MIKE FREEMAN BOLDLY DEFENDS CHRIS LEAK'S RIGHT TO MEANINGLESS PRIZES.
by Orson on Oct 10, 2006 1:09 PM EDT
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PrintA great rhetorical device in politics is boldly asserting a value or viewpoint no one save the most bloodthirsty, depraved psychopath would dare disagree with, thereby implying that your opponent likes eat babies/run over the poor in his Bentley while chuckling and wearing a top hat/send naked Polaroids to Osama Bin Laden using stamps paid for by tax-payers. Whether you agree with the agenda or not, one of the funniest examples of this for us is saying you're "for life," as if your opponent will boldly assert his pro-death stance, put on a bull's skull cap, and immediately rip the heart out of the moderator's chest on camera.
Actually, Senator, I AM pro-death.
It's just an example of cowardly, meaningless rhetoric in service of provocation and nothing more, forever shifting the actual argument to excitable talking points instead of actual substance. Segue to Mike Freeman's column on CBS Sportsline about Chris Leak's manhandling by Urban Meyer, a prime example of cowardly, meaningless rhetoric in service of an architect devoid of imagination, intellect, or a functioning gear besides "hack-ish columnistspeak."
Yes, this will be a fisking, but as a challenge to ourselves, we will dismantle Freeman's column without the benefit of profanity.
Yes, we're shaking a bit just typing this, but we can do it, dammit. Actually, we can't do it, so we asked Mike to share some of his wisdom with us and fisk his own piece. Enjoy:
Mike Freeman, who was fired from the Indianapolis Star for claiming a degree from the University of Delaware he never earned, begins with this:
Mike Freeman lets you in the mind of a master.
Some coaches love to look smart. They get all gooey inside when appearing more radiant than the next guy. They embrace humility in public and then when the cameras are off chuckle about disemboweling the coach on the other sideline or out-filming him in the film room.
Some coaches are the most egotistical, glory seeking people you will ever meet.
Which brings me to Urban Meyer.
MF: Some coaches like to be total two-faced charlatans. Which is just what I just called Urban Meyer without actually doing it! Journalizm izz EZ! And by admitting that in public and even on the sidelines Urban Meyer usually keeps his head down, acts in a subdued manner, and doesn't even break a smile after scoring the most ballyhooed retro touchdown of the year, I've managed to plant the seed in the readers' mind without actually relying on even the slimmest of anecdotal evidence.
Better still, I've concealed any and all knowledge behind a cloak of "journalistic privilege," which not only allows me to stab away happily, but convince you that this column is a favor, a peek behind the scenes that you can only get with your buddy Mike Freeman, who lied about getting a degree despite working a profession living and dying by its fact-checking.
Excellent coach, decent guy, kinda smirky. He coaches the rapidly ascending Florida Gators, a team that has a good chance to go undefeated this year.
They might be the most purely talented team in college football. They might have more NFL players on that roster than even Ohio State or Texas.
MF:Perhaps you thought I, Mike Freeman had some kind of bias running here based on the fact that Meyer, whose press conferences have been prison gruel bland and generally distrusts the media, has been more Lloyd Carr and less Steve Spurrier with the public. I counter this by saying he's decent, just as someone with a law degree from Yale and a keen understanding of rhetoric would! And that his team is talented, no less! And lest you think I'm too chummy here, I call him "smirky" just to reinforce the ad hominem undercurrent. I didn't ask for these powers--I was just born lucky ol' Mike Freeman! I'm going to go masturbate to my own reflection while you read the next bit.
Yet there is no better example of a coach wanting to look like Stephen Hawking at the expense of his own players than what Meyer is doing now. Namely, Meyer is building his clip file and cameo highlights on network television at the expense of Chris Leak, the most under-appreciated player in recent college football history.
MF: I read stuff. I watch Nova. Stephen Hawking, you see, invented the black hole. And he's got cancer, and has to sit in a wheelchair and talk with a Speak 'N Spell. Urban thinks he's that smart. I'd be betraying my Ph.D. in astrophysics from U of I, Champaign-Urbana if I didn't point that out.
I also haven't watched Chris Leak struggle against fast defenses in the red zone in this offense, sailing tipped passes through the back of the endzone and making toothless run-fakes. But that would detract from my point, which is that Urban is a preening jerk of a coach, something they've never, ever had at Florida before. Oh, for the days of humble Galen Hall!
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Meyer is screwing Leak out of a potential Heisman so Meyer can look like he's the smartest guy in the room.
MF: Make no mistake about it. Meyer is making quarterback Tim Tebow -- the backup, the rock star, the television series, the prophet, the galactic emperor -- the star of this Gators team while diminishing Leak.
