Barstool Sports sponsorship deal with Mobile Alabama Bowl nixed

I didn't know that the folks behind the Port City's other post-season college football gathering had reached terms with Barstool Sports. If I had known that a deal was in the works, I'd have been saddened. Barstool is the kind of sports gossip site that makes Deadspin look as respectable as The New York Times.

I had learned earlier this month that LendingTree would replace Dollar General as the Bowl's corporate sponsor, but no mention was made at the time that Barstool was in the mix of potential candidates.

Then I saw this today at MyNBC15.com:

The founder of Barstool Sports says ESPN killed its deal with the Mobile, Alabama Bowl.

Sports Business Journal first reported the sports media giant was in talks to sponsor what is now the LendingTree Bowl.

The report from Mark J. Burns says the deal fell through due to pressure from the NCAA and ESPN, the channel airing the bowl.

.@barstoolsports Barstool was in the running to sponsor a college football bowl game in Mobile, Ala., @markjburns88 reports. The sponsorship ended up going to @LendingTree. SBJ Media is live: 🔒https://t.co/CUSFtmSJQ7🔒 pic.twitter.com/4PDLsZBeaD

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) November 26, 2019

The internet is filled with marvelous entertainment, news, commentary and humor websites. Barstool is not one of those. The site is basically what you'd get if you handed a website's credential keys to a bunch of 11-year old rich boys. A few of today's headlines:

• A Robot Vacuum Carried Out An Act Of War When It Sucked Up A Little Dog In Missouri 
• Dustin Johnson's Two Year Old Son Has A Better Golf Swing Than You (And Me, But You Too)
• Latest Instagram Model Trend: Sunbathe Your Asshole

It's about 20% sports content, 20% boys' locker room humor and 60% 20-something eye candy. Everything that pre-pubescent boys dig and everything that's wrong with the R-rated internet.  ESPN and the NCAA would have done the City of Mobile a favor if the Bowl had inked a deal with the site and they rode in to send all the kids to timeout.

But also today, the Bowl's leadership flatly denied that the behemoth NCAA and ESPN applied pressure to kick the Barstool out:

“Untrue,” The LendingTree Bowl President Jerry Silverstein told AL.com on Tuesday in response to the report the deal fell apart because of pressure. “Untrue." ...

“We had a third-party contact with several companies. Barstool was one of them,” Silverstein said. “The Bowl decided to go with LendingTree. The NCAA nor ESPN got involved. (sic)

“The bowl made the decision. We had other opportunities that were there. The bowl made a decision not to choose Barstool. It never got to the NCAA or ESPN for denial. The bowl had other opportunities and went another way.”

So, it was Jerry Silverstein and the grown-ups with the Bowl who nixed the deal. Whew. That's a much better outcome than having the two organizations that are close to ruining college football be the unlikely saviors. In truth, neither would have cared much as long as the check cleared. Well, ESPN might have cared a little because the relationship between ESPN and Barstool is not cordial. But business is business, so...

We all know that if the Bowl had gone through with the Barstool deal, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson would have straightened his tie, smoothed his jacket and put the best spin on the budding relationship with a trashy internet website:

“We are pleased and proud to welcome Barstool Sports as the title sponsor for this year’s bowl game. College football is a cherished tradition in Mobile, and we are grateful to the team at Barstool and the bowl organizers for carrying that tradition forward. Visit barstoolsports.com for tickets and hilarious content.”

Tell me I'm wrong. 

Worst Jeremy Lin Headline in the history of Jeremy Lin headlines (updates)

NOTE: Scroll down to the 2nd update regarding ESPN's statement and where this "offensive headline" probably came from.

Via sbnation.com, we get news of a facepalm to end all facepalms. Yes, they really did use "Chink in the Armor" on their mobile site shortly after Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks were defeated by the Hornets, and it was up from about 2:30 am until being taken down at about 3:05 am.

But not before a number of people saved screenshots, one of which appears below.



I share Myles Brown’s conclusion that this offensive headline couldn’t possibly be intentional. It’s just a horribly stupid mistake, in a political and cultural climate where even the slightest hint of insensitivity is met with righteous indignation and demands for a head on a platter.

A head may roll here, but it gets harder and harder to apologize for mistakes when the mistakes happen over and over again.

This is far from being the first example of ESPN’s producers tastelessly playing with words on the screen.  Like the screen shot below via ElevenWarriors.com.



And then there was the case of a tasteless ESPN Insider report following the death of Alabama lineman Aaron Douglas, in which reporter Albert Lin (no relation, presumably) suggested that the early demise would loosen competition for then incoming freshman Cyrus Kuandjio.

All of these instances just have to be honest mistakes, made by overworked and underpaid interns and junior-level producers. Right?

UPDATE: Oh, and there’s video of ESPN’s LINcompetence.

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UPDATE II: The WWL responds with a statement:

Last night, ESPN.com's mobile web site posted an offensive headline referencing Jeremy Lin at 2:30 am ET. The headline was removed at 3:05 am ET. We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake.

