There seems to be a new day that will live in infamy, or at the very least a speech. In a world supersaturated by media outlets transcribing and analyzing every word spoken by sports figures, Alabama coach Nick Saban forgot to check his tongue and let loose a metaphor that shocked a nation.
Following a ‘devastating’ loss—devastating in the context of sports, not in the grand scheme of the meaning of life; which I sadly feel has to be noted before angering a large group of people—Saban mentioned a football game and national tragedies in the same sentence, a big no-no in today’s world.
“Changes in history usually occur after some kind of catastrophic event,” Saban said. “It may be 9-11, which sort of changed the spirit of America relative to catastrophic events. Pearl Harbor kind of got us ready for World War II, or whatever, and that was a catastrophic event.”
The anti-Nick Saban diatribes have all been written, and despite making a valid point, the words are hard to defend. By this point we all know it is insensitive to use war metaphors in something as trivial as sports. But given the state of our society, especially in the regard in which it holds sports, can we really blame Saban?
Sadly, fanatic has become a more than appropriate term for sports fans. Our interest in sports is so deeply rooted that the slightest mistake by our would-be sports heroes is met with anger and contempt, often times not for the play, but for the actual person itself.
Saban has been asked to keep things in perspective when discussing sports, but really, how long has it been since the sports world had any perspective of its own? In keeping with perspective, Steve Bartman had to practically enroll in the witness protection program after robbing a Cubs baseball player of a foul ball – note to everyone: look at the pictures, he wasn’t the only one reaching.
Bartman is just one of several sports figures who have received death threats for their actions on the field of play. Other members of the club include Tim Donaghy, Bruce Bowen, Barry Bonds, and the young woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape.
At the heart of fans sportscentered—pun intended—world are coaches. They represent the targets of our discontent. As our demands on our sports figures increase, the coaches have carried the brunt of the load.
The workday of most college-professional coaches have become well documented in recent months With a work schedule that often begins at 4 or 5 am, and at times ends with a coach sleeping on a coach in his office, the job has put tremendous strain on their lives.
From the suicide of Tony Dungy’s son, to the legal troubles that have followed Andy Reid’s family, the sports world was given pause—where were the fathers?
They were exactly where we demand them to be. Whereas sports use to be a re creational escape from the realities of the great depression, sports have become the end all, be all to some folks daily life.
For many, they work year round, hard hours and hard wages, and spend a good portion of it on one night of viewing pampered millionaires play a game. To that extent, perfection has become demanded. Anything less than an athlete or coach’s total devotion to perfecting their craft and entertaining the public mass is viewed as a character flaw.
Given this, is it any wonder that a coach would equate the outcome o####ame to national tragedies? After all, wars see the death of young men, they bring out the worst in humanity, and tear apart families.
But take a step back. We have allowed sports to do the same. High school and college athletes have collapsed under the hot sun while the ever-increasing rigorous training takes its toll. Fans have, at times, torn each other apart in the stands. And coaches have seen their families torn apart under the strain of their jobs.
Given the amount of pressure placed on coaches, a loss to an unranked team is a personal tragedy. This is their livelihood, and their standing as human beings is essentially tied to the score board and final record.
I can't in good conscience defend Saban.
That H-O has skrewed LSU, the Dolfish and now the Bama hopeful. Get out your crying towels, Bear fans. This H-O will sell his soul to the highest bidder , even for an extra dollar.
I never understood why Saban left LSU.
College is a better gig that the NFL.
People will always find things to be offended by. It was an ill considered remark, but what the heck he wasn't trying to lessen 9/11 in people's eyes just make the point that sometimes when things go bad you rally around and get moving again.
$aban just used the wrong metaphor. Bama football isn't like 9-11 or Pearl Harbor. It's like the Titanic--once thought invincible, but now sunk! AU savors THE JOY OF SIX!!
It is typical of an Auburn fan to use any opportunity to crow. I guess I should give you some slack because you don't have much to crow about. Just remember, what goes around comes around. And I repeat I would rather lose to Auburn every year from now until hell freezes over while wearing crimson and white than to even think of wearing burn orange and blue. I just demoted you people to just below Tennessee.
I was impressed with what Saban did at Michigan State. I gave him the benefit of the doubt when he left for LSU. Watching his antics since then I can only conclude that he's a ####-coach who'll do anything for money. I'm especially asjamed that he was born in West Virginia. He's an embarrassment to us.
Nick Saban didn't compare losing in football to 9-11 and Pearl Harbor. He used those as examples of other catastrophic events that everyone could identify with. I guess it takes an Alabama graduate to understand that.
If sports and in particular is meant to be a life andf death struggle on the field. Then so be it ! But Saban's alleged stupidity in making this comparison between his team's loss and tragedies suffered by the nation has no merit. If anything he ought to have been stating why he didn't have his team better prepared. If nothing else that above all was where he failed.
One doubts that Saban has suffered anywhere near what many of the victim's families had suffered on the days in question. But yet here we have people trying to not only condone his actions and trying to put some spin on it. It's just as stupid as when you hear atltetes stating that they're warriors. When a large majority of 'em have never been on a battlefield let alone ever faced extreme warfare on any stage.
People are too sensitive. Agreed. Time away from families that coaches need to spend with families, agreed! You get paid $4 million and you don't like the scrutiny that comes with the job at that price, especially where football reigns supreme? unrealistic. He will get the job done I think. He looks human after the comments and the losses to ULM and Auburn. Nick meet reality: Reality meet Nick
From the earlier poster, it IS better in Alabama now that all the bamer losers have been put in their place (yet again). He claims to be an Alabama graduate--so he's the one?! Nobody fears Li'l Nicky! War Eagle!!
I am a 5th year senior at Our Lady of the Lake University. I changed my major from art to journalism (which explains why I'm taking an extra year) half way through. Sports are my thing, play as often as I can. Would be pretty good in fact if it weren't for the fact that I have little athletic ability. Seriously, my vertical leap is tip-toe. So, I decided to try and break into sports journalism, which is hard to do at a university with no sports program. Well, we play community colleges and get blown out all the time, but that's another story.