And the Heisman, in case you didn't know, is way, way important. Doesn't Meyer care about having Leak mentioned in the same breath as Jason White? Or Eric Crouch? Doesn't he understand that this is a team sport, and that the greatest and most noble calling of a coach is to put his players into positions for shiny trophies and endorsement deals?
Another thing: any time you say, "Not to put too fine a point on it," that's exactly what you're about to do. Another little insider's insight from your buddy Mike, ol' boy. No charge for that one.
Meyer is using a crowd pleasing, freakish, circus-like, two-quarterback, ham-hocked, stunt-fest, LeakBow offense, and in the process undercutting Leak and ending any chance Leak has to sneak into the Heisman race.
Leak will be the only guy in the history of the NCAA to lose the Heisman to his backup.
Man, that's just rich.
MF: Again I give 'em the shake 'n bake! By rich, I really don't mean that. In fact, I imply that Leak will lose the Heisman to Tebow here and can't even possibly meant that. I also accuse him of running a two-quarterback system just to show how brilliant he is, which has also never happened with success at Florida before.
Leak is doomed when it comes to the Heisman. Finis. Kaput. Why would anyone vote for Leak when the perception around the country is Florida runs a two-quarterback system?
I have never seen a talented senior quarterback, who has never been arrested, never publicly mouthed off, always the good soldier, treated this shabbily by his coach. It is awful what Meyer is doing to Leak. No amount of positive pub or Jeremy Foley bullying of the media will change that.
MF: I've really never seen this before. Someone sent me an email mentioning this "Major Applewhite." A fake name if I've ever heard? Was he in F Troop? Wacky television reference in the house! Being a former senior editor at Esquire, I'm more than capable of pulling this stuff off in my sleep.
And Jeremy Foley really does bully the media. Really. Doubt me? He actually beat Pat Dooley bloody with a barstool last Wednesday night, and nearly brained me with a flying beer mug. He can be so scary! Sometimes I don't ask questions just because of the berserker gleam in his eye. He's killed before...I just know it.
How you can make up your mind about a quarterback after only having three years of game tape on him? It's an outrage.
Can somebody please challenge Meyer on this? Can we stop being so giddy over something that is more gimmick than genuine?
MF: Another insider's tip from Journo-Ranger Mike: don't ever, ever let results, evidence, or facts obscure the truth. Use powerful words like "gimmick" so that everyone feels cheated, since most people do. You don't have to call someone a fraud to get people to think he is! Journolizm iz EZ!!!111
The leading Heisman candidate is Troy Smith from Ohio State. If the Buckeyes go undefeated, he deserves the honor and will likely get it. Yet Leak is right there. When you are the starting quarterback for the hottest team in the nation, the second-ranked team in the country, you have a great shot at winning the award. Normally you do, that is.
Leak should be in the hunt, but he isn't because Meyer insists on looking professorial by running his LeakBow spread gizmo.
MF: You know, I'll let you in on a little something here. Sometimes Mike Freeman has a little...difficulty, we'll say, in getting the ladies to drop digits. And people talk, I know they do. They say, "Mike! Buddy! How about using aftershave? Or maybe...soap?" But that's just using a tool you don't need, man. I let the ladies take me as I am, and if "eau de Freeman" doesn't reel 'em in like Bassmasters, then they're not the fish I'm looking for.
Perfect example: I've never used a putter in golf. Who needs one when a driver does the job just fine? Ditto for a sand wedge or a five-iron. If you're not leaving divots the size of hairpieces in your wake on the course, then you're just not playing real golf. My handicap, by the way, is 0.
It's just about using the tools you've got. Anything less is just fraud.
The LeakBow is not nearly as effective as it is made out to be by fans and some in the media. Tebow is basically a glorified fullback. Florida would still be undefeated if Tebow had stayed on the bench where he belonged.
MF: I'm on fire at this point, as you can see. I can even make statements like the fact that Florida would be undefeated at this point without Tebow, which no one can possibly prove either way, and readers will just slide along like the brainless slugs they are. The main point: readers will believe anything they read in a column. They're like little Ron Burgundies: put it on the teleprompter, and they'll say it even if it's completely unverifiable.
To wit: I once accused Dom Capers of being a mountain goat that could walk on his hind legs and wear a headset. Look where he is now!
Tebow can have his turn next year, can't he? What's the rush?
That jump-pass by Tebow against LSU was Pop Warner; it was the stuff we did in high school football. What Division I coach pulls that crap? A showoff, that's who.
Meyer screams: "Look at me! Look at me! Look at how cute I can be!" He is a show-boater, strutting and preening, doing so at the expense of his starter.
