Legalities
Life, Politics and the Law From ABC News Correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg is a correspondent for ABC News' bureau in Washington DC. She covers politics, the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for ABC News. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago's law school and is a member of the New York bar.
RECENT POSTS
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Believe
December 02, 2008 5:55 PM
When I interviewed Dan Quayle over the summer, he started reflecting on his nomination as Vice President and how the media never gave him a break. He had been in Washington 12 years, having served in both the House and the Senate, yet because his name wasn’t on the short lists of contenders, it came as a shock to everyone when George H.W. Bush tapped him as his #2.
The one lesson learned from his nomination was simple, Quayle told me. No surprises. The media hates surprises. Even though he gave Bush a much-needed boost with the conservative base that catapulted him into the White House, Quayle said he could never quite shake that initial hostility/wariness from the press.
He was a surprise, he again explained. And, he repeated, the media hates surprises. They want to be proven right.
(John McCain would have been well served to listen to that advice, but I’m not writing about Sarah Palin today.)
I got to thinking about that interview when I saw the line for the Alabama-Florida game on Saturday. (Fair Warning: For those of you who aren’t obsessing about the upcoming SEC Championship or have never cried over a football game, you’re probably better off with another “legal” blog this week.)
The rest of you probably know this: The line is a whopping 9.5. That’s right. Florida, by 9 1/2 points.
Now that’s a little hard to understand. Alabama is ranked #1 in the country and undefeated. Florida is #4, with one loss. Alabama and Florida play in the same conference. They play essentially the same schedule. Alabama beat the team (Ole Miss) that beat Florida.
I know Florida beat some of those teams by a bigger margin than Alabama did. So what? You honestly think LSU hosting Alabama in Death Valley, the return of Saban, is remotely comparable to LSU playing Florida in the Swamp?
It’s nonsensical.
Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley says Alabama, disrespected and neglected, must feel like the boring, soon-to-be ex-girlfriend:
"Hey, you used to think I was the cute one. Did I grow a third eye?"
Dooley reminds his Florida readers that the Tide started its remarkable season by manhandling Clemson and then burying Georgia.
“Back then, everyone was in love with Nick Saban's team,” Dooley writes. “But then the new girl walked in with her sexy statistics.”
And that was it for poor ol’ Alabama: “Yeah, we'll keep you at No. 1, the pollsters said, for now,” he writes.
“For now” clearly are the operative words, since pretty much everyone in the world thinks Florida—not Alabama--is going to be playing for #1 in Miami come January.
Dooley’s column is funny and definitely worth a read. But I’ve gotta say I am just not convinced--mainly because there’s never been a time, not this entire season, when “everyone was in love with Nick Saban’s team.”
In fact, while not rising to the level of the Raging Cajuns’ raging hatred, the voters have never been all that enamored with Nick Saban.
Alabama is #1 because it’s forced their hands--it is the lone unbeaten in the power conferences. No one expected it. No one would have dreamed it. No one (except for Tide fans) much wanted it. Alabama returned from its painful years wandering in the desert, and put together a season that can only be described as magic.
Go back to the pre-season polls. There’s a terrific site that compiles them all—you can see them by team or click on the specific poll.
Alabama, today the consensus #1 team in the nation, was NOT EVEN RANKED to start the season in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, Sporting News or Sports Illustrated. And it didn’t make the Top 25 in the computer rankings.
The Tide did crack the AP’s Top 25—at #24. It was ranked below Arizona State, USF, Wake Forest, Illinois, Kansas and 18 other teams. Five of those teams were in the SEC, including Tennessee at #18, Auburn at #10, LSU at #7, Florida at #5 and Georgia (we remember this one) at #1.
The Bulldogs also were #1 in the Coaches, Lindy’s, Sporting News, and SI pre-season polls. And Florida was in the Top 5 in most of them—and ranked #1 by Athlon and Phil Steele.
Everyone was in love with Nick Saban’s team? When, tell me, was that?
It got no better when the season started—in the polls or against the spread. The Tide was underdogs against Clemson (3.5 points) and Georgia (6.5). It edged up in the polls only when the other major teams started posting losses (some of them to Alabama). But no one was all that enamored. No one Believed.
After the 36-0 rout of Auburn (I love typing that), the pre-season unranked Crimson Tide finished the season unbeaten and was the first team ever to go 12-0 in the regular season in the SEC. Georgia is #16 in the BCS. LSU, Auburn and Tennessee fell plum out of the Top 25.
Tennessee fired its coach. LSU is turning on Les Miles. Auburn has a losing record and, if rumors are true, was thinking about putting Tommy Tuberville on the street.
Talk about surprises.
But here’s what’s not a surprise: Florida, ranked in the Top 5 pre-season, is now #4, with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at the helm. Florida, the dazzling dream team, proving everyone right.
Florida, the 9 1/2 –point favorite over unbeaten, #1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
It seems crazy--that kind of spread, all that love for Florida. But then you remember the words of that wise man, Dan Quayle. The media hates surprises.
Who knows whether or not that explains the disrespect constantly heaped on the Tide. But there’s one thing this great team can do: Keep on surprising them.
And then, before long, people will be talking and writing and exulting about how everyone just loves a little magic and a miracle now and then. (And they'll quickly add that they weren't surprised at all.)
Believe.
December 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (20)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"He was a surprise, he again explained. And, he repeated, the media hates surprises."
maybe Dannie Boy, the media hates mediocrity and that was you all over.
Posted by: JR | Dec 2, 2008 7:07:10 PM
JR said: maybe Dannie Boy, the media hates mediocrity and that was you all over.
