Pete Thamel on Harbaugh during Pat McAfee Show interview: "If there is a contract given to Jim Harbaugh in the upcoming weeks it would be one of the ultimate middle fingers to the NCAA"
A few things of note from this interview:
- Pete Thamel seems visibly irked by the contract extension happening
- He compares this scandal to Bill Self's scandal, which is absurd
- He seems upset that the NCAA's punishment will be slow and that the B1G is not acting
- He gives no indication that, despite the contract progressing, there might just not be anything to this scandal
- He once again furthers the asinine notion that Michigan not commenting means something despite that Michigan cannot comment on an open investigation
October 31st, 2023 at 4:43 PM ^
I honestly think there should be a distinction - journalists cover news - like the Middle East crisis or what is happening with the economy, etc.
People who cover things involving recreation or events are entertainment writers. I don't take them too seriously as their goal is to entertain. Some take that endeavor seriously and do great work in "reporting," (like the purveyors of this blog, as an example), while others are sensationalists, because they need to clicks and the attention to be relevant (like the "Solve whatever with this one neat trick!" type of ads).
It's all click-bait hyperbole to suck you in and prey on your emotions, because that is what get a reaction and attention. Thamel is getting attention and views by being a Harbaugh critic, so he is going to keep playing that up until the tide turns against it.
That being said, Thamel can take a long walk off a short pier.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Uhhhh… I hesitate to call most of what is done on the news “journalism”. It’s mostly sensationalism, clickbait and fishing for viewers. Fox is the most blatant but all “news” outlets are bound to the wheel of pandering for views. Not a whole lot different than everything else on the tube or internet including sports. I think The Onion’s “insta-poll tracker” from 2009 was spot on in this regard. And before you neg me, Post Office box
October 31st, 2023 at 5:55 PM ^
Hard to neg you when you are right, but I think there are still a few pockets of journalistic integrity out there.
Fox is definitely not one of them. Agree the mainstream channels aren't great either.
November 1st, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
The PBS Newshour makes a point to distinguish between “reporting” and “analysis,” which I appreciate.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
The extension makes him look like a huge jackass. Not that he needs any help with that.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
AJ Hawk really has the easiest job ever. Dude is just there to nod along every once in a while.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
I have watched plenty of clips and never seen the guy say a word. He’s remote also. Why is he there?
October 31st, 2023 at 4:43 PM ^
I've noticed this too. I don't watch the show, but have seen several clips. PM just talks and AJ nods and is sometimes smoking a cigar. It seems to be a great gig and i'm happy for him, but its bizarre. Were he and PM friends or something? That makes it even better. Just hang with your friend, say a couple of things and get a check. Seems awesome.
November 1st, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
He’s the ESPN equivalent to the guy who just dances in the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:10 PM ^
I have been of the belief that the ncaa should cease to exist for a while now (probably going on several years now). So if UM wants to flip them the bird and give them the final shove over the cliff into irrelevance, I’m all for it.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
The problem with that is that unless all of the schools agree to depart from the NCAA, they are still the governing body. Their ability to shove a program off of a cliff is vastly superior to any school’s ability to push them off of a cliff. Everyone can “want” to give them the bird, but it’s a bad idea.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
You Buckeye fans are slow learners...what makes you think anyone pays attention to you?
October 31st, 2023 at 6:40 PM ^
I mean, with the emergence of the 2 new super conferences, a 12 team playoff run basically by TV and ticket revenue, players on the verge of getting in on some of the action, plus the insane amount of lawsuits against the NCAA from former players that might ensue….I could see the NCAA folding within about 5-6 years, which is probably when they “wrap this investigation up” anyways.
Also, do you really think the SEC gives a poop about the NCAA? If BiG10 teams want to stay competitive, they will collectively do the same and tell them to shove or essentially lawyer up and “ignore” them when the NCAA comes running.