MF: Again, the "gelatinous reader" thing: cut your best stuff into tiny, digestible bits so people can really, really savor it. Imagine it's a sizzler special at Applebee's; you wouldn't want to just cram all that goodness in your gullet at once, would you? No, savor it slowly in measured bites. That spicy, tangy goodness takes time and a generous accompaniment of 2 for 1 daquiris to make it work, which I know thanks to my degree from Johnson and Wales Culinary Academy.
And again, just because something works does not mean it's good. Evidence, schmevidence should be the rule. Journo-Ranger Mike is letting all the tricks out of the bag today, but when you're a graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, you've got some to share.
Leak is steaming over this. He won't say it but it he is. Look at every Heisman quarterback hopeful in recent history. None of them had a head coach trying to force-feed a freshman into the lineup.
MF: Again, I keep getting these crazy emails about that F Troop guy. People, I watch Nick at Nite, too!
I assert here that Leak is steaming. Who knows if he is? That would require evidence and work, which is totally a drag. Just assert it and move on as an Oxford man like myself would.
Did Pete Carroll treat Matt Leinart this way? Does the human sweater vest in Columbus try some two-thrower shenanigans? Did Vince Young look over his shoulder? Is Brady Quinn splitting time with a freshman?
No, no, no and no.
MF: Again, these emails about Ohio State and Texas using two quarterbacks in the past. People, the past is old and smells funny, so don't bring it up, okay? (I know this for a fact: Master's in History, UT Austin '91, y'all!) Why don't you just send me an email about how much better Betamax is, or how they need to bring back Misfits of Science, huh? Hey-O! (I saw that bit on a blog. Those things are so raw!)
Answer your own questions, too. Remember: your readers are adorable, clueless chimps who need direction and firm rules. Keeping that in mind, here's the roundup. Remember: slow. It. Down. Not only do you keep their eyes firmly on the bananas, but readers will never suspect you're padding space in your column! You're that much closer to those daquiris!
Meyer will win multiple national championships. Who knows, maybe he will win one this year.
But in doing so, he will have tossed one of his own players to the wolves.
Or the Gators.
MF: Always, always, always end with a dramatic generalization of doom, condemnation, or moralizing pablum. Turns 'em on every time. See? I've just written a whole column about the individual taking precedence over the team and made it seem noble, justified, and righteous when in fact I'll crank out a column saying the exact opposite thing tomorrow. In fact, I could have written a final line at the end and really gotten some reaction. Watch:
Meyer will win multiple national championships. Who knows, maybe he will win one this year.
But in doing so, he will have tossed one of his own players to the wolves.
Or the Gators.
OR THE ENTIRE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.
Now that's got some kick, sonny! But being a graduate of the London School of Economics, I understand the need to spread out your resources carefully. The power of being a columnist, even one for CBS Sportsline, has its limits. That's just Ranger Mike looking out for you again.
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Oh man, that is rich.
“Meyer will win multiple national championships”
I can’t stop laughing.
Seriously, everyone knows that Meyer is not egomaniacal or glory seeking……. He’s a big pansy that cries after getting beat.
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
Freeman is an assclown. He used to write for the Florida Times Union and now doesn’t. He blames Foley for it and is a bitter little bitch. Now he uses Chris Leak for his own personal prop to bitch slap the Gator Nation for being egotistical, jean short wearing rascists. How does this guy keep getting jobs. Who are the ’tards that hire him.
by John on Oct 10, 2006 1:27 PM EDT reply actions
From a Penn Stater who’s seen a few of these over the years from some PA columnists who’ve got an ax to grind with JoePA, let me just say – Outstanding job! Top-notch disembowling of Mr. Freeman
by DaveW on Oct 10, 2006 1:29 PM EDT reply actions
I think everyone would be angrier about this if it didn’t come from CBS Sportsline…the Mississippi State of Cyber Journalism.
I hope Freeman doesn’t read that last statement and assume it’s rascist…
by T.J. Eckleburg on Oct 10, 2006 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
Seriously though, is Tim Tebow super-human? If so, will Tray Blackmon roving on his face all night Saturday be his Kryptonite?
by Cardiac Kids on Oct 10, 2006 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
I dont even know what the jump pass is. My first thought: What kind of illegal, gay shit is this? I was baffled, man. Baffled.
by Blumpkin Bill on Oct 10, 2006 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
That jump-pass by Tebow against LSU was Pop Warner; it was the stuff we did in high school football. What Division I coach pulls that crap? A showoff, that’s who.
That play has been set up over the last 4 games of the season. It was a great call at a critical time and couldn’t have been executed any better. I saw the highlight on sportscenter and raised my glass to the TV to toast Myer on the call.
