12/22/24
December 09, 2004
Bad, Sportswriter! Bad!: Huntsville Times sports columnist Paul Gaddis has defended his No. 3 vote for Auburn in a "mean-spirited and callow" tone, according to Editor Melinda Gorham.
Wow, her column is a pretty big insult to him... I'd be interested to see how he responds to it. I found his column to be just fine. I'd like to see his arguments in favor of USC though...
posted by Bernreuther at 02:43 PM on December 09, 2004
"I told him I stood behind his obligation to vote his beliefs on the matter." What I want to know is why does he have to justify or explain (in even the remotest way) his vote to his editor? She makes it sound like he did indeed owe something to the readership.
posted by YukonGold at 03:25 PM on December 09, 2004
Perhaps I am a bit calloused from years of internet, message board, and blog surfing. Where was the "mean-spirited" portion of his article? He should have put unedited e-mails he received on the subject in his article, then we would have mean-spirited. The tone may have been a bit snippy, but given: wading through the pile of shit that had to be his inbox, a cold, and a deadline on an article you are being forced to write it is probably understandable. The editor there was out of bounds asking him to explain himself (though he did quite well) and moreso for apologizing for his article. Besides, who knew they even HAD newspapers in Alabama? ;)
posted by pivo at 03:40 PM on December 09, 2004
My sister lives in Huntsville, and she's married to an Alabama alumnus. Visiting this September, I got my first look at an intense college rivalry. Neighbors fly Alabama or Auburn flags on their lawns and don't speak to each other in autumn. It's a visceral hatred for the enemy. This football "impartiality" that the writer talks about is foreign to most people in the area, so the reaction doesn't surprise me. The editor's column doesn't surprise me, either. Local newspapers rely on the goodwill of the local teams and fans. A writer is expendable, but the readers aren't. Better to turn half the state against a writer than against the paper. I think Gattis could had used a more explanatory tone. He wouldn't have convinced many Auburn fans, but he also wouldn't have further alienated them. Regardless of right or wrong, the tone was definitely "leave me alone."
posted by dusted at 03:50 PM on December 09, 2004
I'm a little bit lost as to the need for an apology. That said, I've lived at the border of alabama for my entire life, in mobile for 6 and now birmingham for the last 3. Auburn fans have always, and probably will always, feel like second class citizens to alabama. The writer isn't stupid. He had to know what was coming. I've never seen as intense a rivalry as auburn/alabama. It completely divides the entire state, and everything comes to a dead stop during the game. I work at a pediatrics clinic, and we had one mom who called with a child who had breathing problems, but because our next appointment was at game time, she decided to try and make it to the next morning. Someone who needed stitches also had parents more interested in the game than sewing their child up. In a lot of ways I find it very sad. Visiting this September, I got my first look at an intense college rivalry. Neighbors fly Alabama or Auburn flags on their lawns and don't speak to each other in autumn. It's a visceral hatred for the enemy. But that's a little bit of an exaggeration. For most fans it's a time to party, wear your colors, and tease the losers. Only a very small percentage are described in your statement. In fact, during the week of the game is when many neighbers talk to each other the most. Besides, who knew they even HAD newspapers in Alabama? ;) And we have running water also. And hey, you'd feel right at home here. Our states aren't really that different.
posted by justgary at 05:36 PM on December 09, 2004
As an afterthought: Given the heat in that rivalry why would the Razorbacks beat writer be expected to vote for Auburn even if they did merit a spot in the championship game? Seems to me if he had said he put the #3 "Because it's Auburn" that would have flown down there.
posted by pivo at 06:31 PM on December 09, 2004
Razorbacks? Arkansas, Alabama....they all look alike to me :) That would be: why would the Crimson Tide's beat writer be expected to vote for Auburn. Apologies for the egregious error to any Alabama alumni present.
posted by pivo at 06:33 PM on December 09, 2004
But that's a little bit of an exaggeration. For most fans it's a time to party, wear your colors, and tease the losers. OK, maybe not "visceral hatred," but that's what it seemed like to this California boy. The college crowd is probably a lot more chill, but the older crowd got downright bloodthirsty. I was also hanging out with Bama fans, and they don't have much to cheer about this year - maybe that had something to do with it.
posted by dusted at 07:01 PM on December 09, 2004
C'mon, rcade ... I'm waiting to see your personal take on this as a former newspaperman. Because I would have walked into Ms. Gorham's office, handed her my letter of resignation and then taken a dump on her desk to put an explanation point on it. It's called a column, you sniveling twit, and sometimes to make sure your readers feel your point felt, you have to tweak a few noses. Hell, it's having a little edge and being willing to be hated by some readers that usually makes a good columnist! I have the idea that Melinda wants to run one of those nice newspapers that never offends anyone -- whether it be by column, photo or an unflattering story on the front page. For those interested, here's an AJR piece on Gorham, and a link to her recent opinion columns, which are about as pointed as a volleyball.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:27 AM on December 10, 2004
I shouldn't say the above link goes to her opinion columns. All columns are opinion. Gorham's place seems to be as a reader-newspaper liaison, which is generally pretty bland.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:30 AM on December 10, 2004
OK, maybe not "visceral hatred," but that's what it seemed like to this California boy. I'm not really saying you're wrong dusted, just that those kind of fans are the minority. And you're right, a lot of old timers take it more seriously.
posted by justgary at 05:27 PM on December 10, 2004
I think the article brings up good points. Who cares if he is a bit snippy. We all have been. As for appologizing for the article I think he shouldn't. Finally someone who tells it like it is and with honesty. So he pointed out that when people are emotionally involved they act rather, uhh umm, stupid! Haven't we all. YES! A good article, a great article. Don't agree with his decision but that's what makes this country so great. WE can sit here talking about who's #1,#2,#3, and so on. I wonder what the people of Iraq are talking about. Do you think football?! Makes this whole thing seem childish, doesn't it?!
posted by aaronscmc11 at 01:09 PM on December 11, 2004
I'm just guessing, but I imagine many of the emails that Mr. Gaddis received were a tad "mean-spirited" as well.