Neal Rubin of Detroit News bashes RR

Submitted by SalvatoreQuattro on
I cannot link the article as I am on my iPhone, but it suffices to say that Neal thinks little of Coach Rodriguez.

Boy, the hatred of the man runs deep. I have never seen such a consistent stream of hate pieces from local media ad I have seen with RR.

fab5

December 26th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^

you should like articles like this sal quattro... you think coach rod is a scumbag don't you? i read your comments on here all the time and it comes off that you think very little of coach rod. you probably love finding articles that bash rrod thats why you were quick to post this article

Joined: 10/11/2010

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mgoO

December 26th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^

Rubin is clearly insane and I would be astounded if he could name more than 5 players on the entire football team.  Has he ever written a sports story before?  

I think this bizarre quote is the most telling:

"He'll still be the guy at the party who's scanning the room as he talks to you, looking for someone more glamorous to spend time with."

That is nothing but an unsubstantiated ad hominem attack.  Either this happened to Rubin himself and he's just a woman scorned or he's making shit up.

I'm going to write him an email and see what he has to say.

Joined: 10/11/2010

MGoPoints: 847

Section 1

December 27th, 2010 at 12:35 AM ^

For more than twenty years, Neal Rubin has been a kind of a media columnist, bouncing between the Freep and the News.  His beat has been covering television (mostly) with a few odd forays into city life, culture, the humanities, etc.  He is kind of the professional heir to Bob Talbert, and Mike Duffy, though not a duplicate of either one.

What is beyond doubt, and what is clear from the published record, is that he's not really a sports columnist.  Not even part-time.

I suspect, that the undercurrent in this column by Rubin, is that he, being one of the large number of people in southeast Michigan who watch one or two Michigan football games a year, exclusively on television, is writing for all of the other people in that group.  And that this is sort of the "t.v.-watchers' guide to Michigan football."  Intended for college football bowl season.  Much as he might write a column about the movie buisness at Oscar time in February-March.  Or a column about politics, to coincide with a State of the Union Address.  A writer who is only vaguely informed about the team, and about Rich Rodriguez, writing for several thousand other people, who are likewise only vaguely informed about the team, and about Rich Rodriguez.

Salvatore Quattro has it exactly right.  This is an exceedingly strange column for Neal Rubin to have written; he does mostly fluff otherwise.  I wonder if he knows what he has just walked into.

Joined: 06/29/2009

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Feaster18

December 26th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^

So, Demon, anyone who disagrees with you is not objective?  The thrust of Rubin's very poorly thought-out article was that Rodriguez was a little sleazy, and the only evidence he presented in support of this were the NCAA violations, and the fact that in Rubin's eye, Rodriguez is only superficially charming.  It was just a bad article.  If that's the kind of writer you want to claim is objective, I'd hate to see who you find subjective. 

Joined: 11/26/2008

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MGoDemon

December 27th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^

And people who scour the intranets looking for meanie articles on Michigan and Rich Rod ARE obuective?

I think it's obvious that the people who love Rich Rod lost any objectivity long ago--right about the time Toledo trounced his ass and showed this was going to be a bigger fight than anyone imagined.

Of course, the people who offer excuse after excuse for this mess are so completely objective as to set the examples for all objectivity from now on, right?

Yup--this is a Michigan blog and an RR fan club--totally objective here, through and through!

Joined: 12/26/2010

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goblue@pitt-pa

December 26th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^

This is getting out of hand. Now, I do not live in the great state of Michigan (what gave it away? Username? (poor attempt at joke haha)), but it seems most media outlets are down right hateful. I haven't seen such criticizing and scrutiny in comparison to other coaches. You would think he's the president or a committed a crime with the amount of negative attention that gets thrown out there, yet while all the positive things this man does gets no recognition. Is it just some people in Michigan? Am I Naive'? I just don't know anymore, but I am starting to feel more tand more for this man with each passing day until the bowl game and I hope a huge blowout win occurs to see reactions...