If that were true, the NYT would have been hounded out of business decades ago by the Wash Post!
Posted by: jim | Dec 2, 2008 8:00:29 PM
He may not be able to spell potato, but he was a good decent representative of the people. He didn't last long because he lacked the corruption that seems to bless so many in DC.
Posted by: Huh | Dec 2, 2008 8:02:47 PM
Dear Ms. Greenburg,
Hello from Alabama, and a big Roll Tide!
Posted by: Marlin Barton | Dec 3, 2008 1:31:37 PM
Roll Tide! (with an e)
Posted by: jon | Dec 3, 2008 1:35:24 PM
I will tell you the difference between Dan Quail and Florida.
Dan Quail runs a 21 second 40 and Quail covered the spread back in '88. Bama covers the spread about as well as any team playing Auburn under Tony Franklin.
Alabama won't surprise anybody next year, but everyone will be surprised if they see Nick Sabin returning to Miami as a winner.
Posted by: George Gowan | Dec 3, 2008 1:39:18 PM
I think I just saw Dan Quayle hiding Easter eggs. (laugh)
RTR!
Posted by: punn | Dec 3, 2008 2:03:18 PM
Ms. Greenburg,
Great article. However, you're not the only one who used their legal analysis platform to talk about the Tide. Today on my Maryland Civil Procedure Exam, I think I may have accidentally wrote about Tebow being sacked for a loss instead of counter-claims. Oops. Anways, ROLL TIDE!!
Posted by: LegalTider | Dec 3, 2008 2:12:04 PM
Sounds like 1992 to me. Roll Tide!
Posted by: CrimsonCarl | Dec 3, 2008 2:15:20 PM
A fine looking woman who loves Bama football and apparently writes a little about legal things as well . (just messing with you Laura ;-)
However ... I am dead serious when I say Oh My God that is so hot !!!! LOL
As for the rest that will all take care of itself . Detractors may not WANT to give Bama credit or respect but they won't have any choice but to live with a rampaging Tide for many , many years to come .
I truly think it will make the long years in the desert worth the wait . Roll Tide Roll !!!!
Posted by: Ancien Regime | Dec 3, 2008 3:30:18 PM
Ms. Greenberg,
You might appreciate watching the game with a few more D.C. area "Bama Believers" this Saturday. The gathering should have the appropriate energy. It's the next best thing to being there.
In any case, you made Tidefans.com, congratulations and Roll Tide! So here's yet another reason for your folks to be proud.
Now to check some of your earlier posts... hmm..
Posted by: Cary | Dec 3, 2008 5:07:19 PM
That would be Greenburg with a "u." My apologies.
Posted by: Cary | Dec 3, 2008 5:08:45 PM
Excellent article, Ms. Greenburg. I love the fact, however, that "style" points are not necessary this year for the Tide to remain #1. As we say down here: just win, baby.
Posted by: Andrew | Dec 3, 2008 6:36:44 PM
Ms. Greenburg - this has to be one of the most surprising blog posts in memory. Great read; you've obviously done your homework. Smart, articulate, values, easy on the eyes....and a Tide fan? Maybe in the next life we can meet. :-) Btw, Ian Rapaport (the 'Rap Sheet' in Al.com) provides a link to your blog. In the future, I shall read more of your excellence in journalism. Take care and Roll Tide!!
Posted by: Steve | Dec 3, 2008 7:34:01 PM
Dream on Bammers. Your bubble is about to be popped. Gators 41, Bammers 17. Ramma Jamma, go stick your yella hamma, bamma.
Posted by: capegator | Dec 3, 2008 8:18:23 PM
Hey Jan, you go girl!!!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!
Posted by: Eddie | Dec 3, 2008 9:03:26 PM
Good story ms greenburg. All I want to hear saturday nite @ about 7:00 CST is "HEY GATORS, WE JUST BEAT THE HELL OUT OF YOU, RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER GIVE EM HELL ALABAMA. RTR
Posted by: michael | Dec 3, 2008 11:15:16 PM
Thank you Jan for a perfectly written piece. As an avid Bama fan AND one who is interested in 'Life, Politics and Law', your blog is now 'favorited' and will be looked forward to with much anticipation. (With your recent posts, it is easy to see why.)
I wish I had known about your blog long ago, but I'll go to the archives, as I'm sure the current administration has given you plenty to write about! I'm so thankful we will soon be able to put the agony of the Bush era behind us and begin anew with the Obama administration and the excellent choices of his Cabinet posts to this point. The only question is, "Is the hole we have to dig ourselves out of too deep?"
I also must say congrats to Coach Saban, the staff AND the team for a great season to this point. Regardless of what happens Saturday (27-23 Bama), there are better days ahead for us, even if somehow we don't win it all this year!
Thanks again Jan, and best of luck to you during this Christmas season.
Rick
Roll on Tide, Roll on...
Posted by: WeAreAlabama | Dec 4, 2008 9:56:11 AM
My daughter(who works in the Curators office) and I were at the Auburn shellacking last Saturday in T-Town. It was the first Alabama game she had ever attended. She confirms that the DC tide fans football watches are a good place to watch the game.
Roll Tide
RAMMER JAMMER
Posted by: jim fernandez | Dec 4, 2008 1:42:00 PM
The Crimson Tide has been wandering in the wilderness for many years now.....getting little respect from the other SEC teams, much less the rest of the country. But make no mistake about it.......the Tide's current streak on the gridiron is not about revenge. It's about the reckoning.
Roll Tide Roll.
Posted by: centurion666 | Dec 4, 2008 1:42:07 PM
Post a comment
