Saw this today on Yahoo! Sports and thought (for those who hadn't) it might be interesting... certainly puts into graphic detail the challenges of having a nationally-based recruiting model.
Regarding the Italian cocktail discussion, this is what I know / lived / vaguely remember. There are basically three stages of drinks in the Italian eating ritual, which forms the very foundation of their existence: I. Apertivo - light cocktail before the meal. An american might perceive it to be a sissy drink but the Italians are not stupid. They know there's a magnificent, marathon meal experience directly ahead of them. II. Vino - big 'n red. Bring it early and often. Nothing complicated.
III. Digestivo - after the meal to settle the stomach (no Zantac users there!)... Summertime, it was nearly always limoncello, all other times grappe (of which there are dozens). That final ritual was (remains) totally counter-intuitive - especially given some of the grappe's ability to seeminglysear a hole in one's intestinal tract - but I never, ever had any gastronomic issues. And food-related moderation was never a core competency of mine while there. And for what it's worth, I can't ever recall seeing any dark liquor consumed. Finally, heard there was a job opening in The Vatican City - anyone know where I'd send a resume?
(Little Village - an awesome, occasional collaboration of John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner.) Mike Brey rules!
"For what do we live but to make sport of our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn?"
Jane Austen (1810)
"There used to be a certain solidity in things but now what happens? Everything is exposed to the public gaze, veils are thrown back, every wound is probed by careless fingers. We are forever present at an orgy of scandalous revelations."
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1869)
Apparently some things never change. January was not exactly a banner month for Our Mother's university. But for me it wasn't so much the disappointing on-field performance - though it will rank as nearly the most torturous three hours of my life. Nor was it our head coach's the-season's-not-even-12-hours-over flirtation with the NFL, I understand that's the way the profession works. And even our star player's beyond embarrassing trial by fire with cyber-love which, while bizarre, was weirdly understandable after all the facts ultimately determined his experience to be shockingly commonplace.
Mom always said bad news comes in three's.
No, what freaked me out more than anything was the unvarnished hate that the combination of those events inspired. Especially the latter. The rush-to-judgment regarding Manti's complicity / guilt by a body of people who a) had never met the kid, b) couldn't be bothered to wait for responsible fact-finding to occur and c) had a powerful media-based, bully pulpit to reach millions of people with their shoot-from-the-hip-check-facts-later denunciation. And while there were several solid mainstream journalists who took the high road, it's sad how we have seen precious few mea culpas from those that did the initial tar n feathering (I'm talking to you, Deadspin.)
Even more distressing is how public sentiment toward Te'o has never seemed to turn back.
Maybe its simply a backlash to the public trust being consistently abused so badly in the sports world: Lance Armstrong, A-Rod, Ryan Braun... everybody cheats, everybody lies. But I find it scary how easily people can hate. In a poll last week, Te'o was determined to be the least liked football player in the country. How does that happen... the facts just don't support this result. An entire fan-base hates a 21 yr. old because he told a lie to his parents? If that's a hanging offense, the line to the gallows is gonna be miles long. Or that he panicked and stuck to his story when he didn't have enough time to figure out how to address it on HEISMAN TROPHY NIGHT? Maybe I'm the gullible one here...
"That was PASS INTERFERENCE!"
There's no denying hate is a powerful emotion. You should've seen me at the end of the Super Bowl. I LOVED that it ended on a controversial call - solely for the selfish benefit of my wishing to see Jim Harbaugh's head explode like something out of David Cronenberg's "Scanners". Don't judge me. Even I find my behavior appalling.
So at this moment, I wish to announce that I'm formally abandoning my breakthrough "Power Of Positive Hating" concept. It's stupid. And volatile. And can't be harnessed for Good. In fact, it looks like its already fallen into the hands of Evil. In particular, Stupid Southern Evil.
"Mess with us and we will end you..."
Instead I will focus all my future energies on advancing the Former Special Covert Ops As Referees movement so that next time there's an incident like the Ravens CB pushing the referee in the SB, the nation gets treated to watching the ref (think Jason Bourne) break him in half and make him cry for his mommy. Now that would be therapeutic.
