Les is tight lipped, but he's never been an a**hole to the reporters like S$aban. The media's problem with $aban is that he prevents them from doing their job and throws a fit when they try to do it.
In several threads you and I have skirted around this topic a bit. We both knew it was going to happen, but differed a bit on how Alabama fans would see it. My first thought was, "Who is this guy?" Seriously, I had never even heard of Moon before this bit hit the 'net. I have watched the Bama nation/ 'net traffic since it came out and it did spend a bit of time catching traffic. A good majority are just laughing at this writer. Coach Bryant has a story about his thoughts/reactions on the media, and there are still a lot of us that remember those days. (Yes, another instance where I'm living in the past). For some of you guys, you know the "Here's twenty, bury two" quote. I loved the line, and it's real fitting in today's mind set as well.
Reminds me of this story right now. A few weeks ago the University was in contact with the town of Enterprise about fund raising after the disaster down there. However, that help was somewhat hampered by other schools, and some of their "fans" actions, in making it into an SEC / NCAA type of violation. There is an active fund raising campaign the A-day weekend...and, the general notion of most after hearing about this last ordeal is "Screw 'em, I'm bringing another $100 dollars."
They will laugh it off just like we did, as long as he's winning up to their expectations. Bama fans are no different than LSU fans, win and he can do what he wants, lose and it won't matter if he's media friendly or not, he'll be in a jam.
Either I didn't make that clear or you missed my point. Considering, first cup of coffee, etc...fault is probably mine. It's not the *point* of the article being laughed off. That's not the humor in this. It's the fact no one knows who this guy is except for this bit he wrote, he's been unable to get the access that other reporters have been able to get, and those reporters from smaller markets than he's in, and he choose to "have his 15 seconds." Andy couldn't have done it better! Let's sit back and wait to see what happens with Moon's career. Flash in the pan, I expect. But, stranger things have happened...usually, when it involves something that is breaking news.
yeah laugh now, because it's only funny when he's being and a** and you're not losing. Go ask a dolphin fan about that.
It won't just be Moon, Terry. Like Mandel and SI, the most respected of your sportwriters are still not going to get the access that they are used to. Fans will bemoan the lack of team info. Sportswriters will start writing about marginal things because they can't get hard football news except through the Nick filter. We've seen it all before. It does serve to make his radio show popular, though. Nick is more forthcoming to fan callers than to the media and it's the most info you'll get all week during the season. Nick is rough on reporters, AD staff, and anybody in the football program. He goes easy (if a litttle stiff) on alumni groups and university administrators, but doesn't take any chit from them at all, nor give them special access. What will be interesting will be Nick's relationship with the famously overbearing Alabama Board of Trustees. Fortunately for Nick he didn't really have to deal with meddlesome Supervisors at LSU. Having meddled with Charlie McClendon and several of his successors, the LSU Board of Supervisors had become a little snakebit and mostly were "hands-off" with the football coach during Nick's tenure here. Though he wasn't an "LSU guy", he was clearly competent, in charge, winning, and they left him alone, which surprised the hell out of me. And they didn't get special access either!
This clearly sums it up. I have a bet going with my friend who is a Bama fan. We arent that close because he is the worst kind of Bama fan. He claims they are awesome every year but I can name more starters on their team than he can. The bet is to see how long it takes for the board to pressure Nick to give in to their wants, etc... I said 2-3 years and he thinks the board will do the same as LSU and leave him alone his entire career.:dis: It will be interesting to see what happens.
