Bob Ryan Is Officially Out Of Ideas

[goheels22002]

Bob Ryan's attempt to explain why people dislike the New England Patriots by dredging up Spygate from five years ago was pitiful in this morning's Boston Sunday Globe.

Somehow he forgets that people hate the Patriots (and the Red Sox, and the Bruins, and the Celtics) for a host of additional reasons that includes his bloviating like a know-it-all on any television or radio show in America where they pay the bill to keep the electricity flowing to operate a microphone.

Ryan sort of blames Brady for opposing fans hatred, but misses the main reasons.

First and foremost, the Patriots win. A lot. When they win they frequently crush teams, not caring for one minute if the attack mode on both sides of the ball upsets anyone. This is the pros. We can recite the stats about most wins, in the last ten years, heading to a fifth Super Bowl, NFL passing and receiving records galore, win-streaks, Brady-Belichick combo with the most wins ever, and counting, etc.

Ryan doesn't mention the players that Belichick and Kraft brought in for a bag off balls who succeeded here - the Corey Dillons, the Randy Mosses, the Wes Welkers, the Mike Vrabels, etc., etc., etc.

Ryan fails to mention Bill Belichick's style of not saying a thing in his press conferences or interviews that might give anything away about plans, injuries or any frustration he may have. He fails to mention how Belichick maintains discipline on his team and unloads guys who become a distraction (Moss and Haynesworth) and steps on the neck of players who stray from the rules (Wes Welker - pay the man!).

Bob Ryan was once an idol of mine for his hard work, his attention to detail and his skill with nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Now he just mails it in, especially in print, and worse, doesn't take the time away from the make-up assistant to think through what he's thinks he thinks.

 

[DarrylS]

Do not disagree with Ryan, as much as you and I think that all of the "spygate" stuff is stupid, many folks across the country do not. The continual deluge of media who remind them often, only serves to reinforce that there is more to that picture than met the eye.

I also think there is a huge element of jealousy in this country that translates into vitriol for the whole Patriots Organization.. every time we make it this far, there are thirty large scale media markets who did not make it. And for some reason there are a lot of comments from envious players about dirty plays, video taping the St. Louis practices etc. who all emerge to jump on this bandwagon.

OTOH there are just a many fans who envy this organization, and wish their team had the balls to do what we do... but for the most part they are silent, good news does not not invite visits to web sites or newspapers.

 

[aluminum seats]

Do not disagree with Ryan, as much as you and I think that all of the "spygate" stuff is stupid, many folks across the country do not.

Sorry, disagree. I'm in New York, and I pretty much never hear it brought up. A team gets penalized for a rules infraction and that fuels hatred 5 years later? Uh...no. Horrible column. And I usually like Ryan.

 

[Lampshade]

The hatred started long, long before 2007. I think it was around the time they won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years.

 

[guardplay320]

Just more media nonsense. People hate you guys because you win. Same reason people hate the Lakers, the Bulls back in the day, the Yankees, the Cowboys back in the day, etc etc. When you have a dynasty, you get nothing but jealousy from other fans.

 

[Sparetire]

If you are winning they hate you.

in 01 everybody was like: i hope the pats win i hate those "greatest show on turff" rams.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Sorry, disagree. I'm in New York, and I pretty much never hear it brought up. A team gets penalized for a rules infraction and that fuels hatred 5 years later? Uh...no. Horrible column. And I usually like Ryan.

I live in the Dolphins market, hear it from fans every week, hear sports radio callers bring it up constantly, and hear the hosts in the local sorts media talk / debate about the legacy of BB / TB being affected by spygate.

Not daily, but certainly never a week goes by without it (spygate) being brought up. Usually they don't even have the facts right and insist that the Patriots videotaped practices.

I would agree that SUCCESS is the REAL reason for the hatred, but spygate is the go-to excuse.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

teams taping the sidelines has been going on for years. that's just an excuse. anyone with half a brain knows it was bs. what they hate is the winning. even with the fine we got i can almost guarantee teams are still gathering info on each other and trying to decipher it. only the biggest rubes would think otherwise. football's the one sport that most closely resembles war (not that it is war) so of course info gathering on the "enemy" will never go away.

 

[Jackson 2]

I live in the Dolphins market, hear it from fans every week, hear sports radio callers bring it up constantly, and hear the hosts in the local sorts media talk / debate about the legacy of BB / TB being affected by spygate.

Not daily, but certainly never a week goes by without it (spygate) being brought up. Usually they don't even have the facts right and insist that the Patriots videotaped practices.

You're right, it is still a big deal other places. I heard Porky Francessa on WFAN recently say that the reason Mike Martz dislikes BB and the Patriots is because the Pats video-taped the Rams' walk-through prior to the SB. Of course, this was proven to be false, but guys like Porky never let the facts get in the way of a juicy story. And he's not alone. But, thanks for the heads-up on Ryan's piece. I have the Globe this morning and have yet to read it. Now, I'll do what I always do whenever I see that Ryan's pal, Shank Shaughnessy, has a piece about the Pats. I ignore it. I generally like Ryan, but every once in a while he gets lazy and regurgitates stuff. He's written other columns in the past about why the Pats are so unpopular nationally and this one sounds like a re-run. I'll pass, thanks.

 

[BTTA]

Bob Ryan was once an idol of mine for his hard work, his attention to detail and his skill with nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Now he just mails it in, especially in print, and worse, doesn't take the time away from the make-up assistant to think through what he's thinks he thinks.

