.
These articles, that Lowell writes arent- just that articles you know..I mean you don’t need to- agree per say but, respect his opinion..harbaugh should not popsicle act, like such a jerk because it – is a bad thing to do. Grant you and I agree and I, think we are on- the same’ mental level. seriously we are..
Using my name? Like an 11 year old would. Next thing,repeat everything I say!