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New Beginnings
Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.
Cheesy song, but a great line.
From jewelryforhomes.com (my first e-commerce site) to judasfavre.com to ventingprocess.com to my favorite and part of my soul, losersbracket.com to now on it’s very first day… www.JoelFleischman.com.
It’s closing time for Roste Beefe, aka Fleisch Dogg, Joel Fleischman.
Maybe I’ve grown up. Maybe my ego got me. Maybe I didn’t want to be Roste Beefe any more. Maybe my vision didn’t mesh with the other owners of losersbracket.com and it was driving me slowly insane! or maybe it was just time.
If you “liked” Roste Beefe, you might love www.JoelFleischman.com or you might not. This sucker is all me. Less random chicks (maybe still some I have no idea), more motivational stuff, more randomness, more me, sports, nature, reality tv, I have no idea! Not even sure what that means. But I will be transparent. Yes, this will also be a lot about my “real business” Drexel Building Supply. But that’s a big part of ME.
I do hope you come over and visit me from time to time as you surf the endless web. Feel free to comment or guest write or even give me suggestions as you always have.
I want to THANK completely the fellow owners, CC writer, Spliff and Steve Goat. They have been nothing but class and great team mates in this adventure. Also our unpaid authors, Justin Hull, Mayo, Ralphnuts, and Change. I want to thank the interns. I want to thank Brett Favre. And I want to thank all of you losers for your past and future support. I imagine on some level losersbracket.com will go on. But the vision of it is no longer with me… and that’s ok. We had a fantastic ride and I was glad to be on it for awhile. Who knows where the next new beginning will take us.
– Roste Beefe.
p.s. Last one out please turn off the lights.
Milwaukee Bucks – The End is Near
In Game of Thrones, Ned Stark warns that the world is on the verge of many years of snow and darkness when he says that “winter is coming”. Well shit Ned, it’s April 18th and snow is in the air as I write this. So congratulations Mr. Stark, looks like you were right. And……segway…I’ve been watching alot of Game of Thrones instead of watching/writing about the Bucks in the last month and a half. Probably time well spent on my part.
In reviewing the archives, it appears Ralphnuts last wrote about the Bucks on February 27th. Since that time, the Bucks have gone a miserable 10-16. They failed to make any progress up the Playoff ladder despite ample opportunities to do so, and really just wound down the season in more or less miserable fashion. In a script that could have been/was written in the preseason, the Bucks finished in the middle of the pack, with a losing record, and lots of uncertainty about the future. Rather predictable and rather negative indeed.
On a positive note, the Bucks were a pretty entertaining squad to watch for most of the season. Though admittedly (and right back to the negative), once March hit and the Bucks failed to capitalize on opportunities to move up, even I, the ever dedicated Ralphnuts, had a hard time maintaining any interest. Literally, if there was a way to lose a game, the Bucks seemed to find a way to do it. And what’s up with the Hawks? Really Bucks, can’t find a way to get over the hump and beat the Hawks a time or two? I mean, shit, if any team possibly has less interest in the NBA game than the average LosersBracket Reader, it’s the Hawks. It’s possible that is even more frustrating to watch Josh Smith shoot lazy, random jumpers than it is Monta Ellis (though gotta give Monta props, he’s remedied that aspect of his game somewhat).
Speaking of Monta, he has again apparently declared/confirmed he intends to opt out. He’s played well enough the second half of the season that someone will make a play at him. So he’s gone. I have mixed feelings about Monta, really had a love/hate relationship with his somewhat unorthodox game.
Jennings is maybe drifting toward head case land, or maybe the coach and Jennings just aren’t a good fit. Maybe the Bucks should commit to Jennings long term? Yeah he’s streaky, but I mean, Jennings could be worse right? He does seem to be somewhat genuinely interested in playing/living in Milwaukee. And face it, the list of even “midlevel, maybe an allstar some day” type players that want to play for the Bucks organization is pretty freaking short. So maybe we should hang on to him.