This guy is a total ass clown. He forgets that Tebow is the second coming of christ. If you have a talent like that you put him on the field whenever you can.
by Odell 51 on Oct 10, 2006 1:42 PM EDT reply actions
“I saw the highlight on sportscenter and raised my glass to the TV to toast Meyer on the call.”
Nice.
by zzgator on Oct 10, 2006 1:48 PM EDT reply actions
“Florida would still be undefeated if Tebow had stayed on the bench where he belonged.”
Um…did he even watch the Tennessee game? The Alabama game? The last three seasons of UF football?
Nice job, Orson.
by jb in dallas on Oct 10, 2006 1:50 PM EDT reply actions
A well done skewering of a deserving victim, but this is the sort of shit that sells papers and internet ads. It’s the Marrioti, ESPN-entertainment line that unfortunately works – throw analysis and insight to the wind in order to anger and incite. The most appropriate response would be a non-response, thus not even recognizing the attack-ad as legitimate discourse. However, such a stance can’t and work work, simply because others will recognize this as a legitimate point regarding Meyer, Leak, and Tebow. It will be interesting to see how the Gameday crew – for better and for worse, the college football gatekeepers ‘de discourse’ – treat this issue next week.
Two points: was this guy blind, deaf, and dumb during the Spur-dog’s glorious reign of arrogance and terror? And finally, did you really expect keen insight from someone named ‘irishjihad’?
by History_Ant on Oct 10, 2006 1:51 PM EDT reply actions
I thought he had some good points. Leak is Zooks QB
by Loser With Socks on Oct 10, 2006 1:53 PM EDT reply actions
He’s even late to the Leakbow story—if he wanted to skewer Meyer and do it with some gusto, he’d bust on the Marcus Thomas story.
by Orson Swindle on Oct 10, 2006 1:53 PM EDT reply actions
It’s kinda obvious this guy didn’t watch either of the past two games on his own network.
If Tebow went to Alabama, or almost any other SEC school, he’d be starting right now.
Bottom line, Florida doesn’t beat LSU or Alabama without Tebow. He’s a hell of a football player and needs to be on the field to make up for Leak’s weaknesses.
by Gary on Oct 10, 2006 1:57 PM EDT reply actions
Nice piece Orson. Now you will have the NAACP all over your ass. How dare you talk about a true professional like Mr. Freeman like that.
by FGD on Oct 10, 2006 2:04 PM EDT reply actions
If you’re going to fake getting a degree, why choose Delaware?
by Mack10zie on Oct 10, 2006 2:05 PM EDT reply actions
Gatorsports.com (10/10):
Tebow is quickly becoming a fan favorite, but the Florida faithful haven’t forgotten about their senior starting quarterback. Leak received a long and loud standing ovation when he was introduced at Gator Growl on Friday night.
-
Who cares what this jackass thinks?
by Panhandler on Oct 10, 2006 2:07 PM EDT reply actions
Outstanding fisking of a deserving target. CBSSL may be the “Mississippi State of Cyber Journalism” but someone still needs to show up, hang 35 or so on them, and send them home. Orson is just the man for the job.
The Marcus Thomas story would be worth the time and effort of a real journalist but those are few and far between anywhere, much less on CBS Sportsline.
by Oren Incandenza on Oct 10, 2006 2:13 PM EDT reply actions
Thank you Mack10zie…I thought I was the only one who remembered.
by PeteJayhawk on Oct 10, 2006 2:18 PM EDT reply actions
Er…it’s right there in the article. I have the good memory, yes…but with the reading comprehension, not so much.
by PeteJayhawk on Oct 10, 2006 2:19 PM EDT reply actions
it’s alright Jayhawk, it bears repeating what a hack this guy is
by Mack10zie on Oct 10, 2006 2:27 PM EDT reply actions
Nothing smells better than hack journalist burned at the stake. Mmmmm, dark meat. Kudos Orson.
by Gator Head Funnel on Oct 10, 2006 2:33 PM EDT reply actions
Thanks for posting that first picture. I’ve been interested in knowing how Reggie Nelson spends his free time and what he does to relax.
by RedRoot on Oct 10, 2006 2:53 PM EDT reply actions
ummm doesn’t this stupid son of a whore remember that last yr, ohio st used 2 qbs in that game vs Texas? Where Zwick fumbled the ball at the end and Smith came in and got safetied? No? Anyone? Bueller?
fuking dipshit media. Thank god for EDSBS, Deadspin, KSK, and Mgoblog.
by Theri Maa Bhanchod! on Oct 10, 2006 2:55 PM EDT reply actions
or, as the late great bill hicks put it, if people were really pro-life they should be out picketing graveyards.
