Mommy, please make that man stop saying dumb things.

Is there a reality TV show I’m missing these days? Something where a bunch of sports pundits compete to produce the stupidest column, maybe?

Because that’s the only reason I can come up with to explain this steaming pile of refuse that the WaPo’s John Feinstein came up with yesterday. I’m amazed that someone can write something objecting to the now infamous Nick Saban comments about Alabama’s loss to Louisiana-Monroe that I object to.

I found Saban’s remarks obnoxious, mainly because I have a hard time categorizing any football loss as a catastrophe. Major embarrassment, sure… but nobody’s house burned down, nobody lost their life’s savings and nobody’s kid got arrested for murder. For Saban to elevate the loss so is pompous and played to the ego of the ‘Bama fan base. He deserves to be slapped for that.

But even so, we ain’t close to being in the ballpark where Feinstein sits his ass.

… A couple of months ago the right wing media become apoplectic when a liberal organization took out an ad criticizing the leader of the American forces in Iraq. How, they screamed, can you be critical of the man who represents the men and women who are putting themselves in danger every day in Iraq?

Where are those people right now? Why aren’t they screaming about a football coach comparing lost football games to thousands of lost LIVES? Where is the perspective?

An excellent question, John… ohhhh, you meant “those people”, not yourself. Never mind, then.

Here’s his perspective:

… Okay, let’s just say this: NO ONE should be allowed to mention catastrophes in which thousands of people died when talking about football — or any sport. Not ever. And certainly not someone who is working at what is supposed to be an institution of higher learning. What kind of message is he sending to his players? If he makes a comment like this in public, what in the world is he saying to his players behind closed doors?

Feinstein believes that Saban’s words justify, if not actually being fired, at least a serious discussion from the Alabama President’s office about him being fired. This is one man’s PC sensibilities run amok. Jeez, if we’re going to start firing people for making incredibly dumb statements in public, we’ll double the unemployment rate overnight. Even pundits might suffer!

I can’t believe that I just typed several paragraphs defending Nick Saban. Sort of, anyway. Eew.

The best part of Feinstein’s article comes near the end, where he’s moved on to attack the current bowl system – particularly the minor bowls, which by the way, the hosts, the visitors and ESPN are generally pretty happy with. But not our boy John, of course.

What’s rich, though, is after bashing the wingnuts for not losing their minds over Saban’s stupid war analogy, Feinstein goes on to make the same kind of comparison. Check this out:

Doing all this would, unfortunately take some leadership. There’s none in the NCAA where Myles Brand hides under his desk every time talk of a playoff comes up. There’s certainly none among the college presidents. So, this lousy unfair system will continue — sort of like the war in Iraq — with no end in sight.

What’s most frustrating is that everyone always has excuses; everyone has reasons why change won’t work. Nothing is perfect in the world but just because you can’t achieve perfection doesn’t mean you don’t try to get better. The other day during a discussion of the war someone said, “Well, if you started today, it would take a year to get our troops safely home,” as if that was a reason the war can’t end, instead of saying, “let’s start today.”

I ask you all – where’s the outrage?

My head hurts.

(h/t Third Saturday in Blogtober)