Auburn and the state media
Commentary by Alan
Being number 1 is rough.
Well maybe not. Sure you have to deal with the slings from rivals trying to catch you, but that is life. Also part of the life of a champion is dealing with a confrontational press.
Those pompous pimps of positivism (aka those bums that work for Newhouse or Advance or whatever the hell the state’s major newspaper ownership is calling itself these days) have decided to as a newspaper columnist once said, “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
In other words the Birmingham News has declared its positive preference for Auburn.
This wasn’t an overnight thing. It has been happening for years. The newspaper has ignored journalistic standards in its sports department for a significant period of time. In fairness to the newspaper, when it hires an Alabama beat writer the newspaper has done a good job. Ian Rapoport asked Nick Saban tough questions. That was his job. Don Kausler has done a good job too. It isn’t always popular to hold coaches accountable, but that is one reason beat writers exist. (Well the main reason is to sell newspapers by covering something people care about. The bottom line is always the real motivator in the newspaper business. But you make money by following journalistic principles. Kind of.)
In contrast the Birmingham News and al.com have ignored any semblance of objectivity when it comes to Auburn. The paper loves the school. While Kevin Scarbinsky gives Gene Chizik oral in his blogs and columns, the newspaper employs Charles Goldberg to cover the beat. Has Goldberg ever written anything other than Auburn spin? If so, it hasn’t made it into the newspaper. The company loves the school too. The company employed for many years Auburn sycophant Phillip Marshall—Marshall now writes for the fan site Auburnundercover.com. (How is that working out?) He continues to cheerlead for Auburn, but at least it is in a more appropriate venue.
The Birmingham News is complicit in an Auburn media strategy to promote the school’s message. Scarbinsky’s columns are just one element of that. Today Scarbinsky wrote on al.com a column comparing Nick Saban’s recruitment of Memphis standout Keiwone Malone and Cullman’s Spencer Region. According to Scarbinsky, the commitment is the “Fort Sumter of the 2011 recruiting season.” He writes, “Go deeper, though, and these two talented football players could have one thing very much in common. Like Malone, who signed Wednesday with Alabama, Region – who committed Saturday to Auburn — may become as much of a symbol as a prospect.”
A high school kid’s hissy fit hardly qualifies as a Fort Sumter moment. It is more like a Midol moment.
The situation is so intolerable that other media members have commented on Scarbinsky’s absurd love for Gene Chizik.
But al.com has a history of such pathetic pandering and bias. When C.J. Mosley committed to the Tide a story ran on al.com under the headline: “Bama picks up Mosley, but loses shot at Dixon.” A story on Theodore linebacker C.J. Mosley included one (ONE!) paragraph on Mosley—and Mosley was one of the top recruits in the state and he lived not very far from Mobile. The remainder of the story was on a cornerback from Texas picking another school. The out-of-state guy merited three-fourths of the entire post on Alabama football recruiting.
Often such minor stylistic decisions are simply a reflection of pressing time concerns. A newspaper will compress the story about Mosley because it has covered him in the past, and it needs to present new information about a new subject that is related to the overall theme—in this case recruiting. However, can we so easily dismiss it in this case? Or is it a systemic bias? Why fail to provide more information on a good thing for Alabama, but provide significant coverage of what might be a bad thing? When you look at the history of al.com’s Auburn cheerleading, you might have an answer.
But why such negativism for Alabama and love for Auburn? Wouldn’t it hurt the bottom line? Not necessarily.
It might be in the psychology of the respective fans. Alabama fans want to feel persecuted. This gives Crimson Tide fans something to complain about—those outsiders writing negative things. The best example was how so many fans were outraged when the story of Mark Ingram is told. Some fans complain on talk radio about how often the fact that Ingram’s father, Mark Ingram Sr., is in prison gets mentioned on television. They ask, “Why does Verne Lundquist have to say that?”
