Bobby Bowden has no class

ABC Radio through SportsPages.com ^ | 08/06/02 | Keith Olbermann

[bigeasy_70118]

First Bowden, now BOWDEN.

Another inexplicable, indefensible vulgarization of the overarching human tragedy of September 11th by a sports figure. First Reds' General Manager Jim Bowden's bad jokes about a baseball strike resembling the suicide hijackings, now Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden announcing the Seminoles' 2002 team slogan is "Let's Roll."

"Let's Roll" were among the last words said by one of the passengers on Flight 93, Todd Beamer. Beamer and other civilians overpowered the criminals, preventing a fourth building crash; all on board died near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Bobby Bowden has turned those stirring, chilling, heartbreaking words, into something to be stamped on t-shirts and worn by inebriated fans at so-called "college" football games. This was the coach's idea alone, he is quoted on a Florida State fans' website as saying "We are going to go with 'Let's Roll,' based on the airplane guy making that remark... Not only for that but the season is here, the challenges are here, let's roll." Unquote.

“The airplane guy”? How insulting.

And of course, the foundation started in Todd Beamer's memory by his widow Lisa has sought to trademark that phrase so that when people do make money off of it, that money goes to the kids of the victims of September 11th, not to a pro franchise masquerading as college sports. There is no evidence Florida State contacted the Beamer Foundation or even thought to do so.

[bigeasy_70118]

I can't think of 5 people with less class than Bobby Bowden. What a condescending piece of garbage. No wonder is kids are all screwed up.

[Gurn]

I can't think of 5 people with less class than Bobby Bowden.

I can think of one: his no-class, midget son, Terry "Tater Tot" Bowden, who did all he could to run my alma mater's football program into the ground.

All the Bowdens are masters of marketing and self-promotion. This doesn't surprise me a bit.

[JohnGalt]

Here are two for you:

Oblerman used 'Heinrich Himmler' and 'Ken Starr' in an analogy not too long ago.

Anonymous character assinations about a man and his family on a Conservative posting board.

[Constitution Day]

"We are going to go with 'Let's Roll,' based on the airplane guy making that remark... Not only for that but the season is here, the challenges are here, let's roll."

Your thoughts?

[Migraine]

My thoughts include: this is a gesture honoring a heroic moment and attempting to inculcate some of that heroic mettle into a group of young men. The fact that it seems crass to some is understandable, although I do not share that view. To me, it ranks alongside the naming of teams after Indian heroes or images: many beholders find it tacky, even cruel. I do not. Some people look for evil where it is not, I am afraid. I've got bigger fish to fry.

[Constitution Day]

Ping.

[bigeasy_70118]

Olberman used 'Heinrich Himmler' and 'Ken Starr' in an analogy not too long ago.

I don't like Olbermann's politics either but the guy is a helluva sports writer. And it certainly doesn't make him wrong about this.

Anonymous character assinations about a man and his family on a Conservative posting board.

Please. First of all, anyone with the handle john Galt has brass balls calling someone anonymous.

Second, look at the facts. Terry was fired from Auburn because he was an alcoholic. Tommy screwed Tulane, wouldn't even coach them in a bowl game to cap off their perfect season in 1998. This after all kinds of handwringing and guessing games, I am leaving for Clemson, No I am not. Then he does a radio show four hours before taking the Clemson job and won't answer questions about the job situation.

Then Papa Bowden comes out and says Tommy was right to leave b/c "You can never win at Tulane." Why couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut? Please. It is a disgrace that Bowden has

[cactusSharp]

the simple fact that Olbermann's name is even
on the piece is enuf for me to relegate
it to ass wipe.....

[kcordell]

"based on the airplane guy making that remark"

I hate to say it but, most Americans would use that exact phrase. We FR's know Todd's name and people who actually pay attention will but, we're a small minority.

As far as the slogan goes...sounds to me like he's paying a tribute to Todd, not trying to profit from it.

FSU profits by winning, not by the slogan it chooses.

Go Ga. Tech!!!

[martin_fierro]

I agree.

[connectthedots]

It's not like Todd Beamer coined the phrase 'Let's Roll'. You must be a Florida Gator fan. As for me, I am not a rabid fan of any school since my favorite team is whomever is playing Notre Dame the next week.

[bigeasy_70118]

I am not a UF fan. I have a two degrees from Tulane. I thought Tommy was going to lead us to respectability but he pulled the carpet out from under us.

Also, the worst crowd, I have ever seen in New Orleans were the FSU fans out the 2000 Sugar Bowl. They come here a ton but their behavior that weekend was unlike anything I have ever seen in New Orleans. And I am not overstating it.

[billbears]

the simple fact that Olbermann's name is even on the piece is enuf for me to relegate it to ass wipe.....

The simple fact that a Bowden is involved is enough for me to believe it's another example of the class, or lack thereof, of the Bowden family.

[Icthus]

"..I can't think of 5 people with less class than Bobby Bowden. What a condescending piece of garbage. No wonder is kids are all screwed up.."

It's obvious that you.... 1)don't follow college football enough to know that he is indeed a class act, or 2)you are bitter about FSU for some reason.

"Let's Roll" was a popular saying long before it was uttered on 9/11. Stop being so melodramatic and focus on something important.

[Constitution Day]

Yeah, I agree... but I just don't like the 'Noles.

Oh, by the way...

NCSU vs. Georgia Tech - 11/02/2002 - Raleigh

[cactusSharp]

I will agree that the Bowden family
eats buggers on national T V. These are some self centered hillbilly Toothless Joes of the football variety.

[Gurn]

You, obviously, have bought into the ABC/ESPN/Lee Corso love fest of the Bowdens. Diddy is a fraud. His players are thugs. (Did you see the tape of what his boy did to Ernest Graham last year? And diddy was "shocked, shocked!" that anyone would accuse him of coaching dirty football.)

I've followed college football, closely, for a long time. And I'll admit I was once taken in by Diddy's aw-shucks, down-home shtick. But that's all it is: shtick. He plays in a sissy conference, runs up the score, has his players intentionally try to injure opponents...

But people like Lee Corso -- and you, apparently -- have ingested so much Bowden DNA that they lose all objectivity.

[connectthedots]

And what is your opinion of the U of Miami football program?

[Icthus]

Noooo...actually I don't take Corso serious in the slightest. I do however agree with you that Daddy Bowden is treated like royalty by the networks because he has charisma.

I live in the FL panhandle and Bowden routinely participates in charity events and routinely speaks at churches in the area. Is it to drum up a constant positive PR? I don't know, what I do know is that the people in this part of the country love the guy, he reminds us of our grandfather. A simple man.

I don't deny that alot of his players are thugs, but most blue chip atheletes are not model citizens in the community loaded with intelligence. They are catered to, and treated like royalty as well. ESPN had an article this morning that mentioned Chris Webber may have received up to $260,000 from boosters or agents before he ever turned pro. Football, like other sports, used to be a game. It's has somehow morphed into a battlezone of "win at any cost". It's about money.

[Gurn]

And what is your opinion of the U of Miami football program?

Great athletes, but thugs.