The Joyless Triumph of Nick Saban (Finebaum book excerpt)

Great read. I have always thought Finebaum was brilliant and a brilliant writer. He is far more than just an agitator.

I like it. Although Finebaum says Saban is not chasing Bryant's 6 national titles, I think that's a motivator for him. I think he's got a couple more in him before he decides to take a rest!

tidefanbeezer said:

Not a bad read.

Linkage.

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that's the real shame of Finebaum's radio "show": the man is a journalist at heart. He can write, and write well. I LOVED his columns and all the stuff he used to do for the newspapers. He's wasting his talent on that cess pool of humanity now. Would give anything for him to cancel it, and go back to full time writing.

JD95 said:

I like it. Although Finebaum says Saban is not chasing Bryant's 6 national titles, I think that's a motivator for him. I think he's got a couple more in him before he decides to take a rest!

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Don't know how true it is (and if this is rumor-mongering, Mods feel free to delete) but I've heard that at least at one point he did indeed state his intention to win 7 titles at Alabama before he hung it up.

Yup... great writing "He could coach a lingerie football team to the Big Ten championship game."

Finebum at his best.

My favorite line...calling Saban "the pontiff of pigskin."

crimsonbleeder said:

that's the real shame of Finebaum's radio "show": the man is a journalist at heart. He can write, and write well. I LOVED his columns and all the stuff he used to do for the newspapers. He's wasting his talent on that cess pool of humanity now. Would give anything for him to cancel it, and go back to full time writing.

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Well, there's a problem. The journalism industry provides no money. Paul cashed a big check when he signed with ESPN and the SEC Network.

Paul is a great writer and give him credit, a great business man as well.

crimsonbleeder said:

that's the real shame of Finebaum's radio "show": the man is a journalist at heart. He can write, and write well. I LOVED his columns and all the stuff he used to do for the newspapers. He's wasting his talent on that cess pool of humanity now. Would give anything for him to cancel it, and go back to full time writing.

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I agree...Paul's talents sort of lay dormant most of the time...its sort of like having James Taylor play & sing to an overcrowded, out-of-control daycare.

That was a very good read. Thanks for posting.

Great description Wishbone.....and if you take the glasses off Paul, they actually look alike.

Very good article. Highlights:

"He could coach a lingerie football team to the Big Ten championship game."

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hahaha

"Auburn fans are different. Auburn fans usually have a direct connection to the school, whereas Alabama fans don't necessarily have blood ties or lambskin degrees. Auburn fans attended school there, or their relatives did, or they have a fondness for the underdog. Those who follow Auburn prefer to be called part of the Auburn "family," and the clichéd way to refer to members of that Auburn family is to say they have a chip on their shoulder, that they want Auburn to be Alabama when the program grows up. That's wrong. Auburn folks are actually proud of that chip—proud that they're not Alabama. They embrace their uniqueness. I think they even embrace their inferiority."

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Accurately described. "A fondness for the underdog" -- explains alot Barn fans.

Bryant has two more national championships. Saban coaches in a football world far more competitive, complex and difficult than the world Bryant's teams dominated. When Bryant coached, you could win a national title without playing a bowl game against one of the top-five teams in the country. Saban's four national championships have come against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Texas, No. 1 LSU and No. 1 (cough, cough) Notre Dame. Bryant's teams played 12 games max, including a bowl. Saban's teams have played as many as 14 games in a season four different times. Bryant had more scholarships to work with. He never had to play Auburn at Auburn. He never had to survive an SEC championship game.

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Some pretty powerful info. Honestly, that changes my perspective a little on this debate.

I don't dispute Paul's judgement about the differences of the game today and the way it was when Coach Bryant coached. I can even understand his comparison of Coach Bryant and CNS. The players today are much stronger, faster, bigger and there are more of them than when Coach Bryant coached. Standing on the sidelines is like changing a flat tire on the interstate when an 18 wheeler goes by. However, I believe Coach Bryant would have adapted and adjusted. He would have applied the same principles that won in his day to today's game. Coach Bryant coaching at Alabama against CNS coaching at Alabama is interesting conversation....but who knows how it would have turned out.
The same scenario exists in golf. Tiger Woods against Jack Nicklaus. However, I would take Nicklaus every time. Lol

Paul DT_Armataz_01_37:

I also enjoyed the read. Thanks for posting.

I could care less about his radio program, but he's one of the best writer's I've ever read.
Great column!
sip

RTR91 said:

Well, there's a problem. The journalism industry provides no money. Paul cashed a big check when he signed with ESPN and the SEC Network.

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The paper for which he once wrote is now out of business and the other major paper in Birmingham (along with Huntsville and Mobile) are now printed three days a week. They can not afford to pay someone to just write a column.

I used to enjoy reading editorial columns from sports, politics and humor, but with dwindling circulation it would be hard to break into that line of work today.

Capstone46 said:

Great description Wishbone.....and if you take the glasses off Paul, they actually look alike.

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Or, if you put the glasses on ol' JT...:

Yeah, I've always enjoyed Paul's writing. The low-lifes that call into his show, not so much. I couldn't tell you the last time I listened, it's too painful.