by kleph on Oct 10, 2006 2:59 PM EDT reply actions
in all seriousness someone at CBS Sportsline needs to ask whether a journalist who has a documented conflict of interest with a team should be writing repeatedly about said team… i also appreciate you not linking to the story, because honestly, i’m never reading another sports article from that CBS site until they get rid of that pathetic hack
by rjsplow on Oct 10, 2006 3:01 PM EDT reply actions
Did anyone else see how sexy Houston Nutt looked after the game?
by Mack10zie on Oct 10, 2006 3:06 PM EDT reply actions
Thanks for letting the rest of the country know what people in Florida have for a couple of years – Freeman is a hack who is pursuing a personal vendetta against the University of Florida. He tried to use the Jacksonville Times-Union and they eventually found a way to get rid of him. Then amazingly he goes national on CBSSL. They probably didn’t check his resume and question his Columbia School of Journalism credentials. This isn’t his first CBSSL article attacking UF and probably won’t be his last.
Even though you simply used his questionable background and the ignorance of his viewpoint expressed in this particular article, be prepared to be labeled a racist by Mr. Freeman as the entire Gator Nation has been in the recent past for much less.
by mtn2top on Oct 10, 2006 3:19 PM EDT reply actions
Gary
Don’t stop there. Tebow would start at every school in the country, besides Florida. That is if they ran QB draws 95% of the time.
JB in Dallas,
It was Leak’s 45 yard run that led UF back to win over Bama. And I believe it was Leak’s TD pass to Baker that put them ahead of UT.
Tebow is gonna be good. But this constant fellatio he receives from Gator fans is quite embarassing.
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 3:28 PM EDT reply actions
Stewart Mandel, in his new Power 16 on SI.com, takes a pretty blatant rip at this Freeman character. Unfortunately, he doesn’t name names.
by HistoryAnt on Oct 10, 2006 3:32 PM EDT reply actions
It’s been well documented that Meyer likes to see Leak’s reaction when he calls the option.
http://loserwithsocks.blogspot.com/2006/09/chatting-with-urban-meyer.html
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 3:37 PM EDT reply actions
Yes, irishjihad, much like the fellating of some Domers for a few guys, one of whose sister LOVES the D, and two guys whose names no one can spell. Sorry we took the attention away from you.
by italiangator on Oct 10, 2006 3:43 PM EDT reply actions
Agree, the Marcus Thomas story would have some strong legs
by loser with socks on Oct 10, 2006 3:47 PM EDT reply actions
irishj, is anyone here saying that tebow should be the starter?
what he does, he does well. what he doesn’t do well, meyer doesn’t ask him to do. it’s a simple as that.
if UF needs a winning drive with a time crunch, leak is going to be out there, making smart reads, moving the chains quickly, and being calm as a cucumber. if UF needs three yards, tebow will probably be out there, dropping his shoulder and throwing his fullback-like body into defenders. next year, he probably won’t be doing that as much. or at least meyer won’t want him to. this year, however, he is the crazy fucker to leak’s quiet efficency.
by adam on Oct 10, 2006 3:48 PM EDT reply actions
As far as Meyer being an egomaniac goes, what successful D-1 coach isn’t? That was a brilliant coaching job that was way beyond Les Miles’ comprehension. Meyer created scenarios that led to LSU’s discombobulation and he did it knowing that the crowd would act in a way that would add to that discombobulation. That was a masterful job by an expert conductor. There is a magic in Gainesville, maybe not enough for a MNC, but enough to beat some teams that are “better on paper”.
If Freeman were from Spain, he’d still be bitching about the Spanish Armada not being fair.
Orson, why so much bitterness? You’re 5-0 and heading in the right direction. I lost money on the game, yet still enjoyed it. The sun is out today, you don’t have to wait til tomorrow; the skies are blue and the bluebirds are flying above you, not somewhere over the rainbow. F*ck the rainbow. Get to an Indian sweat lodge and cleanse your memory of name redacted and Mr. Freeman. Life is good, man.
by SeaTrojan on Oct 10, 2006 3:54 PM EDT reply actions
italiangator,
Irishjihad is not a Notre Dame fan. Don’t worry, happens a lot.
adam
thanks for making Irishjihad’s point for him.
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 4:10 PM EDT reply actions
Just when I think Freeman can’t possibly write anything more full of unsupported, intentionally inflammatory manure, he proves me wrong. He’s been run out of a couple of different jobs already, I say it’s time for CBS SL to hand him his walking papers. Publishing the moronic ramblings of this insane professional jackass might on the surface bring infuriated readers to your site, but does that help you in the long run?
Did this guy get turned down for admittance to the University of Florida or something? He really seems to have a vendetta.
And Urban Meyer’s goal is to win a team championship, not for one player to get an award. That’s the way it oughta be.