Yeah, I used to think of Ryan as the last hold out of an era where sports writing was a craft. I used to look forward to the Sunday Globe because those guys would work hard to put together columns that was not only informative and insightful, but also well written. Ryan has joined the mediot-ocracy, I'd guess because the money is too good to pass up. It's disappointing.

 

[Gasface]

Top 5 DBS in Boston media.

Shank
Borges
Callahan
Felger
Perillo

Is Ryan trying to wedge himself in that upper class? I was always on fence with him.

My best, most readable guys.

Reiss

 

[BTTA]

My best, most readable guys.

Reiss

Reiss is a good reporter, but he doesn't even sniff being a good writer.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Bob Ryan Is Officially Out Of Ideas

And in other news: The Japanese surrendered officially ending WWII.

 

[vyrago]

Reiss is a good reporter, but he doesn't even sniff being a good writer.

Agreed. I read him for the factual content, but certainly not for graceful or, even correct, prose. The nasty Borges is a better writer as is Shagnasty.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

No self respecting mediot (and that's the one thing they all excell at - respecting themselves) will ever admit that the reason spygate ever became an overblown issue for the jealous to cling to and remains so to this day is because they were tired of watching people root for this HC they long reviled and this QB who made them all look like prognosticating buffoons. If not for the indignant and incessant screams emanating from the fourth estate, Goodell likely treats camera gate then as he does now and as his predecessors consistently did all technical rules violations in the past. And yet that hollow victory wasn't enough for the hypocritical defenders of integrity in sports, forced to watch the way this team reacted to being epicly, verbally biatchslapped into submission by uniting once again and beating the crap out of all comers on the way to a 4th ring. Was it... Nope, they had to take one more shot at their own brass ring and attempt to bring Bill down once again on the eve of football immortality. And they thought they did, even though this time the accusations proved to be a total fabrication. But hey, at least now most people really did hate Bill and Tom and their persuit of immortality seemed to have at least been halted.

Until... here we go again, like terminators these otherwise boring and frustrating to cover bastids and their unrepetent HC and indestructable QB refuse to go away. And all the media can do is point out at least how much damage they've sustained lest anyone out their watching was beginning to realize their demise was all a jealously manufactured crock. The defenders of football's integrity will never let that happen... because they've always been vindictive as a group and they have none of their own. Their job is to get ahead by any and all means, including at the expense of those they cover. Today moreso than ever.

 

[seven]

Tomase.
Even amoungst the vile bunch we have in Boston there is
no second place.

Freeloaders, leeches, nasty drunks, miserable people.
Live to talk crap, to break a nasty story about someone.
This after weaseling their way into folk's confidence.

If you ever want to see a display,
go to an event where the press is given a free buffet.

Just don't get between them and the food.

 

[upstater1]

Do not disagree with Ryan, as much as you and I think that all of the "spygate" stuff is stupid, many folks across the country do not. The continual deluge of media who remind them often, only serves to reinforce that there is more to that picture than met the eye.

I also think there is a huge element of jealousy in this country that translates into vitriol for the whole Patriots Organization.. every time we make it this far, there are thirty large scale media markets who did not make it. And for some reason there are a lot of comments from envious players about dirty plays, video taping the St. Louis practices etc. who all emerge to jump on this bandwagon.

OTOH there are just a many fans who envy this organization, and wish their team had the balls to do what we do... but for the most part they are silent, good news does not not invite visits to web sites or newspapers.

The reason Spygate is brought up is because the Patriots win.

I mean, look at the evidence. The Patriots offense actually IMPROVED after Spygate. What does that tell you?

 

[wistahpatsfan]

teams taping the sidelines has been going on for years. that's just an excuse. anyone with half a brain knows it was bs. what they hate is the winning. even with the fine we got i can almost guarantee teams are still gathering info on each other and trying to decipher it. only the biggest rubes would think otherwise. football's the one sport that most closely resembles war (not that it is war) so of course info gathering on the "enemy" will never go away.

That about says it for me. Well put.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

The reason Spygate is brought up is because the Patriots win.

I mean, look at the evidence. The Patriots offense actually IMPROVED after Spygate. What does that tell you?

Most Jets fans- right there with the Canadiens as the worst of all fans- will say it's because "they're still cheating".

 

[onegameatatime]

Mo said it well, but I have a different way of saying it. The cause and effect is backwards.

People do not hate the Pats because of Spygate -- people use Spygate to justify despising the Pats. It's pure envy. Thie Pats success is not supposed to happen in football. Teams do not win SBs with so few pro bowl players.

I'm going to guess that places you would hear things like "Belicheat" the most are Miami, Buffalo, Long Island, Pittsburgh, Oakland, and St. Louis.

Yes, in post-9/11 2001, who better to root for than an underdog named the Patriots. But since then, the Pats kept winning, Belickeck is not glib -- he gives nothing to the media. Brady does not sell himself to numerous advertisers, and then leads a supermodel lifestyle instead of huntin' and fishin' down in Mississippi.

On the merits, Spygate is ridiculous -- improperly taping signals on defense for LATER use in analysis. Coaches like Shanahan and Jimmy Johnson said that stealing signs DURING the game is easy anyway, but of limited value. Since being "exposed," the Pats have become more of an offensive team and less of a defensive team with as many or more wins later than before.

The sad part is that this non-issue will be in paragraph 1 or 2 of every obituary on BB and it's just not right. If someone like Bob Ryan wants to be useful, he will do what he can to point out how ridiculous this is.