Song of the Month From the opening lyrics ("Jesus Christ, girl, what are people gonna think..."), this was a song whose time had come. Hadn't even ever heard the song before January - talk about 'timing is everything'. And what better metaphors than the two separate refrains - "someone's gotta help me dig" and "we should let this dead guy sleep". Metaphors. I think. At any rate, enjoy the irony - and it's a cool song.
Special shout out to my über-hip daughter, who left this particular song on an iPod for me. Thank you for expanding my musical universe. And congrats, Shea, as well - for bagging a summer internship with American Songwriter magazine in Nashville. Not only are you 'living the dream', you're living my dream. You rock. Now on to even happier topics...
Random Recruiting Observations
"Ma, more Hot Pockets 'n Mountain Dew! I got more film to break down..."
If you're looking for a rundown of our recruits' measurables and skill sets, I'm not your man. In fact, while I do read the message boards, I have near total disdain for the sad, pathetic creatures that comment with an aggressive authoritativeness - about how they like this 18 yr. old's film (creepy much?!) better than another's - surely while living in their parent's basement.
That said, here's a few things that struck me about this year's cycle.. 1. Kids, time to lose the announcement via hat selection. Its overwrought and you look stupid. 2. Having watched waaay too much ESPN Signing Day coverage, I believe I'm beginning to understand what a Brian Kelly 'Right Kind of Guy' is. And it starts with... how shall I put this tactfully... being able to articulate a cogent thought. 3. You can't spell cesspool without SEC. 4. Nor can you spell hostess without HO. 5. Which leads me to Ole Miss. Three Top 20 players, each #1 in the country at their respective positions. And we're led to believe that it's all due to a brilliantly conceived plan by their young, largely unproven coaching staff. Competing against the likes of Saban-Spurrier-Richt-Musgrave et al. Yeah, right.
6. We're #3! Or #4. Or #2. Or #5. Honestly, who cares. It's an awesome, well balanced class. Ans while Eddie V. was the cherry on top of the sundae, Jaylon Smith was the ice cream. And the class Buddymeister: a charismatic ND evangelist that both attracted the studs and kept 'em together when things got a little hinky. 7. Tarean, forgive me if I don't yet consider you totally bought in to the Irish Mob '13 gestalt. 8. Before everyone gets too fat 'n sassy about USC's recruiting implosion, consider this: every single one of their 13 signees were either 4 or 5 star. This year was probably worst case scenario for them. And they still had a near Top 10 class. If one wishes to feel good, focus on their lack of line recruits (offense or defense). Watching how Bama wins, one has to believe Lane's fascination with skill athletes, at the expense of the big guys, is what's really gonna be his downfall. That, and he's not very bright. 9. Back To The Future: ND, Ohio State, Michigan - recruiting just like it was the '70s. 10. This may mean more to me than the rest of you but... congrats to coach Elliott on the successful kidney transfer. Now... fresh livers for my 'A' Lot compatriots! 11. I've been to Westwood and I know ND. And unless they took the recruits to the hallowed 'A' Lot grounds, it still mystifies me how an 18 yr. old, in JANUARY, chooses the latter. Good for you, Edward - and welcome to The Club...
TC's Eddie Hall of Fame (as of 2/13)
Funny how much he looks like Diaco...
12. Coffee is for closers. Remember when everyone worried whether Kelly & Co. could recruit against the big boys?! 13. 2014 Recruiting already off to a great start. We have one commitment whose name is Martini. I think his first name is Gin. Or something that starts with a 'G'. But I shall call him 'Dirty'.
"Coach Miles wants to know if there's a volume discount.."
14. New recruiting rules go into effect and they're going to be a nightmare, basically allowing limitless communication with the high school athlete. A coach / college can send a kid basically anything (text, phone, social media, traditional mail, drive by) at anytime. Bad news for the athletes (they'll be preyed upon 24/7). Outstanding news for the ethically challenged. My prediction: someone in the SEC will send a recruit a Russian bride.