Note well that ESPN's statement addresses the mobile site headline,  but does not address the on-air utterance of the same phrase captured in the video above. That video was uploaded on February 16, at least one full day before Lin and the Knicks fell to the Hornets. Could this be the "inspiration" for the headline used early on the morning of February 18? I would have to conclude that it was.

UPDATE III: ESPN has now addressed the video segment: 

Wednesday night on ESPNEWS, an anchor used an inappropriate word in asking a question about Jeremy Lin. ESPN apologizes for the incident, and is taking steps to avoid this in the future.

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VIDEO: Lee Corso drops an “F-Bomb” on ESPN Gameday (updated with statement from Corso)

At the close of ESPN’s Gameday broadcast from Houston, Lee Corso makes the last pick of the day.

And proceeds to have a “vocabulary malfunction” by dropping an F-Bomb as he makes his pick.

Look at Kirk Herbstreit’s face as he realizes what Corso said (warning: Expletive not deleted):

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Corso later issued a statement, offering his apologies:

“Earlier today on College Gameday, while picking the SMU Houston game, I got a bit excited and used an expletive that I shouldn't have used. I apologize and can promise it won't happen again.”

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Documents show Texas and ESPN conspired, lobbied NCAA on Longhorn Network

In the Dallas Morning-News, reporter Kate Hairopoulos reports on several newly obtained documents that shed light on Texas A&M’s growing discontent with Texas, the Longhorn Network and the Big 12’s reluctance to stand up to the Austin giant.

The DMN story is unfortunately behind the website’s paywall. But the documents themselves are not.

One of those documents provides compelling evidence that ESPN and Texas worked together and lobbied hard for the NCAA to provide a rules interpretation allowing the Longhorn Network to air high school games. One stunning revelation is that ESPN “threatened” Texas Tech.

Perhaps the most explosive allegation of all—ESPN was “pushing hard to help Texas recruit high school prospects.”

The document excerpted above is from an email from Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne. It is not clear who the recipient of the email was. Byrne also expresses deep concern over ESPN’s financial relationship with the NCAA and a too-cozy relationship between Texas Athletic Director Deloss Dodds and NCAA top brass. In fact, Byrne even says Dodds himself touted the relationship to NCAA brass.

The NCAA eventually concluded that the Longhorn Network would not be permitted to show high school football games, concluding that it would have provided a competitive advantage for Texas.

However, if Byrne’s conclusions are correct—that ESPN and Texas worked together to help Texas recruit high school prospects and lobby the NCAA for a favorable ruling—the implications are explosive. It suggests collusion at the highest level of a major university and ESPN executives, and Byrne was rightly concerned that the weight being thrown around might unduly influence the NCAA.

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With a great opportunity to show support, ESPN Gameday blows it

Via Twitter, ESPN’s College Football Gameday announced that its celebrity picker would be San Francisco Giants closing pitcher Brian Wilson.

Wilson is a product of the LSU baseball program and is known for his [ahem] “eccentric” personality.

On any other visit to the University of Alabama Campus, ESPN’s College Gameday celebrity picker wouldn’t even cause a rustling breeze of controversy. But a scant six months after the raging winds of the April 27 tornadoes, this seems like a very poor choice. Gameday had an opportunity to spotlight the efforts of a community still working to get back on its feet after the devastation caused by those storms—one of which passed a mere few hundred yards away from the site of the Gameday set.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox would have made an excellent choice. He has been a tireless and diligent leader of the recovery effort and has united the community like few other politicians in this state could. How about picking from the chef team of John Folse, Rick Tramonta and Bob Baumhower? They’re getting together to cook the world's largest pot of gumbo, uniting University of Alabama and LSU fans in an effort to raise money for the relief effort. Or, how about the stunningly beautiful former Alabama Cheerleader Sela Ward, who will be one of the judges for the event? Any of these would make an excellent choice and no one would really care who they picked to win the game.

No one in Tuscaloosa “Fears the Beard.” Frankly, many superstitious Alabama fans fear Lee Corso’s pick more than any other. It wouldn’t matter if Wilson picked the Tide or not—that’s not the point of this at all. There are many great efforts being undertaken by the citizens of Tuscaloosa and the rest of the state who were ravaged by a natural disaster. There are many great people leading and working very hard on those efforts. Any of them would have made a much better choice.

It’s ESPN’s production. It’s their show, their money and they can choose whoever they want to have on their set Saturday. I would have preferred someone else and I think most fans would, too.

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Feldman suspension prompts internet backlash against ESPN (UPDATE: The suits respond)

Scroll down for update.

Late Thursday afternoon, SPORTSbyBROOKS reported that the worldwide leader in asshattery, douchebaggery and backstabbery had indefinitely suspended the well-respected and highly regarded Bruce Feldman. Feldman wrote extensively for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN.com and used his official Twitter account to provide a fantastic mix of opinion, observation and hard news.

The reason? Feldman has provided key editorial assistance to former Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach in the preparation of his new book, Swing your Sword. Leach details his ugly divorce from the Lubbock, Texas Red Raiders in the book, and Leach describes in damning detail how and why things went down the way they did. Leach was accused of mistreating former player Adam James, which happens to be the Daddy’s Little Girl of Craig James, ESPN’s second worst color analyst. Leach comes out swinging against the ‘meddling’ of the elder James, which apparently hurt the feelings of  ESPN Vice President Vince Doria, ESPN the Magazine Editor-in-Chief and ESPN Books Editorial Director Gary Hoenig, and ESPN.com Editor-in-Chief Pat Stiegman. Brooks reports that in a conference call, the three above swung their swords and axed Feldman.