Why? Because it is a story! A good story. The fact Mark Ingram overcame things like a father in prison to stay focused on football and win the highest individual award in college football and help his team win a national championship makes Ingram even more impressive as a player and individual. But all fans hear is “prison” and that makes them want to complain. This is emblematic of the Alabama mood. Fans aren’t happy unless they have something to bitch about.
In contrast, Auburn is like a cult. The obsessive talk of “family” and “faith” that infuses everything about Auburn football presents a picture of intense groupthink. Dissent is not allowed, and it is in fact punished. One member of the press told me that failure to adhere to the Auburn line leads to reduced access or no access. (I’ll point out right here that when I did a story on SEC athletic department budgets, Auburn was a refreshing experience. Terry Windle called and told me the number when other athletic departments—Alabama—failed to provide the data in a timely fashion. Auburn and certainly Alabama were not as quick or professional as Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky or Mississippi State, but Auburn was better than Alabama in my limited experience.) Another member of the press told me in his experience that Auburn fans are less likely to read something negative, even if truthful, about Auburn. Doubt that Auburn is a cult? Then why were coaches’ wives yelling out a major member of the media following the Auburn Iron Bowl loss? Dissent must be punished. Send in the harpies!
So there could be economic interests that play into the Birmingham News’ actions. Piss off Alabama fans and get increased revenue as fans read it and link it; support Auburn and reap the benefits of the family or cult mentality. However, there is a simple way to fix this imbalance.
Alabama fans should stop giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Every dime you spend on the Birmingham News, Mobile Press Register or Huntsville Times pays the salary of people like Charles Goldberg and other Auburn apologists. Why subsidize this? This amounts to a gift to Auburn recruiting.
The Birmingham News is now run by an (apparent) Auburn fan. So, every dime you spend on advertising and subscriptions pays her salary and bonus which in most newspaper companies is the key compensation element for publishers.
I canceled my subscription just before the BCS National Championship Game in response to it. I realized I don’t need the Birmingham News. I read the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. Is there any news in the Birmingham News that I don’t get from these other sources? The traditional spin is that newspapers provide local content; however, is there anything in the Birmingham News that isn’t available for free on local television or radio? Without investigative pieces like Brett Blackledge’s examination of the two-year college system, the newspaper is worthless. But that is news. What about sports? Is there anything from al.com or the Birmingham News that you can’t find elsewhere?
The answer is a resounding NO. The Internet has made the Tuscaloosa News available for every Alabama fan. (And with a writer like Cecil Hurt who is the most connected and informed reporter covering Alabama football, why would an Alabama fan read anything else?) In today’s environment Alabama fans don’t need the Birmingham News. The Birmingham News needs Alabama fans. So it is time for Alabama fans to stop giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Read other print publications and Internet publications instead of the Birmingham News.
Its a sad state of affairs for the Bammer nation when a poster named “wildman” is the voice of reason. The Regions deal is NEWS cappy. Ive read sero pro Au or negative UA spin on any of it. They simply quoted what the kid said. Might I remind you that this kid was a lifelong Bammer.
Yall need to suck it up. This is by far the biggest bunch of titty babies Ive seen in my life. Yall just won the BCS !!!!! Get a grip. Its newsworthy and its been reported , get over it.
On a weekend when AL wins the game and Auburn loses, look at the picture. It inevitably will be a goofy shot of two AL fans celebrating so that they look awkward. If Auburn is featured, the photo is a nice action shot. Also, the wording for AL wins is always couched in terms of “just managed to win” and “despite slew of problems” etc. If Auburn wins, it is in terms of “dominated over” and “win X in a row.” I’ve known that Bham news is biased for a long time, but I subscribe to Sunday and Wednesday paper only because there is no other local alternative.
2:48 PM Monday. Alan, you’re getting it handed to you on WJOX. You are clueless.
Alan,
Thanks for appearing on WJOX… You got served bitch!