15. Gotta reprise the awesome Key & Peele take on the name trends in college football...
And lest you think that Art does not imitate Life, check out a few of LSU's signees this year:
Tre'Davious White, DB
Maquedius Bain, DT
Quantavius Leslie, WR
If one wishes a more professional summary of Kelly's navigating a tough month (and daunting year), Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel wrote a pretty terrific article here. I mean, if you're into 'facts' and all that kind of stuff...
Basketball Blog
...still waiting for Messrs. Tom & Dave to find their crayons and start sharing their pithy insights.
In Praise of Cretins (if not, what would I have to write about?)
New year, new lexicon. Out with tools, in with cretins. It's a better, richer word. One more consistent with my up-market audience. After all, it's not like I'm writing to SEC grads.
The word, in Italian, is especially beautiful. Il cretino. Said with such a lyrical rhythm that even when I knew I was the cretino they were referring to, I felt honored. Call me "il cretinissimo" - Signore Terry, the most magnificent twit in all of northern Italy.
But I digress.
cre·tin
noun \ˈkrē-tən\ (although I prefer the more pretentious British pronunciation with the soft 'e')
1 often offensive : one afflicted with
cretinism
2 a
stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person : clod, lout
— cre·tin·ous adjective
Origin
French
crétin, from French dialect cretin, literally, wretch, innocent victim,
from Latin christianus Christian
The Deadspin guys. One could argue they did some reasonable investigative journalism, breaking the "Manti's girlfriend hoax" story. Until you realized they got really lazy really fast and stopped caring about facts about 1/4 of the way into the story. Most egregious was their "who gives a toss' attitude after it became quickly apparent they had the hoax's endgame quite wrong - and had a done a serious injustice to a fundamentally decent person.
Mike Florio. Your Profootballtalk.com (and all its accompanying sports adjuncts) was a great addition to getting information but you went 'all in' on the "Manti is guilty" position and never came off it. Even when the facts suggested otherwise. And you're a freakin' lawyer by background. I guess you can take the guy of West Virginia but you can't take the hillbilly's northern bias out...
Lane Kiffin. You're 'Dead Man Walking' and you barely even know it.
Favorite Super Bowl quotes 1. "While it's arguable that the best team won, there's no question the best brother won." (AP wire) 2. "Ray Lewis now has as many Super Bowl rings as murder indictments." (S. Colbert) Next Stop - the Oscars!
How does Texas Chainsaw 3D not get nominated for ANYTHING?! Not even 'best adapted screenplay'? With a tagline, "Evil Wears Many Faces", it's searing allegorical commentary on the dangers inherent in illusory cyber world relationships resonates more powerfully now than ever. Oh if only this had come out a year ago and someone had given Manti an AMC gift card for Christmas...
"I got your Oscar right here, Jess..."
And don't get me started on how the Academy nominated Jessica Chastain for her role in "Zero Dark Thirty" over her star turn in "Mama". Hello! Which screams Oscar? Basic CIA Bureaucrat Flunky In I've Seen It Before Get The Bad Guy role or... Punk Rocker Foster Mom Fighting Against an Angry, Demonic (and Seriously Possessive) Spirit over the souls of two profoundly weird, feral girls that the aforementioned spirit happened to raise on her own. In the woods. Without any government handouts. For 5 years. Who do I root for?! Genius.
Final Thought -I
Pretty In Pink.
Well done, Mar, you make us all proud.
Final Thought - II To bring this thought piece full circle - signs that the Apocalypse really is upon us - I offer you this print ad.
Playtex has a new product called
"Fresh + Sexy" intimate wipes, designed for freshening up before and after sex. New ads for the product have a difficult time
addressing the issue directly, so they use suggestive wordplay. Like "A clean pecker always taps
it," and "A polished knob always gets more turns," showing a
shiny doorknob. And the subtle beaver reference below.
Ugh. I weep for the industry.The scent of existential despair is all around me.
...you do not talk about Imaginary Girlfriend Club.
I feel compelled to offer some off the cuff reactions to the events of the last couple weeks:
Everyone knows I was kidding a few weeks back re my bell curve distribution of Reality, right? (Note to self: cc football team on all future radical theories.)