/end rant.

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 57

UMich87

December 26th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^

It's about time someone in the media had the guts to come out and say this.

Just kidding.  What a pointless article.  To compare the era of Yost and Crisler to the modern college coaching world is apropos of nothing.  What a waste of column inches.  I feel sorry for Rubin.  That was really dumb.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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bjk

December 27th, 2010 at 1:57 AM ^

Yost -- what about the "Yost affair" when Yost quite brazenly played for two different teams in the same season? What about Yost taking UM out of the Western conference in order to avoid the rules that impeded his plans to turn UM into the football and money juggernaut it eventually turned into? What about Kipke being fired on the heels of a list of complaints that included brazenly illegal summer practices and consorting with a mafia hit-man for Henry Ford? If he is flacking for Harbaugh on "character" grounds, what about the JH drunk-driving incidents, and the questionable behavior (fighting, bullying) recorded in posts at this very site? What about RR putting his career on the line keeping key players out of play at least twice, once to protect the player from harm, the other to enforce team rules? What about his affirmative pursuit of academic standards? (Is this really not about W/L? At least be honest about it.) What about -- oh fuck it. You can't argue against blind prejudice like this.

Joined: 11/26/2009

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PhillipFulmersPants

December 26th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^

who in the hell is Neal Rubin and what does he usually cover for the News?  A quick scan of the page, I see some links to some other of his recent pieces. Heavy hitting topics such as

  • TV reporter puts kids first - 12/23/2010

  • Turning fast food into Food Surge - 12/12/2010

  • Deli, with death on the side - 12/09/2010

  • Turning 16 is truly sweet - 12/07/2010

  • Bloomfield gingerbread competition raises money to preserve historic buildings on farm - 12/06/2010

  • Read more from Neal Rubin

    • I can just hear his editor, "Neil, loved that piece on the gingerbread. Firggin' great stuff. How about penning me 250 words on Rich Rodriguez?"

    Jeebus ... even you, the News?

    Joined: 01/06/2009

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    Humen

    December 26th, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^

    On one end, we could recruit players who would qualify regardless of athletics and field a team without many (or any) future NFL prospects; or, we could be one of these "football factories" and churn the wins like soft and creamy butter. I am personally conflicted because watching an academic team wouldn't be very interesting. Enter the ridiculous balancing act. It is problematic that if this writer is correct, and the wins are coming, the debate disappears. I applaud this moron for taking a stance, but few of us would be satisfied were his views implemented.

    Joined: 10/04/2010

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    bluenyc

    December 26th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^

    I really don't get why the Detroit media is so against him.  I could understand the Freep, once you made the bed, everyone in the family has to sleep in it.  But now Detnews with Henning and others(there was another guy right after the OSU loss, forgot his name) are joining in.  I don't think this Rubin guy has said anything the past, so why join in now.  It can't be that this is the only way to get clicks.  With Tressel and D'Antonio, they have to write about RR.  Why is that, can someone fill me in.  I can't believe it's just about wins and losses.  When RR was at WVU, did he rip the Detroit media?

    Joined: 06/25/2010

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    MGoBlue96

    December 26th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^

    Quite frankly, I have never heard of  Neal Rubin, so his opinion is pretty meaningless to me. At this point, I don't even bother reading most of the MSM content, particurly anything from the Detroit MSM. Most of it is total garbage, this article is no different.

    Joined: 12/26/2010

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    VAWolverine

    December 26th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^

    the largest string of written bullshit that I have read in a while. I thought for a while I was on Freep.com when I read it but no. This Rubin was not edible.

    Joined: 11/06/2008

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    ChesterBlue

    December 26th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^

    What a complete deterioration of the news business.  Today on the MGo Board we've gotten a video from Pat Kaputo and now this garbage from Neal Rubin.  What's with the hate, the lack of information and the the lack of insight?  It makes sense that the newpaper business (around here at least) is going out of business. Thanks Jim Carty, Mitch Albom, Mike Rosenberg

    I don't want info that just agrees with my views, but info that provides insight and analysis at a higher level would go along way.  Not this Neal Rubin garbage. He is like a cartoon charactor.

