Teddy Greenstein can't quit: today's column on Harbaugh
Teddy Greenstein from the Chicago Tribune just won't quit with his columns on Harbaugh. His latest piece is entitled (link), What we know about Michigan recruiting -- and what remains to be seen.
It is a paywalled article (I think) although you might be able to find it elsewhere. This is the third piece by Greenstein within the last week or two. He gives the following kudos:
- Harbaugh's a social media genius.
- Michigan will get more attention on NSD than anyone else
- Michigan will have it's highest rated class . . . ever.
Greenstein is waiting to see on the following:
- Will Michigan benefit from "Signing of the Stars?"
- Will there be future repercussions due to Harbaugh's "meritocracy?" (i.e., will future recruits and parents shy away from Michigan because Harbaugh didn't follow through on verbal commitments?)
I will say, I think that in general, Greenstein isn't a bad writer. He doesn't sink to the same level as the hacks at the Freep, and he isn't 10% as annoying and lazy as Sharp. One thing I can say for sure: the Trib has covered Harbaugh and Michigan more than any other college out there. Greenstein doesn't waste much time writing about non-entities like Illinois or Northwestern, and he doesn't have much to say about OSU or the SEC. Following on another piece linked to earlier in the day, you could say that Harbaugh has done a great job of marketing, because all coverage is good coverage.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:39 PM ^
Yet we continue to give him clicks and make posts about him...no one knew who this guy was a month ago.
I'd say HE'S winning right now.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^
I ain clikin dat shiite.....
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:59 PM ^
He should be forbidden here, just like Drew Sharp.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:18 PM ^
Damn Cold War, what did you do to get negged to oblivion?
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:28 PM ^
Glasnost.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^
shooting the messenger. Happens all the time. Some people use rifles in their efforts to show their dislike/disagreement, others use shot guns.
February 2nd, 2016 at 7:38 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^
I wondering can the Mods send Teddy to Bolivia, maybe if Brian can swing it to buy the Tribune???
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:41 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^
As has been stated by many, when you're offering 100+ recruits a cycle, you're bound to run into issues. I think the difference this year (other than the media storm that always tends to follow Harbaugh) is that we're pulling offers from marginal prospects that haven't shown improvement to go after the best available players rather than locking into a player once they commit. Honestly, I think this type of stuff is the difference between guys like Harbaugh and, well, Hoke.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
So you're positive this happened under Hoke, but can't name a single recruit that it happened to.
Strong argument.
February 2nd, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^
Hoke never did anything like that.
It was quite clear during the Hoke era that Plan B recruits who tried to commit were turned down and told to wait. Most notably, Tommy Schutt.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
Lets schedule Medill
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
If the best you can say about a journalist is that he's not as bad as Drew Sharp, then he's doing it wrong.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
is a click whore.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^
Maybe just maybe one of these hack journaists one day will take on a true investigative story like the MSU basketball program with Izzo and his cover ups or Dantoni and his steroid football team.
In the meantime, all we get is useless garbage articles like this.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
So why are you giving him an audience?
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:51 PM ^
Teddy Greenstein? More like Freddy Peenschmein.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
Teddy Ruxpin is higher on my list.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:55 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
Without that, he lacks credibility.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:00 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:05 PM ^
I've read the Trib for years, and don't think Greenstein is all bad. Like I said, I can tolerate what he writes.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
And his drivel too!
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:13 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
"Highest class ever."
We've discussed it ad naseum, and I don't think this will be true (e.g., IF Gary, a #3 or #4 composite, IIRC). A quick historic review of Scout's rankings shows that Hoke brought in a #2 class in 2013.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:32 PM ^
I don't want to click his article to find out - assuming he bothered to attribute his ranking, but I can't think of any year that would have been a composite #3 or higher, post-2002.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
We pick a year and then check them all. Whichever had us ranked higher is the one we take as the most reliable that year.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:14 PM ^
Why are we giving this guy clicks?
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
Can we please stop giving this ass clown whore for attention what he wants?
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
Because there are so many UM Alumni in the Chicago area so there should be a substantial amount of reader interest in that locale.
I think that the amount of media coverage that we have received and will continue to do so is positive from an overall standpoint. Some of Jim's activities may seem a bit out there, but they all make sense to me when we look at the overall objective.
I'm just sayin'.........Go Blue!
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
Having lived there once upon a time, Notre Dame gets a ridiculous amount of publicity and coverage.
Michigan is second, though, and nobody else comes close. That's why I thought Northwestern's futile attempt to become "Chicago's B1G Team" (tm) was so ridiculous.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
Teddy's adick...ted to Harbaugh and clicks.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:29 PM ^
Teddy Ruxpin Greenstain = Pure Click Bait.
Harbaugh is putting food on the table for many internet hack writers these days.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^
Part of the reason that Harbaugh continues to make news is that Michigan has always held itself above most of the typical recruiting shenanigans that are the norm in places like OSU and the SEC. The national media is adjusting to this new normal where Michigan is employing more aggressive tactics in all aspects of its football program.
Also, Harbaugh is a legitimate sports celebrity. His unique style and social media mastery make him a ripe target for pieces like last week’s Greenstein slam-job. How many people in Chicago would read about the recruiting practices of (*goes to Google to look up*) Illinois head coach Bill Cubit and his generic two/three-star haul? Five years from now, we’ll be reading pieces about how everyone has signing day parties, spring break practices in warm places, satellite camps, etc. and how Harbaugh was a true innovator.
Granted, I’ve had to develop a bit of a thicker skin about this sort of thing, but really, if it helps generate interest in Michigan football, I’m ok with it.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^
I also read the trib regularly and would agree that Teddy is not a bad writer. I don't think he's particularly good either -- generally kind of anodyne. But I think newspaper guys tend to get lazy as they get older and establish a steady base of readers and job security.
I put Rick Telander in that category. When he worked for SI he was an outstanding columnist, a bit like Albom in that you felt like you knew the guy personally because he shared personal stories as part of his writing style. I think he got tired of the travel so he dropped SI and went full-time with the Sun Times in Chicago where he'd always lived and I think still does. The downside of that for him was it kind of put him in a rut and he's gotten bored and lazy. I can't remember the events, but he did a hatchet job on Rodriquez, basically just piggy backing on the Freep's coverage of Stretchgate without making any effort to check the facts.
I hope Teddy doesn't follow down the same path of complacence, boredom and hackery.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^
I have no problem reading both sides of a story knowing that the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle but often closer to one tale than the other.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^
Can anybody out there think of a good story written or covered by a reporter that either, a) was a negative story about the coach or program written by a pro UofM reporter or b) a positive article written by an anti UofM reporter.
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:08 PM ^
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:25 PM ^
No, I'm just old, retired, educated and open minded. The only time I've followed blindly was in the military and that was out of necessity. I choose not to do so just because I love a sport or an institution. I choose to know that the program that I love is no more beyond reproach than other programs that I don't like. I choose not to beat up on a 17 or 18 year old kid because I don't like their decisions. I choose to be different than some people on this board and more like others. I believe that not blowing everything about this program doesn't make me a troll or a hater. This program isn't always right or without fault. Kids who don't want to come here don't always have issues (development, academics, etc.). I am an individual who between tickets, PSDs, donations and other related purchases gets to have an opinion. Cheers and Go Blue!
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:29 PM ^