Shouldn’t you have been somewhat prepared before going on a regional radio show. Good grief that was awful! Not only has your argument made reasonable Bama fans a laughing stock, but you go on the radio unprepared, with a tacky argument, and have no actual dated examples of where the B’ham news has suddenly become so biased. Unbelievable! I never thought someone could make Bama fans cringe more than the voice of shane on the radio, but you sir, take the cake. Please go away, stop acting so paranoid about AU, stop getting owned by the clueless finebaum callers, and stick to being a blogger. You embarrassed many of us today. Thanks a lot.
“Wut thu hayul!? Whyy aint tawkin abowt Awlabama awl thu tyme! I kaint read innyhow but if I cud, I wud be so ticked cus thay aint ritin abowt bama er Nyk Saybin evry day lyke thay shud! By thu way master Saybin, if yer readin thius, cud yew send me a pictur uv yew nekid sow I kin carry in my biw fowd?
I totally agree with you Alan. A friend and I noticed right after the SEC championship that every single day Goldberg and company had atleast 4 or 5 blogs on Auburn that pumped up the Outback Bowl and recruiting. If an Alabama fan goes to Goldbergs blog and post anything he deletes the comment. But if you go to a bama blog you can say anything. For every article or talk about the Nationl Title game you would have atleast 4 blogs about nothing pro Auburn. I havent been to Al.com since.
Joey,
Goldberg is hired to cover Auburn only, just like Gentry is Bama…idiot
^^^^^^^^
Like I said…The ones of us that you thoroughly embarrassed today were the REASONABLE Bama fans.
Thanks clay already know that. Example a few weeks ago on a Goldberg blog talking recruiting with an au fan. He brings up Albert Means and memphis recruiting bashing bama. So I decide to mention Eric Ramsey. Guess which comment was deleted by the Nazi Goldberg?
there should be a disclaimer on this site that says the blog on this site is written by an inbred mouthbreathing bammer.
Keep it down home cuz. Lets talk about Auburns signed recruit Corey Lemonier with his new Corvette and his comment that he will be attending the ” University of Auburn” LOL
Lets talk about Eric smith and the cover up that other players were involved. Lets talk about the Au police watching him beat the shit out of someone. Lets keep it down home.
Auburn starts doing really well in recruiting and we get attention so now its biased? Do you know how many articles were released that said “5-19″ What the big deal is is this. Alabama doesnt get much hype cause they were “ordained” to be the best and recruit the best. But when you have Auburn beat Bama at getting recruits, yes it is a big deal and will get attention. Its a simple process, when the school that is expected to do something does it, its no big deal…When a school does something they are not expected to do, your going to hear about it. If you dont like to read the paper cause its not all about Alabama being the best in the world…Just listen to FineBaum.
I come from a long line ob great Alabama fans.
None of us ever attended college. My father was a Tide fan, he gave a lot of money to Bill Oliver when he was coaching with Coach Bryant.
I have given a lot of money to Billy Neighbors. It is the way it is. If you ain’t baggin you ain’t winning. We have to win at all cost.
I was just in Decatur today to get a refund.
I always thought the B’news wrote and gave us all the coverage, hell we burried the barn on the second page.
What U have done is just stupid. Now U draw all this attention to us again, the news will be pissed off and they will start trying to find people like me that helps pay the bills. Go back into your hole and keep your fucking mouth shut.
Joey
Guys like you that thrive on putting down high school recruits make us all look really bad. Look at all the Bama boards. 1/2 the threads/talking points are putting down recruits that didn’t choose us. All you do is make us all look awful. We just won a national championship dude. Have you thought about that at all today?
Drew the guy Im talking about wasnt even recruited by Alabama. I do not put down someone that doesnt choose Bama. Thats crazy! I think its an honor for someone to be offered a scholarship for there athletic ability. Your not getting my point. Im saying that the Au media will not report negitive stories on Auburn even if its true! Look back the Sociology Scandal a few years ago. Atleast in T Town they do report the news!