Despite Feldman having been granted prior approval from ESPN to work with Leach on the book.

This backstabbing is unconscionable. Feldman specifically sought his employers’ clearance before beginning work with Leach and got it, despite the latter knowing full well that Leach was going to be harshly critical of Crybaby Craig and his Daddy’s Little Girl.

Appropriately, the public is swinging its sword and unleashing a swashbuckling dismemberment of the sports media giant. As of 11:00 am CDT, #FreeBruce was one of the Top Three trending topics on Twitter. Thousands of ESPN.com Insider subscribers are calling to cancel their subscriptions. Bloggers, sportswriters and radio talk show hosts are leading a charge to convince users to cancel subscriptions to fantasy leagues.

ESPN refuses to comment on the matter, but the damage is being done.

To do my part, I’m promoting Mike Leach’s book. Readers should take the time to hear Leach’s side of the story, especially the revelations regarding James’ hiring of a PR firm to conduct a smear campaign against him and turn public opinion against him the way a sleazy politician uses push polls and anonymous flyers and mailings. James and ESPN are beneath contempt and no justice would be more poetic than having them watch Leach’s book hit bestseller lists.

So, let’s have some fun and swing our sword. Click the link. Order the book. Any commissions IBCR receives will be donated to Tornado Relief in Alabama.

UPDATE: Was this a false alarm, or did ESPN back down?  In a three sentence press release, the network had this in response to the firestorm: “There was never any suspension or any other form of disciplinary action. We took the time to review his upcoming work assignments in light of the book to which he contributed and will manage any conflicts or other issues as needed.   Bruce has resumed his assignments."

Resumed? How do you resume something that was never stopped to begin with? 

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Kirk Herbstreit flees “vocal minority,” moves to Nashville

Weclome to the sunny south!

Earlier this week, ESPN College Football analyst and former Ohio State Quarterback Kirk Herbstreit fled Buckeye territory. Herbstreit and his wife Allison moved their family from Columbus, Ohio to Nashville, Tennessee. A column in the Columbus Dispatch explains why: It’s not because of the southern hospitality, milder climate, better food (trust me here, sports fans) and wonderful music culture.

It was the constant flaming from a vocal minority of Buckeye fans who simply couldn’t countenance the fact that as a national broadcaster, Herbstreit has to be objective and honest in his opinions.

Bob Hunter’s column, in part:

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"Nobody loves Ohio State more than me," said Herbstreit, a former Buckeyes quarterback. "I still have a picture of Woody Hayes and my dad (Jim, a former OSU player) in my office, and nobody will do more than I do for the university behind the scenes. But I've got a job to do, and I'm going to continue to be fair and objective. To continue to have to defend myself and my family in regards to my love and devotion to Ohio State is unfair."

Herbstreit said he and his wife, Allison, visited several cities before deciding on Nashville. He will continue to do his Monday radio show on WBNS-FM (97.1) in the fall.

"From a sports perspective, this is rough," he said. "I love Ohio State. Love the Blue Jackets. Love the Reds. Those are my hobbies. I don't like moving. I love living here. I don't want to leave. But I just can't do this anymore. I really can't keep going like this.

"Eighty to ninety percent of the Ohio State fans are great. It's the vocal minority that make it rough. They probably represent only 5 to 10 percent of the fan base, but they are relentless."

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Vocal minorities—the fringes of the fanbases of college football programs—make life miserable for everybody. Ohio State certainly has a Harvey Updyke or three. A small minority of Tennessee fans rioted when Lane Kiffin bolted for Southern Cal. Auburn has its fair share of Stump Throwers and Operation Red Dog conspiracists, and Florida’s Jort brigade is downright frightening. One afternoon of listening to the callers on the Paul Finebaum show is enough to suck IQ points from intellects like Greg McElroy and corrupt the virtuous like Tim Tebow.

Passion in being a fan is ok. I am a passionate Alabama fan, but my passion has limits. There are lines that just shouldn’t be crossed. Herbstreit has donated tons of money and given his time to his beloved alma mater. But he’s been harassed relentlessly because he won’t get on the ESPN Gameday set and be a Buckeye homer.

My bet is that he’s supported the university more than than all of the wackos combined. But he’s still got a job to do and it’s a shame he had to move to do it in peace. I’m not certain that moving to one of the SEC states is exactly the right move but at least there are other things to do in in Nashville. The barbecue is outstanding and can I recommend a trip to one of the many wonderful museums?

Side note: Kirk has also joined Twitter.  Follow him at @K_Herbstreit. He has about 15,500 followers at last check, but hasn’t followed anyone back yet. The first non-sportscaster type to be followed will be awarded a one-year subscription to all content of I Bleed Crimson Red! Second place gets two years…

Exit Question: Should Kirk be on the lookout for rabid Vanderbilt fans?

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