Who Are James And Joyce Whitlock? Jason Whitlock Parents

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Even though Jason Whitlock’s parents divorced when he was very young, he admires them greatly.

He primarily lived with his mother but later moved in with his father after his mother had to leave town for work.

Jason Whitlock was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 27, 1967. He is a seasoned journalist who hosts his podcast show and writes in various sports columns. 

Whitlock’s first job was part-time at The Herald-Times in Bloomington, Indiana. His first full-time employment was as a journalist for The Charlotte Observer.

After about a year there, he joined The Ann Arbor News in 1992 and spent two years reporting for the University of Michigan.

Whitlock worked for The Kansas City Star beginning in 1994. But his time there was not all sunshine and rainbow.

In 1998, Whitlock received a suspension for heckling spectators during a Kansas City Chiefs game.

It was a controversial decision, but Whitlock eventually returned to work after accepting the penalty.

On March 7, 2008, the Scripps Howard Foundation presented Whitlock with the National Journalism Award for Commentary.

Jason Whitlock Parents, James And Joyce

Jason Whitlock was born into the household of his parents, James and Joyce. However, the pair did not stay together for long and divorced when Jason was four or five.

Jason’s parents split because his father was unwilling to settle down, and he enjoyed gambling, women, and spending time with friends.

Despite the divorce, Jason admired his father and described him as the most extraordinary person he had ever met.

Jason’s father was a well-dressed and attractive man who drove a Cadillac, ran a bar, enjoyed fishing, and attended Indiana Pacers games with his boys.

Nonetheless, his father was as rigorous, enforcing rules and regulations and objecting to certain languages and friends.

His dad would take him and his brother to the ABA games when they were little kids. Due to this influence, he was religiously following the Pacers’ news by second grade.

Whitlock says that he fell in love with news and newspapers all because his father introduced him to football.

During his senior year of high school, Jason moved in with his father during a difficult time.

His father was in financial problems, and they shared a tiny apartment. Their relationship deteriorated as Jason’s father sought to fix what he saw as weaknesses in Jason’s life.

Their relationship improved once Jason graduated from college and began caring for himself.

Unfortunately, Jason’s father passed away at 77 years of age, and Jason wrote a very emotional article in tribute to his father. 

Whitlock Vs. Stephen. What’s The Issue? 

Stephen A. Smith and Whitlock are two well-established sports personalities with a history of disagreement.

The pair have rarely seen eye to eye on many matters. This has caused their conflict to boil over many times.

Their disagreement has again heated up after Whitlock questioned Smith’s biography.

Smith was recently on cloud nine after publishing his biography, “Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes.”

In reaction to Whitlock’s critique, Stephen A. Smith unleashed a blistering 59-minute tirade on his YouTube show.

He accused Whitlock of being ‘a demon,’ worse than a ‘white supremacist,’ and the most vile, dishonest, no-good, fat-a** human being I have ever encountered.’

Smith used aggressive language and showed considerable anger toward Whitlock.

Whitlock addressed Smith’s statements on social media, expressing shock at the severity of Smith’s reaction and expressing sympathy for him.

Whitlock also stated that he attempted to rebuild his connection with Smith around a decade ago at the request of former ESPN executives.

However, Smith reportedly refused to work with him, claiming a contract clause.

ncG1vNJzZmionJbGpr7Sm6CoZpOkunC2wKacrGWapMaksYyjmKynnmLEqbXTpaaco12lrrOxza2qaA%3D%3D