Lot’s of talk about the Arena issue cropping up now. Nobody wants to pay for it, nobody cares about the Bucks so why should they fund it, all the same old bullshit. We’ll see what happens. Maybe the Bucks end up in Sacto or Seattle some day in the not to distant future.
All in all, it was pretty much a year that lived up to expectations….
Oh wait, shit, that’s right, it’s not over yet. The Bucks are in the Playoffs. Opening tip, Sunday night against the Heat. My enthusiasm for this series is admittedly low. Maybe an inspired effort in game one turns it all around for me, but my expectations are dismal. The question really is, can the Bucks win one, just one, game? Based on the last month and a half, I would say probably not. They haven’t exactly lit a fire blazing their way into the playoffs. Kinda limped in due to the shittiness of the remainder of the Eastern Confernce. And, oh boy, does Chris Bosh cause problems for the Bucks. Lures the Bucks gangly big men away from the basket with his silky smooth jumper, allowing open lanes for Lebron to do his robot dunks, and DWade to get all funky with his layups. They also have Ray Allen. He is what they call a “pure shooter”.
But really, I mean, this is the NBA, and all of these guys can flat out play. With respect to winning one game, it is really a matter of heart and effort. Due to talent discrepancies, the Bucks cannot beat the heat 4 out of 7. But they should be able to win a game or two if they give true effort. Undoubtedly they will lose the first two in Miami. Then the question becomes: Are their hearts and minds on court at the BMO Bradley Center for games 3 and 4? Or are they thinking about their journey out of Winterfell to their sweet ass pad down in Kings Landing? (and segway completed).
I’ll do my best to offer some thoughts on the Bucks performance in the upcoming games. See you in the playoffs Buck Fan.
Just to clarify, the Bucks are represented by Ned Stark, the Heat are represented by the big ass sword. David Stern is represented by that little prick King Joeffrey.
Black Men in Jail
This hot chick has nothign to do with the article, just needed a photo for the headline.
Over 50% of all black men in their 30s in Milwaukee County have been to jail according to the below article. This guy says the way to solve it is to not imprison people for violent crimes. Yeah that probably makes sense. I mean who …wait…whaaat….
OR I DON’T KNOW… MAYBE HAVE THEM NOT COMMIT CRIMES! WHAT THE HELL!
I AM IN MY 30S, LIVE IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND ZERO, ZERO, ZERO OF MY FRIENDS OR EVEN ACQUAINTANCES HAVE EVER SPENT AN HOUR IN JAIL. WHAT THE HELL! ??!?!?
Editorial writer and columnist James E. Causey will offer his perspectives on a variety of issues on urban affairs, crime, city hall, education and sports.
Report: Over half of black men in their 30s in Milwaukee County have been incarcerated
The prison population in Wisconsin has more than tripled since 1990, fueled by the nation’s “War On Drug” policies and the three-strikes rule.
Wisconsin has the highest black male incarceration rate in the nation.
In Milwaukee County over half of African-American men in their 30s have served time in state prison, according to the report: “Wisconsin’s Mass Incarceration of African-American Males: Workforce Challenges for 2013.”
Incarceration is the most serious barrier to employment. When a person gets out of prison and applies for a job they are automatically placed in the “do not call” pile. If they can’t make a living what do you expect them to do? They usually end committing crimes that lands them right back in prison.
The report uses two decades of state Department of Corrections and Department of Transportation files to assess employment and training barriers facing black men with a history of DOC offenses and DOT violations.
One of the best ways to turn this negative trend around is to stop locking people up for non-violent offenses.
It costs too much. Most of offenders suffer from drug and alcohol addiction problems.An investment in more drug and alcohol treatment facilities would save Wisconsin taxpayers millions and help people get on the road to recovery faster. It cost more than $32,000 a year to house a prisoner in Wisconsin, but the most expense drug treatment cost less than $9,000.
What makes more sense?
According to the report, of the 26,222 black males incarcerated from 1990 to 2012 , 40% has sentences for drug offenses.
Wisconsin’s rate of mass incarceration of African-American men is 12.8% or nearly double the national average of 6.7%. The state of Oklahoma is a distant second at 9.7%.
