Archive for November, 2007
Some random thoughts for this week’s blog…
* A great holiday gift can be found for all your loved ones at www.horsemuffins.com. You’ll find all kinds of great Dan LeBatard Show merchandise for all the e-tards on your list. There’s mens shirts, womens shirts, kids clothing, thongs, and even mousepads. Check out www.horsemuffins.com for all your holiday shopping needs!
* It was my 20th high school reunion this past Saturday. I went to Highland Park High School in Illinois. I loved high school, but couldn’t make it back for my 20th reunion. Kind of a hassle to travel on Thanksgiving weekend. (I also turned 38 on Saturday. Getting really old.) I made it back for my 10 year reunion, and maybe I’ll make it in for number 25 if they have one. I probably would have found a way to go back if I was the most famous or most successful from my graduating class; but I’m not. Reggie Hayes (an actor) graduated in my class. He starred on a WB or UPN show- I forget which one. And F. Gary Gray graduated from my class… He’s a famous director now. He directed TLC videos, Ice Cube videos, and some major motion pictures too. Kind of funny that the only two black people in my high school became the two most famous people in my graduating class. I, on the other hand, produce a stinky, local radio show.
* I am addicted to Dr. 90210 on the E! Network. If you haven’t watched this reality show, I’m begging you to start. It’s real life Beverly Hills plastic surgeons performing all different kinds of cosmetic surgeries. Last night I watched a guy with a “hidden penis.” That’s right, a “hidden penis.” He was 49 years old, married, and a virgin. He has never been able to have sexual intercourse because his penis is “hidden.” Great episode. Riveting. I’m not kidding. Check out Dr. 90210 for some great TV.
* Nick Saban is still a loser. Man, I take great joy in a three game losing streak for him. I hope he ruins that program beyond repair. He’s a jackass.
* I don’t know why people love to pick on Zaslow in response to my blogs. Zas puts on a good show. Most of the respondents to my blogs say Zaslow knows nothing and will never know anything because he never played ball. I just like the fact that he’s passionate about the Heat. It’s fun to listen to someone that is so “over the top” serious about the team they root for. He really does live and die with that team. So stop picking on Zas. You don’t have to like him, but cut him a break! * There are still great gifts available at www.horsemuffins.com. We have not sold out yet.
* I am so hoping for the Patriots to be 15-0 and for the Dolphins to be 0-15 when they play each other in December. Man, that would be an incredible match up. That game would take on national significance if the Dolphins were playing to try and stop the Patriot’s perfect season. Everyone would be glued to that game. The hype during the week would rival that of the Super Bowl. And then the Patriots would beat the Dolphins by 90.
* Sean Salisbury sells t-shirts online too. Every time I hear him promote his website I wonder to myself, “Who on earth would buy a Sean Salisbury t-shirt?” And then I remember I started horsemuffins.com thinking people actually wanted to buy Dan LeBatard Show shirts. Phhhhht.
November 26th, 2007
I talked about this on the air all day Tuesday, and based on the phone calls and e-mails, no one supports my position. But, what the hell. I’ll put my feelings in writing now too, so now you can rip me on my blog as well.
At Nick Saban’s weekly press conference he made a correlation between his team’s loss to the losses America suffered at Pearl Harbor and 9-11. You read that right. He specifically mentioned those two events AND used the word “catastrophe” when describing Alabama’s loss to Louisiana-Monroe. I don’t think we need any further proof that Nick Saban is a sick individual. To compare a college football loss to two of the greatest tragedies to ever befall our country is repugnant AND HE DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED.
That’s right. I believe the University of Alabama should punish their head coach for saying insensitive, ridiculous remarks that probably hurt many survivors and family of survivors from Pearl Harbor and 9-11. I understand we pride ourselves on freedom of speech in this country. And I absolutely defend Nick Saban’s right to say whatever he wants to say, no matter how dumb it is. I’m not saying the government should punish him. I’m not saying he should be in jail because he said something dumb. I’m saying his EMPLOYER should take action against him because that’s what employers can do. He represents the University. He is a coach. He is a leader. He is a teacher. And when someone in that position says something so hurtful and uninformed, it is incumbent upon the university to take action.
I’m not saying he should be fired. I’m not even saying he should be suspended. But I do believe the university should take some punitive action against him to show him that that type of idiocy will not be tolerated from an institution of higher learning. I don’t think a $100,000 fine, with the money going to 9-11 Fund or a VFW charity would be out of line. I think it would be a great statement on behalf of the university.
Most callers and e-mailers are saying to me, “just let it go. It was a dumb thing to say, but he’s a dumb guy, so let it go.” I don’t want to let it go. I find Nick Saban to be a despicable human being. He treated the low level employees at the Dolphins like garbage when he was here. He skipped a dinner with this country’s President while he was coach here, because he didn’t want to miss practice. He left here under a cloud of lies and false, condescending statements. He preaches toughness, but NEVER stands up and places any blame on himself. He’s a jackass, and I may very well be clouded by my hatred for him, but I truly do believe he should be punished for what he said.
