Fuming Goltz rips media

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This article was published 05/09/2013 (4417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just when it seemed like we were going to spend the week of the Banjo Bowl with not much more to talk about than the point spread (Saskatchewan by 81/2, if you were wondering), Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Justin Goltz on Wednesday authored his own compelling subplot for the rest of the week.

For the second time in as many weeks, Goltz used his post-practice availability with the media to lash out at the media, this time scolding the assembled jackals for overblowing the minor tempest that’s been brewing since Sunday about the two post-touchdown celebrations Goltz did in Regina in a loss to the Roughriders.

“I think it was blown out of proportion. It’s another media thing. The fact we’re still talking about it a couple days later means it was a distraction so I can clean that up just by not doing it anymore,” said Goltz.

Last week, Goltz was angry at the media because he felt they made too much of his comment a few weeks ago that he felt “betrayed” by the club when his starting duties were yanked.

So it all demanded the obvious question: Are the media picking on you, Justin? “I think you guys like to pick on me is what it seems like,” said Goltz. “I think you guys take something small and like to make a story out of it and produce a headline. Is that far-fetched?”

Goltz has received some criticism, particularly in Regina, for his post-TD routine of pretending to adjust his tie, a pantomime that included on Sunday an extra layer that was an allusion to the post-TD celebration of Saskatchewan tailback Kory Sheets.

But while Goltz was singling out the media Wednesday for making a mountain out of a molehill, the facts were that he decided to stop doing the celebration after Bombers head coach Tim Burke sat the entire team down Wednesday and told them he wants the celebrations to stop.

It turns out Burke also wasn’t a big fan of Goltz’s routine.

“I don’t believe in it,” said Burke. “I don’t believe in any of that crap. Celebrate with your teammates. What happened to sportsmanship?”

But Burke also defended Goltz, agreeing with the quarterback the issue was being overblown given all the elaborate TD celebrations elsewhere in the league.

“I’ll be honest with you — I think this whole thing is being blown out of proportion. It’s OK for other guys in the league to strike superhero poses or dance or, you know, pull their pants down or whatever.

“And you measure what he did compared to that? It’s unbelievable.”

Burke also pointed out the fans in Regina on Sunday were not exactly sitting on their hands all game.

“It’s the pot calling the kettle black,” said Burke. “Where was the game played? What were their fans doing? They were extending… I will let (media relations director) Darren (Cameron) tell you. I definitely don’t want to show you.”

While it’s not the first time Goltz has scolded the media, the QB is normally rather affable and his noticeable anger and agitation on Wednesday stood out, prompting the question why?

“The CFL is a league where guys celebrate touchdowns. I didn’t think it would be a big deal if I did as well. But the criticism comes because we haven’t won games and this comes with the territory…

“It’s just annoying that I have to explain myself why I’ve been doing a celebration that I did all year. It was just at a bad time, I guess. Or you’re not allowed to celebrate in Saskatchewan.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.caw