Thoughts?
HOME OF THE BRAVE
United we stand you terrorist mother fuckers.
WE ARE THE UNITED STATES
HOME OF THE BRAVE
WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID ASSHOLES.
Kill our children with nails and BB’s?
Threaten our ass you North Korean varmit?
FUCK YOU!
WATCH THIS AND TRY NOT TO GET CHILLS…
This Beer’s For you!
Yo Yo… get used to the heckles my friend.
Your life as you know it is over and forever tarnished.
Not sayin’ I never had a few and drove, I shouldn’t …and do NOT condone it AT ALL…
Anyways…
The Brewer Season if off to a bad start.
Every Day Like it is the last one, Angel Cabrera
Hey, this weekend I admittedly became a bigger Adam Scott fan than anything else, but you’ve got to love this Cabrera guy too. Adam Scott probably gets more poontang than Tiger Woods could even imagine and I doubt Adam Scott pays a dime for a very high grade of limitless talent. That is all the obvious stuff. This Cabrera guy just lives life, he don’t give a shit what anyone thinks, he’s a freight train of life who never looks back. Smoke, drink, eat fuckin cheeseburgers and chimichangas with burritos on top. They claim he’s 46, looks more like 56, but hey, what is the difference? This guy is hardcore, and uninterested in advice or maybe what his ex-wife or doctors have to say. I’m guessing his life expectancy is limited and I’m guessing Angel Cabrera don’t give a shit either. Angel Cabrera is on top of the world. Look at this pic of him and look at his new girlfriend Coki. Either way, he suffers a major heart attack in the next three years… He gets clogged arteries from a diet without limitations or he suffers a massive heart attack because Coki dominates him for 30-35 minutes three times per day right after he signs over the Cabrera fortune to her. Don’t matter, he’s living like a rockstar and I respect the hell out of that. Cabrera’s probably never been happier. Hey, I love this guy so hopefully none of the dire consequences catch up to him. I want him to play hard, live hard, and bang Coki and her friends even harder. Here’s some goods on Coki, maybe if the ex-Mrs. Cabrera would have stopped bitching about Angel’s lifestyle and complaining he’s on the road too much, and whining that he smokes too much, and quit telling Angel she had a headache and maybe stole a few lessons from Coki… Geez, why do athletes get married anyways? Hmmm, millions on top of millions, access to anything under the sun, and more ass than even Peter North gets… (no Peter North is not a golfer) –CCWriter
Femininity Friday, Talent Tips
Is this making it happen, or is this making it happen. We discuss round and round what gets people excited in life, what provides real lasting motivation? I think this might be it, no this is it, not might be, it is… Let’s review: The twisted long blond chunky hair style, the silvery translucent almost geometric shaping of this dress, a 1/2″ black g-string, the low cut back, purposeful side boob, dominating confident physique, and the black spiked heels. Yep, that is a winning formula. Wait, who are we kidding here? This average build nearing middle aged blogger couldn’t handle this, I admit. There is just no way, it might be over before it starts, but like always there is always the willingness to die trying. –CCWriter
Dumb Shining Moment
Heard about this when Drew Olson was debating the schmaltz factor of that ridiculous song they play underneath the highlights montage after the NCAA Championship game. It’s schmaltzy, yes. But classic and traditional, too. I don’t mind it, just like I don’t mind hanging white trash Christmas lights all over my house. It’s just something that makes me smile.
But this?? Some really funny stuff here from the boys at Deadspin.
Spring has sprung!
That’s right Losers, the ever distant and “doesn’t really ever write anymore because he….well…not really sure why…” Stevegoat is convinced that Spring has finally SPRUNG? How on earth did I reach this conclusion you might be asking yourself as you put on your parka to prepare for your April 10th, 2013 jaunt to work? Well Ill tell you. There are two sure fire signs that spring has sprung in Wisconsin.
Nothing makes you want to break out the grill and play some catch like a nice coating of ice on your trees. Eat shit!