P.S. – Chris Leak is a good guy, a decent (but not great) quarterback and a fine student-athlete example for young poeple to look up to. But I hardly think a 4-year starter with no championship rings would be a legitimate Heisman candidate anyway.
I say it’s high time for www.firemikefreeman.com
by oceansoul on Oct 10, 2006 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
Jerry: You said, “George likes spicy chicken.”
George: No I didn’t.
Elaine: Yes, you did. You said, “George likes spicy chicken.”
Jerry: You’re turning into Irishjihad.
George: George is getting upset!
by RedRoot on Oct 10, 2006 4:23 PM EDT reply actions
Haha I was just about too ask if that assclown actually talked in the 3rd person.
by BIGMIKE on Oct 10, 2006 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
Why pick Delaware?
George O’Leary principle: No one would bother to check and see if he’s actually got a degree from Delaware. Unless he becomes lead beat writer for ND or something…
by Jackwraith on Oct 10, 2006 4:41 PM EDT reply actions
Sorry Gator fans, but if Spurrier had Chris Leak, he would be the Heisman frontrunner.
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 4:44 PM EDT reply actions
Actually, behind that SC O-line, he’d be comatose, Irishjihad.
by Orson Swindle on Oct 10, 2006 4:45 PM EDT reply actions
The Heisman is overrated. I’ll take VY winning a crystal football over that piece of hardware any day, and I’m sure Gator fans would feel the same way if it came down to it.
by Orangeblood on Oct 10, 2006 4:58 PM EDT reply actions
GREAT POINTS! Samir –
Irishjihad-naninagihad “not gonna work here anymore” -
by Ltrain on Oct 10, 2006 5:00 PM EDT reply actions
Jihad, if ND didn’t lose to BC in 93 then ND would have been Nat’l Champs, etc etc etc……
Seriosuly, spare us the could’ve/would’ve/should’ve hypotheticals. They don’t change history or what is currently taking place. Chris Leak will never play for Spuirrier in college, so your point is moot.
Move on.
by Geaux Irish on Oct 10, 2006 5:04 PM EDT reply actions
IJ is merely pointing out the fact that Florida has an excellent starting quarterback. IJ doesn’t understand why Florida fans are angry about this.
by irishjihad on Oct 10, 2006 5:11 PM EDT reply actions
Hell, CJ Leak coulda been a Heisman frontrunner under Spurrier at the peak of his genius.
by Gator Head Funnel on Oct 10, 2006 5:12 PM EDT reply actions
New Sports Illustrated Cover in my link. Sweetness, like a double clutch Jump Pass
by loser with socks on Oct 10, 2006 5:26 PM EDT reply actions
Why is irishjihad speaking in the third person? Maybe the jihad is AGAINST the Irish. Ty, is that you?
That would explain a lot about irishjihad’s lack of footbaw knowledge and his inability to understand adapting to personnel.
by Francis on Oct 10, 2006 5:37 PM EDT reply actions
IJ is a tool. Weiss wishes he was a genius like Meyer. Meyer will win 2 National Titles before Weiss wins one.
Loser with socks is a tool who now realizes everyone else will once again be eating UF’s dust with Meyer like they did with Spurrier so he makes stupid blogs to make himself feel better about the CONTINUED domination of UGA.
by Newmanium on Oct 10, 2006 5:56 PM EDT reply actions
43 Sorry Gator fans, but if Spurrier had Chris Leak, he would be the Heisman frontrunner.
Even if Spurrier had Chris Leak, he still wouldn’t win the Heisman. The man graduated in 1967.
by Chg on Oct 10, 2006 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
Orson writing about college football is more interesting than college football itself.
by j.j. on Oct 10, 2006 6:24 PM EDT reply actions
“Leak will be the only guy in the history of the NCAA to lose the Heisman to his backup”
Since LenDale White was the starting tailback at SC the last two years, wouldn’t that make him the FIRST only guy in history to lose a Heisman to his backup?
by CrazyPi on Oct 10, 2006 6:25 PM EDT reply actions
Orson, that was outfreakingstanding. It’s posts like that one that have me refreshing EDSBS all day at work!