If this week was a movie, I think we all know what it'd be.
The Chinese say, "May you live in interesting times.." How's that working out for you, Manti?
A lot of terrific, well thought, balanced points of view on L'Affaire T'eo, starting with Pat Fordeand Pete Thamel... but one I ran across today, by Bonnie Bernstein, had the most plainspoken rationale that I, personally, can sign up for. Try this on for size:
IF
everything holds up: Manti Te'o was duped by a guy who had a prior history of
“catfishing.” He was completely mortified. He lied to avoid further humiliation
and any distractions for Notre Dame en route to the BCS Championship.
That
still leaves some holes. Why did Te’o say he met Lennay Kukua at Stanford and
tell his father they’d spent time together? Was he was embarrassed about
meeting someone online? Quite possibly. I know people who have fudged
cyber-setup stories. Didn't Te'o think it was bogus that Lennay canceled/no-showed
every time they were supposed to meet? Yup. But I can personally attest to how
love can distort the rational thought process. Make you think things are ok.
That all the excuses are copacetic - even though outsiders looking in would
scratch their heads. Especially young love. And if Te’o is as devout a Mormon
as he so proclaims, and he’s a virgin, the value of the emotional bond might
supersede the physical. Who are we to judge?
But
ultimately, here's what it comes down to for me. I don’t subscribe to the
notion "a lie is a lie is a lie." I really do try to understand the
psychology behind it. Manti Te'o had an inspirational story that was embraced
by Golden Domers, and lots of non-Notre Dame folks, at a time when the Irish
were finally emerging from obscurity. He appreciated the support, especially
with the Heisman dangling. Probably even reveled in it a little bit. And you
know what? What 21 year-old wouldn't? What 41 year-old wouldn't?
And
then, Te’o found out he was flat-out Punk'd. Imagine getting that phone call.
“Hi. It’s your dead girlfriend.” The confusion. The anger. The embarrassment of
knowing that you, one of college football’s top defensemen, just got sacked.
And you were too naïve to see the oncoming blitz.
Te’o
consciously chose to continue perpetuating the story line Don’t get in the way
of the team’s run to a national title. Figure out how to handle this mess publicly
when we get back from Miami, he probably thought. Does that make him a liar?
Yes it does. Does it make him a liar of Lance Armstrong proportions? Did he
irreparably hurt anyone? Does it make him a bad kid? In the grand scheme of
things, my gut tells me… no.
1. Jack Swarbrick just fell on the sword for you, Manti. Time to step up. (Even your supporters are getting impatient.)
2. Looking forward to next year, a couple 'A' Lot promotions to anticipate:
a. Wear a stylish green lei (and seen in the blog's cover pic) and win a prize! b. Bring an imaginary friend and win a prize! (Feifar has already claimed Danny 'n Tony from The Shining - but the Grady twins are still available...) As is Donnie Darko's Frank.
c. Shoot a beer with Ungie... win a prize!
In the meantime, a good man needs your vote...
If you're receiving any solicitations from ND Alumni Association re voting on the next batch of Alumni Board representatives, don't blow it off - one of our classmates is running! One we like. Check it out on-line here:
Don Wittgen ’79 Assistant Vice President, Finance ACE Group, Combined Insurance Hawthorn Woods, IL
Wittgen works in the insurance industry and has held numerous roles in the Notre Dame Club of Lake County, including treasurer of the scholarship committee and leader of professional networking activities with Chicago-area Notre Dame clubs and the Mendoza College of Business. He is a Eucharistic minister and lector at St. Mary of the Annunciation, Fremont Center, and is a member of the Illinois CPA Society.
Mission Statement I want to continue and expand my Notre Dame service by serving on the Alumni Board. During my four years in the Notre Dame Club of Lake County, the last two as treasurer, we have held a wide variety of events that have earned us Program of Excellence and Special Citation awards and three Outstanding Club nominations. We have initiated networking events to assist new graduates and our members in transition. We have also partnered with the Chicago-area clubs and the Minority Alumni network for events and activities.