1. As you can see by the above photo…Ice is covering my trees. Thats right. April freaking 10th and my tress have beautiful coating of ice. I think last night there was a thunder ice storm. Awesome. SPRING.
2. MMSD has begun dumping Milwaukee’s shit (fecal matter) into the lake. Nothing says spring like racing your turd to the lake. Flush, get in the car and see if you can beat said turd to the lake!
Happy Spring Assholes. Im off to find Al Gore and ask him when this Global Warming thing is set to start.
**Missing apostrophes and other misspellings intentional. It gives the trolls something to do and makes them feel good.**
JJ Redick Impersonates CC Writer
I love when shooters get pissed off.
Here’s a classic example played out through out the nation at the “Y” everyday.
And something I have seen done by CC Writer more times than I can count.
Priceless. The sweet poetry of basketball… body language by JJ Redick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a1huwgF1LeQ
Ranking The Best Boos Ever
This week Josh Hamilton was booed relentlessly in his return to the Texas Rangers where he had spent most of his baseball adult life. He signed this off season with the Angels for $125 million. On his exit from the franchise he said about the Rangers fans, “They just are not a baseball town.” In a Don’t Mess with Texas return he strikes out at his first at bat. It’s complicated though, he lives in Texas, he is a recovering drug addict and he played off the charts with the Rangers as they ascended back to baseball dominance. He genuinely felt, well human, as boos reigned down. It was REALLY uncomfortable. The media loved it. Oh, haven’t we heard these same boos before…
Of course we have. The King left his hometown and his franchise the Cavs. He moved his talents to South Beach with a special made for prime time announcement. Oh, it was ugly. But I still heard these boos once before much closer to home…
In the confines of the frozen tundra, Brett Favre returned with the Minnesota Vikings and in Brett’s words, “to get back at the Packers” after a messy divorce. I was at that game in my Judas Favre jersey. I have never heard anything like it. Ever. The vehement booing seemed to echo into the outer regions of every molecule in the building. And a guy that was in Texas said basically the same thing. Here’s a link on the old Judas Favre t-shirt empire.
Please rank your best boo on the poll below, after you watch the boo videos for yourself.
The Hamilton relapse
The King Returns to Akron
Judas comes to Lambeau
Ok, time to vote losers. If you have a better boo…please comment below.
Loading ...– Roste Beefe. Roste was never booed, but was mocked for wearing green shoes with red laces for a Holiday Basketball Tournament by an eager Waupan/Campbellsport crowd.
COMMUNICATION SEPERATION
The game within the championship game… will the fab 5 be seated together?
This video shows why I love Jalen. The passion, the brotherhood, the plea to an old friend to let mistakes in the past be forgotten and above all support the family and the program.
Maybe Jalen could come to Vegas in my top 6. Kick out Nugent. Hmmm….
At the time I was shocked in a bad accident way when CWebb took the time out. It was just frightening to see it. It seems he nor the Fab 5 have yet to come to terms with it. Even 20 years later.
First he traveled. And then he took a time out. It was HORRIBLE. Still is.
Jalen would of made the shot. Or Jimmy King. If they would of gotten the chance.
Another thing can you believe Jalen Rose is still relevant 20 years later? And Juwan Howard is the only one that is still playing and playing for a championship team (The Heat) to boot?
Life is crazy.
All hail the Fab 5. There legend grows…
– Roste Beefe
ps I am more intrigued by this then the actual game. Michigan vs. Louisville. Whatever. How will the fab 5 cheer, what will they wear? Will they be hammered? That’s good stuff.
PACKERS NEWEST PLAYA- MATTHEW MULLIGAN
Packers add a new tight end. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version.
Undrafted out of Maine (make it two on the roster with Jerron McMillan, not quite Alabama….we move on), Mulligan has been in the league since 2008.
Started for the Rams, ahem. And played with the Jets.
Special team guru and also long snapper back up.
A football guy.
A Packer.
Tom Crabtree but no tattoos.
I like it. A lot. It’s what the Packers do!
Best FRIGGIN PART. He picked the Packers over the 49ers, who I am really starting to hate.
