The Bastard on PTI

I don't think DLB would try to get a hold of that early copy looking for anything to be written about him.

My conjecture is that it was purely a Ricky-related mission.

 

That's a pretty good impression. I can hear the voice.

David's not calling the Dolphins?

Hank hated Le Batard with a burning passion.

 

Moe Howard David wasn't hired by the Dolphins when the radio rights moved over to 790 from 560, but WQAM was still stuck with his contract and had him do filler work. When his contract was up they dumped him, for good reason. His shows sucked and he was a major league dick.

And as far as Hank hating Dan goes, BFD. Hank doesn't seem to get along with many people in this market because of his on-air schtick which is totally fake.

 

OBTW, Hank is done.

ESPN will find out in a year or two and that will be that for that belligerent bastard.

 

Um, just so you know, I actually don't care. Wasn't even referring to you in that post.

But since you brought it up, what exactly was the motivation for sharing that story in the first place? A lot of people have done shittier things to me than that, and I haven't yet felt the urge to share those on an industry-related Web site.

Ira, given the debate about Dan's possible motivation here, you're probably right that I shouldn't speculated why he and his girlfriend did what they did. I don't regret telling the story, however. I have no doubt in my heart that Dan knew what his woman was up to. And it pissed me off hugely at the time. I just didn't have an outlet for my displeasure. I just thought it was a lousy thing to do, under-handed and unseemly, especially from someone of Dan's stature and ability. This thread gave me the opportunity to get that off my chest. No greater motivation than venting, I'm afraid.

As for Dan's appearance in the Esquire story, it was brief. I included a couple of paragraphs that broke down how Ricky's retirement became public. Ricky said that he had told Dan about his intentions on a Thursday night or a Friday morning, but he also asked Dan to refrain from writing about it until Monday. That would give Ricky the opportunity to talk to a few teammates about his decision; more important, it also gave him the chance to see how the decision sat with him, leaving the possibility that he might change his mind and play after all.

According to Ricky, Dan agreed to hold the story, but he ended up writing it for the Herald's Web site on Friday night. Then the proverbial shit hit the fan. Ricky's teammates exploded for not being included in the loop, and Ricky felt that he now had no choice but to retire. The next day, he flew to Japan and disappeared. Dan played a direct role in how that whole situation went down. He was, in a fundamental way, part of the story.

He shouldn't mind being part of another story now.

 

Dan Le Batard could write circles, underwater, around some of the young fuckin' studs held up on cheap balsa props on this board as The New Hope of our industry. I don't care how cozy he is with Ricky Williams. He has the gleam, and if the haters don't see that, you're just that. Haters.

 

With all due respect Lee, that's dumb as shit.

I don't hate Dan; I don't hate anybody I haven't met. And I can respect Dan's ability while also having a beef with how he operates. I never said he's a lousy writer. I said he's been shady on a couple of fronts, and I stand by that.

Besides, what the fuck is this gleam you're on about? When did Dan become a cat's eye?

 

For all the unsubstatiated fanzine rip jobs on this board, props to jones for a) posting a story that actually happened to him (not a friend of a buddy who heard a rumor on a website), and b) doing so under his own name.

Nothing 'hating' about sharing personal experience.

 

Thanks 21, appreciate it.

 

What, we can say only nice things about people on this board now? I could care less if he can write circles around me. He's atrocious on PTI, which is why this thread was created in the first place.

 

Jones,
Thanks for your response. Nothing wrong with venting ... though, to be honest, I don't really think you had all that much reason to be mad. Matter of fact, you probably should have taken it as a compliment that anyone went to that length to read your stuff. (I'm just glad when someone who's already bought the paper takes the two minutes to read my crap.)

One thing I wanted to clarify ... when I mentioned the "young studs" being lauded on this site, you certainly weren't included on the list. In fact, earlier today, I Googled your Williams piece ... had never seen it before ... and read the little free intro section. Nice work. Very nice.

Actually had me thinking about plunking down the few bucks to read the whole thing (which I never, ever do ... more out of cheapness and laziness than principle.) Might check it out tomorrow.

Peace.