ESPN Making UM Football Documentary

Slated for release in 2009, ESPN has decided to make a documentary about the University of Miami football program in the last 3 decades. Hurricane Nation is already abuzz about how exactly the Canes will be portrayed in the film. One thing about UM fans that you should know (in case you do not already know) is that they are hyper-sensitive to "media bias" against them. The documentary will most likely highlight this most distinctive feature of Canes fans' collective psyche - the "us against the world" mentality.

I think it should be fun. I've long thought that Bruce Feldman's book, "Cane Mutiny," spanning the same time period (but released about 4 years ago) and containing some amazing anecdotes (like before the 1986 game against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, Canes players Melvin Bratton and Jerome Brown calling up Oklahoma star Brian Bosworth in his hotel room and saying, "This is your mother-f*ing wake up call...We're gonna kick your ass," and then proceeding to just that on the field), should have been made into a movie of some sort.

The Hurricanes do in fact elicit a wide range of emotions - there are those who swell with pride for the UM story, and others who revile, loathe, and detest the orange-and-green clad. One thing is certain - it is a compelling story, and a LOT of people will watch when it finally does come out. The championships, the fatigues, the taunting, the bad-assness, the braggadocio, the Rock, Ray Lewis, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Sapp Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, Kellen Winslow, Wide Right the smoke, the memorable games - no matter which team you call your favorite, it should be a wild and rollicking ride through recent Hurricane history.

I Found This Funny.

So I was going through the ESPN chats with draft prospects over the past few months, and I started reading the one with Chris Long.

And in his fourth question, Chris Long turned this into an advertisement.

Chris Long: I'm doing a media tour for *****, who is an NFL sponsor, whom I'm working with. Be sure to watch the NFL draft LIVE on your ***** phone. And read my and Matt Ryan's blogs on your ***** phone.

And then he ends his chat with this:

Chris Long: Thanks a lot for coming through and asking all these interesting questions. Be sure to check out my blog on your ***** phone as well as *****'s coverage of the NFL draft. Wahoo UVA all day long!

Isn't it funny how even the smallest ounce of celebrity status can already be selling phones? The kid is barely removed from his protection from advertisers under NCAA rules, and has yet to play an NFL down ever, yet he's already banking on endorsements. If you remember from the 2006 Draft, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Bloom, and A.J. Hawk were all in the "click-clack" commercials before the draft, too.

I also have to question Long's choices here a little as well. Sure, it shows dedication to his sponsor, but it also, at least to me, shows a little lack of class as well. ESPN brings people into these chats to talk about their experiences leading up to the draft, not to advertise phone companies. From the chats I've read, Chris is the only one who brings up an endorsement deal in his chat.

Is he really in this for the football?