Sports editor of The Oklahoman says paper ‘failed’ with Kevin Durant headline
The Oklahoman created a ton of buzz on Thursday with its controversial headline that ripped Kevin Durant with two words in large, bold letters — “Mr. Unreliable.” According to the sports editor of the paper, the message was misinterpreted by the masses.
After the cover went viral, The Oklahoman sports editor Mike Sherman said the headline “missed the mark.”
“We take great pride in our headlines about big sporting events and news in Oklahoma,” Sherman wrote in a follow-up blurb. “Thursday’s headline in The Oklahoman on Kevin Durant’s performance in the Memphis series missed the mark. The words were overstated and unduly harsh. The headline and presentation left the impression that we were commenting on Durant’s season, career or even character. We were not. We were referring only to the Memphis series.
“The fact the headline and presentation left that impression with so many readers is proof that we failed.”
Some would argue that the words were “overstated and unduly harsh” even if they were just referring to the opening round of the playoffs, during which Durant has averaged 28 points per game. Durant felt he deserved the criticism while Russell Westbrook disagreed.
Durant on The Oklahoman's headline: "That's what they're supposed to write. I didn't come through for the team."
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) May 1, 2014
Westbrook on the headline: "That's BS in my eyes."
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) May 1, 2014
The best thing about this for Durant? If he likes bulletin board material, he couldn’t have asked for anything more.