Goodell between the covers

[E5 Yaz]

Here comes da book:

Crown Archetype, an imprint of Penguin Random House’s Crown Publishing Group, announced today that it will publish POWERBALL by ESPN’s award-winning investigative journalists Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham. POWERBALL will be the untold story of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the league owners he answers to, and the internal power wars that have greatly impacted America’s most popular sport. ...

... From the commissioner’s office on down, the NFL serves the interests of those who really have the power. Beginning in 2006, when Roger Goodell was elected NFL Commissioner on a secret ballot by the NFL team owners, POWERBALL will trace how the league’s owners evolved from a mainly cohesive group of legacy owners’ families to a raucous, divisive membership that has splintered into cliques, and it will examine how what happens in the inner circles of the league affects the games watched by millions every season.

http://crownpublishing.com/news/crown-archetype-publish-powerball-don-van-natta-jr-seth-wikersham/#.WJ1l5FcfdEK

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Could a dope please change the title of this thread or buy me a vomit-resistant keyboard?

 

[TFP]

No.

 

[Darnell's Son]

Could a dope please change the title of this thread or buy me a vomit-resistant keyboard?

Like Roger Goodell Between the Sheets?

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

This book has a chance to be very interesting.

It'll probably suck.

 

[mwonow]

This book has a chance to be very interesting.

It'll probably suck.

On form, I'm not counting on Van Natta for anything more than volume.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

If it is anything like their long form article from earlier this year, expect all sources to be anonymous.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

If it really is cliques like the promo Yaz posted describes, then maybe you could get a really good book out of slithering up to the various constituencies.

It actually does seem like Goodell has a tough job. There are some major grade-A personality types he needs to navigate and many of them are rich enough that it's probably not always enough that the league keeps rolling in cash. There must be a man behind the man that we don't know about, because everything Goodell does in public does not give off the appearance of a guy with the savvy to pull off management of one of the most fucked up billionaires clubs in the world.

 

[Reverend]

If it really is cliques like the promo Yaz posted describes, then maybe you could get a really good book out of slithering up to the various constituencies.

It actually does seem like Goodell has a tough job. There are some major grade-A personality types he needs to navigate and many of them are rich enough that it's probably not always enough that the league keeps rolling in cash. There must be a man behind the man that we don't know about, because everything Goodell does in public does not give off the appearance of a guy with the savvy to pull off management of one of the most fucked up billionaires clubs in the world.

Only if he values his integrity. Which he might, but we know the going rate.

Like, he basically can't fuck up as long as he becomes the lightning rod and focal point. Which is to say, fucking up is his job--how hard is it to be a professional fuck up?

 

[bakahump]

Which is to say, fucking up is his job--how hard is it to be a professional fuck up?

Well you would obviously need to make alot of money to be willing to do this.......oh wait.....nevermind.

 

[reggiecleveland]

Heis very good at his job. He has kept deflategate going for two years. The Patriots winning helps him too, people are talking about the Patriots, GOAT, and CTE is forgotten. In many ways he hits the media over the head with deflategate until they don't remember the concussion story. Each awkward handshake boo filled trophy presentation is another news cycle without mentioning the game kinda kills the players.

 

[Van Everyman]

On form, I'm not counting on Van Natta for anything more than volume.

Hopefully it's better than this one:

http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/13533995/split-nfl-new-england-patriots-apart

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Duplicate

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

No.

Like Roger Goodell Between the Sheets?

Now this is a guy with a sense of humor.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Only if he values his integrity. Which he might, but we know the going rate.

Like, he basically can't fuck up as long as he becomes the lightning rod and focal point. Which is to say, fucking up is his job--how hard is it to be a professional fuck up?

I have some personal professional experience trying. Not as easy as you might think.

You're probably right on. Spineless, public relations weathervane is what he sure seems to be and probably what he is. Sometimes, though, lack of integrity comes not just from low character but also from plain fatigue. Dealing with people like Jerry Jones on a regular basis must be extremely exhausting. I'd like to think I'd have backbone in that situation, but sometimes even the best of us takes the path of least resistance every now and again.

 

[Leather]

"Rollin' like Thunder,
Between the Covers!
And I guess we'll find out
How Roger applies the rules."

 

[Harry Hooper]

Beaten to it, but anybody that expects Van Natta and Wickersham to be publishing stuff the NFL doesn't want you to know is kidding themselves.

 

[bigq]

Heis very good at his job. He has kept deflategate going for two years. The Patriots winning helps him too, people are talking about the Patriots, GOAT, and CTE is forgotten. In many ways he hits the media over the head with deflategate until they don't remember the concussion story. Each awkward handshake boo filled trophy presentation is another news cycle without mentioning the game kinda kills the players.

I'm not so sure. I can't remember another situation where a commissioner was so enthusiastically booed. Declining viewership combined with declining enrollment at the youth level and increased overall awareness of the dangers of the game may be turning the tide. Part of Roger's job is to weather the criticism and I guess he has managed that role competently. Perhaps I am wrong but it seems like the national media is coming around to a negative view of Goodell and that can't be good for the league in general. Despite his public statement of protecting the shield, his actions seem to have the opposite effect. Owners should take notice of that.

