I was on the road yesterday for a little while, listening to two talk radio idiots talking about the big college games of the week. One of them said Arizona St. vs. Oregon was the biggest game of the week because it was the game between highest-rated teams and had the greatest national championship implications. The other one said that the LSU-Bama game was the biggest because a) it's SEC, b) the whole Saban thing, and c) the teams don't like each other.
I agree with Idiot #2, and I'll tell you why.
Sure, the game between Arizona State and Oregon has substantial national championship implications. The winner will be in the thick of the championship hunt while the loser will be effectively eliminated. The same is not true of the LSU vs. Bama game. LSU remains in the national championship hunt, and will be eliminated if they lose, but Bama is not in it and can't get back into it.
While the ASU-Oregon game has that win-and-still-in-it, lose-and-you're-out subplot, and that certainly is meaningful, here's the deal about it. Outside of Pac-10 country, no one cares which one stays in and which one goes out. Someone will win. Someone will lose. I'll say, "Now isn't that interesting," as I read about it in the newspaper the next day.
On the other hand, the LSU-Bama game has, for all intents and purposes, the division title on the line. It also has a coach going against his old team, and that coach's replacement trying to show that it's his team. (Never mind that I think he's long since already done it; the media doesn't seem to agree). It is also a bitter, century-old rivalry. But the kicker is the Saban factor. Literally every college football fan in the country is interested to know how this game plays out. They want to see how these teams play and how these coaches play in this very bitter and heated environment. That's something ASU-Oregon can't match.
OK, I'm maybe exaggerating a little. Fact is that Oregon looks like a pretty good team at this point, and they have a very exciting offense. They're a fun team to watch. But I think the larger point remains.
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15 comments:
honestly?? you probably don't want to hear this, but i think oregon is right there with lsu as the best 1 loss teams in america.
however, nothing is more interesting than a little blood curdling hate...and that's what we've got on saturday.
Richard,
I'm a Baton Rouge newspaper reporter who will be in Tuscaloosa Friday and Saturday talking to LSU fans. Would you be available for an interview Friday? Email me at jharper (at) theadvocate.com and I'll explain and send you my contact information. - Jeremy
hear that?? that's the sound or richard hitting the big time. :)
heck yeah, I'm doing that.
Very nice, Rick. Hope to see you in the paper.
-Daniel
Richard,
This is Chet Braud from Gonzales. I stumbled upon your blog the other night while I was at work.
My wife and I are going to be in Tuscaloosa this weekend for the game, sans tickets. I have been looking forward to this trip since the last time we made the trip two years ago. I will say that the Alabama fans were great and I am anticipating a fun time in Alabama. It would make the trip more enjoyable if the Tigers pull it out Saturday.
Richard, Finebaum's article from Tuesday is getting serious play on the sports-talk circuit in Baton Rouge. Considering that I live in a 'toxic waste-dump' of a city, this guy seems to be an ass-clown. What's the perception of Paul Finebaum over there? He seems to be kind of a jerk.
Anyway, let me know where you will be Saturday, if I'm in the area I'd like to meet up.
Geaux Tigers
BTW,
My email is purple_tiger006@yahoo.com
I definitely remember a Chet Braud who went to East Ascension.
Finebaum: he's a professional shit-stirrer. He's the sort of guy who, if he saw a mob forming, would get out in front of it and claim to be its leader. He's made a very good living riling up Bama fans when Bama is down, and riling up Auburn fans when Auburn is down. He'll basically say whatever he can to get under people's skin because he knows that's what sells papers and that's what gets listeners to his radio show.
I find it best to ignore him.
exactly, finebaum is one of those unique characters that nobody likes, but a lot of people listen to b/c they want to hear what he's going to say next. if his article is getting big play in br, then he feels he has accomplished his mission.
Richard and Gerry hit the nail. I compare Finebaum to Howard Stern. It seems like the people who hate him the most are the ones who never miss a show. He's an entertainer and very good at what he does.
Joe,
He may be an entertainer, but to call another city a 'toxic waste dump' is beyond classless. He may be a Saban Stalker, but I believe the man has insecurity issues that he tries to hide with his writing.
I'll tell you what guys, I read the article that he wrote for Tuesday, and it was not an exercise in jouralism. I respect people who have a different opinion than I do, and I don't think that my opinion has more credence than anyone else's. However, this guy I will write down in my book as a worthless douchebag.
Finebaum was just interviewed on a local Baton Rouge radio show. He's just a jackass looking for ratings.
-Daniel
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