AURainman 6 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Link Dinky Where's the beef? July 19 , 2006 -- Twenty-some years ago, a tiny grandmotherly type with a foghorn voice made ‘Where’s the beef’ a national catch-phrase. Clara Peller, who starred in a series of commercials for the Wendy’s hamburger chain, would open a bun assumed to be from one of Wendy’s competitors, take a peek at the tiny piece of burger sitting on the bread and bellow “Where’s the beef?†Her question inferred that when it came to the sandwich in question, the meat -- or substance -- was sorely lacking. Sadly, Clara passed away in 1987 at the age of 85. Otherwise you might find her this morning standing outside the offices of the New York Times, chanting her famous mantra: “Where’s the beef?†On Thursday, the Times unleashed a scathing article alleging preferential treatment for Auburn athletes in certain courses. The article used as its source information furnished by sociology professor James Gundlach. Big on sensationalism, the article was woefully short on objective fact. And the facts it did present were spun to create a story where none exists. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. It’s been the unspoken motto of the ethics-plagued Times for years. It was the second attempt in the past two years by the Times, owner of the Tuscaloosa News and home to Alabama booster and Rammer Jammer author Warren St. John, to portray Auburn in a negative light. The Thursday article focused on directed reading/independent study classes taken by athletes in general and football players in particular. The article dismissed the fact that 75% of the classes in question were taken by non-athletes, focusing its entire attention on the minority 25%. Where’s the beef? The newspaper spotlighted a handful of Auburn football players and classes they had taken in 2004 and 2005. The paper failed to effectively convey that of the more than 250 classes mentioned by Gundlach only 18 football players were involved over the same two-year span. Where’s the beef? The newspaper took issue with a sociology course Auburn running back Carnell Williams participated in during the spring of 2005, condemning it with the vague assertion that it was “not usually†available as a directed-reading offering. The Times also failed to disclose that Williams took the class after his football eligibility had expired. Williams didn’t have to take a class at all as he waited on the NFL to make him a millionaire. Where’s the beef? The Times mocked requirements for the completion of some classes without bothering to check the requirements at other schools around the country. Ballroom dancing at USC? The media celebrated Matt Leinart’s clever ruse to stay eligible. In a December 2005 article in the Dallas Morning News, former Alabama lineman J.B. Closner and Tide quarterback Brodie Croyle admitted taking a cupcake directed reading course to remain eligible for the bowl game. "Like a diamond in the rough," Closner said of the class. "Had to write a five-page paper." Yet the Times excoriated Auburn’s Doug Langenfeld for doing the same thing in 2004. The catalogs for all SEC schools show a number of directed reading/independent study courses. Where’s the beef? In a followup interview, Gundlach maintained there was 'really no difference' between the grades of athletes and non-athletes in fall 2004. ‘ Where’s the beef? Is it Gundlach’s position that athletes should inherently perform poorly as compared to other students? That reeks of snobbery. On Monday, in an article in the Huntsville Times, Gundlach confessed that athletes were really not an issue in his complaint, he only used them to draw attention to the story. That Gundlach chose this route, that the New York Times took this bait and that countless state "journalists" followed the same deceitful path without regard for the names and reputations impugned is disgraceful to all involved. The beef is on Auburn’s campus, where it should have remained. The beef is an internal spat between Gundlach and another sociology professor, Thomas Petee, who passed Gundlach in the department hierarchy. The beef emanates from a professor who, based on his comments, resents the status athletes attain on campus. The beef certainly isn’t sufficient to warrant the biased and incomplete article launched by the Times. All students, athletes included, will find easy classes to balance their class load. It happens at Auburn, Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Nebraska and everywhere. It would be interesting to see the transcript of Times reporter Pete Thamel, who allegedly penned the piece. Surely he never took one class because it was easier than another. If the Times wants some more hot topics to break, here are a few suggestions: fire is hot; water is wet; employees pretend to be sick in order to take off days; bees sting you if annoyed; babies cry. All of these ‘revelations’ are just as obvious and just as universal as last Thursday's Times topic. All have just as much print value. It’s doubtful Thamel will have a chance to get to any of that breaking news, however. In a radio interview, he defiantly defended his article vowing to write about any school that offered similar courses. If he’s a man of integrity or a man of his word, he’s going to be very busy for a long time. Assuming one expose per week, it will take him six months just to get through the E’s in Division I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarTim 3,456 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 As per his usual, Mr. Strickland has hit the old nail on the head. This will not go over too well in west vance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombigbeetiger 223 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 as usual....mr. strickland is right on the money....this guy is the best sportswriter in the state and his talents are just wasted away at a rural alabama weekly newspaper....are there not some ways to get this man on a higher platform?...he could fart a better article on sports than anyone at the bammerham news could write,even if they held a seance with grantland rice while writing the article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draven 0 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 It’s doubtful Thamel will have a chance to get to any of that breaking news, however. In a radio interview, he defiantly defended his article vowing to write about any school that offered similar courses. If he’s a man of integrity or a man of his word, he’s going to be very busy for a long time. Assuming one expose per week, it will take him six months just to get through the E’s in Division I. I can assure Mr Strickland, Thamel is no man of his word. War Damn Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan4Auburn 1,626 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Wow a journalist that actually looked at it instead of jumping on the wagon and digging for table scraps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrnfanatc 6 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Wow a journalist that actually looked at it instead of jumping on the wagon and digging for table scraps. 248847[/snapback] And he's close to Tuscaloosa. War Damn Strickland! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger12 46 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Kevin Strickland? Isn't he that goofy, mullet headed, toothless journalist. I heard he is one ugly dude, but he sure can write with the best of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Tiger 4,261 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Nice article......Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grider 1 Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Well Said! PS: Thanks to whatever admin moved this for me. I looked I swear to see if it was already posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tigrinum Major Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 I heart Kevin Strickland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GalensGhost 0 Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 I heart Kevin Strickland. 252271[/snapback] Lance Bass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Tiger 4,261 Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 TM...what is this "heart" thing you have going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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