The Media Cries Foul as Nick Saban Hurts Their Feeling Again

Nick Saban, you are just a mean, mean man. How dare you talk to the media that way!

It would seem that Nick Saban being voted as one of the most hated sports figures in the country has had no effect on his dealings with the press. He is up to his old tricks again and giving the media hell at a recent press conference.

The Alabama sports media is up in arms because Saban laid down the law to its members again. It seems as though some sports writers have been trying to fill in the blanks on Alabama's starting lineup for 2009.

Yes, some writers are posting the starting lineup as though they know it for a fact.

Saban, in his usual straightforward manner, let them know that that sort of speculation was causing problems on his team. This was due to fact that players were reading in the media that this player or that player was being named by the media as a starter.

Saban said, "I have players coming up to me asking if another player will be starting."

I believe Saban has a point; listing or posting starting lineups in a way that seems official is not fair to the players. One player may think he has won a spot that he hasn't won yet, and another may think he has lost his chance based on false information.

Saban said in so many words, either respect this request, or I will close practice.

Saban has every right to close practice if he chooses. The media is there only at Coach Saban's pleasure. Yet the media seems to feel it is their right to attend practices. They had to be reminded again that is not the case, and Saban was just the man for that job.

All that aside, what is up with the media getting their feelings hurt because Saban is being mean to them? Why is okay for the media to push a coach back in a corner, but it is not okay for the coach to push back?

I know Saban can be abrasive, but if you want to interview coaches like Saban then you had better grow a pair or maybe you should just stay at the office where it's safe.

Every time this happens I get a good chuckle when these media types run to their laptops and microphones to tell the public about mean ol' Nick Saban raising his voice at them. My God, this is football, not figure-skating. Be a man, don't wet yourself and come running to us every time he hurts your feelings.

The only difference between a coach like Saban and these media types is they aren't brave enough to confront him until they are safely back at the office or the studio. Then they get on their radio shows and write their columns and say the things they could have said to his face if they just had the courage.

There is a pack mentality among sports writers, if you dare stand up to one of them, then they all go on the attack. If coaches or players in the sports world do not give them what they want, the way they want it, when they want it, they all go nuts.

They expect sports figures to answer the question and then say, "Thank you sir, may I have another," or they all get their panties in a wad. If the coach refuses then they spend the next few days whining and crying to anyone who will listen or taking them to task for daring to not cooperate with them.

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