Abbreviating Mike Freeman MF is also subtly brilliant.
by Kancho on Oct 10, 2006 6:38 PM EDT reply actions
Is it me or has nobody picked up on this piece of low-hanging factual error? Can’t speak for Quinn or Leinart, but:
the human sweater vest in Columbus try some two-thrower shenanigans? Did Vince Young look over his shoulder?[/i]Well, gee, actually, if he had stuck with Smith in the 2nd half last year, Tressel may well have beaten Texas. And in Vince’s sophomore year, Chance Mock got playnig time — in fact, he was put in the game (over Vince) in the waning minutes of the TxTech game and engineered the game-winning TD drive. Maybe Mike’s (unstated) problem is the thought that Tebow is a freshman, hence the real insult.
by KongHorn on Oct 10, 2006 6:44 PM EDT reply actions
Newmanium, you a. must have missed that IrishJihad isn’t a Notre Dame fan, and b. need to learn how to spell a head coach’s name before you try to denigrate him. It’s WEIS…one “s”. Now go ahead, proceed to call me a tool like you did with IJ and Loser with Socks, because it’s so witty, intelligent, and original! :)
I could care less about Leak v. Tebow, though sometimes I do feel bad for Leak when UF fans dump on him. I willl say that I vaguely remember this Freeman character…did he study in Japan in 1996? I heard he’s got a degree in Engrish from Waseda.
by Nate on Oct 10, 2006 6:47 PM EDT reply actions
Mike Freeliar has ZERO credibility and a major chip his shoulder because he was fired for libeling the Gators. He went to work for his butt buddy at Sportsline, who is a managing editor there.
If Sportsline has hacks like Freeliar, famous for pulling a George O’Leary and getting both caught and fired, then the site is worthless.
Meyer is doing a fantastic job at Florida and some folks just can’t handle that fact.
by JBo on Oct 10, 2006 7:52 PM EDT reply actions
Sadly, most of what passes for sports journalism these days deserves an Orson-style fisking. I grew up in the 70’s reading Frank Deford, Rick Telander, and such in Sports Illustrated and Larry Guest and Jerry Greene in the local (Orlando) paper. While I’m sure these folks have plenty of detractors, the relentless tsunami of crap available in sports writing today makes my boyhood faves look like f-ing G.K. Chesterton or [insert favorite classic writer here…I’ll go with Mark Twain].
While I’m happy that now, thanks to ESPN and the internet, that I can keep up with my Irish from 1000 miles away, whenever today’s writers offer their commentary, they are too often trying to provoke a response than offer credible, responsible insight. If most of today’s writers ever had the thought of actually presenting multiple sides of an issue or situation and letting the reader sort it all out, it was a thought that would have died of loneliness. The modus operandi today seems to be:
1. Take a position sure to rile as many people as possible.
2. “Support” said position with cherry-picked facts, facts taken out of context, or the citing of trends that may only tangentially exist or not exist at all.
3. Feel free to make predictions. Remember, being a sportswriter means never having to say “I was mistaken”.
4. If/When your prediction is far off the mark, do not acknowledge that you ever made it – simply repeat steps 1-3.
While I blame the decline primarily on ESPN-ization (Look!!! Catchy lingo! Ultra-ironic delivery! “Personality” more important than competence!!! Soundbites rather than complete thought!!!), I wonder if the problem with today’s sports journalists is that they are simply too narrowly focused individuals…by that I mean, could the ESPN guys or, say, this bozo Freeman write about anything but sports? Good writing is good writing, and the more experience you have writing on a number of different topics, the better writer you tend to be. I don’t think I could count one handful of fingers the guys in sports journalism today that I think could pull off writing about anything outside their narrow focus of interest…..
Just my $0.02…..
by MackeralSnappingAnarchist on Oct 10, 2006 8:29 PM EDT reply actions
To even further illustrate how stupid this guy is – the “experts” on his own company’s website don’t list Leak in the top 5 candidates…4 guys pick 5 players each and NONE of them chose Leak to put on their list. What a stupid, pointless column intended to stir up muck by a wannabe journalist. I am a huge Leak supporter and Gator fan, but given what the Heisman is (a career award that goes to one of the best players on one of the best teams who IS NOT a freshman or sophmore – see Rex Grossman – NOT an award for the most outstanding player in the nation as it so claims), Leak doesn’t even deserve to be in the conversation. Why waste a whole column on this topic? What a moron…
by David on Oct 10, 2006 8:38 PM EDT reply actions
“I didn’t ask for these powers–I was just born lucky ol’ Mike Freeman! I’m going to go masturbate to my own reflection while you read the next bit.”
LMAO, one of the funniest lines I’ve heard in a long time!
Mike Freeman must have a pretty unfulfilling life to keep carrying on with this personal vendetta against UF.
The schoolyard bullies who took his lunchmoney everyday really messed this guy up for life. Let the anger go Mike…let it go… LMAO
by ufdwb on Oct 10, 2006 8:41 PM EDT reply actions
Ignorance is Bliss Dept:
Not so sound ignerent, but I had never heard of Mr. Freeman before I read this post. I went to the oracle (google) and found out four key things:
1. Freeman has been a full-time sportswriter for the Dallas Morning News, Boston Globe, Washington Post, New York Times and the Florida Times-Union.