    I asked it earlier and I'll ask again:

    Is there a good source of facts, info and insight in the area (outside of the mgobloggers) and WTKA in the mornings?

    Joined: 12/07/2010

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    mackbru

    December 26th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^

    I respectfully suggest that your perspective is skewed. This board is pretty much the only place where RR remains popular. The fan-base wants him out. Virtually everyone who covers M football, including many who once supported RR, has had enough. And, quite likely, so has the school.
    <br>
    <br>Yet you continually express shock whenever somebody criticizes the coach. Accept reality. Get perspective.

    Joined: 09/01/2009

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    MGoBlue96

    December 26th, 2010 at 7:32 PM ^

    writing useless crap is another thing entirely. This piece by Rubin would fall into the useless crap catagory. The issue is most of the content from the MSM anymore, tends to be useless crap. Nobody is saying theren't are valid criticisms that can be made of RR, but constant attacks by the media on the man's character are ridiculous.

    Joined: 12/26/2010

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    blueheron

    December 26th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^

    Thanks, Neal!  Now, go back to your pasture.

    *** Standard qualifier: This comment should not be interpreted as an endorsement of all things Rodriguez. ***

    Rubin is an out-of-touch baby boomer whose best work was probably some human-interest pieces over twenty years ago.  I'll bet the average of age of his avid readers is well north of 55 (his possible age, according to Intelius).  Let's just say that he's been largely irrevelant since the advent of the Internet and the blogosphere.  In sports journalism, picture, say, Tom Dienhart in 10-15 years.  In Detroit, he might be the equivalent of "Purtan's People."

    I find it interesting (really) that this guy would bother taking such a simple-minded shot at Rodriguez.  I wonder what it means.  His little column is like a distillation of the MSM's case against RichRod.  (I'm implying that there are intelligent and thoughtful ways to go after Michigan's coach.  Pity that I so seldom see them, even on this 'blog.)

    Joined: 03/26/2009

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    UMdad

    December 27th, 2010 at 10:30 AM ^

    I think you are making the mistake of putting too much importance on your own demographic while trivializing others.  Baby boomers make up, by most estimates I have seen, app. 28% of the population, and there are a lot more people over the age of 50 in this country than under the age of 25.  I am not agreeing with this article, as it is mostly a personal attack with very superficial evidence and reasoning, but don't think just because you are more likely to check a blog that your opinion is more important or the majority.  The fact is, there are more older americans than younger, they have more money, they tend to have more influential positions and jobs, they vote more, and believe it or not, are not irrelevant.  I think RR supporters tend to be younger fans, too, which DOES make this blog and others like it more RR friendly than the overall population, but that does not keep this article from being a big pile of crap.

    Joined: 05/14/2009

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    blueheron

    December 27th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^

    UMdad, I might be older than you think. :) Is it fair to say that older people are more likely than younger ones to get news and opinions exclusively from traditional sources (e.g., the Freep)? I think it is. (And, yes, I'm painting in broad strokes here.) I certainly recognize the importance and relevancy of the boomers as a demographic group. (Who wouldn't?) If I'm harping on anything, it's the increased tendency of those types to faithfully read people like Rubin and form their opinions based on his material. Perhaps only a handful of "undecideds" were swayed by Neal, but I'll bet they outnumbered the twentysomethings in that category. On the subject of age and RichRod, didn't Brian find that the older people were more likely to be supportive of RichRod? That's what I remember, anyway. I can see where that would make my post confusing. Again, I'm focused only on casual fans who might not have up-to-date information *and* who might form opinions based on what they read in columns by Sharp/Wojo/Rosey. Those, I believe, are more likely to be older people. Aside: I didn't mean to imply that our opinions are more important than theirs. Re-reading my post, I can't see how that would be inferred.

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