Oh, and he has three whole videos on youtube and an extremely brief wiki page. I have posted them all for you to see. Which ain’t much.
And of course a sweet last name. Even better than Crabtree.
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Packers add a new tight end
Getty Images
Last month, the Packers lost tight end Tom Crabtree to the Buccaneers. The Packers have now replaced him on the offseason roster, signing veteran Matthew Mulligan.
Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that the Packers signed Mulligan, a four-year veteran, to a one-year deal.
Mulligan has appeared in 50 career games. Not tendered as a restricted free agent in 2012 with the Jets, Mulligan signed a two-year deal with the Rams. St. Louis cut him last month.
In the two seasons, Mulligan has appeared in all 32 games, starting 18.
The Maine product has worked as both a run-blocker and a pass-catcher. He also provides depth at the overlooked-until-the-starter-gets-hurt position of long snapper.
Mulligan reportedly picked the Packers over the 49ers, who are trying to replace the versatile Delanie Walker.
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The entire Mulligan Wiki…
Matthew Mulligan
 Mulligan with the Jets in 2011 |
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Matthew Benjamin Mulligan (born January 18, 1985) is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maine.
Mulligan has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams.
Early years
Mulligan lived in Enfield, Maine and attended high school at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, Maine.
Professional career
Miami Dolphins
Mulligan was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was released from the Dolphins on August 30 during final cuts. However, the Dolphins re-signed him to the practice squad the following day. Mulligan remained on the practice squad until his release on November 5.
Tennessee Titans
Mulligan was signed to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans on November 19, 2008. Following the season, he was re-signed to a future contract on January 12. The Titans waived him on September 4.
New York Jets
Mulligan was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 6, 2009. He was waived on September 23. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 24. He was promoted to the active roster on December 2.[1]
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams signed Mulligan on March 26, 2012.[2] After one season with the team, Mulligan was released on March 23, 2013.
Green Bay Packers
Mulligan signed for the Green Bay Packers on April 7, 2013.
32 BUCKS PLAYOFF TICKETS
This is either one of the smartest things I have done or one of the dumbest.
Yeah, the above line is a good start to a movie, or a book. Or a crappy blog. Whatever works.
I own probably more playoff tickets besides someone called Herb Kohl.
Here’s the deal and try to follow… there’s a lot going on here.
Here’s the theory:
Last time the Milwaukee Bucks played the Miami Heat on December 29th the lower bowl tickets at the BEMO were between 300 and 800. I know because I wanted to see Lebron in his prime but couldn’t justify the cash. (I never saw Bird, Magic, Jordan, or Shaq and I regret that. I will see the King in his prime!) Since Dec. 29th, the Heat won 27 games in a row and became the best show on earth since the Rodman / Jordan Bulls. So, I checked what game 3 and 4 (home games for the Bucks) were going for and they were $129 for the lower bowl. So I bought 32. 15 for game 3, 17 for game 4. (My ideas was to get 4 tickets with some buddies, 1 each and that snowballed to my current investment) So…it should be a $4,000 investment that will turn into at least $8,000 in a few weeks and stubhub.com will make a few hundred off the transactions. Or I double my money and STILL GO SEE LEBRON for free. No FRIGGIN BRAINER. Right?
The Risk:
Bucks hold the 8th spot and the Celtics are up 2.5 games for the 7th. Let’s say David Stern gets involved (what?) and rigs some games (never?!?) and decides a Celtics/Heat match up is way better than the Bucks and Heat and somehow the Bucks make up 2.5 games with 8 left. They would play the PACERS. (Basically the 1 is locked.) Holy moses I own 32 tickets for the Pacers (is Rik Smits still on the team?) and the Bucks. There’s a game I don’t want to see (nor will anyone else.)
Or Lebron gets hurt. Value goes way down.
Or the Bucks don’t make the playoffs (almost impossible.) But upside, I get all my money back, so really no worries there.
I haven’t told the boss lady at home yet. Maybe she has a weekend getaway or a 40th birthday, can’t miss, party I have to go to. I will tell her after I made the money.
