Comments on: It’s Time To Stop Deifying Coaches And Players

By: boat propellers Volvo

boat propellers Volvo — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:23:15 +0000

Hello, I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wish you best of luck for all your best efforts OR Very good points you wrote about this .. Great stuff … I think you’ve done some really interesting points.Keep a good job.

By: Grunts: Paterno, Petrino and Questions of God | The Southerner Journal

Grunts: Paterno, Petrino and Questions of God | The Southerner Journal — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 01:22:46 +0000

[...] SEC suggests we quit deifying living coaches and players with statues — and I agree — but the site will keep feeding us daily updates on the state of [...]

By: Joey Zaza

Joey Zaza — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 05:35:01 +0000

@Vander
Agreed. One of those uncomfortable instances when our modern culture resembles that of the corrupt, decadent Roman Empire. Instead of “Bread and Circuses,” we have “Beer and Circuses.”

By: Dynamite fan

Dynamite fan — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 02:00:31 +0000

Well written article and some of this hero worship is crazy. Cam Newton only played one season at Auburn. I am shocked A statue of Tebow “Tebowing” at Florida hasn’t already been erected. These are still kids in there 20′s let them retire 1st and maybe when they are old men let them have a glorified statue.

By: BonzaiB

BonzaiB — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:13:10 +0000

@John at MrSEC Interesting article. I know you alluded to it, so forgive me for amplifying it, the rush to create heroes by both fans and media makes it difficult for those who should be minding the store from doing just that.

And thanks for pointing out that this could have happened in the SEC, or just about anywhere there is a group trying to conform to a dynamic, and I am as guilty as anyone of careening off that bridge from time to time. We all need a gut check occasionally.

Well done.

By: MiloMoon

MiloMoon — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 20:53:30 +0000

IF I remember correctly, Paterno never wanted statues and the stadium named after him. He said he was not worthy. Of course we took that for him being a simple humble man. Now we know that he was telling the truth. He knew that he had to many Sanduskys in his closet and eventually the truth would come out.

By: Vander

Vander — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:08:25 +0000

@MoKelly1 Don’t worry I do not plan on it

By: MoKelly1

MoKelly1 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:07:40 +0000

@Vander Well, then don’t come to Busch Stadium anytime soon — Stan Musial statue, Lou Brock statue, Bob Gibson statue, Ozzie Smith statue, etc.

By: MoKelly1

MoKelly1 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:06:34 +0000

The FBI Director investigation report on this matter is on Web. Its 200 plus pages long but a MUST read. It shows just how blind and afraid even powerful and smart people can be when it comes to big time sports vs. common/everyday folks. Not good at all.

By: vol66

vol66 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:06:29 +0000

Bravo!

By: Phil Anders

Phil Anders — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:00:25 +0000

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8160271/joe-paterno-legacy-penn-state-aftermath-freeh-report

By: Vander

Vander — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:58:07 +0000

I hate statues of the living.

By: stonejonathan

stonejonathan — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:47:34 +0000

Great article, should be a must read to all college AD’s

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:16:25 +0000

@jeffreydennis80

Oh, the media plays as big a role in this as the fans. In fact, for fans it’s almost a given. Shouldn’t be, but it is. The media should know better.

Of course — to the defend those of us in the media just a tad — many fans DO complain when they see anything other than flat-out puff pieces and hero worship from the media. So I’m sure some out there do decide to “give ‘em what they want.” Heck, most Rivals, Scout and 24/7 sites do just that.

But both the fans and the media need to praise what happens between the lines and leave the full-on idolatry for more deserving figures. Or at least for dead coaches and players.

Just my take.

Thanks for reading the site,
John

By: jeffreydennis80

jeffreydennis80 — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:11:18 +0000

Thank you! Your’s is the first story I have seen that identifies sports media as having a role in team worship. Many I have corresponded with have even denied any role as they just give fans what they want.