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Friday, March 29, 2024

Korked Bats

That Funny Sports Blog

This Alabama Reporter Rants About People Calling Nick Saban Anything Other Than “Coach Saban”

In case you were wondering whether or not Alabama football is a cult or not, this should bring that to rest. It is. And one of the cult leaders might be Rick, a reporter from Alabama who is pissed off at all the reporters out there who call Nick Saban anything other than Coach Saban.

Oh that tweet is merely the beginning. The link in the tweet leads to an entire diatribe of a Facebook rant. Let’s break this thing down.

This comes via the professional Facebook page (of course) of Rick Karle from WVTM 13.

Dear my media brethren,

I hope you are doing well. I know it’s a hectic time for you, as you are working harder than ever, fighting deadlines, and spending time away from your families. You are facing pressure from your bosses, criticism from fans and yes, even more deadlines. Whether you are a writer, a radio announcer, a podcaster, a blogger, a social media expert or a TV reporter or anchor, I appreciate what you do. I get it. I’m one of you.

Ok, a simple enough start. Trying to extend the olive branch with one hand, while holding a glock in his other. And this isn’t hyperbole either. Remember: Alabama.

But something’s been eating at me for… well… about thirteen years,

Oh boy. Here we go.

and it came to light again today as I listened to Coach Saban’s pre-Rose Bowl news conference, which was held virtually today as the coach fielded questions from across America while he was stationed in Tuscaloosa. You see, I have a problem with reporters addressing Coach Saban as “Nick” when asking the coach a question if they don’t know him well.

Oh, man. Hand raised here. I’ve always referred to Coach Saban as Nick, because I thought that was his… well… name. I’m guessing I was wrong? What is it? Brandon? Karl? Gunther?

I have heard this since the coach arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007. Questions like, “Nick, can you tell me about the progression of your quarterback?” Or, “Nick, what have you learned about your team this year?” Today I even heard a young reporter get on the call and start her question with, “Hi, Saban!”

(yes, it could have been nerves from a young reporter- completely understood if it was, as we have all been in that position- I know the coach can be intimidating).

Lol, now I’m kinda hoping every reporter starts every question with “Hi, Saban!”

Also, I love Rick admitting that the “Hi Saban” line could’ve been nerves, but he’s still going to lay into that reporter (and others who call Nick ‘Nick’) in a strongly-worded open-letter on his professional Facebook page.

I’ve come up with a proposal for all of us media people to follow as we move into a new year.

How about simply calling the head football coach at the University Of Alabama, “Coach Saban?”

I think the man has earned that much respect.

I dunno, Rick. I still kinda like, “Hi, Saban!”

Anyone else find it weird to see a member of the media – who should remain neutral, unbiased, and impartial, asking people to call the head coach of Alabama by a different name than you’d call other coaches just because he “has earned that much respect?”

Don’t get me wrong. The Sabes… sorry, Nick… wait, sorry, Coach Saban will go down as the greatest college football coach of all time (and probably the 135th greatest NFL coach of all time). But that doesn’t mean he should get any preferential treatment from the media. Fans? Sure. Media? Hell no.

And I know the rebuttal here would be, “Lol, you think the media is unbiased and impartial?” Currently, no. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t supposed to be. And Rick lecturing us on what to call the Sabesters… dammit, sorry… Coach Saban doesn’t seem very impartial.

And look, I understand the whole respect factor. Especially for elders. I was raised in the south. I was very much a card-carrying member of “Yes sir, no ma’am” nation. But in a professional setting, I don’t think you should be required to call anyone anything. If you want to, have at it. But if you don’t, I don’t think it’s a requirement.

Oh, I get it.

Some reporters call the coach “Nick” in hopes that the coach perceives himself and the reporter on equal footing.

Damn, Rick’s getting sassy.

Who’s to say they’re not of equal footing? It’s two people from two totally separate fields. Maybe the person calling him Nick is one of the best reporters in the game. But I’m sure Rick doesn’t know a whole lot about that, since he’s Facebook ranting on why people need to call Nick Saban “Coach Saban.”

Who, in my eyes, can call Coach Saban “Nick?”

Miss Terry can.

Lifelong friends can.

His current assistants can.

Perhaps a few in the media world can call him “Nick”: Chris Lowe, Cecil Hurt, perhaps Finebaum or Rece Davis or Tom Rinaldi, you know, people who know him well.

But the last time I checked, none of the above are any of us.

Dammit. My old professional goal was to continue growing Korked Bats, but now I have a new professional goal: join the “Nick” club. That’s like the elite of the elite. Pretty sure this trumps winning a Pulitzer for a journo.

Think about it: Why does almost every person in our state refer to Paul “Bear” Bryant as “Coach Bryant?”

Respect.

Calling him any name other than Coach Bryant is showing disrespect.

Ok, again. Fans vs. media. Two totally separate animals. Plus, don’t most people call him Bear Bryant? And Bear isn’t even his first name! Where’s Rick’s Facebook rant on that fact? Maybe Rick will allow us to do that with the Sabemeister. I think we give Coach Sabies an animal nickname and start calling him by that. Something like: Flamingo Saban.

Wait, sorry… Coach Flamingo Saban.

Can you imagine a reporter attending a Coach Bryant news conference back in the 70’s and saying, “Hey Paul, can you update us on that injury to Barry Krauss?”, or “Hey Bear, can you give us an update on Steadman Shealy?”

Katy bar the door!

And if a reporter asked a question to Coach Stallings after he won the national championship in New Orleans starting with, “Hey Gene…”Coach Stallings would have given the reporter that Coach Stallings look and Heaven knows what would have happened.

So how about we make a New Year’s resolution to address the greatest coach in the history of college football as “Coach Saban” (and yes, simply “Coach” will do)?

And yes, the same goes with Coach K, Coach Belechick, Coach Kelly, Coach Williams, Coach Harsin and any other coach (especially those who have been around for decades).

You misspelled Belichick, Rick.

Talk about disrespect.

It’s the most proper, most classy and most respectful thing to do when in news conference settings.

I know that we reporters will be making our own decisions on how to address the Alabama football coach (and other respected coaches), but I hope that you will consider my proposal.

This was a proposal? Felt more like a lecture.

Keep up the great work and keep grinding, and let’s all look forward to 2021 when we address these great coaches as “Coach”.

Oh, but there is some good news:

You can call me “Rick”.

Good one, Rick.

Rick sounds like everyone’s stepdad who tries way to hard to fit immediately into the family. Also, solid use of “grinding,” Rick. I bet you’re a delight in the work place. I bet you send company wide motivational emails that most people delete before reading the whole thing.

Long story short: remember to kiss the feet of the Almighty Saban… sorry, still working on it… Coach Saban for he hath earned your respect – and/or: I’m a massive Tide fan in my personal life and want to make sure my head coach is given preferential treatment.

If you try and call Nick Saban anything other than Coach Saban, Rick’s gonna be all up in your ass. So that should be motivation enough to give Lord Saban the respect he deserves. And don’t you forget it you non-national championship winning peasants.

Love, Karen Rick.

Austin

Austin hosts a country music morning radio show in Chicago after nearly a decade in sports talk radio (The Jim Rome Show, Steve Gorman SPORTS!) Colin Cowherd and Smash Mouth follow him on Twitter and he wears pants every day.

Austin

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