The most shocking thing about all of this is that there are enough literate bama fans to actually know about any kind of bias towards Auburn in the newspaper.
The guy you are talking about is another schools signee. He is in high school, and it does come off as sour grapes. That is all I am saying..Crazy or not. Our attitude right now is not consistent with a program that is at the top of the college football world and should be for the foreseeable future.
I see the news reporting and lack there of to go pretty much both ways as far as these things go. It’s the nature of the beast. I just think this angle needs to go away. Too many good people are being lumped in with this fringe group of bloggers/crazed fans and it really isn’t fair.
Joey,
Why should Auburn writers comment on a INTERNET RUMOR… that is not good journalism— AL.com is not the Crapstone Report or TMZ
Yeah rumor has it the Erik Smith was in a fight. LOL
The most insane post I’ve ever seen. All you’ve been able to see for the last month is Alabama this and Alabama that and this idiot….and he is an idiot..makes a claim like this? He can claim whatever he wants but I will guarantee you that most Auburn people know this is a bunch of crap and have known for years that the Bham news panders to Alabama just as much as FineSCUM panders to them,
Hey cappy!!! Nice job on Paul’s show in the first hour — I wish that fucker from the Birmingham News would of stayed on longer — sports editor??? I can’t remember because I was in and out with customers but you were ripping him a new asshole and loved every minute of it. The most laughable — barner’s calling in trying to defend The Birmingham News on “jetgate” when they called for the firing of the whole sports department at TBN a couple of years ago.
This is a big FUCK YOU to Auburn.
Crystal bitches. (Rick James the hand)
(cont.) — oh yeah…
this is a big FUCK YOU to Kevin Scarbinsky too.
Much thanks,
MGMT.
you bammers need some cheese with that whine.
^^^^^^I rest my case. Having more posts about auburn rumors, spreading paranoia, and going on the radio and making all good Bama fans look idiotic breeds this kind of stuff. No adult ???? should talk like that on a public forum, and no self respecting owner of said forum should stand for it. Even the “bloggers”. This is the group of people that the educated, civil, level headed ones of us are being lumped in with because of the drivel. This proves my point perfectly, and this gives the aubies that I am around more than enough fodder for their “sidewalk fan” argument for the next several months.
Yawn # 76 — there is NO ONE representative of the University of Alabama but Nick Saban himself.
Class is out of session.
i bet if nick saban walk into a room, whipped out his dick, out of 10 bammers, 7 of you would blow him silly.
Boy , yall really got your crimson thongs in a wad over the Regions thing. Thats what this whole article is about. Cap doesnt like people reporting the facts, or “getting to the truth” as he likes to put it.
Most of the time, to me Al.com and the brimingham news is boring. Sometimes I read an article or whatever and it seems so obvious they are trying to stir the pot by saying something dumb. But it’s not funny like when finebaum says something. When Al.com or scarbinsky write an an article it reminds me of a little spoiled kid who needs attention. Complete waste of time.
OK, OK. I’ll burn the damn paper the next time I see it. You’re not a NAZI. Just a BAMA ZEALOT! Keep on writing CAPPY. Sorry ITK. I stand corrected. ROLL TIDE ROLL!
I have found al.com to be very pro-Auburn. Scarbo might as well be Auburn’s mascot. Every since Saban slapped him down at the BCS interview, he has taken it upon himself to attack Saban and Alabama at every opportunity. He continually wants to compare Chizik with Saban, and Auburn to Alabama. I won’t buy a Bham Newspaper, but I do read al.com. It has become nothing more than a propaganda rag for Auburn.
Fuck Aubarn and all their pussy fans.
Jim knows all about cock sucking
Great article. I’ve said for several years that the B’ham news has an Auburn slant. Has Auburn ever had another beat writer besides Goldberg? What a joke. The cult is nothing but a bunch of wannabees and all they want to be is Alabama.