My experience working with other clubs in the region has shown me the power and value of shared ideas and programs. As the regional representative, I would encourage and facilitate increased collaboration among clubs. If I have the privilege of serving on the alumni board, I will use my experience to help clubs bring Notre Dame to their communities in new and innovative ways.
We Gotta Have A Song!
Anyone see Morrissey on Letterman last week? Who knew his music would remain so timely...
For those of you might think this is in poor taste (even by our low standards), consider this: Alvin pointed out I could've chosen The Smith's "Bigmouth Strikes Again".
Recruiting Irony
Florida's Defensive Coordinator just quit to do the same w the Seahawks. (I'm looking at you, Alex Anzelone...)
ND now has elite athletes falling over themselves to take official visits - far more than we have spaces - but that doesn't seem to be sitting well with all of our commitments: newly pledged speed RB Taurean Folston is now taking a visit this weekend to Auburn. (3-9 Auburn?! Seriously?)
And that level of rational behavior might just give one a glimpse into why coaches periodically think the professional ranks might be attractive.
And a Word...
SUBTERFUGE
sub·ter·fuge noun \ˈsəb-tər-ˌfyüj\
1 deception
by artifice or strategem in order to conceal, escape, or evade
2 a
deceptive device or stratagem
Origin
Late
Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere to escape, evade, from subter-
secretly (from subter underneath; akin to Latin sub under) + fugere to
flee — more at up, fugitive
Y'know, Nietzsche says, "Out of chaos comes order..."
One has to hand it to the French. No one can make 18 years of unjust imprisonment, abject destitution, humiliating prostitution and a hopelessly un-winnable battle look quite so... desirable. So when the family went to see "Les Miserables" over the Christmas break I came out energized - with an entirely new, "glass-3/4 full and rising" worldview - especially toward ND football and the daunting task of beating not just the defending national champions but, apparently, the entire SEC.
"Tow that massive ship into dry dock? No problem - I'm in the best shape of my life!"
"Sell my hair for a pittance? Absolutely - this haircut is gonna be all the talk at Cap Ferrat!"
"Our army against your wine-addled boys?! Sweet!" (Talk about the benefits of over-signing 5-star recruits...) In a broader, more real world context, perhaps not quite the message my family wanted me to take away from that particular medium. ("Debtor's prison?! Cool! Sign me up!") And in hindsight, one wonders whether this was the motivational in-flight offering for the team on their travels to The Big Game. After all, failure has never looked so awesome. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Nonetheless, all the way down to Florida I sang my favorite show tune, "Red And Black" (bastardized to meet my true Notre Dame zealot's needs)...
We need a sign to rally the people...
To call them to arms, to bring them in line!
Lini-us, what's wrong with you today?
You look as if you've seen a ghost.
Some wine and say what's going on...
A ghost you say? More like a tool maybe
Saban is a total douche to me.
Everything about him is just... wrong.
It is time for us all to decide who we are.
Do we fight for a right at the Tailgate now?
Have you asked of yourselves
What's the price you might pay?
Is it simply a game for rich young boys to play?
The color of college football
Is changing day by day...
Red! Bama's fans are all inbred! Blue! ND's boys know how to spell. Red! SEC women are seriously hot... Blue! But you'll all burn in hell!
Red! Opossum is a real food! Blue! A pig is not something you date! Red! Our liquor makes us blind. Blue! While you work at Steak & Shake!
As I boarded my flight, I was ready. Song of the Year A little secret to reveal: all year long, I've had a great deal of this blog written in my head by about Thursday prior to the game. Provided the game turned out the way I hoped, which is to say, a win. Happily, for 12 weeks it totally worked out. Not so much for this final game. Still, upon reflection, I'm sticking with my first song of choice, "The Last Laugh", Mark Knopfler's duet with Van The Man. For starters, it's a great song. And while originally envisioned as a musical flipping of the bird to SEC Nation (that'll have to wait another year), in a very different way it still remains apropos.
Games you thought you'd learned
You neither lost nor won
Dreams have crashed and burned
You still keep on keeping on
They had you crying but you came up smiling
They had you crawling and you came up
flying
They had you crying and you came up smiling
And the last laugh, baby is yours.