Don’t come at me with the free speech angle, because there are very few free speech absolutists out there. (And mind you, I’m not asking the government to punish his speech… I’m asking his EMPLOYER to punish him based on repulsive statements he made as a representative of them. An employer punishing an employee does NOT trample our country’s right to free speech.) For all you people saying he shouldn’t be punished for saying something stupid- that that’s his right- I give you this example. What if Nick Saban said at a press conference, “I prefer to recruit and play white players because I find that African-American players don’t try as hard and don’t listen as much. If I could only recruit white players, I would.” What if he had said that at his press conference? Would you be more outraged? Would you have any problem with the University punishing him? Because if you find that punishable, (which I think any sane person would,) then you’re NOT outraged at the possibility of someone getting punished by their employer for something they said. Then you just don’t think his comparing football losses to Pearl Harbor and 9-11 meets the criteria for punishment.
If you called a pizza place to order a pizza and the person who takes your order says to you, “I’m going to put your pizza order in, but I just want to tell you that you’d be better off skipping a meal once in a while and donating the money you save to a charity. It’s pretty selfish of you to order a pizza when half the world is starving. It’ll be there in 30 minutes.” If the person taking the pizza order said that to you, would his or her employer be in the right to punish them? Or are you going to argue that that’s just free speech, and you should “let it go?”
Free speech gives us the right to say just about anything without fear that the government will punish us. And I’m all for that. But free speech doesn’t mean an employer can’t take action against an employee’s hurtful comments and distance themselves from the jackass making those comments. And that’s exactly what the University of Alabaman should do regarding Nick Saban.
November 21st, 2007
We’ve been debating on air for a couple weeks now whether or not it would be appropriate for the Miami Dolphins to really celebrate IF they should win a game this year. I contend that not only would it be appropriate for the Dolphins to celebrate… it would be welcomed. Dan and Stugotz think that if the Dolphins win a game, they should walk off the field silently, no smiles, no congratulations… Just get off the field and hope this season disappears quickly.
I disagree. I believe Dolfans and Dolphins know what a once in a lifetime debacle this season has been. It’s not a secret. The fans and the players are in it together at this point. I think if the Dolphins win a game, they should celebrate like they’ve just won the Super Bowl. I think they should dump Gatorade on Cam Cameron’s head. I think they should carry Cam Cameron off on their shoulders. To celebrate like that would not be offensive to those that have suffered through this season. To celebrate like that would give fans and players just a little joy… a little fun… in a season that has so far produced none.
Dan had a problem with Cleo Lemon throwing the ball into the crowd defiantly when he scored the TD against Buffalo that gave Miami the lead. Dan felt that as a team that hasn’t won a game, Cleo shouldn’t have done anything after he scored. I disagree. You can’t shut off emotion. You can’t magically stop enjoying a game that you’ve been playing your entire life. We all know this season has been terrible. We know that the team hasn’t won a game. We know this season will go down as probably the worst season in Dolphins’ history. But knowing all that doesn’t mean Cleo Lemon shouldn’t be happy when he scores a touchdown that gives the Dolphins the lead.
So let’s say the Dolphins beat Philadelphia. Or Pittsburgh. Or the Jets. Would it be SO wrong, SO out of line to celebrate? I don’t think so. The celebration would not imply that the Dolphins think they’re great. It wouldn’t imply that the season now has hope. It would just be something fun. One fun thing in a season of misery. After a season of boos and insulting headlines, what would be wrong with dumping Gatorade on Cam Cameron’s head to celebrate his first NFL victory? Are sports so serious that athletes can’t have a little fun even when things are going poorly? It’s not life and death- it’s just football. Fans want to be entertained, so I say entertain us.
November 13th, 2007
Alex Rodriguez as a Florida Marlin. Do you think it’s possible? Do you think he’d reignite interest in baseball in South Florida? Do you think the Marlins could pull it off? I do. On all three counts.
I know it’s a long shot… a supreme stretch of the imagination. But, hear me out. Is it possible that Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract in New York because he was tired of being a “goat?” Is it possible that he wasn’t opting out of the money, but rather the media’s glare? Alex Rodriguez has made plenty of money in his career already. More money than he’ll ever need. But at this moment, when people think of A Rod, they think only of his large contracts. They think only of poor post-season performance. They think only negative things.
Alex could change all that in one swoop. He could sign a contract with the Marlins and become the savior of baseball in South Florida. He could change everything by becoming a Marlin. There’s no media spotlight as a Florida Marlin. There’s no “captain clutch” to deal with on The Florida Marlins. There would be no expectations that go along with a 250 million dollar contract with The Marlins. There would only be the potential for positive developments for A Rod.
He could single handedly revive baseball in this dormant baseball market. He could be the catalyst for getting a new stadium built for the Marlins. He would be treated as a hero coming back to play in his home city for less money. He would be thought of as the cause for any successes that the Marlins have. He would have only upside potential with The Marlins. And it’s not like he’d be doing it for free. He would still be paid handsomely… Just not as much as he would get with another team.
Could Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria pull this off? Why not? Unload Dontrelle Willis and his salary… Guarantee A Rod 10-12 million dollars a year, plus a percentage of ownership of the team when he retires. Jeffrey Loria could even give A Rod some of his paintings to seal the deal.
I know it sounds ridiculous at first, but when you really start to think it out, signing with the Marlins makes perfect sense for A Rod. He’ll leave all the “greedy” talk behind him… He’ll leave the negative major market media glare behind him… He’ll leave all the Jeter talk behind him… and he’ll just play baseball. At home. And he’ll have more fun doing it than he’s probably had in ten years.
November 5th, 2007