I think the reason this contract is going thru is because the massive amount of legal support Michigan and JH are probably getting in the midst of this scandal. The NCAA has nothing.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:10 PM ^
I am good with it if none of us give these two buffoons any clicks.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
I used to listen to the College Gameday podcast and I remember thinking "man, this Thamel guy sounds sort of like an asshole, but maybe it's just me" and then I saw his "work" on this situation and realized my intuitions were correct. He's basically just an OSU stenographer right now and it's funny to see him get so bent out of shape that the Pulitzer Prize he thought this would net him fade away.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:12 PM ^
He thought the same thing about the Teo story and look how that turned out.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
Just one person's opinion, but I think this (from 2013) is worth viewing for the title alone:
October 31st, 2023 at 5:00 PM ^
This part:
For Pete Thamel, the methodology has not been character assassination in the form of columns, but instead the Henry Hyde "never ending series of investigations" mindset. If Calipari has a player, Thamel will investigate and hope to find something, no matter how minute in order to make a splashy headline.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:07 PM ^
Wow, amazing find on a 10-year old piece. That KU writer took a flamethrower to Forde & Thamel.
Good shit Jed.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
Michigan leadership would be giving ole Pete the bird as well...
October 31st, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
He reminds me of Elliot from ET. Which is kind of an insult to Elliot, sorry
October 31st, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
does anyone else think this guy sucks? he sucks.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:11 PM ^
lol threaten us with a good time
October 31st, 2023 at 4:12 PM ^
Too bad the ploy didn't work. You can tell how biased these guys are. This was never how it was supposed to go.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:13 PM ^
Getting real tiresome for these fucks to spin it around in a way it looks bad for UM. If they’re going to give all the negative facts at least clearly tell the side on how UM cannot talk to anyone or mention anything about the case. They know this but it doesn’t fit their narrative. Journalism at its finest in 2023
October 31st, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
Eat a bag of dicks Thamel, you irresponsible hack.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
Funny how Thamel is the only one not in costume, yet comes across as the biggest clown.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
My name is Pete Thamel, and I'm a chode
I didn't think I could possibly want them to announce an extension more than I already did, but here we are
October 31st, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
Is he the one in the middle? That's quite a tie.
October 31st, 2023 at 6:30 PM ^
I was scrolling through the thread to see if anyone else commented. Interesting color choice.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
I have one for you Peter 🖕
October 31st, 2023 at 5:51 PM ^
Have two... 🖕
October 31st, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
Haha, that would be reason enough to do it! I am supporting Harbaugh throughout this process, absent a smoking gun of knowledge and complicity. Go Blue!
October 31st, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
All I could focus on was the awkwardness of AJ Hawk dressed up as Edward Scissorhands trying to speak up but failing to do so. If you have another 3 minutes to spare, watch it again and just focus on AJ Hawk. Fucking hilarious.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^
From the few clips I've seen of this show aj hawk is just a malfunctioning animatronic. I believe this is his whole schtick
October 31st, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
Yeah. That's the point you stupid fuck.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:19 PM ^
the media is making Connor Stalions out to be Forrest Gump..... he was spotted on the sidelines of the CMU vs MSU game.... or someone that looks a little like him was anyway.
This is going full "where's waldo".... We need a thread of pics from random places with guys that slightly resemble him. it could go on for days!
October 31st, 2023 at 4:21 PM ^
Bill Connelly was just on Sirius and said every team in the country has a staffer that looks like Stalions - lol.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:19 PM ^
Good, and save a middle finger for Petey too
October 31st, 2023 at 4:21 PM ^
Why would an unbiased enforcement body have any reaction to the execution of a contract extension for a head coach whom they are impartially investigating? Especially if this contract extension was already planned before news of their investigation broke? And even more so if their investigation was launched in reaction to a report from a private investigator that explicitly stated it was unable to link that head coach to the alleged rules infraction? Sounds strange to me Pete, I think you must have some wires crossed.
October 31st, 2023 at 4:32 PM ^
Exactly. I know the NCAA is messed up and perhaps Jim Stapleton is an issue or something. But the comment from Pete actually makes no sense.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:56 PM ^
There have been several comments from that hack that don't make sense
October 31st, 2023 at 4:22 PM ^
The indignation from skeet is hilarious. He and his network are bought and sold PR people who select their subjects and lens based on its appeal to their bottom line. He isn't a journalist, his source isn't deep throat. He's a small time reporter trying to make this PR stunt a career defining score. Miss me with your gined up outrage skeet
October 31st, 2023 at 4:22 PM ^
Yup, and it's exactly what we want
October 31st, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^
Why, that would be like questioning the integrity of WWE!
October 31st, 2023 at 4:24 PM ^
Someone should hire a PI to look into Thamel and his "sources". Maybe these "journalists" will think twice about posting speculative bs next time.