We had an awesome year. Let me count the ways: a win count that exceeded everyone's expectation, even the deeply delusional. #1 in football and graduation rates. (That'll never be done by anyone other than us.) Tailgaters that set new standards for excellence. Bloody Mary's that now come with a technicolor secret sauce. A Linipalooza that, just when one thought it couldn't get any more surreal, did. We helped some Breezy Point folks a little bit. And the players were an actual source of pride and inspiration to millions.
Juxtapose that against having the ignominy of living in Alabama, being confined to a largely one syllable vocabulary or having the gastronomic sophistication of a feral dog - where one considers Squirrel Cog Au Vin the epitome of fine dining.
Who's laughing now?
The Game
Who knew the game was actually going to replicate Les Miz as much as it did. If anyone wishes to provide a greater analysis, have at it. After sitting through three hours of 40,000 yahoos yelling, "Roll, Tide", I really had no interest in watching the game over again. OK, maybe a little bit - to check out AJ McCarron's girlfriend. But then I'd have to listen to Brent...
"This Christmas there will be... Misery."
Anyway, a couple visceral observations... none of which would've changed the ultimate outcome in any appreciable way:
The layoff really hurt us. Bama got healthy and we lost our edge.
Blame coaching, if you must, for sub-optimal prep. But I wouldn't hammer Kelly too much for play calling. When you're down 14-0 before people are even in their seats, plans go out the window pretty quickly.
The early officiating was mystifyingly bad. Can anyone enlighten me as to the replay protocol in college?
Many of you were reaming Zeke on-line. While nowhere to be found in coverage, he seemed to be the only one interested in tackling.
I could be wrong on the prior point as I spent much of the game distracted by the large female Bama fan in front of us, trying to engage Cincotta in conversation.
Why did we keep going long 3rd and short? Planned calls or Golson just 'feeling it'? I have no idea.
It seemed - all year long, in fact - like we had ~ 3 pass patterns. None of which involved crossing patterns like the ones Bama constantly smoked us on.
That said, I'm standing by my mid-year semi-prediction: I will not be surprised if Golson gets beat out next year. Specifically by Kiel.
EG is hugely talented but his decision making... not sure. Presumably that will improve a lot...
The one guy who looked great to me was Daniels. A pleasant surprise.
One guy (certainly not the only one) who didn't was Tuitt. A bad surprise.
So happy we didn't receive the OVER-RATED chant at game's end. Then again, that's a lot of syllables for SEC Nation...
The color crimson and the words, "Roll, Tide" have now entered my revised Nine Circles of Hell. Level Six.
Red! The blood of angry hicks.
Blue! The pride of titles past.
Red! They're totally kicking our ass.
Blue! Please end this game at last!
The Discover Tostito's Buddy award
"And a child shall lead them..."
Well, if not exactly a child, a teenager. And if not 'lead', gain us handicapped parking access at Sun Life Stadium. Thumbing our noses past limos and other luminaries, we cruised it. Who knew it'd end up being practically the highlight of the day?
So thanks, Jack Splendore, for taking one for the team. I assume you were kidding about your dad consciously backing the car over your ankle for 'the greater good'...
A Little Schadenfreude In Your Egg Nog?
As full of Christmas cheer as I was, literally and figuratively, nothing quite made me as warm 'n tingly as these guys going down:
1. USC. Duh! Of course their losing makes us happy. But the true bow on the package is losing to a team so bad they had to petition to even get in the game. Lane, you are the gift that keeps on giving.
2. LSU. Les Miles, dumber than a box of rocks. Makes one almost wish he did take the Michigan job. Also makes one wonder how good they'd be if he just stayed in the locker room. Which reminds me, I'm reading Dostoevsky's "The Idiot". Great book. Not about the SEC as I had pre-supposed - although much of the descriptions of Russia do have an earthy, backwoods similarity to the Deep South. Otherwise, insert your own Miles / Kiffin joke here.