The Upside
I triple my money take some customers and some buddies and take them all on my dime, they pick up dinner and drinks and we see Lebron and the time of our lives. (All tickets are in 211, row M and N, so they are all together. I still net some coin and SEE LEBRON AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.)
The dates and times are not rolled out yet. Based on last year’s playoff schedules (yeah I went deep), one of the games will be either Friday or Saturday night which is sweet.
I bought them 24 hours ago and as of this morning they are up 7.8%. For real. Go Celtics!
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Keep an eye on this article… I will keep you posted…. — Roste Beefe
P.S. I don’t recommend this form of investment…but it sure is fun!
BUCKS MARKETING
Wow, marketing the Bucks…what a tough gig.
Welcome back Greg Stioulsma or whatever. “Remember him, that big white dork on the Badgers? No not him the other white dork.” Well guess what he’s coming to play YOUR MILWAUKEE BUCKS. Lord help us.
BUBBA HOVER
Bubba Watson is way cooler than you. But you already knew that. But did you know how much cooler?
He just came out with a funny rap video… again. Pretty good stuff.
Oh, and I believe this is not an internet stunt, he has invented and has a golf cart hovercraft. Ok, that’s cool!
I hope Bubba wins the Masters…and cries again. I really do.
BIELEMA UPDATE
The following article is a none Wisconsin opinion on the status of Bret Bielema. I think you will find it an interesting read. Enjoy!
I am super pumped up about the new Bucky coach and Melvin Gordon for Heisman 2013. I am.
And a few token pics of Bret’s wife Jen to keep you focused. Jen is on the bottom tier of SEC wives but Bret certainly out kicked his coverage.
Bret Bielema: Lane Kiffin Part Two
| Published on: April 02, 2013 | Written by: Clay Travis |
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before, a new coach from outside the South comes to the SEC with a hot blonde wife, a great deal of swagger even if he has no real clue of the region he now inhabits, immediately snags a five star running back in his first month on the job which sends fans into spasms of glee, and then goes after a national championship winning coach while talking to his new fan base at an event he doesn’t expect to become immediately public.
Lane Kiffin meet Bret Bielema.
Talking to a Razorback fan group at the Saline County Razorback club Bielema had this to say, “The reason the SEC is talked about all the time is one team, because of their dominance. But I didn’t come here to play Alabama. I came here to beat Alabama.”
Bielema continued, “You can take Saban’s record when he was at Michigan State and when he was a coach in the Big Ten and put it against mine, and he can’t compare.”
Yes, Bret Bielema said that Nick Saban can’t compare to his past coaching record.
I love it.
But does this strike anyone else like what Lane Kiffin did with Urban Meyer?
You’ll recall that within a few months of arriving in Knoxville, Kiffin went after Urban Meyer, then a defending national championship winning coach, accusing Meyer of cheating and bragging about stealing away Nu’Keese Richardson, a four-star wide receiver whose biggest play in Knoxville would turn out to be when he was arrested for robbing UT fans at a local gas station while riding around in a Prius in UT football gear. Kiffin took every opportunity to deride Meyer’s coaching ability, his recruiting, his status as a big-time coach; by the time Kiffin went on the road at the Swamp for his only head-to-head contest with Meyer, the Vols were a thirty point underdog.
Kiffin avoided humiliation, losing a close game in Gainesville, but the yapping didn’t stop, Kiffin continued to talk trash about Urban Meyer up until he left for Los Angeles. Literally as he was getting on a plane for LA, he took a last shot at Meyer.
Now Bielema has done the same, poking at Nick Saban, stating pretty clearly that he’s a better coach than Saban was when he arrived in the SEC. The same Saban, mind you, that is 68-7 in his past five seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide, 39-5 in the SEC.
Bielema didn’t stop there, he also said the previous staff had spent a lot of time recruiting “pretty boys,” a shot at Bobby Petrino that sounded an awful lot like Kiffin’s digs at Phil Fulmer’s recruiting.