2. In 2006 he became one of only a handful of writers ever to win three Associated Press Sports Editors top-ten writing awards in one year.
3. The race card from the top of the deck was previously played by Mr. Freeman on the following Florida-Leak “column”:
http://sportsline.com/columns/story/9565108
4. He is not a fan of EDSBS type contributors. Check out his writing on this matter:
“Leak is treated with disdain instead of a deserved delight, cursed and not coddled, taunted by some — not all, but enough — testy Gator-head fans who pummel and pulverize Leak anonymously on websites, gutless and invisible, spewing ugliness as if they were paid by the slur. Sometimes I think there are fans who equate bashing players in chat rooms with getting cyber-booty.”
All I can say is that judging by his poor writing, it seems like Mr. Freeman is spending too much time trying to get Cyber-Booty in those chat rooms he writes about, instead of doing actual research work and then writing pieces that make sense. Shame on you Mr. Freeman, and what will the missus think of your cyber booty love fests?
by Stacy Keibler Loves Me on Oct 10, 2006 10:14 PM EDT reply actions
- Chg,
I’m glad someone else noticed the ill grammar.
That was the funniest post I’ve seen in two weeks.
by Cardiac Kids on Oct 10, 2006 11:16 PM EDT reply actions
I applaud you Orson. That is the finest dissection of a sportswriter’s BS that I have ever seen.
I am voting for you for the Nobel Prize of Literature, which would make it a clean sweep for the U.S.
by Jeff from LA on Oct 10, 2006 11:17 PM EDT reply actions
Chris Simms can only hope his spleen was removed with this kind of clean, decisive surgical precision.
by Dinknflicka on Oct 11, 2006 3:44 AM EDT reply actions
Where was this guy when Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown “stole” the Heisman from one another? How’d that work out for them anyway?
If nothing else, I admire Blue Hen Freeman for continuing his trend of devil-may-care bravado. Whether filling out a resume, or sliding in a vengeful article in order to make deadline, it seems to have served him well.
Kudos to this buck-the-trend charlatan for unmasking the glory seeking blowhard that is Urban Meyer.
by Philly Gator on Oct 11, 2006 9:18 AM EDT reply actions
I gotta say Freeman sounds like Tennessee Poster who goes by the monikers of The Real Viper and Dad1A. I got chills reading his column. The guy is a complete rockhead
by loser with socks on Oct 11, 2006 9:50 AM EDT reply actions
If what Freeman is saying is true, and my synopsis is that he thinks Urb thinks he’s bigger than the team and UF, then he couldn’t have landed at a better place. SOS did things (eg rotating QB’s) to prove he was a better coach, and/or to show up the guy standing on the other sideline. If he’s right (and I don’t konw that he is) then Urb’s at a place that relishes such bravado (and makes opposing fan bases wish their man had such kahonas.)
by Mike on Oct 11, 2006 10:49 AM EDT reply actions
I don’t understand how someone like Freeman is still writing for big time companies like CBS, but I guess controversy sells papers(and false resumes don’t damage your career for more than just a few years).
He definitely has a problem with the University of Florida, which has become apparent through his “Urban Liar” comments, hard sell of racist UF fans hating Chris Leak, and now Urban Meyer purposely ruining Leak’s shot at the Heisman(yeah, right).
Fans don’t get frustrated because Leak is black. They get frustrated because he’s shown a propensity to take an easy slide or run out of bounds instead of fighting that extra yard for a first down. Or he misses an apparent easy read in favor of throwing into tight coverage.
It’s no secret that Leak is not the QB that Meyer would ideally want running his system. However, using both Leak and Tebow gives the Gators senior leadership, a strong arm and strong legs to fight for first downs and TD’s on the ground.
I wonder if we can get someone to help Freeman write his columns, ala LeakBow. I couldn’t make them any worse.
by BDoc on Oct 11, 2006 11:33 AM EDT reply actions
The Heisman is a popularity contest. Who cares who wins it? Vince Young is the shit and should have won it last year, but he did absolutely outclass me in the National Championship.
p.s.- I suck and will be a complete bust in the NFL because all I am is a $60 million punt returner. I bet people would think the Chiefs were insane if they paid Dante Hall $10 million per year, but I’m Reggie freakin’ Bush. Peace Out, from the most overrated football player ever… and a former Heisman winner
by Reggie Bush on Oct 13, 2006 11:19 AM EDT reply actions
You are almost as good as a prophet.
You write in vein similar to how Alcee Hastings speaks to his to his critics: “Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet.”
Congratulations to my dumb, stupid, moran GATORS!
Cheers from Altamonte Springs, FL.
by Nadia Ahmad on Jan 21, 2007 11:52 AM EST reply actions
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