I just completed reading the book Flim Flam and thought I would share my thoughts. I am someone that absolutely detests everything Ole Miss. The arrogance of the fans, their we can do no wrong attitude, Colonel Rebel, the Black Bear, The Lyceum, the fact that they call their university president Chancellor, the 18 mph speed limit, the Grove, and the Mannings. Nothing short of the death penalty and expulsion from the SEC would satisfy me as far as NCAA sanctions are concerned.
Despite my feelings about OM, I have only casually kept up with the investigation into their football program. I knew the basics, but not all the facts surrounding the case. Steve Robertson does an excellent job of laying out a bill of particulars in the indictment against the OM football program. He explains every facet of the case against them. It is very timely since Monday is their day of reckoning.
Steve comes across as a very decent person. He could easily have named the name of a middle aged woman posing as a 20 year old student, using the name of Analesa Preley, who became somewhat of an OM internet sensation writing about their football program. He could also have named the name of a man making death threats against him. In both instances, these individuals wished to see Steve professionally or personally harmed. However, he took the high road and spared them embarrassment. As someone who would like every sordid detail of anything relating to OM, I would love for him to have named names. However, I have great respect for Steve for not doing so.
The book answered the question concerning whether Riley Blevins left the Clarion-Ledger of his own accord. Short of that, the book didn't have any startling revelations. Again, however, what the book did was connect all the dots and thoroughly lay out the case against OM. The only real complaint that I have, and it is somewhat minor, is that Steve had a tendency to repeat himself a little too often. A good book editor would have caught it when he did that.
I believe the book is a must read for anyone that feels the same way about OM as I do. However, I think that it would also be an eye opener to the many OM fans who have drunk the Kool-Aid and believe that either "everyone does it", or that they are being picked on because of recent football success. Eventually the adults at OM will take charge and Bjork, Vitter, and Luke will be gone. Reading this book would help their successors understand the OM culture and the difficulty that they will have in keeping their rogue fans in check when the rebuilding begins.
I would encourage everyone to go out and purchase this book. Even if you have no plans to ever read it, Steve Robertson deserves to be rewarded for his efforts in rooting out a story that everyone else in the media chose to ignore.
Despite my feelings about OM, I have only casually kept up with the investigation into their football program. I knew the basics, but not all the facts surrounding the case. Steve Robertson does an excellent job of laying out a bill of particulars in the indictment against the OM football program. He explains every facet of the case against them. It is very timely since Monday is their day of reckoning.
Steve comes across as a very decent person. He could easily have named the name of a middle aged woman posing as a 20 year old student, using the name of Analesa Preley, who became somewhat of an OM internet sensation writing about their football program. He could also have named the name of a man making death threats against him. In both instances, these individuals wished to see Steve professionally or personally harmed. However, he took the high road and spared them embarrassment. As someone who would like every sordid detail of anything relating to OM, I would love for him to have named names. However, I have great respect for Steve for not doing so.
The book answered the question concerning whether Riley Blevins left the Clarion-Ledger of his own accord. Short of that, the book didn't have any startling revelations. Again, however, what the book did was connect all the dots and thoroughly lay out the case against OM. The only real complaint that I have, and it is somewhat minor, is that Steve had a tendency to repeat himself a little too often. A good book editor would have caught it when he did that.
I believe the book is a must read for anyone that feels the same way about OM as I do. However, I think that it would also be an eye opener to the many OM fans who have drunk the Kool-Aid and believe that either "everyone does it", or that they are being picked on because of recent football success. Eventually the adults at OM will take charge and Bjork, Vitter, and Luke will be gone. Reading this book would help their successors understand the OM culture and the difficulty that they will have in keeping their rogue fans in check when the rebuilding begins.
I would encourage everyone to go out and purchase this book. Even if you have no plans to ever read it, Steve Robertson deserves to be rewarded for his efforts in rooting out a story that everyone else in the media chose to ignore.
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