Pretty good article about how things transpired but no prediction as to how it turns out. Bernie Machen Interview About Meyer
Ohhhh that reminds me... Listening to Finebaum the other day and they had some Florida journalist on there. They were having a pretty decent laugh at the 'Paul's a Gator hater' crowd and the group mind-think that seems to be following the Cult of Urban. This notion that he's not welcomed on campus is nonsense and no one seems to remember that, for a decade, he was considered a Florida lover.. He's a close, personal friend of Steve Spurrier's and that's not a secret at all. While Bama was down they had nothing to do but obsess about those winning (Florida) and they saw Finebaum as public enemy #1..... a UT grad who is friends with SOS... he surely is a spy I believe they touched on, as was mentioned months ago, the growing health/strain concerns they had for Urban Meyer and how burnout was a real issue.. You really should check that show out.. If for no other reason, it's great people watching and shows you both the highs and lows of both the fans and media in the South.
Corey, I guess if you throw enough **** against the wall some will stick. Finebaum let it be known that he was going to write an article that was a bombshell for the Gators. Then he wrote the article that Meyer would leave for the Irish. In the article he called Meyer a liar and made some really nasty remarks about our president Bernie Machen. When that didn't stick then he claimed, after the fact, that he wrote the article because Gator fans are so bad. Then when all this happens with Meyer he compares Meyer to Tiger Woods. A writer for the Gainesville Sun, Pat Dooley, was on that show with him and didn't challenge Finebaum on that comparison. The reason was that the show's host took issue with Finebaum and Dooley didn't want to get in an altercation with him. A lot of Gator fans were down on Dooley and sent him emails, he wrote the article in question about why he didn't challege the remark and wrote that Finebaum was a Gator Hater. Which as much as I can tell is true. So Finebaum makes fun of him, Finebum and Buddy Martin have known each other for years and had a lot of respect for each other, right now Buddy Martin thinks he has gone off the deep end. Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel is another one that is now on Finebaums list. WhY? Because they took issue with his off the wall remarks. As best I can tell, the guy has lost it, lost about all credibility with writers he has known for a long time in Florida. I have no interest in listening to or reading anyone who is so far off the chart in common decency. [/i]
I saw Finebaum on TV (ESPN) for the first time in a brief interview regarding the Meyer situation. I was amazed at the amount of unabashed hostility he showed toward Meyer. He spoke about Meyer in a very disrespectful manner and came up just an inch short of ridiculing Meyer's health problem. Prior to watching this interview, I had no feelings about Finebaum one way or the other. This was my first impression of him and it was very negative. I could not possibly respect a person who spoke the way he did about Meyer and displayed an air of arrogance about it. To each his own. For me, people like Jay Mariotti and Finebaum are the bottom feeders of the sportswriting profession. They are like scavenger carp that when caught and cut open reveal that there is nothing worthwhile on the inside.
A P.S. to my above post: The interview took place shortly after Meyer's original announcement and before his change of heart about coming back. The reason I point this out is that initially most reasonable people were concerned only for Meyer's health and well-being. This is when Finebaum chose to pile on. Great timing. :roll:
Sid, I think what gets lost sometimes Sid is that all these people are human. Meyer had a big scare, a life changing experience. He made a decision which he later regretted making and took an option given him by Machen and Foley. He doesn't really want to quit coaching or coaching at UF but knows he needs to make some changes to continue. So he decided to take that option and now is getting raked over the coals in some corners. And like you say Finebaum started before he even took the leave of absence option. You described him well and I think you. I also think the article I posted explains a lot.
Sid, What I think you are missing like this.. In a conference full of (and having a long history of) cheaters, assholes and downright despicable characters why is it that Finebaum has a problem with Meyer the most? Spurrier, who Gators fans once worshipped and somehow seem to have forgotten CREATED Florida football....considers Paul Finebaum a good friend and is another person who would tell you Finebaum is as reliable as there is. Meyer is far from the only coach that Finebaum has taken shots at... what you all seem to be missing is that his character assessments (although they were ALL unpopular at the time) have proven right time after time.
Corey, I'm not missing anything. I saw and heard what I saw and heard. Your effort to make a case with me is wasted. You would be better advised to take your case to someone else who cares. I'm not involved in the discussions about the SEC or any member or coach thereof and don't want to be. I'm only relating what I saw and heard and the impression it made on me. Period.
You are right Sid, you are missing nothing. Like I said Corey, this guy may have been what you represent him as at one time, now he may be even lower than what Sid is saying. As to he's a friend of Spurrier, I would be surprised. He was also friends with Mike Bianchi and Buddy Martin until they questioned him. He lied about Meyer leaving then changed directions to cover his ass. Calling him a bottom feeder is an insult to bottom feeders. Frankly I'm amazed that with your feeling about much of the media, especially if they write something about Notre Dame, how you can continue to defend this guy.
Sid, Fair enough. I will tend to keep an eyes and ears open approach to things. I won't waste my time further though as you've made it clear, you're not listening. Bill, I think you need to be surprised then. I think it is funny. You guys all take this tiny micro view of the bigger picture and cast your judgement on the macro situation. You'll never be convinced. I offered an olive branch to ya and you just threw it back at me. I don't play fetch. There's a lot of quality info out there that you're missing, but it's your call.
Meyer is widely vilified on the Blue-Gold Illustrated site by readers who really know nothing about him. I don't know anything about him either but I do know that his accomplishments are approaching legendary status. Until I see something concretely provable about him.....
Yes... it's just me... And every time I've shown you that there are many others who agree, you just dismiss them. Like I said, to each their own. You really should try the program some time. It was nothing more than an olive branch.
Ok Corey let's just be friends. I'm not sure what you meant with the cult of personality comment but I do think you are right that I sould just let it go. I accpet your olive branch and hope you will do the same with mine. I'll edit that last post of mine.
Cult of Personality Its always accepted, it was never in question. I think you might find more useful information in that source/show than you give it credit for. I'm sure Dooley, Stallings, Brand et all are just being hoodwinked You should check it out though.. It's pretty dull now with bowl season winding down. The crazy picks up come signing day and for the last 30 days of summer before football.. Those are the best times to listen.
Meyer has had a great run, and it didn't just happen. He started at BGSU and built on to his legend at Utah and has piled heaps of credibility on at UF. I'm hoping that Brian Kelly will do the same, starting at GVSU, building it at CMU and then UC and finally hitting his peak at ND piling on loads of credibility. One of the things that people can't say about most (except PC at U$C) is that they only win because they have so much talent. Guys like Meyer and Saban have paid their dues and did well before they made to a place where they have the best talent and the best facilities. I'm hoping that will also be said of Brian Kelly.