Also, if one of the cult members should come to read “The Capstone Report”, do they expect to also get an Auburn spin? That is laughable. Thanks
You bugger eaters need to get on your own website, which by the way I don’t even know if you have one. You keep running your mouth and you have won nothing! Alabama will rack up in recruiting this year and have a 10-14 win season and the Barn will be lucky to squeak out seven or eight wins. You got one recruit (he was a good one and one we probably wanted), so what, we are in on 30 of the top 150 and we will get the top players in the state. We will have better season in the coming years as well so stop acting like a bunch of retards because you got one recruit. Act like you have been there before! Nevermind, that explains it all you haven’t!
This is absolutely the funniest thing I’ve ever read. If one little article could provoke this kind of reaction what would the whole truth bring about.
Wow, big shocker here, newspapers that are biased. I for one am too busy continuing to drink champagne out of my bcs rosebowl cup to even join in on the back and forth b.s. Boycott the newspaper if you guys want. Seems like the only reason half of you read it, is the sports page. C’MON SON!!!!! WHOSE GOT THE CRYSTAL!!!
Uh,
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/12/auburn_family_stunned_by_gene.html#more
You aren’t very smart or maybe you are just a baby. Something is wrong with you that is for sure.
Do yourself a favor and make sure George is not going to call while you are on Finbaum.
You were absolutley owned on Finbaum…
Atchinson was Owned on Finbaum – does it getting any better………
I laugh at those that are critical of you and your opinion on a BAMA site. I guess they aren’t intelligent enough to realize the difference between this site and the local newspaper. I suppose if I venture over to an Auburn blog, I will find glowing, complimentary articles on Bama sports. I certainly would not find anti-Saban rhetoric or any type of Alabama bashing. Heavens no!
The point you made yesterday is 100% valid. Someone put together a list of the headlines on the last 10-15 or so of Scabs articles. It accurately reflects the direction of the Bham News. I stopped taking it over a year ago. Hopefully others will do the same.
Scabs latest:
2/7: Region’s the latest sign that it’s game-on for in-state recruits
2/5: How about a new Saban Rule? I commit, I come; I commit, you quit
2/4: Who deserves statues more? Great coaches or great players?
2/3: Chizik didn’t blink in the face of Saban’s recruiting machine
2/2: Saban statue is too much, too soon
1/22: Saban is Dooley’s mentor, but Chizik could be his role model
1/21: Did Auburn have a better decade than Alabama? Yes By Kevin Scarbinsky
1/17: If Saban says this isn’t the end, shall we meet here same time next year?
1/2: The Chizik-Saban parallel continues
Just heard on Finebaum that the Publisher of the Birmingham News is an Auburn Fan – Cancel your subscription today! If you support the Birmingham News then you support Auburn
Boy us Aubies are reaaally starting to get in the turds heads. Couldnt happen to a better bunch. Your showing your jealousy guys. Big time. I luv it though. Keep it up turds. We will take all your recruits. War Eagle Go Tigers
Mandy, Keep up what, winning Championships. We can do that.
can Auburn? No, Never ever.
Or was that a sexual proposition?
We don’t want any of your pussy!
Auburn Pussies,kinda sounds like you
got a new name.
does anyone know how many birmingham news reporters traveled to the auburn/norwestern bowl game.i’ll bet that it matched the number that they sent to the bcs championship., but my guess it was more .does anyone have tis info.?thanks
Cap, good job bringing this issue to light. Also, good job on Finebaum yesterday. You did something that Arenberg wouldn’t: you took phone calls. While you stood in there and took the heat from ignorant auburn callers, Arenberg chickened out. Next I suggest you post a list of the Bham News prominent advertisers so the boycott can pick up steam.
AGREED – ONLY SCUMBAGS SUPPORT SCUNBAGS THUS NO MORE SCUMBAGS
XN +M