The problem with all of Kiffin’s bluster was that he was a really bad cultural fit. He had no clue what the SEC was all about, and he didn’t particularly care. He tossed aside Tennessee’s cherished traditions, refused to embrace the record of past success, and attempted to make Tennessee something it wasn’t, a trendy USC of the east, Hollywood meets the Smoky Mountains. Kiffin went 7-6 and fled town after a year, pursuing his dream job at USC. The issue wasn’t that Kiffin went after Urban Meyer, there’s nothing wrong with trying to rattle the cage of your top competition, it was that Kiffin had no real idea what he was getting into when he joined up for the SEC. It wasn’t that Lane Kiffin was an ass, it was that Lane Kiffin was an ass who had no idea about SEC football.
My favorite example of this was Kiffin FedExing a package directly to Mike Hamilton during the hiring process. Kiffin never understood how much SEC football mattered, never seemed to grasp how aggressively the media covered every little twist and turn. Lane Kiffin legitimately thought he could fax a package to Tennessee’s AD in the middle of a heated head coaching search and that no one would find out. He had no idea what the SEC culture was all about because he’d been in Los Angeles, where USC football is a comparative afterthought on the sports landscape.
I guarantee you that Arkansas football matters a lot more to Arkansans than Wisconsin football does to Wisconsin fans. That’s partly because Arkansas fans have nothing else to root for but Arkansas athletics. Wisconsin fans have pro sports, the Packers, the Brewers, even the Bucks to distract them through other seasons. Arkansas, not so much. The entire state is all in on the Razorbacks.
Look back at the quotes from Bielema and strip away the Nick Saban commentary, the part that has gotten most of the attention.
What should be more alarming to Arkansas fans than their head coach going after Saban? (I love Bielema going after Saban. I hope he keeps this part up).
This part of Bielema’s comments. “The reason the SEC is talked about all the time is one team, because of their dominance. But I didn’t come here to play Alabama. I came here to beat Alabama.”
Uh oh.
Did Bielema really just imply that the SEC was a one-team league?
Yep.
Did he forget about the two national titles that Florida won, the national title that Auburn notched or the national title that LSU locked down in the past seven years. Is he aware that Alabama came really damn close to losing each of the last two national titles to LSU, another team in the SEC? Is he aware that if Alabama didn’t win three of the past four national titles that another SEC school probably would have won all three titles instead? Does he realize that by the end of the season Texas A&M was better than Alabama last year?
I’m not so sure that he realizes any of this.
Lane Kiffin thought all he needed to do was beat Urban Meyer and now Bret Bielema thinks all he needs to do is beat Nick Saban.
Not hardly, this isn’t the Big Ten where there’s only one good team a year.
Bielema’s at the fifth best progam in the SEC West, he’s going to have to fight and claw and scrape for every miniscule advantage he can find. Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn will all have more advantages than he will. They’ll probably have better players too.
Does Bielema realize that?
It sure sounds like he doesn’t.
Yesterday Bielema took to Twitter to clarify his comments, ”Alabama quotes were a joke to a question from a fan at pep rally.”
A joke?
Guess what, Bret, Nick Saban ain’t laughing. (This is partly because Nick Saban has not laughed since 1988). And that clearly wasn’t a joke. You really believe that the SEC is just famous because of Alabama, which should be terrifying to anyone wearing a Razorback on his head. (Assuming, that is, that anyone wearing a Razorback on his or her head is smart enough to be terrified of anything that’s legitimately alarming).
I really like Bret Bielema, because I think he has the potential to be entertaining as hell and he doesn’t speak entirely like a boring coach. But suggesting that the SEC is a one-team league sounds an awful lot like the kind of stupid bluster Lane Kiffin spouted at Tennessee.
And everyone hates Lane Kiffin.
Even USC fans.
Don’t be Lane Kiffin, part two, Bret, be smarter, funnier, and prove that outkicking your coverage with a wife you met a Vegas blackjack table is something that pays off.
Basically, don’t boast about winning games in the Big Ten as if it proves anything at all.
You’re in the major leagues now, Bret, stop bragging about how well you performed in Triple A.
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