 

[mwonow]

Beaten to it, but anybody that expects Van Natta and Wickersham to be publishing stuff the NFL doesn't want you to know is kidding themselves.

Yep. WHITEWASH will probably prove to have been a better title

 

[E5 Yaz]

Which is to say, fucking up is his job--how hard is it to be a professional fuck up?

Harder than it looks.

 

[DourDoerr]

Could a dope please change the title of this thread or buy me a vomit-resistant keyboard?

Well, he didn't say "No and no," so I guess that keyboard will be coming any minute. Enjoy!

 

[DourDoerr]

And how many others saw the title "Powerball" and were disappointed to find out it did NOT contain winning lottery strategies?

 

[InstaFace]

Only if he values his integrity. Which he might, but we know the going rate.

Like, he basically can't fuck up as long as he becomes the lightning rod and focal point. Which is to say, fucking up is his job--how hard is it to be a professional fuck up?

I believe Aristotle said: anyone can be a fuck-up; that is easy. But to fuck up with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for a suitably farcical purpose - that is not within everyone's power, and is not easy.

 

[E5 Yaz]

And how many others saw the title "Powerball" and were disappointed to find out it did NOT contain winning lottery strategies?

Only those who open a thread about Goodell, see a book is being written, and can't put 2 + 2 together

 

[DourDoerr]

Only those who open a thread about Goodell, see a book is being written, and can't put 2 + 2 together

Too and shay

 

[dbn]

Too and shay

 

[Hoodie Sleeves]

I'm not so sure. I can't remember another situation where a commissioner was so enthusiastically booed. Declining viewership combined with declining enrollment at the youth level and increased overall awareness of the dangers of the game may be turning the tide. Part of Roger's job is to weather the criticism and I guess he has managed that role competently. Perhaps I am wrong but it seems like the national media is coming around to a negative view of Goodell and that can't be good for the league in general. Despite his public statement of protecting the shield, his actions seem to have the opposite effect. Owners should take notice of that.

What declining numbers? They were terrible at the beginning of the year, during the election coverage, but they always are in election years, and they've been fine in the second half.

The Superbowl was the 5th highest watched event in television history despite looking like a laugher for most of the game.

The national media hating Goodell makes him more effective at his job - which is making sure they're not talking about concussions and the owners.

 

[kenneycb]

I'm not so sure. I can't remember another situation where a commissioner was so enthusiastically booed. Declining viewership combined with declining enrollment at the youth level and increased overall awareness of the dangers of the game may be turning the tide. Part of Roger's job is to weather the criticism and I guess he has managed that role competently. Perhaps I am wrong but it seems like the national media is coming around to a negative view of Goodell and that can't be good for the league in general. Despite his public statement of protecting the shield, his actions seem to have the opposite effect. Owners should take notice of that.

Um, literally every Stanley Cup comes to mind. Home, away, whatever.

 

[bigq]

Um, literally every Stanley Cup comes to mind. Home, away, whatever.

I am sure you are right. I know Bettman is unpopular although that was not obvious to me during the Bruins' most recent couple of Stanley Cup runs. Entirely possible that I was oblivious to what was going on though.

Makes me wonder where Goodell stands in terms of most disliked commissioners in sports.

 

[bigq]

The national media hating Goodell makes him more effective at his job - which is making sure they're not talking about concussions and the owners.

You have a point although as the face of the league, if he is generally viewed in a negative light, it reflects poorly on the entire organization. If this continues to be the case, I could see how it would make owners increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps just wishful thinking on my part but I like to hope it could be true.

 

[pappymojo]

I have zero interest in reading a book about Goodell that was written by anyone who has been associated with ESPN/ABC.

 

[Van Everyman]

A book that whitewashes Goodell in any way will be laughed at, mocked and ultimately be a bad look for ESPN, which already is being criticized for being too close to the NFL.

I know we have a warped view of Goodell in NE ... but it's not that warped. The guy is nationally regarded as a turd.

 

[SumnerH]

A book that whitewashes Goodell in any way will be laughed at, mocked and ultimately be a bad look for ESPN, which already is being criticized for being too close to the NFL.

I know we have a warped view of Goodell in NE ... but it's not that warped. The guy is nationally regarded as a turd.

Maybe among people who are really into sports, but most sports fans I know don't really care about the commissioner at all. He's not on the radar for good or bad.

 

[Devizier]

I wonder which clique Arthur Blank belongs to. I'm going to go with the Chicago Outfit.

 

[mauf]

If you judge him by what he's paid to do, Goodell has done a phenomenal job. Even viewed through that lens, his handling of DFG is a black mark, but if you think of that as merely the most high-profile example of a dysfunctional ownership group, it highlights how impressive the rest of his tenure has been. It's hard to measure up to Rozelle and Tagliabue, but the degree of difficulty for Goodell has been higher.

Ironically, an account that whitewashes the league's problems will undersell Goodell. As others have said, the material for a great book is there; whether this is that book remains to be seen.