This quote in the Brennan article on Knight jumped out: “ I think the thing my dad loved the most about Bob Knight was that Bob Knight could get away with being like this, whereas normal people couldn’t.”
Swap out Bob Knight for Donald Trump and the quote still stands.
Thanks, Will, for 'pulling back the curtain' on what the role of the influencer really is: when you are only promoting yourself, you are in the end promoting nothing at all.
And I like the juxtaposition of Rodriguez and McAfee - two different spokes on the same wheel.
And hey, to each their own! People can be whatever they want! But you don't get to act as if you are somehow immune from negative responses. This is what the world is!
His whole thing is so weird. In part due to Will's writing, the only ESPN I consume is NFL and MLB games. I was really confused when I had lunch at a bar a few Fridays ago and the McAfee show was on (muted, fortunately) and he was on some campus and there were random weirdoes holding anti-Taylor Swift signs for...reasons? WeirdAF and I'll continue to have nothing to do with any of it.
Pretty remarkable that you just give this work away for free. I really enjoyed learning about this painter fellow, and your choice to link his story to McAfee's was inspired.
The point I was expecting you and the art critic to make was that this is all part of the "influencer" playbook. They supercharge the engagement with their followers (ugh, these terms are so ridiculous, aren't they?) by cultivating these little feuds. Part of that is pretending the slightest of slights is instead a mortal wound that requires a full mobilization of the troops.
Was Rodriguez really that offended by the criticism? Was McAfee really that bothered by The Athletic's poll? It doesn't matter! All that matters is that they were enough to kickstart cycles of outrage, recruitment, and retribution. Sound familiar? It's the same playbook used by politicians and wrestlers. Everybody's just playing a role. Welcome to the 21st century.
I’ve watched approximately 2 quarters of college football in my life (and I live in Iowa) but I loved this, in particular the detail about McAfee’s continuing sleevelessness. What an important detail---sure, I enjoy a tank top in the summer, but I’d never be caught dead in a photo let alone a video wearing one. It’s such a clear sign of an unhinged personality with absolutely no awareness. It’s like wearing flip flops to a wedding: sure, you’re comfortable, but no one else is.
I genuinely have very little opinion on McAfee being on Gameday, but his response to that survey is nothing but childish. It speaks to a monumental insecurity that you wouldn't expect someone of his stature to suffer from.
Insecurity is probably something we can all identify with, to an extent, but I think we'd also agree that lashing out in public is among the worst possible ways to handle it.
This quote in the Brennan article on Knight jumped out: “ I think the thing my dad loved the most about Bob Knight was that Bob Knight could get away with being like this, whereas normal people couldn’t.”
Swap out Bob Knight for Donald Trump and the quote still stands.
This analogy ... did occur to me.
Bravo on not having to go down that road while still delivering that message. Almost like you’re a writer! Wink
I was literally typing that Knight is the hoops version of Trump when I read your post. Spot on, and spot on Will.
This is a really great read. Thank you
Thanks, Michele!
This was phenomenal. I can’t add anything more to it than that. Thank you.
Wow, thank you, seriously.
Thanks, Will, for 'pulling back the curtain' on what the role of the influencer really is: when you are only promoting yourself, you are in the end promoting nothing at all.
And I like the juxtaposition of Rodriguez and McAfee - two different spokes on the same wheel.
And hey, to each their own! People can be whatever they want! But you don't get to act as if you are somehow immune from negative responses. This is what the world is!
Great piece and legit lol here:
The survey—which has an inherent bias against McAfee because it was asked of people who can read—was definitive.
His whole thing is so weird. In part due to Will's writing, the only ESPN I consume is NFL and MLB games. I was really confused when I had lunch at a bar a few Fridays ago and the McAfee show was on (muted, fortunately) and he was on some campus and there were random weirdoes holding anti-Taylor Swift signs for...reasons? WeirdAF and I'll continue to have nothing to do with any of it.
Pretty remarkable that you just give this work away for free. I really enjoyed learning about this painter fellow, and your choice to link his story to McAfee's was inspired.
The point I was expecting you and the art critic to make was that this is all part of the "influencer" playbook. They supercharge the engagement with their followers (ugh, these terms are so ridiculous, aren't they?) by cultivating these little feuds. Part of that is pretending the slightest of slights is instead a mortal wound that requires a full mobilization of the troops.
Was Rodriguez really that offended by the criticism? Was McAfee really that bothered by The Athletic's poll? It doesn't matter! All that matters is that they were enough to kickstart cycles of outrage, recruitment, and retribution. Sound familiar? It's the same playbook used by politicians and wrestlers. Everybody's just playing a role. Welcome to the 21st century.
Good points, all around here.
I’ve watched approximately 2 quarters of college football in my life (and I live in Iowa) but I loved this, in particular the detail about McAfee’s continuing sleevelessness. What an important detail---sure, I enjoy a tank top in the summer, but I’d never be caught dead in a photo let alone a video wearing one. It’s such a clear sign of an unhinged personality with absolutely no awareness. It’s like wearing flip flops to a wedding: sure, you’re comfortable, but no one else is.
It is the dumbest possible way to show "individuality."
I genuinely have very little opinion on McAfee being on Gameday, but his response to that survey is nothing but childish. It speaks to a monumental insecurity that you wouldn't expect someone of his stature to suffer from.
Insecurity is probably something we can all identify with, to an extent, but I think we'd also agree that lashing out in public is among the worst possible ways to handle it.
Also ... are all these people just learning what the Internet is?
re: Pat MacAfee - yes yes yes. My vote was among that 49%. He's the SportsCenter version of Donald Trump.
That Eammon piece was awesome too (esp. as a former midwesterner). Man does that just make sense about how toxic masculinity gets expressed there.
Without question. Absolute must-follow with college hoops starting.