Tool Time
1. Lane Kiffin. What's the baseball expression for a player who can literally do it all? A 5 tool player. How appropriate for Kiffy: your team embarrasses on the field in El Paso, off the field as well (disses the community, shows up 90 minutes late to the official dinner), then you start pulling scholarships on your Early Enrollees. Wow, you are a Renaissance Tool.
2. Tommy Tuberville. Back by popular demand: after pulling his uber-classy "dine 'n dash" on his Texas Tech recruits, he follows up by pulling scholarship offers from committed Cincinnati recruits and not telling them. The kids had to call the school to find out. Wow. Does university administration have no spine at all in dealing with these guys?
3. Alex Anzelone. Don't pin this one on Kelly; this kid was looking for an excuse to bolt. "Um, Alex, when were you otherwise going to tell us?" Too bad since he seems to be really good.
4. Lance Armstrong. Finally fesses up! On Oprah, no less. Check out a London newspaper's suggestions on questions to ask Lance. I especially like the "how badly did the death of your dog at age 7 affect you..." Typical, dry, smart ass British humor. Boy I miss the UK!
You may wonder why Brian Kelly isn't on this list. That's because I'm among that group who think his 'process', while repugnant to most of us in more pedestrian professions, is basically just the way business is done now.
Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.
Survivor, of course, is perhaps the greatest social experiment since Pavlov and his dogs. Or at least since Sigourney Weaver made that movie with the gorillas. It's also one of The Greatest TV Shows Ever*. The amount of duplicity that goes on through the course of six weeks on some godforsaken South China Sea island is truly breath taking. Greed! Avarice! Situational Ethics! Poor Hygiene! Fantastic. And the people that win it never lose sight of one thing: it's just a game. And so it is in the perverse profession of coaching. It may not be our cup of tea for job negotiation but it's the way it's done in that space.
Now if we have this mating ritual on an annual basis with Kelly, I'll be happy to modify my opinion. But right now, I'm taking it at face value. He checked out an opportunity, a big one at that, worked the protocol with his boss (if not with the inquiring ND Nation) and walked away. All in a matter of 3-4 days. And give the guy some credit - by all accounts, he could've had the job if he wanted.
*Not as good as The White Shadow ("Coolidge! Salami!"), The West Wing (hello, liberal Notre Dame president...) or St. Elsewhere (Howie Mandell AND Denzel Washington) but certainly better than post-Henry Blake M*A*S*H...
Which leads us to the final Word of the Week:
DALLIANCE
dal·li·ance noun \ˈda-lē-ən(t)s\
1. an act of dallying: as
a. play;
especially : amorous play
b. frivolous
action : trifling
First Known Use of DALLIANCE
14th
century
Synonyms: play, frolic, frolicking, fun,
fun and games, recreation, relaxation, rollicking, sport
Near Antonyms: drudgery, labor, work; duty,
obligation, responsibility
Used in a sentence: Kelly's dalliance with the NFL may prove, ultimately to be nothing at all but for much of ND Nation, it was a worrisome sign of a serious "I'm not as vested in this program as I say I am" character flaw. Recruiting The only thing you need to concern yourself here is this: pray from unseasonably warm weather for the weekend of January 25th. That's when we may have as many as four, count 'em four, USC decommits visiting:
Eddie Vanderdoes, DL
Torrodney Prevot, DL
Sebastian Larue, WR
Kylie Fitts, DL
Deon Hollins, OLB (UCLA commit)
The name associations alone is too awesome to even contemplate them being about of Irish Mob'13...
And apparently we stand a reasonable chance of flipping a couple of 'em, presuming distance and weather doesn't freak 'em out too much. If that happens - fingers crossed - it'll be the best recruitng class in ~20 yrs. (Sully?)
"Wake Up And Smell The Bacon" (Or Why I Still Miss the UK, Part II)
Regarding the Italian cocktail discussion, this is what I know / lived / vaguely remember. There are basically three stages of drinks in the Italian eating ritual, which forms the very foundation of their existence:
III. Digestivo - after the meal to settle the stomach (no Zantac users there!)... Summertime, it was nearly always limoncello, all other times grappe (of which there are dozens). 
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