Let's not forget where a lot of this started. Mr. Mangold's letter touched on it, but the first media outlet to smear tOSU was no less than the New York Times. Using a very questionable source, they attacked the schools credibility, presenting tOSU as just another football factory. It makes me wonder why the media is so much after the Buckeyes in the first place.
I really think that when people and institutions are successful while maintaining a good clean image, its seems to be our national pastime to try to tear them down, to expose their flaws, to show they're just like everybody else. ESPiN is no different than the "real media" in this regard, although possibly more agressive about it.
I really do think that JT is a good Christian man, running a clean program, at a reputable school with a tradition that rivals any in football. Now throw in one of the greatest Cinderalla seasons of all time. This is what our media loves to bring down. For starters, let's face it, the East Coast media elites tend to look down their noses on those living in the "flyover states". And the fact of the matter is, you dig deep enough at any institution, you can find enough ammunition to mount a smear campaign. Their stories take on a life of their own, where the media's sole purpose is to bolster their story, not report the truth, or provide a proper context. And they love every minute of it. When they get bored with it, they move on to the next victim.
(Ironically, the same thing is beginning to happen to the great media personalities themselves as bloggers have become increasingly effective over the last couple of years at exposing their dirty little secrets. Paybacks are indeed a bitch).
The bottom line is this too will pass. Some other poor school will get the next expose'. I just hope we have learned that when its happening to someone else, we shouldn't be buy into it any more than we do now.
Go Bucks, ESPiN Sucks!!
And Thank You Mr. Mangold!
