Rick Reilly on the myth that is Notre Dame football

[ZooCougar]

Can I think Lance Armstrong is dirty and still think the USADA is a two bit organization on a vendetta? I mean it's obvious they care more about nailing someone for past transgressions than monitoring active athletes.

Yes, but it will be great to see Lance get his comeuppance after trashing everyone who has had the guts to tell the truth about Juan Pelota.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

as much as i don't genrally care for Rick Reilly's writing, i seriously doubt he'd allow himself to be ESPN's mouthpiece. he's way too self-important to just chirp the company line. i think he wrote the article for the same reason we've been saying it for a decade: b/c it's obviously true, and b/c anything about Notre Dame generates interest. of course this guy makes proclamations like he's the first one to realize it. i mean come on "I'm declaring an end to all that"... get over yourself

Like his stuff or not (I'm generally a "not"), Reilly is, or seems to be, respected and widely read. At ESPN, he seems to have a sports writer's dream-gig. Since he probably believes every word in the "column," it's not a stretch to believe that ESPN strongly "suggested" he write a anti-ND column. The piece is probably step-one of a smear ND project; a project that will show ESPN's nasty /vindictive side. What better way to get the ball rolling? A "respected" columnist and a subject on which, most Non-ND, college FB fans agree. Now ESPN, using Reilly's supposed credibility, can sic it's shrill, intellectually corrupt "Talking Heads" on ND.

Kinda makes one wonder what ESPN will say about the BE if it signs with NBC. Although I can't see how it could get much worse.

 

[huskyblooz]

Notre Dame is descending at the same rate as the Catholic Church.
Coincidence?

And Rick Reilly has become just as irrelevent since he left SI.

 

[BlueMAB]

Oh look, another 4+ page thread on the irrelevance of ND.

I don't like them either, but there's a reason they have all the advantages they do; they earned them.

Golic's rant this morning was exactly right. No, the product on the field no longer "deserves" all of their BCS/NBC benefits, but if it was your school you'd do the exact same thing. And if you say otherwise you're either a liar or a moron. If the product on the field mattered above all else, the ACC wouldn't have any advantages over the Big East with the Bowls or ESPN.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Like his stuff or not (I'm generally a "not"), Reilly is, or seems to be, respected and widely read. At ESPN, he seems to have a sports writer's dream-gig. Since he probably believes every word in the "column," it's not a stretch to believe that ESPN strongly "suggested" he write a anti-ND column. The piece is probably step-one of a smear ND project; a project that will show ESPN's nasty /vindictive side. What better way to get the ball rolling? A "respected" columnist and a subject on which, most Non-ND, college FB fans agree. Now ESPN, using Reilly's supposed credibility, can sic it's shrill, intellectually corrupt "Talking Heads" on ND.

Kinda makes one wonder what ESPN will say about the BE if it signs with NBC. Although I can't see how it could get much worse.

Below it is noted that Golic, ESPN and ND, went on +ND rant. Sort of shoots holes in my above "post." More and more, I seem to be exercising my right to be wrong. Everyone at ESPN does not have to follow the company line unless, of course, Golic ends up unemployed.

 

[CL82]

I'd like to hear from conspiracy kitty on this.

Conspiracy Kitty says:
Is this even a conspiracy anymore? Would it still be if ESPN took out a bill board that said "ESPN - the worldwide leader in trying to kill the Big East" because that pretty much all that's left at this point.

 

[mattp]

Below it is noted that Golic, ESPN and ND, went on +ND rant. Sort of shoots holes in my above "post." More and more, I seem to be exercising my right to be wrong. Everyone at ESPN does not have to follow the company line unless, of course, Golic ends up unemployed.

obviously they wouldn't fire Golic regardless of what he said about ND. personally i'm tired of their schtick but he's a big draw for them. the truth is however that Golic's defense didn't differ from ESPN's line at all. he admitted they didn't deserve any accolades today but said there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of capitalism. i agree with him and i think it's the logically correct opinion but at the core of his defense is that ND isn't that great on the field anymore and that's the point. if everyone decides they don't want to watch them b/c they're not any good anymore the capitalism side should take care of itself.

 

[whaler11]

The name originated from Fielding Yost, who was complimenting the team after a loss to ND, saying the "Irish" are good.

Thats the coach from Remember The Titans right? (yes i know who he really is)

 

[ruskin]

The interesting thing will be if ND/Big East (and my bet it is this will be some kind of package deal, as much as we will hate it) go with NBC how much coverage will Big East will get on ESPN. Probably less than NHL.
BTW, don't forget all the NBC affiliates who would love to put on college football before or after ND kicks off.